People Named: L.M. Cassels, Tony Quarterman, Sam’l [Samuel] Stevens, George James, Peter Roberts, William Russel, Titus Quarterman
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]
Agreement & Contact between L. M. Cassels & Freed Men & Women on said Cassels plantation
For 1866
State of Georgia
Liberty Co. }
Feb 20th 1866
Memorandum of agreement between L.M. Cassels of the said County & State of the first part and the Freeded [sic] Men & Women whose names are hereunto signed of the second part.
This agreement witnesseth that L.M. Cassels party of the first part is to control & direct the management of the plantation on which said Freeded [sic] Men & Woman are to work. That said Freeded Men & Women are to keep up and repare [sic] the fences of said plantation, to keep up houses which they occupy in as good repair as when turned over to said Freeded Men & Women, and to do all necessary work for carrying on the plantation successfully, and they are to continue their labor on said plantation until [sic] the crop has been harvested & prepared for market, and should the crop after arriving to maturity be wasted or otherwise destroyed from negligence or improper conduct that said Freeded Men & Women are to be responsible for the same. Said Freeded Men & Women further agree to feed and clothe themselves, furnish seed for planting & pay their Dr. bills receiving at the end of the year for when the crop has been harvested and prepared for market two thirds of all that may have been made on said plantation, and said Freeded Men & Women are to furnish their own hoes, axes, ploughs and mules for plantation purposes excel in cases where said Freed Men & Women agree with said L.M. Cassels to furnish mules & ploughes then said L.M. Cassels shall receive one sixth after the one third shall have been payed [sic] for mules & ploughs furnished, mules to be feed by said Freeded Men & Women while in their employ and said Freeeded Men & Women shall be entitled to one half acre of ordinary land for garden purposes to every adult, whole hand, and that said Freeded Men & Women shall have the privilege of pasturing any & all stock they may own in pasture of said L.M. Cassels, and in case of sickness with the undersigned Freeded Men & Women, the said L.M. Cassels do agree to give his personal attention to same.
The said Contract to be binding for the year 1866.
In Witness of:
L.B. Trask
Sam’l [Samuel] Gaulden
L.M. Cassels
[All below signed by mark]
Tony Quarterman
Sam’l [Samuel] Stevens
George James
Peter Roberts
William Russel
Titus Quarterman
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Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, 1866 Labor Contract between S.M. Cassels and freed people; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00277), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, images 156-157 ; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.