People Named: E.R. Martin, Dublin, Dick, Abraham, Judy, Lucy
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E.R. Martin
[Transcriber’s Note: The “E” in Martin’s name is very clear but the R is a little difficult to read and could be another letter.]
Head Quarters
A.B.R.F. & A.L.
For Liberty Co
May 16th 1866
I approve the within contract.
Wm. [William] B. Gaulden
[Agent] B.R.F. & A.L.
For Liberty Co.
Duplicate
State of Georgia, Liberty County } Memorandum of agreement between E.R. Martin of said State & County of the first part & the freedmen & freed women who are hereunto signed of the second part, this agreement witnesseth that E.R. Martin part[y] of the first part is to manage and control the plantation on which said freedmen & women are to work he is to direct there [sic] labors not only in all matters connected with the crop but in making such repairs to buildings roads bridges & fencing on the plantation as in his judgment may be right & proper & to command there [sic] personal services from time to time to himself as may be necessary. The said freedmen & women also to submit to the direction & control of the said E.R. Martin doing at all times such work as he may assign them never to absent themselves from the plantation without his permission but bind themselves to work faithfully to the end of the year & untill [sic] the whole crop is harvested & prepaired [sic] for market. The said freedmen & freed women further agree to feed & cloth[e] themselves & pay there [sic] one [sic] doctors’ bill receiving at the end of the year or when the crop shall have been harvested & prepaired [sic] for market one half of all that may have been maid [sic] after deducting one third of all that may be maid [sic] for [word] of the [word] it is further agreed by the said freedmen & freedwomen that if at any time during the year any one of them shall fail to work according to the above agreement or shall leave the plantation without permission of the said E.R. Martin he or she may be dismissed from the plantation & shall forfeit [sic] all claims or title to any part of the crop maid [sic] and that the said E.R. Martin on his part agrees to furnish two horses & there [sic] feed, ploughs & gear & the necessary tools for working. He is to manage & control the labour according to the best of his skill & ability. And it is further agreed by the said freedmen & freedwomen that all time lost by sickness or from any other cause shall be deducted from his or her portion of the crop. It is further understood & agreed by the parties hearunto [sic] signed that the necessary seed used in planting the crop shall be equally furnished or deducted from the crop before division.
January 1866
Witnesses } ? J.M. Pray?, ?J. C. Martin?
[SIgned]
Dublin
Dick
Abraham
Judy
Lucy
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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 E.R. Martin & freedmen and women; digital database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62309/images/004139868_00333), U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878 -> Records of the Field Offices -> M1903 > 83, image 203-6; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.