Category: Freedmens Bureau Records, 1865-1872

People Named: Caesar Stevens, Peggy Stevens, William Stevens, John Williams, Diana Williams, Patsy Bird, Betsy West, Samson Jones, ? James Jones, Chloe Campbell, Thomas Girardeau, Kate Girardeau, Samuel Harris [Begin Transcript] Headquarters A.B. R.F. & A.L. for Liberty CoMay 21st 1866I approve the within contract. Wm. B. GauldenA.B.R.F.& A.L. Duplicate J.O. Varnedoe State of Georgia, Liberty County } This agreement made this [left blank] day of [left blank] between J.O. Varnedoe of the first part and the Freedmen & women of the second part, whose names are undersigned, witnesseth that they have entered into the following contract for labor on plantation of Est. B.A. Busby during the year 1866. 1st. J.O. Varnedoe of the first part pledges himself & is hereby firmly bound to furnish the dwellings necessary as the homes of the laborers, also as much land as they may need for planting and he further pledges himself to give to the Freedmen & women all they make both of provisions and cotton, over & above one third of what they make make on the place. 2nd The undersigned Freedmen & women of the second part each do pledge themselves and are hereby firmly bound to work faithfully &

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

People Named: C.C. Varnedoe, Byron McIntosh, Amanda McIntosh, Paul Stevens, Rinah Stevens, Andrew Stevens, Pegy [alt: Peggy] Stevens, Caesar Stevens, Dinah Stevens , Moris [alt: Morris] Fleming, Kate Fleming, Floyd McIntosh, Mattie McIntosh, Dean McIntosh, Tony West, Mary West, Joe Mallard, Elizabeth Mallard, Sharper Way, Rachel Way, March Dunwoody, Dinah Dunwoody, Toney LeCounte, Annie LeCounte, James West, Grace James, Jane James, Gershion [alt: Gershon] James [Begin Transcript] State of Georgia, Liberty County } April 7th 1866 We to wit C.C. Varnedoe of the first part and the Freedman and Woman of the second part whose names are undersigned do this day enter into the following contract for labour on the Liberty Hall and Claudianna plantations during the year 1866. [Transcriber’s Note: Probably Charles Carroll Varnedoe (1843-1920). Note that the contract stated “Freedman and Woman” (not plural) throughout though it obviously should have been plural. Transcribed as seen.] I C.C. Varnedoe of the first part do pledge myself to furnish the dwellings necessary as the homes of the labourers and also the lands for planting and to take the general supervision of the whole crop and further to give to the Freedman and Woman two thirds of what is made by

[Begin Transcript] Contract Between Messrs Winchester & SchuylerOf St. Catherine’s Isle Liberty CountyState of GeorgiaAnd certain freedpeople of said Isle Office Agent Bureau R.F. & A.L.For St. Catherine’s Isle Liberty CountyState of Georgia 1866Approved: Wm. A. Perry, Agent Know all Men by these presents that Messrs Winchester & Schuyler, St. Catherine’s Island of Liberty County, State of Georgia, held and firmly bound to the United States of America by these presents in this contract; that he is to furnish the persons whose names are subjoined, (freed laborers,) quarters, field, healthy and substantial rations, one bushel of corn, twelve lbs of bacon, one half gal. syrup, one pint of salt, [word] lbs of tobacco, per month. And medical attention which best [several words obscured] deducted from their portion of the crop. Also to furnish all farming implements horses, mules, and seeds to plant, And to give the undersigned Freed people, one third of the crop raised by them on said Plantation after paying of their part of the bagging, freighting and commission for disposing of the crop. The said persons are to labor faithfully on his plantation, six days during the week, in the manner customary on a plantation; said persons

People Named: Willoughby [last name illegible], Cilla Dolly, Patience Dolly, Joe Dolly, Dor?? Futch, William Jones, Nelson Futch, Sandy McFail, Harriet Bacon, Wilmot Timmons, Jerry McFail [Transcript edited on 3/31/2026 to change the word “Horse’s” in the first paragraph to “Harris.” ] [Begin Transcript] E.W. Delegal4 ContractsFeby 27, 1866 State of Georgia, Liberty County } This indenture made and executed this the first day of January 1866 between Edward W. Delegal of the first part and Willoughby, Silla and Patience free persons of color of the state and county aforesaid witnesseth that the said party of the first part agrees to employ the said Willoughby, Silla & Patience to do all manner of house and kitchen work at his plantation on Harris Neck McIntosh County for certain wages herein after mentioned (viz) Willoughby to do [word] work nurse children and the family in health and sickness and do various kinds of house work Cilla agrees to cook wash iron milk cows and render herself generally useful Patience agrees to do all kinds of work about the house and yard. The said E.W. Delegal agrees to feed and pay Willoughby sixty dollars, feed and pay Cilla sixty dollars, feed, clothe and

People Named: James Law, Elcey Law, Judith Quarterman, Grace Quarterman, Jupiter James, Venus James, Cato Phirstbird, Levia Phirstbird, Elcey Phirstbird, Clarissa Phirstbird, Louisa Phirstbird [Begin Transcript] State of Georgia, Liberty County } We to wit: Walter A. Way of the first part, and the Freedmen and women of the second part, whose names are undersigned do this day enter into the following contract for laboring on “Kedron” Plantation during the year 1866. I Walter A Way of the first part do pledge myself to furnish the laborers with houses for dwellings, a mill to grind their meal, and allow them the privilege of raising hogs, and poultry as formerly. 2nd I Walter A. Way of the first part agree that I will allow the Freedmen lands to be cultivated under my special direction and control. 3rd I agree to allow the Freedmen, shall have two thirds (⅔) of all the crop, made on “Kedron” plantation. We the Freedmen whose names are herein affixed on the second part, agree and contract. 1st. That we will labor faithfully on the lands allowed us by Walter A. Way in planting, cultivating and harvesting our crop, as he may direct in every particular. 2nd.

People Named: W.E.W. Quarterman, Marlboro Graham, Levinia [or Lavinia] Graham, Titus Graham, Cate (?) Graham [first name difficult to read], Rena Bacon, Tom Bacon, Julia Graham [Begin Transcript] State of Georgia, Liberty County } January 1st 1866 Memorandum of agreement between W.E.W. Quarterman of said County and State of the first part and the Freeded [sic] men & women whose named are hereunto signed of the second part. This agreement witnesseth that W.E.W. Quarterman, party of the fist part is to control and direct the management of the plantation on which said Freedmen and Women are to work – that said Freedmen & women are to keep up & repair the fences of said plantation, to keep buildings in as good repair as they now are and to do all necessary work for [word] on the plantation successfully and they are to continue their labor on said plantation until the crop is prepared for market and that should crop after arriving to maturity be wasted or destroyed that said freeded [sic] men & women are to be responsible for the same. The said freedmen & women further agree to feed clothe themselves and pay their doctors bills receiving at the

People Named: W.E.W. Quarterman, Benjamin Bacon, Tenor Bacon, Sarah Bacon [Begin Transcript] State of Georgia, Liberty County } 1st Jany 1866 This memorandum of agreement between W.E.W. Quarterman of said State and County of the first part and the freedmen and women whose names are hereunto signed of the second part, this agreement witnesseth that W.E.W. Quarterman party of the first part is to control and direct the management of the plantation, on which said freedmen and women are to work, that said Freedmen and women are to keep up and repair the fences of said plantation to keep buildings in as good order as they are at present, to do all necessary work for carrying on the plantation successfully and they are to continue their labor on said plantation until the crop is harvested and that should said crop after arriving to maturity be wasted or destroyed that said freedmen and women are to be responsible for the same. The said freedmen and women further agree to feed clothe themselves and pay their doctor bills receiving at the end of the year or when the crop is harvested two thirds of all that may be made by them and

People Named: Ned Stevens, Sandy Stevens, Xerxes Stevens, Peter Stevens, Die Stevens, Sam Wright, Hary [alt: Harry] Wright, George Wilkins, Lucinda Wilkins, Kate Wilkins, Henry Wilkins, George Gould, Binah Gould, Venus Gould, Isaac Simpson, Emma Simpson, Henry Baker, Bella Dunham, Candis Baker, Prince Dunham, Hary [alt: Harry] Dunham, Toney Elliott, Daphne Elliott, Israel Way, Henrietta Elliott, Alick [alt: Ellick] Bacon, Kate Williams, James Thompson, Harriet Thompson, Eliza Winn, Lydia Cassels, Titus Quarterman, Margaret Quarterman, Peter Winn, Nellie Winn [Begin Transcript] [Transcriber’s Note: L.J. Mallard = Lazarus John Mallard; C.S. Mallard = Cyrus Stevens Mallard] State of Georgia, Liberty County } This agreement made this 21st day of May 1866 between L.J. Mallard & C.S. Mallard of the 1st part & the freedmen & women of the 2d part, whose names are undersigned witnesseth that they have entered into the following contract for labor on plantation of Est. W.S. Baker during the year 1866. [Transcriber’s note: probably William Samuel Baker, died 1862] 1st L.J. Mallard & C.S. Mallard of the 1st part do pledge themselves & are hereby bound to furnish the dwellings necessary for the laborers (as houses) also as much land as they may need for planting & they

People Named: M.H. Bird, James W. Bird, I.L. Bird, R.P. Bird, Frances Bird [Begin Transcript] State of Georgia, Liberty County }January 1st 1866 Memorandum of agreement between the heirs of J.R. Bird late of the aforesaid state & county deceased party of the first part and a certain freed woman whose named is hereunto subscribed and her children of the second part. This agreement witnesseth that said heirs doth agree to feed clothe and (nurse when sick) said freed woman and her eight children for twelve months or until Jan. 1st 1867. Said freed woman on her part doth agree to faithfully perform all work or labour which may be assigned to her by said heirs. Said freed woman doth further agree to render both her own and also her children’s services to said heirs from time to time as may be required by said heirs. Said freed woman doth also obligate to secure to said heirs until Jan 1st 1867 the personal services of all of her children. The said heirs doth further agree to pay said freed woman at the close of the present year in addition to the compensation above stated the sum of ($50) fifty dollars.