People Named: John L. Harden, Peter Jenkins, Richard LeConte, Amy LeConte, Thomas LeConte
[Begin Transcript]
John L. Hearden [alt: Harden]
And
Peter Jenkins and other Freed.
State of Georgia, Liberty County } Articles of Agreement between John L. Harden, of said State and County, of the one part, and certain Freed men and women, whose names are hereto appended, of the other part, as follows, namely:
In the first place, I, John L. Harden, my representative, or representatives, of the one part, do agree to furnish quarters and fuel to the Freed men and women whose names are hereto appended; the fuel to be carried to their quarters by themselves; Also, to allow them to cultivate, for themselves, as much cleared land, on the place known as Halifax plantation, as they can attend to by their own labour, provided they comply with and perform certain conditions hereinafter mentioned; Furthermore, to furnish a gin, team, and the necessary bagging for the preparation of my portion of cotton for market.
In the second place, we, the Freed men and women whose names are hereto appended, of the other part, do agree to repair the fences, clean the ditches, and do whatever work is necessary to keep the place, known as Halifax plantation, in thorough order: Also, to furnish the necessary implements and teams for the cultivation of one acre of cotton, each, for John L. Harden, his representative, or representatives; Also, to cultivate and harvest one acre of cotton, each, and prepare the same for market, for John L. Harden, his representative, or representatives; Also, to work the aforesaid acre of cotton once in every fifteen days; Also, to give John L. Harden, his representative, or representatives, one of each kind of stock raised by each of us, in consideration of the use of his pasture; Also, if any of us are convicted of stealing, embezzling, or damaging the property of said plantation, the penalty which we shall suffer shall be decided upon by three disinterested white men, one to be chosen by John L. Harden, his representative, or representatives, one by us, and the third by these two; Also, that all improvements, of whatever kind, made on said plantation, by any of us, shall be left on the place undisturbed, in case of our leaving from any cause; Also, that in the cultivation, harvesting, and preparation for market of the cotton belonging to John L. Harden, we will use our utmost skill and industry, and be under the entire control and direction of John L. Harden, his representative, or representatives; Also, that in case of the fences or buildings of the aforesaid plantation being endangered by fire, to use our utmost endeavour to save them.
Finally, this contract shall be binding on both parts, until the first day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven.
John L. Harden of the first part
Parties of the Second part
[all signed by mark]
Peter Jenkins
Richard LeConte
Amy LeConte
Thomas LeConte
Witnesses:
Thomas G. ?Lind?
Walter A. Way
[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 L. Harden, Peter Jenkins and other freedpeople; digital database, Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00303), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 177-180; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.