Rosine Berard, a free woman of color, presents to the court that she was born free on the island of St. Domingue and left with her aunt Marie Jeanne Berard, also a free woman of color, during the "insurrection of the slaves." She further presents that, after coming to New Orleans, she continued to give Marie Jeanne the "use and benefits of her services" to express her "feelings of gratitude & affection" and because of the obligations she had contracted toward her. After Marie Jeanne's death in 1813 or 1814, she placed herself under the protection of Marie Jeanne's sister, Marie Louise Berard. She now alleges that Marie Louise is claiming her and her five children as slaves and is keeping them in "involuntary servitude." She also alleges that Marie Louise may even be planning to take her family out of the jurisdiction of this court. She therefore asks the court to decree her and her children free and to condemn Marie Louise Berard to pay $500 in damages. She also asks the court to order her sequestration and that of her five children pending resolution of the suit. Related documents reveal that Marie Jeanne, Marie Louise, and Rosine Berard were the daughters and granddaughter, respectively, of a St. Domingue merchant named Berard du Papon.
Result: Denied; appealed; affirmed.
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Repository: University of New Orleans
