People Named: Russel Walthour, Jacob (freed)
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.)
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Triplicate
Georgia, Liberty County } This indenture made this the twenty first (21st) day of March one thousand eight hundred & sixty seven between Jacob, freedman, being of the age of twelve years & six months with the concurrence & consent of Elias Yulee Agent of Bureau R.F. & A.L. of the one part & Mr. Russel Walthour of the other part both parties being of the aforesaid state & county – witnesseth that the said Jacob does by the consent of aforesaid Agent bind himself to the said Russel Walthour of said County as apprentice to to learn the craft of agriculture and provide general house services on the premises of said Russel Walthour and to live with continue & serve the said Russel Walthour as an apprentice from the date hereof for and during the full space or term of six years.
During all which time the said Jacob doth covenant with the said Russel Walthour well & faithfully to demean himself as such an apprentice observing & obeying fully the commands of the said Russel Walthour and in all things deporting & behaving himself as a faithful apprentice to him the said Russel Walthour, neither revealing his secrets nor at any time leaving or neglecting the business of the said Russel Walthour.
And for & in consideration of this service well & faithfully rendered as aforesaid by the said Jacob of the first part said Russel Walthour of the second part doth covenant promise & agree to instruct his said apprentice or otherwise cause him to be well and faithfully instructed in the said craft of agriculture [“farmer” crossed out and “agriculture” written in] & general house services, and also to read and write the English language and in the common rules of arithmetic and shall also furnish & provide his said apprentice with meat & drink and clothing during the said term & all the other necessaries meet & proper in sickness & in health during the said term. Shall also at the expiration of the said term allow to the said apprentice the sum of one hundred dollars and two new suits of clothes, to be by him paid & given to said apprentice by said Russel Walthour of the second part.
Witness our hand & seal the day & year above written.
Russell Walthour
Jacob [his mark]
In presence of S.S. Barnard, E. Yulee
Office Bureau R.F. & A.L.
March 21/67 Walthourville Liberty Co. Geo.
The above named Jacob came before me & states that he has neither father nor mother living & had chosen Mr. Russel Walthour as his guardian & master & is willing & desirous to serve him as an apprentice. To which request above I hereby give my approval & require Mr. Walthour to have this matter put on record in the Court of Ordinary for this County & State by applying thereto according to the laws of the State.
E. Yulee
Agent B.R.F. & A.L.
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Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, Labor Contract between Russel Walthour and Jacob a freedman; digital database, Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00324), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 194-5; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.