People Named: Ned Stevens, Sandy Stevens, Xerxes Stevens, Peter Stevens, Die Stevens, Sam Wright, Hary [alt: Harry] Wright, George Wilkins, Lucinda Wilkins, Kate Wilkins, Henry Wilkins, George Gould, Binah Gould, Venus Gould, Isaac Simpson, Emma Simpson, Henry Baker, Bella Dunham, Candis Baker, Prince Dunham, Hary [alt: Harry] Dunham, Toney Elliott, Daphne Elliott, Israel Way, Henrietta Elliott, Alick [alt: Ellick] Bacon, Kate Williams, James Thompson, Harriet Thompson, Eliza Winn, Lydia Cassels, Titus Quarterman, Margaret Quarterman, Peter Winn, Nellie Winn
[Begin Transcript]
[Transcriber’s Note: L.J. Mallard = Lazarus John Mallard; C.S. Mallard = Cyrus Stevens Mallard]
State of Georgia, Liberty County } This agreement made this 21st day of May 1866 between L.J. Mallard & C.S. Mallard of the 1st part & the freedmen & women of the 2d part, whose names are undersigned witnesseth that they have entered into the following contract for labor on plantation of Est. W.S. Baker during the year 1866. [Transcriber’s note: probably William Samuel Baker, died 1862]
1st L.J. Mallard & C.S. Mallard of the 1st part do pledge themselves & are hereby bound to furnish the dwellings necessary for the laborers (as houses) also as much land as they may need for planting & they further pledge themselves to give to the Freedmen & women all they may make both of provisions & cotton over & above one third of what may be made.
2d The undersigned Freedmen & women of the 2d part each do pledge themselves & are hereby firmly bound to work faithfully & each to give to L.J. Mallard & C.S. Mallard of the 1st part (⅓) one third of all provisions they may make upon said plantation & also one third of whatever three disinterested men (chosen by L.J. & C.S. Mallard & freedmen) may say the cotton will make when it begins to open freely except in the event said cotton is injured by storms or caterpillars.
3d. To keep in good order all buildings used by them & not destroy in any way other buildings connected with the plantation.
4th. To furnish all necessary seed together with the implements & teams required in planting & working the crop.
5th The Freedmen & women do further pledge themselves that at the proper season they will carefully harvest, house & prepare for market if required that portion of crop claims by L.J. Mallard & C.S. Mallard being one third of all that is made as specified above.
6th. To prevent stealing & 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 ihs to be given to informant & upon a repetition of offence shall not only restore fourfold but be reported to the Freedmen’s Bureau.
L.J. Mallard – 1st part
[All below signed by mark]
Ned Stevens
Sandy Stevens
Xerxes Stevens
Peter Stevens
Die Stevens
Sam Wright
Hary [alt: Harry] Wright
George Wilkins
Lucinda Wilkins
Kate Wilkins
Henry Wilkins
George Gould
Binah Gould
Venus Gould
Isaac Simpson
Emma Simpson
Henry Baker
Bella Dunham
Candis Baker
Prince Dunham
Hary [alt: Harry] Dunham
Toney Elliott
Daphne Elliott
Israel Way
Henrietta Elliott
Alick [alt: Ellick] Bacon
Kate Williams
James Thompson
Harriet Thompson
Eliza Winn
Lydia Cassels
Titus Quarterman
Margaret Quarterman
Peter Winn
Nellie Winn
Signed in 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 and C.S. Mallard & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00370, U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 236-7; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.