National The Faces of Solomon (Video of the descendants of Solomon Northup, from “12 Years a Slave.” By jfondon - January 6, 2014 0 548 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp In 1841, a free man named Solomon Northup was kidnapped and sold into slavery. 12 years later, in 1853 on this day, January 3, Solomon Northup regained his freedom and returned home. Today his legacy lives on through his descendants. See the video.