Category: Freedmens Bureau Records, 1865-1872

Based on the images provided, here is the transcription of the labor contract documents between E. W. Delegal and various freedpeople.[Image 1 – Cover Sheet]Liberty County Ga.April 10. 1867.Contract.betweenW. DelegalandDick Cummings and other Col’d people. State of GeorgiaLiberty County } This agreement entered into this the 9th day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Sixty Seven, between E. W. Delegal of County & State aforesaid of the one part & the Freedmen & women whose names are hereunto signed of the other part Witnesseth.The Said E. W. Delegal, agrees to furnish the said Freedmen & women & their families with houses to live in and land to plant for this year. The said Freedmen & women on their part, agree to cultivate carefully and industriously: to conduct themselves with respect on the plantation, and not harbor or entertain anyone whom E. W. Delegal may forbid to go on the plantation.It is further agreed by the parties to this instrument that the said E. W. Delegal shall receive from the laborers whose names are here unto signed at the rate of five hundred (500) pounds of good white clean seed cotton, ten bushels potatoes, eight bushels

Contract between James C Ross and Jim Lowe and others Colored people GeorgiaLiberty County Articles of Agreement made and entered into between James C Ross of the one part and the undersigned of the other part all of said State & county this Jany 26th 1867. The said James C Ross covenants and agrees to furnish the undersigned with house room fire wood and land to cultivate on the plantation of the late Joseph A Anderson decd of said State & county For and in consideration of above privileges we the undersigned covenant and agree to give unto the said James C Ross (300) Three hundred pounds of S.C. cotton as soon as housed of the first picking five (5) bushels potatoes & five (5) bushels Corn, each of us. To protect the said produce of the said Ross, on the said plantation from stock and thieves. The undersigned further covenant & agree to make a good substantial fence around the said plantation. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals the day and year before written Witness,W A Jones [Signatories]Trim LowePeter DryerRichard MossTony LoweJim LoweIsaac CooperJim AndersonBen WestJohn CrawfordJack Jones[Page 2]Names to Contract continuedTeresa AndersonLucy WestRose

[Begin Transcript] J Waldburg & FreedmenSt. 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

People Named: W. John Way, Seaborn Spivey, Alonzo Spivey, Sarah Bradley, Elsy Fraser, Cely Fraser [Begin Transcript] W. John Way Headquarters A.B.R.F. & A L for Liberty County June 11th 1866 I approve the within contract the woman Sarah being an unhealthy & unsound woman. Wm.B. Gaulden A.B.R.F. & A.L.  Duplicate State of Georgia, Liberty County } March 1st 1866 Memorandum of agreement between W. John Way of said County & State of the first part & the freedmen & freedwomen of the second part whose names are hereunto signed.  This agreement witnesseth that W. John Way party of the first part is to control & direct the labor of the freed men & women whose names are hereunto signed. That all freed men & women are to do all necessary work called upon to do on & around the place & to continue this labor with W. John Way doing any & all work called upon to do until Jan 1st 1867. Said freedmen Seaborn & Alonzo agree to clothe themselves & pay all of their own Dr. bills & further agree to labor daily from ½ sun to 12 o’clock M. & from 2 pm to sun set

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 WayHeadquarters A.B.R.F. & A L forLiberty CountyJune 11th 1866Wm.B. GauldenA.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,