Petition To Sue For Freedom [Harriet Scott]

Item

“Petition To Sue For Freedom [Harriet Scott]”. First Circuit Court Trial, 1846-1847, 1846, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 6, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/108392

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Filing Name: Petition To Sue For Freedom [Harriet Scott]
Description: Petition To Sue For Freedom [Harriet Scott]
Date: 1846-04-06
Court Term: November 1847
Is Part Of: First Circuit Court Trial, 1846-1847
Identifier: dre1846.0002.002
Case ID: ccr1846.0000.038
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: > Legal Function: petition

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**Item Page 1**

> Image file: ds02front.jpg
> Document: Petition To Sue For Freedom, Harriet Scott

To the Hon. John M. Krum, Judge of the St. Louis Circuit Court.

The Petition of Harriet, a woman of color states, that she is claimed as a slave by one Irene Emerson, of the County of St. Louis in the State of Missouri, widow of the late Dr. John Emerson, surgeon in the United States army, now ~~due! [or] ?[?]~~ ^ [decd.] ^ That ~~Harriet [illegible]~~ about eleven years ago, petitioner was brought from the State of Virginia by one Major Salliafano, and carried to Fort Snelling on the St. Peters river in the territory of Iowa, that after living there, doing labor and service to the said Salliafano, for about two years, he the said Salliafano, sold your petitioner to the said Dr. John Emerson, then also stationed at Fort Snelling, who kept and retained them her there for about a year after he became the owner of her, part of the time in charge of Maj. Plimpton, and a Mrs. Anderson that afterward said Emerson was ordered to Fort Jessup in Louisiana, and having married there, he had petitioner removed to that post from Fort Snelling. After remaining at Fort Jessup, about 6 months, then sd. Emerson went back to Fort Snelling on the St. Peters river in Iowa territory and took petitioner with him where she remained with him as a servant about a year longer and from there was brought to St. Louis of the County aforesaid, where he left her in charge of his wife, while he proceeded to Florida.
That said Emerson is now dead and his widow the said Irene, claims property in her as a slave but believing, that under this state of facts, that she is entitled to freedom, she prays your honor to allow her to sue in said Court the said Irene Emerson in order to establish her right to freedom and she will pray be.

her

Harriet X of Color

mark

> Legal Function: notarization

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**Item Page 2**

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State of Missouri
St. Louis County To
Harriet, (of Color) being
duly sworn, says that the facts set forth in the forgoing petition are true.
Sworn to + submitted her
The 6th day of April Harriet X of Color
1846, Bifore mark
illegible[?] Bullen JP.

> Legal Function: court order

The Judge of the St. Louis Circuit Court grants the petitioner leave to sue etc. as prayed for and orders. First. That the petitioner, Harriet be allowed to sue, on giving security satisfactory to the Clerk, for all costs that may be adjudged against her.

Second. That said Harriet have reasonable liberty to attend her counsel and the Court, as occasion may require, and that she be not removed out of the jurisdiction of the Court, and that she be not subject to any severity on account of her application for freedom.

St. Louis April 6, 1846 John M Krum

Judge St. Louis Circuit

Court

Item sets: Dred Scott Collection; First Circuit Court Trial, 1846-1847