People Named: Jack Bacon, Caroline Bacon, Stephen Bacon, Andrew Baker, Charlotte Baker, Eliza Delegal, Hettie Brown, Peggy Quarterman, Alfred Stevens, Nancy Stevens, Rachael Stevens, George Powell, Ida Powell, Clarinda Way, Delia Brown, Samson Brown, Posy Curry, Ben Curry, L. J. Mallard [Lazarus John Mallard], J.O. Varnedoe [James O. Varnedoe]
[Begin Transcript]
Head Quarters A B R F & A L [Agent, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands]
For Liberty County
May 21st 1866
I approve the within contract.
Wm. B. Gaulden
A.B.R.F.&A.L.
Duplicate
State of Georgia, Liberty County } This agreement made this 14th day of April between L.J. Mallard and J.O. Varnedoe of the 1st part & the freedmen & women of 2d part whose names are undersigned, witnesseth that they have entered into the following contract for labor on Mr. W.W. Winn’s [William Wilson Winn] plantation during the year 1866.
1st. L.J. Mallard and J.O. Varnedoe of the 1st part do pledge themselves & are hereby firmly bound to furnish the dwelling for the laborers also as much land as they may need for planting & they further pledge themselves to give to the freedmen & women all provisions which they may make on the plantation over & above five (5) bushels grain per hand & all cotton above & beyond one half bale, or six hundred pounds seed cotton, its equivalent per hand.
2d. The undersigned freedmen & women of the 2d part each do pledge themselves & are hereby bound to work faithfully & each to give to L.J. Mallard & J.O. Varnedoe of the 1st part one half bale of cotton & five (5) bushels grain.
3d. To abstain from stealing, quarrelling & all improper conduct on the plantation.
4th. To keep in good order all buildings used by them & not to destroy in any way other buildings connected with the plantation.
5th. To furnish all necessary seed, together with the implements & teams required in planting & working the crop.
6th. The Freedmen & women of the 2d part do further pledge themselves that at the proper season they will carefully harvest house & prepare for market if required that portion of the crop claimed by L.J. Mallard & J.O. Varnedoe of the 1st part being one half bale cotton & five bushels grain per hand, unless by disaster of hurricane or caterpillar they are not able to furnish that amount of cotton, in which event they bind themselves to give to L.J. Mallard & J.O. Varnedoe one third of the cotton and one third of every thing else which they may make on the plantation.
7th. To prevent stealing & secure the property of all concerned they do further agree that if any of them are found guilty of theft the persons so offending shall restore fourfold one half of which is to be given as compensation to informant and upon a repetition of the offense shall not only restore fourfold but be reported to the Freedmen’s Bureau.
L.J. Mallard
J.O. Varnedoe } of the first part
Jack Bacon
Caroline Bacon ½
Stephen Bacon
Andrew Baker
Charlotte Baker ½
Eliza Delegal
Hettie Brown
Peggy Quarterman
Alfred Stevens
Nancy Stevens 3/4
Rachael Stevens ¾
George Powell
Ida Powell 1/2
Clarinda Way ¼
Delia Brown ¾
Samson Brown ¼
Posy Curry ¼
Ben Curry ¾
Signed in the presence of
R.Q. Baker
S.L. Mallard
[End Transcript]
Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, Labor Contract between L. J. Mallard & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00347, U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 217-20; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.