In the mid 1830’s, a surgeon in the U.S. army named John Emerson bought Dred Scott from Missouri to serve him while he went went off to perform his military duties. Later after moving several times, Emerson bought an enslaved female named Harriet. He permitted for the marriage of Dred Scott and Harriet and then they had two children. After Emerson died the Scotts saved money for several years in an attempt to buy their freedom from Emerson’s wife; she declined. Dred Scott then attempted to sue Sanford in state court claiming that since he had lived in a territory where slavery was banned, he was free. In 1850, the court declared Dred Scott free. Mrs. Emerson left all of these affairs to John Sanford as she got remarried. John Sanford was unwilling
