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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 contract made and entered into this 29th day of December 1865 between Joel A. Light & Gibson & his wife Leann (freedmen) all of Dyer County State of Tennessee.
The said Light agrees to furnish the land tools & horses to cultivate the same and to furnish the said parities & their family their provisions & give them one third of the crop they may cultivate-the said freedmen furnish their own clothing & pay their own doctors bills. Leann to do cooking washing and all necessary house work & she is spin & work for herself when not employed in house work. The said Gibson is to attend to the stock & to do all necessary work in keeping up the farm. This contract to continue one year from this date.
Gibson aged
about 30 years
Leann about
28 years old
Witness Gibson (X) Light
J. D. Whitson Leann (X) Light
Witness
J. H. Fowlkes
Agreement made and entered into between W. S. Byars of the one part and Louisa Byars a freed woman of the other part; witnesseth that the said W. S. Byars agrees to pay to the said Louisa Byars on the 1st day of January 1867 the sum of two hundred dollars and to feed the said woman and her three children and to be at no other expense.
And the said Louisa Byars agrees on her part to be subject to the controls of the said W. S. Byars and to cause her children to be the same during the year eighteen hundred and sixty six.
To which we affix our hands and seals this December 29th 1865.
J. A. Byars W. S. Byars
W. T. Byars Louisa (X) Byars
W. B. Tipton Supt. Dyer County
Know all men by these presents, that I A. Eanoch of the County of Dyer, State of Tennessee am held and firmly bound to the United States of America in the sum of ___________ Dollars for the payment of which I bind myself, Heirs & Executors & Administrators firmly by these presents in this Contract. That I am to furnish the persons whose names are subjoined (freed laborers) Quarters, Fuel, Substantial food Rations, all necessary medical attendance and supplies in case of sickness and the amount hereinafter mentioned 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 my plantation in the County of Dyer Sate of Tennessee.
Robert Wynne 35
Becca his wife 30
Nancy Ann his daughter 14
& three other small children
George Eanoch & 45
Mariah his wife 37
Samuel their son 16
Elizabeth their daughter
Henry Eanoch & 35
Hannah his wife 30
Sarah their daughter
& 2 small children
The conditions of the contract with the above named Freedmen & their families are such that the said A. Eanoch is to furnish land and teams and farming utensils. Also Joseph W. Eanoch is to be paid the sum of Two Hundred & Fifty Dollars ($250) out of the crop. The said freedmen are then to receive for their labour one half of the corn, cotton & tobacco. The small grain and all other products of the farm to belong to said Eanoch alone.
The said Freedmen to furnish their own provisions & clothing & paying their own medical bill & all other expenses or if any part of the same be furnished by the said Eanoch the same shall be charged at the market price and the same deducted from their portion of the crop. The said freedmen are to work unconditionally under the direction of said Eanoch & perform all labour of what ever kind as directed by him.
This contract is to commence at this date & close with the year 1866.
Given in duplicate at office in Dyersburg this 30th Dec 1865.
W. B. Tipton Supt. of Dist.
Dyer County, Tenn
Know all men by these presents that I, Allen Harris of County of Dyer and State of Tennessee am held and firmly bound to the United States of America in the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, for the payment of which I bind myself, my 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 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 the plantation in the County of Dyer State of Tennessee.
Wallace Harris
his wife and 4 children
Nick Harris
his wife and 3 children
Harrison Walker
his wife and 3 children
Ben Harris
his wife and 5 children
Richard Harris
his wife and 6 children
Adeline Harris, 30
Bob Harris
Antony Harris
The conditions of the above contract are such that the above named Freedmen are to perform faithful and regular work for the said A. Harris during the year 1866 commencing the first January and work six days in the week and account for all lost time. They further agree to cook and do the necessary feeding of stock on Sunday. In consideration of which I am to give the said Freedmen one fourth part of all the cotton, tobacco and wheat made on my farm during the year 1866. I also furnish clothing and if they leave before the contract is filled they are to forfeit their labor.
Know all men by these presents that J. W. Doyle administrator of the estate of James H. Doyle deceased of the County of Dyer State of Tennessee am held and firmly bound unto the United States of America in the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for the payment of which he binds himself, his successors on assigned land and the Heirs of said estate firmly by these presents in this Contract. That he is to furnish the persons whose names are subjoined (freed laborers) Quarters, Substantial Rations, Medical Attendance and Supplies in case of sickness (but anything by him so expended to be repaid by said Freedmen) and the wages and share of the crop set down to each during the continuance of this contract to be paid in full before or at the final disposition of the crop which is to be raised by them on the plantation belonging to the estate of the said Jas. H. Doyle decd in the County of Dyer State of Tennessee.
The Conditions of this Contract are as follows-
Harry Doyle aged 32 and his son __________ aged about 11 years are to labor on said plantation under the direction of the said W. C. Doyle or his manager, faithfully, honestly, willingly until time to plant a crop next spring. Then Harry is to be furnished with land to cultivate, a mule or horse to work, farming tools and provision for the mule or horse; He with his son shall plant and cultivate a crop separately for themselves and gather & house the same. And are to have one half of everything they raise. Harry is to be responsible for anything lost, broken or destroyed by him or his son and for good treatment to said horse or mule; to cloth and pay medical bills for himself and son. They are to help cut, tie up, shuck and thrash the wheat crop now growing and to help sow wheat next fall but to have no part of either. Shall not use mule or horse only for farmwork without special permission; and to pay the said Doyle fifty dollars for their board. The crop to be liable to said W. A. Doyle for any and all just accounts, advancements, loans and the board-Am to be sold by said Doyle only.
Betty Doyle aged 35 and her daughter Isabel aged 16 years are to work in the house or on the farm as the said W. C. Doyle or his manager shall direct. To do good and faithful labor, to cloth themselves and pay their own medical bills. And at the end of the year the said W. C. Doyle shall pay them respectively (first deducting anything expended by him for medical attendance & supplies, advancements, and for anything by either of them lost or destroyed) the following sums, first: To Betty Doyle One Hundred Dollars for the year. To Isabel Fifty Dollars for the year.
This contract is to commence this date and close with the year 1866.
Given in duplicate at Dyersburg this 30th day of December 1865.
W. C. Doyle Admin of
Jas. H. Doyle decd
Witness
W. B. Tipton Supt. of Dist.
Dyer County, Tenn
Registered at Dyersburg 1865
Know all men by these Presents that A. Stevens and (illegible) of the County of Dyer State of Tennessee, held and firmly bound to the United States of America in the sum of One Hundred Dollars, for the payment of which I bind my 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 continuance of this contract-The laborers to be paid in full before the final disposal of the crop which is to be raised by them at mills and plantation, in the County of Dyer State of Tennessee.
Henry Tipton 30 20 10/12
David Reeder 28 20 10/12
This contract is such that Henry Tipton and David Reeder agrees to work with A. M. Stevens & Co. this year for Five Hundred & Fifty Dollars; to furnish themselves & family's with everything they wish but not to leave without aut. consent or they forfeit their wages and if they loose time it is to be deducted off of their wages.
This contract is to commence with this date and close with the year 1866. Given in duplicate, at Dyersburg this 27 day of Dec 1865.
Witness W. B. Tipton Supt. of Dist.
Dyer County, Tenn
Registered at office Dec 30 1865
Articles of agreement entered into between John E. Spence and Haff a colored boy.
I, John E. Spence agrees to give Haff eight acres of corn and one acre of cotton. I am to give him two months after crops are down to work for himself.
He is to commence the first day of January 1866 and to work until the twenty fourth day of December 1866 and be governed by my rules and regulations. Haff is to board himself, furnish his clothing and pay his doctors bills and medicines.
Dated at Dyersburg, Tenn J. E. Spence {seal}
This December 30th 1865
Attest J. W. Redding Acknowledged &
E. E. Spence fees paid
W. A. Slaton has hired Limber Smith for this year and is to give him One Hundred & Fifty Five Dollars & feeds & clothes & pay the medical bill. The medical bill and clothing is to be deducted out of his wages and said laborer is to make a faithful hand and obey said Slaton in all things and if he fails in his contract he is to forfeit his wages.
W. A. Slaton
W. B. Tipton Supt. of Dist.
for Dyer County, Tenn
I this day have hired Anthony Perry from the present date until Christmas 1866. I am to give him Seventy Five Dollars $75.00 and find him his victuals & some every day clothes for his labour. He is to work on the farm and do anything about the farm that I order or place that I tell him to do; he pays his own doctors bill & if he looses time it is docted from his wages.
W. E. Copeland
W. B. Tipton Supt. of Dist.
for Dyer County, Tennessee
I, J. F. Carruthers has hired Moses Thacker & Letty Carruthers for this year and gives Moses One Hundred & Twenty Dollars & gives Letty Seventy Five Dollars and clothe her. The lost time to be taken out of their wages. Moses is to clothe himself. They are to work faithfully, be obedient & respectful to said J. F. Carruthers and jointly do all directed to do.
J. F. Carruthers
W. B. Tipton Supt. of Dist.
for Dyer County, Tenn
Articles of agreement entered into this day between Rody Mays and his four children of the one part & William Nelson of the other. The condition of this obligation is such that the said Rody Mays and children hath agreed to work at common labor twelve months from date of obligation. To make good and faithful hands. The said William Nelson on his part hath agreed to furnish the said Rody & children a sufficient quantity of food & clothing for this year and pay their doctors bill. The said William Nelson doth further agree to pay in addition to the above One Hundred Dollars to Henry (?) at the end of the year. Now if the said Rody & children should comply with the above obligation the obligation to remain in full force otherwise void.
Attest Rody (X) Mays
J. H. Fry W. M. Nelson
I. Harry W. B. Tipton Supt. DC
J. F. Sinclair
Know all men by these Presents that Jas. S. Herrod & Bro. of the County of Dyer and State of Tennessee are held and firmly bound to the United States of America in the sum of Four Hundred Dollars for the payment of which we bind our Heirs, Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents in this contract. That we are to furnish the said Lewis and his wife and (3) children (freed laborers) Quarters, Fuel, Substantial and healthy Rations, all necessary medical Attendance and Supplies in case of sickness and Two Hundred Dollars for the year 1866, and a dress for his wife & their children and pair of shoes for his wife & children. The medical bill and supplies to be deducted from the said wage of the said Lewis & wife. We reserve the privilege of termination this contract at anytime upon ten days notice and pay for the time said freed laborers have worked. Time lost by sickness or otherwise to be deducted.
Jas. J. Herrod & Bros.
W. B. Tipton Supt. Dist.
Attest
M. J. Clay
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