# Overseer Chapin — Twelve Years a Slave character guide

> Overseer Chapin in Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Chapin, a Mr. Chapin

**First appearance:** 0008-v

## Who they are

An overseer on Ford's plantation.

## Relationships

### [Master Tibeats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters/master_tibeats)

_rivalry_

Tibeats and Chapin are hostile overseers who clash over authority and treatment of slaves.

### [Platt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters/platt)

_professional_

Chapin is an overseer who sometimes shows Platt a measure of fairness but remains part of the slave system.

### [Platt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters/platt)

_professional_

Chapin is an overseer who sometimes shows Platt a measure of fairness but remains part of the slave system.

### [Master Tibeats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters/master_tibeats)

_rivalry_

Tibeats and Chapin are hostile overseers who clash over authority and treatment of slaves.

### [Master Tibeats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters/master_tibeats)

_rivalry_

Tibeats and Chapin are hostile overseers who clash over authority and treatment of slaves.

## In the story

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters/viii)

Ford's overseer on Bayou Boeuf; intervenes to save Solomon from hanging, citing the mortgage.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters/ix)

Protects Solomon by allowing him to sleep in the great house and warning him of Tibeats' murderous intent.

### [Return to Tibeats and Escape into the Swamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned as having given Solomon advice to beware of Tibeats; he is away from the plantation during the attack.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters/overseer_chapin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/characters