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Dred Scott Born in Southhampton County, VA
Dred Scott was born and immediatly put into slavery,The exact date of his birth is unknowm but it is believed to have occured between 1795 and 1800. He was owned by Peter Blow and his wife, Elizabeth, who both lived in Virginia. -
Dred Scott moves to Alabama cotton plantation
During 1818, Dred Scott and other slaves, moved with the Blows and their children to their cotton plantation in Alabama. Scott worked for the Blows at their cotton plantation in Alabama for 12 more years. -
Moves to St Louis, MO
The Blow family decided to give up farming and Dred Scott moved with them to St. Louis, Missouri. In Missouri, the Blow family made money by running a boardinghouse named "the Jefferson Hotel". -
Elizabeth Blow dies
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Dred Scott Sold - Peter Blow Died
Sometime before Peter Blow died, in 1832, he sold Dred Scott to Dr John Emerson, where he became the servant. Dr. John Emerson was a surgeon in the army at the Jefferson Barracks. -
Dred Scott moves to Fort Armstrong, IL
Dred Scott went with Dr. Emerson to Fort Armstrong, llinois. This was Scott's first time living in a so called "free" territory. He lived three years there, and handled Dr. Emerson's needs. -
Moves with Dr. Emerson to Fort Snelling
Dr. Emerson was transferred to Fort Snelling in the Wisconsin Territory, now Minnesota. -
Dred Scott Marries Harriet Robinson
Dred Scott met Harriet Robinson (a slave from Virginia) at Fort Snelling, They married in 1837. -
Sent to Louisiana, then St. Louis, then to Fort Snelling
Dred Scott and Harriet, who was pregnant, were sent to Fort Jesup, Louisiana to be with Dr. Emerson and his new wife, Eliza Irene Sanford. Right after making the trip to Louisiana, the Scotts were sent to St. Louis, and then back to Fort Snelling. For two more years, Dred Scott stayed at Fort Snelling and worked for Dr. Emerson. -
Dred Scott & Family Sent to St. Louis & Hired out
During the summer of 1840, Dred Scott left Fort Snelling, never to return. Dr. Emerson had been transferred to Florida to provide medical assistance to soldiers in the Seminole War. Scott and his family were sent to St. Louis where they were hired out to work for various people while the Emersons collected their wages. Dred and Harriet had another daughter, Lizzie Scott, during this time. -
Dr, Emerson Dies Suddenly
Dr. Emerson died suddenly. When he died, Irene Emerson considered them her property. -
Scott v. Emerson
Scott renewed his contact with the Blow family and in the Circuit Court of St. Louis, he and Harriet Scott filed separate petitions to get their freedom from Irene Emerson. -
Cases Came to Trial
The Blow brothers, Henry and Taylor, helped Dred and Harriet Scott. The Scott's trial was on June 30, 1847. The cases were dismissed and their lawyer filed for a new trial. -
Irene Emerson puts Scotts in Sheriff's Custody
Irene Emerson had the St. Louis County sheriff put in charge of the Scotts from March 17, 1848 until March 18, 1857, The sheriff hired them out and kept their waged until the court case was resolved. -
Case Finally Heard Again - Scott Family Freed
The case was heard and the jury ruled for the Scotts. Dred and Harriet Scott and their family were free. -
Irene Emerson Appeals Case
Mrs. Emerson didn't accept the court's ruling. Mrs. Emerson, and John Sanford (her brother) appealed her case to the Missouri Supreme Court. Before the trial, Dred and Harriet's cases were combined and renamed Dred Scott v. Irene Emerson. There was a long wait before this case went to trial. -
Missouri Supreme Court Reverses Ruling
The Missouri Supreme Court reversed the Scott v. Emerson ruling. Dred Scott and his family were not free even if they had been living in free states. The Missouri Supreme court upheld the rights of slave owners. -
Scott v Sanford
Dred Scott, with Roswell Field (his new lawyer), filed a new case in the U.S. Federal Court, in St. Louis. John Sanford, Mrs. Emerson's brother, was the defendant. Dred Scott's case went through the Missouri courts to the Supreme Court.
(picture of Roswell Field) -
First Argument - Supreme Court
The Supreme Court heard the first arguments of the case. -
Second Argument - Supreme Court
The Supreme Court heard the second arguments of the case. -
Supreme Court Rules Against Dred Scott
Chief Justice Taney stated that Negroes were not citizens. Living in free states did not make Dred Scott a free man. The court declared that the provision that permitted Congress to prohibit slavery in the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. (picture of Taney) -
Dred Scott and Family Freed
Irene Emerson married a man that opposed slavery, John Sanford died, and Irene rEmerson returned Dred Scott and his family to the Blow family. The Blow family freed Dred Scott and his family. -
Dred Scott Dies
About a year after gaining his freedom, Dred Scott got sick with tuberculosis and died. (picture Dred Scott obituary) The Blow family paid for his buriel.
