solomon northup's father had been a's life to a ship's captain, henry northup in rhode island. after the revolution, henry northup decided to come over to eastern new york state. eventually he freed his slaves. he had a provision in his will until 1798. by the time he was born, his father was free, so solomon northup was always a free person. menhe end of winter, some approached him on the street and said they had some employment for them if he was willing to connect with a circuit they were involved with. they needed a musician, and they heard he played the violin very well. solomon at that point was in need of some money, because saratoga springs is very much a summer place. a lot of money made during the summer, but the winters were a lot harder. he fought it was a good chance to earn some money and get home relatively quickly. instead he ended up being taken to washington, d.c., and they turned him over to a slave trader, who put him on a ship bound for new orleans. there he was sold at the slave market, and was a slave there years before he was ward talked to people in the