[Begin Transcript]
J Waldburg & Freedmen
St. Catherines Isl.
As there is no person among the labourers who is capable of running an engine one will be employed at the joint expense of the parties. This is agreed upon by the parties.
J. Waldburg
January 20th 1868
The following coloured people have stipulated with Jacob Waldburg as labourers on St. Catherine’s Island to cultivate cotton corn and whatever is usually cultivated thereupon, with fidelity, steadiness and perseverance. They obligate themselves to divide themselves into gangs of from fifteen to twenty efficient labourers under a leader who shall have thorough and complete control over them, not only in the performance of their labors in the field but in all other respects to preserve discipline and order and in case of disobedience or insubordination of any individual he or she shall be expelled from the island who shall not be permitted to return to it, and who shall forfeit all claim to any part of the crop or compensation for the time he or she has been employed in the cultivation of the crop, which forfeiture shall belong to the labourers, provided they employ a substitute for the dismissed delinquent, which they bind themselves to do but in case they neglect to find this substitute, the said Waldburg or his agent has this privilege and he shall reap all the benefits of his labour in the division of the proceeds of the crop, and in case that J. Waldburg or his agent should become acquainted with the improper conduct of any individual such as stealing, failing to perform his or her duties, of insubordination, he or his agent has the privilege to require his or her expulsion, which shall be enforced by the labourers. And further no individual shall be allowed to leave the island, unless with the authority of J. Waldburg of his agent, and the ?chief? men or leaders of the several gangs as his or her absence from the field may be of detriment to the crop [several words] stage it may be. And to other demands of the plantation. No idlers shall be allowed on the island, as evils arising from it will be seriously felt. The labourers bind themselves not to delay in preparing the land for cultivation as soon as possible. They further bind themselves severally & collectively to perform all and every requirement usually performed upon the plantation and to make & preserve the crops by cultivating them properly and when matured to pick the cotton clean from the fields to overhaul it on the scaffold early in the morning, to ? tost? it thoroughly, gin moat & pack it, as soon as practicable & to sack in each bag not less than four hundred & fifty pounds which shall be shipped to Messrs Duncan & Johnston who shall divide the proceeds after deducting the expenses agreeable to the terms of the contract between the parties. Whatever advances may have been made to the labourers or liabilities assumed by them shall be deducted from their share of the crop either collectively or individually. The corn crop and provision crops to be taken from the fields & [word] and J. Waldburg’s are housed for his benefit. The labourers bind themselves to keep the fences in good order, to make a thoroughly good fence around the whole of [word] field and to thoroughly repair the wharf as soon as the crop is laid aside. To [seems like something – a page? – is missing here] purchased at the expense of the labourers and shall be deducted from their share of the crop. It is distinctly understood that J. Waldburg is not to incur the expense of furnishing the labourers with provisions of any kind, but that expense is to be borne by themselves. Neither is he to find them medicines or pay their doctors bills. It is understood that the crop is to be cultivated exclusively with the hoe, which the labourers will find at their expense. It is further understood & agreed upon that the net proceeds of the cotton crop shall be equally divided between the parties & that the corn and other crops shall be equally shared between them. The labourers are allowed as much land around their dwellings as will afford them gardens but they are not allowed to take up any part of the fields to cultivate separate from the common crop. The labourers it is understood will employ an individual out of their numbers who will keep an account of the quantity of cotton picked by each gang who will be credited by him accordingly before it is housed together but neither J. Waldburd or his agent is responsible or accountable for its accuracy. It is understood that no person unless connected with the labourers and dependent upon them from infirmities shall remain on the island. It is further understood that J. Waldburg’s agent, who will reside on the Island to protect his interest, and in that capacity, he shall be recognized by the labourers who will unite with him to preserve order & discipline & to prevent persons from committing trespasses of any kind upon the Island. In case [word] are [word] the labourers will bear one half of the expense of the plows. It is understood that the labourers will employ an engineer out of their numbers. It is further understood that the labourers are bound to keep their dwellings in good order. The parties agree to divide equally the expense of the cotton seed. The wagons & carts to be kept in good condition by the labourers. It is distinctly admitted and understood that J. Waldburg [words or page missing here] the labourers with a hogshead of bacon after the final trimming of the cotton crop and its being properly housed. And all persons capable of labour are at work with an earnestness to insure the belief that a good crop will be made.
They must exhibit proof of good conduct. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.
J. Waldburg
[all below signed by mark; names compared with the 1866 contract and differences noted]
Sampson Albany [Samson Albany in 1866 contract]Alban
John Brown [spelled Boun in 1866 contract]
Samuel Campbell [Sam Campbell in 1866 contract]
Glasgow Brown [name looked like Boun in 1866 contract]
Ben Kell [Kill in 1866 contract]
Tony Brown
Moses Campbell
Pompey Grason [Pompey Grason in 1866 contract]
Sam Grason [alt: Grayson]
Benjago Grason [alt: Grayson]
Brutus Campbell
Joe Morningstar [Joseph Morningstar in 1866 contract]
Henry Mungin [Mangin in 1866 contract]
Charles Hussey
Bob Grason [Robert Grayson in 1866 contract]
Patrick Glover – absconded
Benjamin Jones
Scipio Mongin [Mangin in 1866 contract]
Andrew Mongin [Mangin in 1866 contract]
Shallow Jefferson [there was a Charlotte Jefferson in the 1866 contract]
Scipio Albany
Francis Brown
Solomon Sherman
Sampson Brown
Simon Stone
Fanny Sherman
Flander Grason [alt: Grayson]
Aby [alt: Abby] Sherman
Oliver McLeod [spelled McCloud in 1866 contract]
South land
William Williams
Joe Dickson [Joseph Dixon in 1866 contract]
Ishmael Shea [surname spelled Shedd in 1866 contract]
Lucy Waring [Werring in 1866 contract]
Tilla Mongin
Barlow Mulem [looks like Mulem but there was a Barlow Malone in the 1866 contract] absconded
—————————- [line in original]
Kate Kollock
Evin Grate [Evan Great in 1866 contract]
Andrew Shea [surname spelled Shedd in 1866 contract]
Simon Stone Senior
Moses Stone
Richard Dickson [spelled Dixon in 1866 contract]
Elsy Richards [spelled Elcia in 1866 contract]
Betsey Grason [alt: Grayson]
Emilia Spright [spelled Amelia Spry in 1866 contract]
Georgiana Haig [spelled Hage in 1866 contract]
Robert Bowman
Rachel Bowman
Jeffrey Housey [spelled House in 1868 contract] [possibly Hussey?]
Money Bowen
[End Transcript]
Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County, Labor Contract between J. Waldburg & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00414, U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 272-280; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.