12 Years a Slave Characters – Flashcards

A free black man residing in New York who is kidnapped in 1841 and held in slavery until January, 1853. Solomon was born in July, 1808 in Minerva, Essex County, New York.

Solomon's father, born a slave in Rhode Island; owned by the Northup family; he is emancipated in his master's will after the family's relocation to New York. After his liberation, he moves his family to several locations in New York and engaged primarily in the occupation of agriculture. He provides education to his children; owns sufficient property to obtain the right of suffrage (the vote). He died in 1820 in Sandy Hill (New York).

Unnamed; she died during the period of Solomon's captivity. Solomon's mother is classified as a quadroon (she is ¾ white and ¼ black)

Solomon's older brother of Oswego

A descendant of the Northup family that held Solomon's forefathers in bondage; Henry Northup is instrumental in securing Solomon's release from slavery in Louisiana. Solomon addresses the letter to Henry B. Northup that is mailed by Manning upon Solomon's arrival in New Orleans; although Henry Northup receives the letter, he cannot help Solomon since he has no definite information about Solomon's location.

Solomon's wife; they married on Christmas day 1829 when Solomon is twenty-one years old. She is of white, black, and Native American heritage. Like Solomon's mother, Anne is classified as a quadroon (one who has one quarter black ancestry)

Solomon's eldest child who is ten years old at the time of his captivity

Solomon's second child who is eight years old when her father disappears

Solomon's third child who is five years old when his father is kidnapped

The two men who claim to be connected with a circus company in the city of Washington. They lure Solomon to accompany them to New York City for a dollar a day and three dollars for each performance at which he plays for them, and they also offer to pay his expenses back to Saratoga. Brown is about forty years of age, and Hamilton about twenty-five years of age. Solomon later doubts that they gave him their real names.

A slave dealer in Washington, DC, who first sells Solomon into slavery after beating Solomon nearly senseless. Burch insists that Solomon is a runaway slave from Georgia.

James Burch's employee who is present at the merciless beating of Solomon in Washington after his initial capture.

A slave whom Solomon meets in Williams' Slave Pen in Washington. James Burch purchases Ray with the intention of selling him South to New Orleans; Ray is about twenty-five years old. After traveling with Solomon as far as Richmond, Burch decides to take Clem back to Washington. Solomon learns that Clem later attempts escape to Canada and stays at Solomon's brother-in-law's house in Saratoga. Clem provides Solomon's family with information about him.

A slave whom Solomon meets in Williams' Slave Pen in Washington. Burch obtains Williams in payment of a debt, but Williams' master redeems his slave before he can be sold South.

A slave who becomes the mistress of her master and who is promised freedom for herself and her children if she will live with her master after his separation from his wife. Eliza later becomes the property of Jacob Brooks and his wife, who is her original master's daughter. She and her two children are sold to Burch and later separated at their sale in New Orleans. Eliza is purchased by William Ford, who is also Solomon's first master. Because of her grief, she annoys Mrs. Ford who transfers Eliza to Bayou Beouf, where overseer Chapin and his wife manage the plantation owned by Mrs. Ford. Later when Eliza's health deteriorates, she is bartered to a new and abusive owner, who beats her. It is noteworthy that the allegedly "benevolent" Ford must have been the one to barter Eliza to this new owner. Eliza finally dies a slow and agonizing death on the floor of a slave cabin on this new owner's property; she is neglected and at the mercy of other slaves for food and water. She suffers the fate of a slave who can no longer work although her master does not "knock her on the head" to put a "suffering animal out of misery."

Eliza's children; Emily is the daughter of Eliza's master, Elisha Berry, and very beautiful. Both children are sold to Burch along with their mother. Later, Randall is purchased by a planter from Baton Rouge along with Lethe. Freeman refuses to sell Emily to the man who purchases her mother because he intends to keep her until she is older and more valuable because of her beauty.

A rich man who lives near Washington, the original owner of Eliza and her children, and the father of Emily. He loses possession of them when his estate is divided as a result of his separation from his wife. They come into the possession of Berry's daughter's husband and are sold to Burch.

The son-in-law of Elisha Berry who sells Eliza and her children to Burch after telling them he is taking them to Washington to get their free papers.

A slave dealer, like Burch, in Richmond, Virginia. He owns the slave pen there where Solomon, Eliza and her children, and Clem Ray are detained.

A free man, husband, and father from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is deceived and enslaved in much the same way as Solomon is. Solomon meets Robert at Goodin's slave yard in Richmond, but Robert dies a few days later of smallpox on board the Orleans.

A married couple whom Solomon meets in Goodin's slave yard in Richmond; they are being sold south and fear separation more than the harsh labor of the cane and cotton fields. In New Orleans they are purchased together by a planter from Natchez.

Another slave whom Solomon meets in Goodin's slave yard; she has never known a life other than slavery. She is fearful of the lash, submissive and obedient.

Another slave whom Solomon meets in Goodin's slave yard; she looks more like an Indian than a negro. She is bold and defiant; her husband has been sold. She openly expresses hatred and a desire for revenge. She is purchased in New Orleans by a planter from Baton Rouge.

A slave of about eighteen years of age (born into slavery) that joins Solomon on board the Orleans at Norfolk, Virginia

Note: Solomon later calls him "Harry." Another slave who joins the group on the Orleans at Norfolk (a few years older than Frederick). He, Solomon, and Eliza are purchased by the same man in New Orleans.

A slave who joins the group on the Orleans at Norfolk, whom Solomon calls ignorant and vain; she is confident she will be speedily purchased by a single gentleman of good taste in New Orleans. (Note: An established system called placage existed in New Orleans whereby wealthy white gentlemen could maintain two households and take a concubine, usually of mixed racial heritage, and raise two families).

A free black man from Norfolk who is attacked by a gang and held at the Norfolk slave pen. He comes aboard the Orleans at Norfolk; but upon his arrival in New Orleans, he is rescued.

An English born sailor on the Orleans who obtains paper, ink, and pen for Solomon to write a letter home; Manning mails the letter upon their arrival at New Orleans

James Burch's associate in the slave trading business who keeps a slave pen in New Orleans; he takes possession of Solomon, Eliza and her children, and some of the other slaves who board in Richmond upon their arrival in New Orleans.

A slave whom Freeman once owned who plays the violin for the slaves to dance during their training in New Orleans prior to their sale.

Solomon's first master who lives in the Great Pine Woods on the Red River and Indian Creek, a remote area. Ford is kind to his slaves and later becomes a Baptist minister. Solomon speaks well of Ford. At first Ford is very wealthy and owns two plantations and a lumber mill. Solomon gains Ford's favor by devising a quicker and cheaper way to transport his lumber via rafts and by his other skills.

A plantation owner who has a seasonal residence near Ford's plantation; Ford and his three new slaves stop there to eat on their twelve-mile walk to Ford's plantation from Alexandria.

A married couple who are slaves on Ford's plantation; Rose is a house slave and she is from Washington; she befriends Eliza and knows of Elisha Berry, Eliza's former master. Walton has been Ford's slave since birth. He works at Ford's lumber mill on Indian Creek.

Another of Ford's slaves who performs numerous tasks, washing and milking cows.

The cook on Ford's plantation, a boy of sixteen years of age.

Two more of Ford's slaves; Sam is from Washington and has been with Ford for five years; Antony is a blacksmith from Kentucky and has been Ford's slave for ten years.

The white forman and superintendent of Ford's lumber mill on Indian Creek.

An itinerant carpenter who does work on Ford's house; he is mean and spiteful; he does not have the respect of whites or slaves. He is ignorant and revengeful. He comes into ownership of Solomon because of a debt owed by Ford, but Ford retains a $400 mortgage (and ownership interest) in Solomon. He and Solomon get into a fight, and Tibeats tries to hang Solomon. Later, a second fight occurs and Solomon flees through the swamps and back to Ford's plantation. Then Tibeats hires Solomon to Eldret in the Great Cane Break, but Tibeats still owns Solomon. Finally, Tibeats sells Solomon outright to Edwin Epps. The last time Solomon sees Tibeats is during a drove of slaves through St. Mary's Parish. Tibeats is seated in the doorway of a "log groggery," (that is, a seedy barroom).

William Ford's overseer at Bayou Boeuf; he saves Solomon from Tibeats' attempt to hang Solomon. He lives on this plantation with his wife.

Two overseers from plantations near Bayou Boeuf who come with Tibeats to hang Solomon for beating Tibeats. They are sent packing by Chapin who is armed with two pistols.

A house slave at Bayou Boeuf who gives Solomon a cup of water while he is bound.

A field slave at Bayou Boeuf who is sent to fetch William Ford after the attempt on Solomon's life.

Mrs. Ford's brother, who owns a large plantation and many slaves. Solomon is hired out to Tanner for a month after the fight with Tibeats. Tanner, like Ford, reads the Bible to his slaves on Sundays and emphasizes those passages in the New Testament about a servant's duty to his master. Tanner is a very religious man and a deacon in his church.

The carpenter under whose direction Solomon works at the Tanner plantation.

Three of Tanner's slaves who are punished for stealing melons on a Sunday. Tanner tells Solomon to keep them in the stocks while the family goes to church, but Solomon releases them under the condition that they will return to the stocks before Tanner and his family get home from church.

A slave at Bayou Beouf who finds great humor in Solomon's escape from the dogs through the swamp.

Solomon works for Eldret at the Big Cane Break for five weeks; he has been hired to Eldret by Tibeats, who is still Solomon's master. Although the work is hard and the insects are a torment, Solomon is happy to be away from Tibeats. Eldret lets Solomon visit the Ford plantation after five weeks of work over Tibeats' objection. On Solomon's return trip to the Big Cane Break, Tibeats intercepts him and tells him he has been sold to Edwin Epps.

A slave owned by Eldret who accompanies Solomon to the Big Cane Break and works with Solomon there.

Tibeats sells Solomon to Epps; and although Solomon does not know what kind of a man Epps is, Solomon is relieved finally to be free of Tibeats and the ever present threat of violence. Solomon serves Epps for ten years, and Epps is the most cruel and inhumane of masters. He takes pride in breaking the spirit of the slave with the lash and other degradations. For the first two years, Solomon works for Epps on a plantation that Epps leases (or rents) from his wife's uncle, Joseph B. Roberts. This plantation is called Bayou Huff Power. But then Epps becomes prosperous enough to buy his own plantation on Bayou Boeuf, and he takes Solomon and eight other slaves with him.

Another plantation owner on Bayou Boeuf, whom Solomon calls more savage than Epps. This owner purchases only female slaves, and he beats them so mercilessly that they are impaired in their productivity.

Before becoming a renter of his own plantation owned by Joseph B. Roberts, Epps worked as an overseer for Williams. It is from Williams that Epps obtains his slaves.

A South Carolina plantation owner, who owns most of the slaves purchased by Epps "in a lot." Solomon says that Buford was a kind master but he falls into debt and must sell his slaves to Archy B. Williams.

The oldest of Epps' slaves who was born in Tennessee, Abram is sixty years of age when Solomon works for Epps. He was purchased by a trader, carried into South Carolina, and sold to James Buford. He is now somewhat enfeebled mentally from a life of toil. Solomon describes Abram as kind-hearted and the patriarch of the slaves. He enjoys talking about slave philosophy and General Andrew Jackson, whom his young Tennessee master had served in the wars. His vision is now bad, and he has become forgetful. His age does not spare him from Epps' whip.

Epps' slave who is forty-eight years old. He was born on the estate of William Tassle and worked for Tassle for many years as a ferryman over the Big Black River in South Carolina. After his marriage to Phebe, Buford agrees to buy Wiley. Wiley speaks very little except to express the wish that he was away from Epps.

Phebe is also from the Buford plantation originally but now is Epps' slave. She was married to another man before Wiley, but throws her first husband out for Wiley. Phebe is an excellent field hand but works in the kitchen unless she is needed in the field in an emergency. She is sly and garrulous (talkative).

Phebe's children by her first husband who are Epps' slaves now. Bob is twenty and Henry is twenty-three.

The youngest of Phebe's children, born after her union with Wiley on Bayou Huff Power (the Epps' plantation). Since he is too young to work in the fields, his job is to wait on the children of Epps.

Epps' twenty-three year-old slave who is also originally from Buford's plantation. Buford was Patsey's mother's owner. Solomon says she is slim, straight, and lofty in her movements, but slavery had "enshrouded her intellect in utter and everlasting darkness" (136). She is physically very agile, strong and fast. She was a good rider of horses, a skillful teamster; she handles a plow excellently and can split rails better than anyone. She also is the most adept at picking cotton; she has been known to pick five hundred pounds in one day. Nevertheless, she is the object of Epps' lust and of his wife's jealousy and cruelty. By nature, she is genial, pleasant, faithful, joyous, and obedient; however, she weeps often and suffers more than any of the other slaves.