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Records of the Assistant
Commissioner for the State of Tennessee
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865 - 1869
National Archives Microfilm Publication M999, Roll 20
"Indentures of Apprenticeship Dec. 1865 - Feb. 1868, Contracts: Jan. 1, 1865 - Jan.
1, 1868"
Miscellaneous Freedmen Work Contracts - Tennessee
Indentures were preprinted or hand written forms giving
pertinent data concerning the contractual parties, dates of apprenticeship, and including
a statement of the obligations and responsibilities of each party.
This indenture made and
entered into on the 1st day of Jan 1866 by and between Benj. F. Duncan
of the 1st part and William Duncan, Dandridge Ward & Steven
Rembert - all col'd of 2nd part. Witnesseth that the party of the 2nd
part has this day entered into a contract with the party of the 1st part to
work all of Benj. Duncans farm he now resides on (except 17 acres) (B. F. Duncan securing
the services of Dock Hunt, (col'd) to help on farm). B. F. Duncan is to draw a
portion of said crop in the same proportion that the parties of the 2nd part do
for securing services of Dock Hunt. The land; services mentioned is to be one third
planted & cultivated in corn and two thirds planted and cultivated in cotton. The corn
crop is to belong exclusively to B. F. Duncan and one half of the cotton crop. The
remainder of cotton it being one half is to go to the party of the 2nd part all
of which is to be well cultivated and gathered together by partys of 2nd part
with the services of Dock Hunt. We of 2nd part agrees to treat the lands we
have the use of well and attend well to them. The team is to be furnished by B. F. Duncan.
We of 2nd part agree to furnish oursleves in provisions and clothing or if we
draw the same from B. F. Duncan we are to pay a small (?) market price for them to be
taken out of our crop hereafter. We of 2nd part agree to obey all orders from
B. F. Duncan or anyone he may appoint foreman on the place and attend to stock etc. on
place and when we are not at work in crop to do anything on farm that is to be done. In
short we agree to make good farmhands and if we fail to make a good crop and each of
negligence or laziness we agree to forfeit enough of our part to make B. F. Duncan's part
equal to that portion of a good crop heretofore mentioned. We of 2nd part agree
that we will be charged one dollar and 30/100 for each day we miss from work to be charged
respectively to our accts. by B. F. Duncan and at the end of the year it is to all to be
added up and our half of the (illegible) to be divided equally and credited to each ones
acct. and the other half is to be credited to B. F. Duncan. We of 2nd part
agree to be polite and attentive to our duty. Signed in the presence of
Signed
H. F. (illegible)
William
(X) Duncan
W. B. Palmore
Stephen
(X) Rembert
Hugh Cowan
Dandridge
(X) Ward
F. F. Stewart
B.
F. Duncan
C. A. Hill
This indenture of
Bargain and agreement made and entered into in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight and
Sixty Five (1865) Dec 23 by and between Thomas J. Ross of the County of Shelby
& State of Tennessee of the first part and the Freedmen on the Rosstown
Plantation in County & State aforesaid whose names will appear below of the second
part, witnesseth that whereas the said Thomas J. Ross agrees to employ the said Freedmen
to plant and raise a crop on his Rosstown Plantation for the year 1866 in Shelby County,
Tenn. On the following Rules, Regulations and Renumerations. To wit-the said Ross agrees
to furnish the land to cultivate, and a sufficient number of mules & horses and feed
them to make and house said crop and all necessary farming utensils to carry on the same
and to give unto said Freedmen whose names appear below one half of all the cotton, corn
and wheat that is raised on said place for the year 1866 after all the necessary expenses
are deducted out that accrues on said crop. Outside of the Freedmen's labor in harvesting,
carrying to market and selling the same and the said Freedmen whose names appear below
covenant and agrees to and with said Thomas J. Ross that for and in consideration of one
half of the crop before mentioned that they will plant, cultivate, and raise under the
management control and Superintendence of said Ross, in good faith, a cotton, corn and oat
crop under his management for the year 1866. And we the said Freedmen agrees to furnish
ourselves & families in provisions, clothing, medicine and medical bills and all, and
every kind of other expenses that we may incur on said plantation for the year 1866 free
of charge to said Ross. Should the said Ross furnish us any of the above supplies or any
other kind of expenses, during said year, are to settle and pay him out of the nett
proceeds of our part of the crop the retail price of the county at time of sale or any
price we may agree upon-The said Ross shall keep a regular book account, against each and
every one or the head of every family to be adjusted and settled at the end of the year.
We furthermore bind ourselves to and with said Ross that we will do good work and labor
ten hours a day on an average, winter and summer. The time to run from the time we
commence to the time we quit. The time we are going to and from work shall not be computed
or counted in the time. We further agree that we will loose all lost time, or pay at the
rate of one dollar per day, rainy days excepted.
In sickness and women
lying in childbed are to loose the time and account for it to the other hands out of his
or her part of the crop at the same rates that she or they may receive per annum.
We furthermore bind
ourselves that we will obey the orders of said Ross in all things in carrying out and
managing said crop for said year and be docked for disobedience and
further bind ourselves that we said Freedmen will keep up the fences around the
enclosures, and lots especially and if any rails be missing by burning or otherwise
destroyed by said Freedmen, we will pay for the same or otherwise reconstruct the fence
anew at our expense-we futhermore agree and bind ourselves that the Freedmen's half of the
crop shall be divided among the laborers as follows
The nett sum told shall
be added together, and divided by the number of hands that raise it and find out what an
average share will be then divide among the hands as follows
--First class working
men and non breeding women shall have 1/10 more than second class of woman and boys and
girls from 14-18 year, same ratio.
--All first class
single women with children and second class of same description shall have the sum prorate
as the first and second class of women with children provided they work 10 hours a day, as
the others or make their time good up to 10 hrs a day out of their wages or part of their
crop. Boys & girls from 12 to 14 years of age is to be graded the same rate.
--All is responsible
for all farming utensils that is on hand or may be placed in care of said Freedmen for the
year 1866 to said Ross and are also responsible to said Ross if we carelessly, maliciously
maltreat any of his stock for said year to said Ross for damages to be assessed out of our
wages for said year, all of which is understood by us Freedmen in the foregoing contract,
or agreement, the said Ross assigning his name and ours following. It is further agreed by
us whose names appear below that we will keep a sufficiency of firewood hawled up at all
times and make fires in the room of said Ross, when desired, attend to all stock properly,
under direction of said Ross.
--It is further agreed by a
special agreement with Herod and his wife Linda, whose names appear below
that the said Ross furnishes one fourth of provisions consisting of meal, and meat for
said year. Furnish medicine and hire attention whilst in sickness to himself wife and four
children, Ralph, Rinda, Osborn and Zackery. Rinda
is to act as nurse and have her meals and clothing free for her services to said Ross. Osborn
& Zackery to wait in minor matters, Ralph to work on the farm.
The foregoing obligations are sufficiently understood by us as Freedmen and hereby assign
our marks with names attached, with a witness, the said Ross assigning first.
Witness
Wm. Stublen
Thomas
J. Ross
Herod
(X) Pap
The
special agreement with Herod & wife Linda applies to all below.
Witness to the last five names
Thomas
J. Ross
C. W.
Hill Samuel
(X) Johnson
Thomas
(X) Richard
Tinny
(X) Fitch
Jessie
(X) Simmons
Sophe
(X) Pruden
She
assigns for Henry & Frances
Henry
(X) Pruden
Frances
(X) Pruden
Elijah
(X) Smith
Tyre H. Walton Contract, Dyer County, January 1, 1865.
Tyre Walton & Patrick Light have this day
entered into an agreement as follows. T. H. Walton is to furnish a mule or horse plow,
feed for said mule or horse-also provide for said Patrick & wife. Patrick is to
furnish his & his wife clothes and pay their own Doctors bills-said Patrick (illegible
passage)-In consideration for said Patrick's labor he is to have (illegible) of the crop.
(Remainder of agreement illegible---handwriting barely visible).
Tyre
H. Walton
Patrick
(X) Light
Patrick wife to do the house wash for said Walton
Acknowledged
W. H. Parks and Jess,
a freedmen formerly belonging to said Parks, have entered into the following agreement. Jess is to work for said Parks during the year 1866 with
the other farm hands. He is to work under the direction of Parks and heretofore is to have
one half the corn & cotton he makes and will have a garden patch to himself. Is to pay
for his provisions and clothing out of his part of the crop, but they are to be furnished
him by said Parks at their fair value. Said Parks furnishes him a comfortable cabin for
his family and if the parties hereto cannot agree upon what is one half of what Jess makes
then they are to leave it to witnessed men to settle it. Said Parks furnishes everything
necessary to make the crop and if Jess works at anything else besides the crop, repairing
fences, moving manure or other (illegible) say work about the farm he is to be paid for
such work at the rate two hundred dollars per year.
Jany 4 1863
H.
Parks {seal}
R. H. Parks
Jess
(X) Parks
C. S. Parks
T. S. Wyatt
W.
B. Tipton Supt. Of Dis.
For
Dyer County, Tenn
fees paid
Ack
Know all men by these
Presents, that L. W. Smith of the County of Dire (Dyer) State
of Tennessee held and firmly bound to the United States of America in the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars, for the payment of which I bind
myself, Heirs, Executors and Administrators firmly, by these presents in this Contract. That I am to furnish the persons whose names are
subjoined (freed laborers) Quarters, Fuel, substantial and healthy Rations, all necessary
Medical Attendance and Supplies in case of sickness and the amount set opposite their
respective names per month, during the continuation of this Contract-the laborers to be
paid in full before the final disposal of the crop which is to be raised by them
on plantation of the lumber sawed by him and rel. in the County of ____________
State of ______________.
No. Name
Age
Rate of pay per month
- Jas. Brown
35
18.00
- Isaac Lilure
26
18.00
- Henry Ward
35
10.00
- Lucinda Anderson 23
5.00
December 14th
1865. An agreement between A. Cherry & Andy Jordan for 1866. A. Cherry
agrees to furnish Andy twenty acres of land to cultivate and one horse and two set of
gears one turning plow one shovel plow and feed for the two horses and a house to live in
and Andy Jordan agrees to cultivate the said 25 acres of land and geather the crop and
deliver one half of the cotton and one half of the corn that he raises on said land to A.
Cherry for his part.
Attest
W. W. Beasley Andrew
Jordan aged 45
A.
Cherry
H. Redick Jr. Ziller
aged 25
Andy
(X) Jordan
John
aged 14
W.
B. Tipton Supt. of Dis.
Harriet
aged 12
Dyer
County, Tenn
Know all men by these
presents that Mr. J. G. Thomason & Co. and heirs and family bound unto the
United States of America in the sum thirteen hundred dollars for the payment of which we
bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents in this
contract that we pay to the persons whose names are subjoined (freed laborers) Quarters,
Fuel and substantial Rations, the amount set opposite their names per month during the
continuance of this contract, the laborers to be paid in full before the termination of
its year.
No. Name
Age
Rate
of pay per month
- Anthony Stevens
37 years
18.66 2/3
- Charly Stevens wife
26
18.00
- Francis Stevens
16
Farmhand
will ration
- Bailey Swope
18.00
The laborers are
to work well and faithfully for the said J. G. Thomason & Co. within Steam Saw Mill in
Dyer County, Tennessee for and during the year 1866.
The said laborers are to be responsible for loss of
time and the sum shall be deducted from their wage respectively due them-
The amount paid by the said J. G. Thomason & co. for
medicine and medical attendance for the said laborers shall be likewise withheld from
their wages due the laborers for whom the sum may be (illegible).
This covenant is to commence on the 1st
day of Jany 1866 and terminate with the year 1866.
Given in duplicate at Dyersburg this 26th
day of December 1865.
J. G. Thomason & Co.
W. B. Tipton Supt. FB
Dec 26 1865
Dyersburg, Tenn
I, Marshall King obligate myself to give Lewis
Harris one fourth of all the corn, cotton and tobacco that is raised on my farm. I
will furnish 25 acres of land also 2 horses and farming tools. That I am to furnish Quarters, Fuel, Substantial and healthy Rations. I Lewis Harris agree to furnish my clothes and medical
attendance and supplies in case of sickness. I also agree to loose the time that I am
sick.
Marshall King
Lewis Harris
Article of agreement between Mrs. E. B. Malory &
servant girl Charlotte for the year 1866.
The said girl Charlotte is to cook, wash iron &
attend to any and all domestic duties that may be required of her. Is also to feed and
take special care of all stock belonging to said Mrs. Malory. Is also to cultivate
whatever ground Mrs. Malory may desire.
Is to be a good and faithful servant and execute any
and all orders promptly, that said Mrs. Malory may suppose to give. Said Mrs. E. B. Malory
is to furnish said Charlotte with a comfortable room to board her & her two children,
to clothe them comfortably, & pay the Doctor bills of the same.
Witness our hand and seal
This 25th Dec 1865
Attest
J. D. Powell
Mrs.
E. B. Malory {seal}
Charlotte
(X) {seal}
A contract with Morning
Smith (John & Alice 15 years old) agrees to work for me W. W.
Davis this ensuing year and I agree to give her eighty dollars for her services and
more to spin & make her own clothes. Said Davis is to furnish cotton per to make them
wheel and one pair to two older children & to obey in all things and if their time is
out they are to forfeit their wages. This 20 Dec 1865.
W. W. Davis
W. B. Tipton, Supt. of Dis.
for Dyer County, Tenn
Acknowledge
This indenture made and
entered into between Mark Spence of the County of Dyer & State of Tennessee of
the first part and all of his Negro farmhands to wit Charles, Nat, Edd, Henry, Bill,
Margret, Tennessee and Mary, being the parties of the second part
witness that the party of the first part both least and to farm let unto the parties of
the second part about sixty or seventy acres of corn land and some eighteen or twenty
acres of cotton land for the term of twelve months from the start of the contract which
the parties of the second part binds themselves to cultivate well and pay the party of the
first part one half of the crop, to be gethered and delivered into the crib of the party
of the first part. The party of the first binds himself to furnish all necessary farming
implements also mules or horses to cultivate said farm and to feed said team. The parties
of the second part agree that the above girl Mary shall stay in the house
to wait on the party of the first part for which service the party of the first part
agrees to feed and clothe said girl. The parties of the second part bind themselves to
gether and take care of the crop now in the field and to keep the fence in good repair and
to keep plenty of firewood and to attend to feeding and taking care of all the stock of
the party of the first part. The parties of the second part bind themselves to feed and
clothe themselves and pay their Doctors Bill. The parties of the second part further bind
themselves to cut & get out the wheat crop now growing and to deliver said wheat into
the barn of party of the first part on which the party of the first part bind himself to
give to the parties of the second part the amount of wheat that may grow on three acres of
the ground that being all the party of the first part is to pay for taking care of said
crop. The paties of the second part binds themselves to work up the apple crop if any for
one half of the proceeds and also to work the garden and potato patch. In witness whereof
we have set our hands and affixed our seals this December the Twenty-Eighth day One
Thousand Eight Hundred & Sixty Five.
Test. - J. E. Spence Mark
Spence
N. R. Prichard Charles
(X) Spence
He that fails to comply Nat
(X) Spence
with the above contract Edd
(X) Spence
shall forfeit his or her wages. Bill
(X) Spence
Margret
(X) Spence
Tennessee
(X) Spence
Mary
(X) Spence
Henry
(X) Spence
This contract made and
entered into this 29th day of December 1865 between Joel A. Light & Tom
and his wife (freedmen) all of Dyer County, Tennessee. The said Light agrees to furnish
the land and horses and tools feed for horses and their provisions and give them one third
of the crop they may cultivate. The above named parties Tom & his wife to pay their
own doctors bills & furnish their own clothing and to do all necessary work on the
farm repairing & taking care and feeding stock and the said Tom's wife is to assist in
doing work about the house & to milk and cook when necessary. This contract to
continue for one year from this date.
Tom
aged
about
29 years
Lydia
aged
about
24 years
Witness
J. D. Whitson
J. H. Fowlkes
Thomas
(X) Light
Lydia
(X) Light
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