They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Post-War Labor Contract – Sarah Ann Way and Freedpeople (1866)

People Named: Abram Goulding, Hannah Goulding, Amanda Quarterman, Katy Ward, Matilda Goulding, Marian [or Moriah] Goulding, Nevin Goulding, Peter Todd, Hagar Todd, Jim Way, Daphnie [alt: Daphne] Way, William James, Jane James, William Graham, Cretia Graham, Ann Graham, Juddy [alt: Judy] Graham, Stephen Bacon, Phoebe Bacon, Mollie Bacon, Jim Way for sister Lottie, Betsey Norman, Betsey Norman for husband, Betsey Norman for sister Rose, Betsey Norman for Simon Way, Jim Way for Sarah Baker

[Begin Transcript]

Sarah Ann Way
Headquarters A.B.R.F. & A L for
Liberty County
June 11th 1866
Wm.B. Gaulden
A.B.R.F. & A.L.

Duplicate

State of Georgia, Liberty County } Memorandum of agreement between Sarah Ann Way of the said State & County of the first part, and the Freedmen & Women, whose names are hereunto signed of the second part.

This agreement witnesseth this 30th day of April eighteen hundred and sixty six, that S.A. Way or her representative agree to furnish on her part to the Freedmen, a home and wood for fuel, also a sufficient quantity of land to plant, which they of the second part promise to work for faithfully and to obey all orders about the plantation by the said party fo the first part or her representative, and to be entirely under the control & direction of the said party of the first part or her representative. The said party of the second part are to feed, clothe themselves, pay their own doctors bills, furnish all team, ploughs, hoes etc and seed to plant and the said party of the first part to receive when harvested or prepared for market on third of all & every thing that is raised on the plantation. The Freedmen & women further agree, at all times to maintain peace & good order on the plantation, and to endeavor as far as possible to detect & report all stealing or bad conduct on the place.

In presence of
W.E.W. Quarterman

Sarah A. Way of the first part
And the Freedmen and women

[Below signed by mark]
Abram Goulding
Hannah Goulding
Amanda Quarterman
Katy Ward
Matilda Goulding
Marian [or Moriah] Goulding
Nevin Goulding
Peter Todd
Hagar Todd
Jim Way
Daphnie [alt: Daphne] Way
William James
Jane James
William Graham
Cretia Graham
Ann Graham
Juddy [alt: Judy] Graham
Stephen Bacon
Phoebe Bacon
Mollie Bacon
Jim Way for sister Lottie
Betsey Norman
Betsey Norman for husband
Betsey Norman for sister Rose
Betsey Norman for Simon Way
Jim Way for Sarah Baker

[End Transcript]

Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, Labor Contract between Sarah Ann Way & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00407, U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 265-7; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.