People Named: Thomas Q. Fleming, Natt Law, Cretia Law, Augusta Furgurson, Ceily Furgurson, Lydy Way, Mazor Lewis, Elizabeth Quarterman, Samuel 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 Transcription]
State of Georgia
Liberty County }
January 1st, 1866
Memorandum of agreement between T.Q. Fleming [Thomas Q. Fleming] of said County & State of the first part and the free-men & women whose names are hereunto signed of the Second Part. This agreement witnesseth that T.Q. Fleming party of the first part is to manage and control the plantation on which said freedmen are to work he is to direct their labor not only in all matters connected with the crop but in making such repairs buildings – roads and bridges & fencing on the plantation as in his judgment may be right and proper and to command their personal services from time to time to himself and family, as may be necessary.
The said freedmen agree to submit to the direction and control of the said T.Q. Fleming doing at all times such work as he may assign them. Never to absent themselves from the plantation without his permission but bind themselves to work faithfully to the end of the year and until the whole crop is harvested and prepared for market. The said freedmen further agree to feed and cloth[e] themselves and pay their own doctors bills receiving at the end of the year and when the crop shall have been harvested and prepared for market one half of all that may have been made. It is further agreed by the said freedmen that if at any time during the year any one of them shall fail to work according to the above agreement or shall leave the plantation without permission of the said T.Q. Fleming or his agent he or she may be dismissed from the plantation and shall forfeit all claims or title to any portion of the crop made.
The said [left blank – looks like something was erased] on his part agrees to furnish the necessary team for the working of said plantation and all the agricultural implements necessary, and to manage and control the labor according to the best of his skill and ability.
It is further understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the team and all implements furnished by the said [left blank but looks like something erased] shall be his individual property and that the feed of the team shall be deducted from the crop before the division, and that in the division every one mule or horse shall count as one hand and the said [left blank] shall receive the portion of one hand for every one mule and horse in addition to his other share of the crop. It is further agreed by the said freedmen that any time lost through sickness or from other causes, beyond twelve working days, shall be deducted from the portion of the crop of his or her losing said time.
It is further understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the necessary feed used in planting the crops shall be equally furnished or be deducted from the crop made before division.
It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that one half acre of land be furnished each adult laborer for garden purposes.
[Signed] Thos. Q. Fleming 1st part
Signed in presence of
J.P. Fleming
J.S. Fleming
[Below signed by mark]
Natt Law
Cretia Law
Augusta Furgurson [alt: Fergerson, Fergurson]
Ceily [alt: Celia, Celie] Furgurson
Lydy [alt: Lydia, Lydie] Way
Mazor [alt: Mazer] Lewis [identified as “her” mark]
Elizabeth Quarterman
Samuel Quarterman
[End Transcription]
Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, 1866 Labor Contract between T.Q. Fleming and freed people; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00282), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 160-162; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.