Georgia Freedmen's Labor Contracts
African American Family at The Hermitage Plantation, Savannah, GA
Library of Congress Reproduction Number: LC-D4-34666 (b&w glass neg.)
Call Number: LC-D4-34666 [P&P]
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/det1994015798/PP/, accessed 30 Jan 2013.
No known restrictions on publication.
The Freedmen's Bureau in Georgia
The regulation of written labor agreements between planters and freedmen was a major concern of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
In September of 1865, General Davis Tillson was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the state of Georgia. In December of 1865 Tillson issued wage guidelines for Freedmen's labor. In upper and middle Georgia, where the land was poor, men's wages were set at $12–$13 per month, and $8–$10 dollars per month for women. Freedmen were to provide for their own clothing and medicines.
In other parts of the state and along the coast where land was more suited to raising large crops, men's wages were set at $15 per month, and board and lodging were to be provided. Women were to be paid $10 per month. If planters preferred to pay a share of the crop, Freedmen were to receive from one-third the gross to one half the net proceeds.
Where fair and equitable contracts could not be made, the bureau offered transportation to freedmen to such areas as southwest Georgia and the Mississippi Valley where wages were higher. By November of 1866, 381 orders had been issued for transportation for some 2,947 men and 1,013 children [1].
Please read below to view individual labor contracts as they are posted. You can click on document images to view them larger, or in full screen mode.
References Cited
[1] Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872 (NARA Micropublication M1903)
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
A J Hardee and Tibby Willliams and others
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 27, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Tibby Williams
Louisa Hunter
Emma Jones
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
A J Hardee and George Jones
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 27, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
George Jones
John Jonlssen
John Jones Jr
Simon Williams
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
T A Groover
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 16, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
G W McMurry
Ammon Adams
Ellick McMurry
Minda McMurry
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
Abner Groover
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 31, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Charles Linton and family
Thomas McLeod and family
Coleman Lewis and family
Isaiah Lee
Van Buren Linton
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
James Groover
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 7, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
John Green
Granville Mills
William Little
B W Smith
Handy Cason
Green Bemy
George Stephens
James Jamson
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
[William Patterson and 107 Freedmen] [title not on image of cover]
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 22, 1867
Frames 397-403
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Strathy Hall Plantation
Savannah
Bryan County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Dublin Glaze
March Jones
December Clark
Cumberland Bush
Tom Mack
Isaac Handy
Harry Bush
Thomas Lee
Minter Brown
Billy Coleman
Toney Bush
Prince Niles
Aleck Green
Abner White
March Drayton
Harris Slider
James Polite
Hester Polite
Peter McBride
Shadrack Johnson
Peter Jones
Sue Jones
Joe Walbergh
Eliza Walbergh
John Drayton
Peggy Drayton
Tom Handy
A Handy
Will Jones
Charlotte Bush
Moses Jenkins
Danny Brown
Nelly Brown
S Sutton
L Sutton
George Gordon
Lucy Yonge
Becky Joiles
Nann Drayton
Isaac Hines
Mary Hines
Major Anderson
Morris Blidge
Andrew Blidge
Ben Blidge
March Marshall
Emmer Marshall
P Polite
Lewis Gibbons
John Harris
Grace Jenkins
C Jones
Martha Bush
Elin Polite
Harry Polite
L Bush
Isaac Bush
P Night
Minder Night
D LaCount
P LaCount
J Brown
E Brown
Ann Brown
Ned Burroughs
Polly Burroughs
Martha Harris
R White
Hethy Younge
Jane Davidson
V Drayton
Margaret Hargrave
D Green
Smart Hazzard
J Hazzard
Ned Brown
Darcus Blidge
C Wallace
Nancy Brown
Hethy Drayton
L Drayton
Margret Clark
P Mack
R Mack
Molly Mack
Jane Handy
June Drayton
J Brown
Joe Bush
Rose Jones
Sanders Jones
Joe Morrison
Bader Morrison
Jane Gray
Nancy Habersham
Leah Jones
Sarah Bush
P Coles
J Bush
George White
S Bush
James Ward
Rose Ward
Silvey Wattham
M Night
Mungo Reed
D Reed
Minty Glaze
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
John A Edmondson
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 17, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Darisa Collier
Stephen Collier
Peter Collier
Hannah Collier
Jemima Collier
four others unnamed in family
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
Dollie Crawford and Sallie Groover
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 7, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Dolla Crawford
children
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
R D Brown
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 6, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Mariah
two children
Edmond McIntyre
Freedmen's Labor Contracts
Savannah, Georgia
Labor Contracts, 1865-1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of Georgia,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1903, Roll 82
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
Daniel Blanton
DATE OF CONTRACT:
January 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Brooks County
Georgia
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Caleb Beaseley
Rosean Kell
Rosean's two small children
Lenah McDonald
Hester Claton
Hester's three small children
