People Named: Abraam [alt: Abram] Way, Harriet Way, Prince Steven [alt: Stevens], Pracilla [alt: Percilla or Priscilla] Steven, Scipio Jones, Dinah Jones, Bellah King, Elvina King, Robin Williams, Liza [alt: Eliza] Williams, Laih [alt: Leah] King, Floyd Cassell, Jane Cassell, Billy Stevens, Fellins [?] Jones, Mollie Hart, ??nett Hart, Isaiek [alt: Isaac] Hart, Mille [alt: Millie] Hart, Laih [alt: Leah] Hort, Violett Hort, Grace Stevens
[Begin Transcript]
State of Georgia, Liberty County } 1867
We to wit: W.A. Way of the first part and the Freedmen & Women of the second part whose names are undersigned do this day enter into the following contract for laboring on Tranquil plantation during the year 1867. I W.A. Way of the first part do pledge myself to furnish the laborers with houses for dwellings as much land as they desire for planting their own crops, a mill to grind their meal and allow them the privilege of raising hogs & poultry as formerly.
We the Freedmen & women of the second part in compensation for the above, do pledge ourselves 1st to cultivate one acre and a half (1 ½) per hand: viz: one acre of cotton & a half acre of corn as the aforesaid W.A. Way of the first part may direct. He W.A. Way furnishing the necessary seeds & ploughs for working & planting the aforesaid one acre & a half per hand.
2nd We pledge ourselves to prepare the ground for planting, to plant & work this ground once in every fifteen days until the entire crop is harvested. We do further agree when the crop is ready for harvesting that we will all commence when W.A. Way may direct & continue until the entire crop is harvested.
3rd We further pledge ourselves that at the proper time we will carefully harvest house & prepare for market the crop produced by our labor, which crop will not be subject to division but will belong solely to W.A. Way of the first part.
4th We agree to keep in repair all buildings occupied by us, to keep up all fences around fields, to keep open all ditches in the fields planted for W.A. Way.
5th. To discountenance stealing, to assist in stopping any disturbances that may arise on the plantation & to maintain good order during the year 1867.
We agree to find ourselves with food clothing & all necessary implements for planting & working our own individual crops.
6th That in case of disagreement between W.A. Way of the first part & us Freedmen & Women of the second shall be selected by three (3) white men one chosen by W.A. Way and another by ourselves & the third by the two others selected and their decision shall be final.
7th That upon the violation of any part of this contract we deem it a forfeiture & will lose all right & claim to any portion of our individual crop & all compensation for labor bestowed & may at the discretion of W.A. Way be dismissed from the plantation.
SIgned W.A. Way of the first part
Parties of the second part [all signed by mark]
Abraam [alt: Abram] Way
Harriet Way
Prince Steven [alt: Stevens] [Way was written and crossed out]
Pracilla [alt: Percilla or Priscilla] Steven [Way written and crossed out]
Scipio Jones ¼
Dinah Jones
Bellah King ½
Elvina King 3/4
Robin Williams
Liza [alt: Eliza] Williams
Laih [alt: Leah] King
Floyd Cassell [name crossed out]
Jane Cassell
Billy Stevens
Fellins [?] Jones ¾ [identified as female, “her mark”]
Mollie Hart
??nett Hart ½
Isaiek [alt: Isaac] Hart 1/2
Mille [alt: Millie] Hart
Laih [alt: Leah] Hort ¾
Violett Hort
Grace Stevens ½
[Transcriber’s Note: Some of the above names were very difficult to read.]
Witnesses
John L. Harden
C.B. Adams
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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 Walter A. Way & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00401, U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 259-61; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.