Named People: John D. Cay, William Roberts, Nannie Roberts. George Law, Liddy Law, Lucy Roberts, Leiah [alt: Leah] Roberts, Prince Cumming, Patty Cumming, York Stevens, Isaac Graham, Lucy Graham, Laura Graham, James Walthour, Amy Walthour, Abram Walthour, Charles Walthour, Mary Walthour, Matilda Walthour
Following is a labor contract found in the U.S. Freedmen’s Bureau records of Liberty County, Georgia. (See citation at the end for full details of source.)
[Begin transcript]
John D. Cay
Liberty Co
Agrees to pay 18 Freed people ⅔ of the crop, for one year’s services
App[roved]
State of Georgia, Liberty County } This memorandum of agreement signed this second day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty six between Jno. [John] D. Cay of said county and state of the first part. And the freedmen and women whose names are hereunto attached of the second part.
Witnesseth
That Jno. D. Cay part of the first part is to manage and control the plantation on which said freedmen are to work. He is to direct their labor in all matters connected with the crop, and in making such repairs to buildings, roads, bridges and fencing on the plantation, as to him may seem right and proper.
The said freedmen agree to submit to the direction and control of the said Jno D. Cay doing at all times such work as he may assign them. And bind themselves to work faithfully to the end of the year, and until the whole crop is harvested.
The said freedmen further agree to feed and clothe themselves and pay their own Doctor bills and to furnish all things [underlined] necessary for working said plantation, such as team agricultural implements seed etc – receiving at the end of the year and when the whole crop is harvested two thirds [underlined] of the entire crop made (by their labor) on the plantation.
It is further understood and agreed that if at any time during the year any of the said freedmen shall absent themselves from the plantation during work hours, without consent of the said Jno D. Cay, or in any respect whatever fail to work according to the above agreement, he or they so doing may be dismissed from the plantation and shall forfeit all claim or title to any portion of the crop made.
It is still further agreed that all food or other necessaries furnished by the said Jno. D. Cay to the freedmen in his employ shall be paid for at cost on the plantation with an interest of twenty-five per cent.
It is also understood that those freedmen who raise hogs on the plantation shall at the end of the year give the said Jno D. Cay one bacon hog each, for the use of his pastures.
It is still further agreed that should any misunderstanding or disagreement occur between the party of the first part, and any of the part of the second part, the same shall be settled thus. The party of the first part shall select one gentleman [underlined], and the party of the second part another. These two to select a third, and the decision of the three shall in any case be final.
Jno. D. Cay
William Roberts [all below signed by mark]
Nannie Roberts
George Law
Liddy Law
Lucy Roberts
Leiah [alt: Leah] Roberts
Prince Cumming
Patty Cumming
York Stevens
Isaac Graham
Lucy Graham
Laura Graham
James Walthour
Amy Walthour
Abram Walthour
Charles Walthour
Mary Walthour
Matilda Walthour
Signed this 2nd day of April 1866
In presence of Wm. M. Winn
Approved
E. Yulee
Agent for Bureau
Of R.F. & A L
Walthourville, Liberty Co. Geo.
[End transcript]
Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, 1866 Labor Contract between John D. Cay and freed people; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00275), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, images 152-155; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.