People Named: Pompey Houston, Jacob Quarterman, Battis [alt: Batteece, Battice] Quarterman, Andrew Marshall, Edmund Bacon, Simon Cassels, July Anderson, Plymouth Fraser, Edward Miller, George Miller, Niger Anderson, Henry Anderson, Doddy Brown, July Anderson, July Law, Phillis [alt: Phyllis] Law, Peggy Dryer, Joseph Bacon
[Begin Transcript]
Head Quarters
A.B.R.F. & A.L.
For Liberty Co
May 21st 1866
I approve the within contract.
Wm. [William] B. Gaulden
[Agent] B.R.F. & A.L.
For Liberty Co.
Duplicate
L.J. Mallard
State of Georgia, Liberty County } This agreement made this 21st day of May 1866 between L.J. Mallard and C.S. Mallard of the first part and the freedmen and women of the second part whose names are undersigned witnesseth that they have entered into the following contract for labour on the Est[ate] of Thomas Mallard’s plantation during the year 1866.
1st L.J. Mallard and C.S. Mallard of the first part do pledge themselves and are hereby firmly bound to furnish all the dwellings necessary as the homes of the labourers and also as much land as they may need for planting and they further pledge themselves to give to the freedmen and women all they may make both of cotton and provisions over and above ⅓ one third of what they may make.
2d. The undersigned Freedmen and women of the second part do pledge themselves and are hereby firmly bound to work faithfully and each to give to L.J. Mallard and C.S. Mallard of the first part ⅓ one third of all the provisions they may make upon the said plantation and also ⅓ one third of whatever three disinterested men (chosen by L.J. Mallard and C.S. Mallard & Freedmen) may say the cotton will make when it begins to open freely except in the ?ground?. [NOTE: There is an interpolated phrase about the cotton that the transcriber is unable to read.]
3d. To keep in good order all buildings used by them and not to destroy in any way other buildings connected with the plantation.
4th. To furnish all necessary seed together with the implements and teams required in planting and working the crop.
5th. The Freedmen and Women do further pledge themselves that at the proper season they will carefully harvest house and prepare for market if required that portion of the crop claimed by L.J. & C.S. Mallard being ⅓ one third of all that is made as specified above.
6th. To prevent stealing and secure the property of all concerned they do further agree that if any of them are found guilty of theft the person so offending shall restore fourfold one half of which is to be given to informant and upon a repetition of offense shall not only restore fourfold but be reported to the Freedmen’s Bureau.
L.J. Mallard
C.W. Mallard [Transcriber’s note: The initials are clearly C.S. Mallard within the document, but in the “signature,” which was made by the copyist at the time, it appears to be C.W. Mallard.]
Pompey Houston
Jacob Quarterman
Battis [alt: Batteece, Battice] Quarterman
Andrew Marshall
Edmund Bacon
Simon Cassels
July Anderson
Plymouth Fraser
Edward Miller
George Miller
Niger Anderson
Henry Anderson
Doddy Brown
July Anderson
July Law
Phillis [alt: Phyllis] Law
Peggy Dryer
Joseph Bacon
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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 L.J. Mallard, C.S. Mallard & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00338), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 208-11; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.