Contract Between Burton W. Bellamy & James Bellamy

Freedmen's Bureau Labor Records

Sharecropper Contracts

Labor Contracts

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

Bellamy, Burton W.

State Archives of Florida, Series L346

1867-01-04

Bellamy, James

contracts

eng-US

Text

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L346

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Jefferson County (Fla.)

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Agreement made this fourth day of January A.D. 1867, BETWEEN B.W. Bellamy of the first part and Jos. Bellamy, a Freedman and a foreman (upon the plantation of the said party of the first part) of the second part, all of the County Jefferson and the State of Florida, Witnesseth, That the party of the second part, in consideration of the promises and agreements on the part of the party of first part hereinafter mentioned, agrees as follows: 1. To take charge of that part of the plantation B.W. Bellamy and known as the [blank] acres, more or less, as foreman, and to employ laborers who he will require to plant and work faithfully and industriously, according to the orders of said B.W. Bellamy or his agent, until the 24th day of December next. 2. To follow implicitly, the orders of said B.W. Bellamy or his agent, in reference to the cultivation and labor to be done upon said plantation. 3. To discharge any laborer who shall be guilty of idleness, dishonesty, disobedience of orders, or any other bad conduct, as required to do so by the party of the first part, or his agent. 4. To take good and proper care of mules and farming utensils, and see that the mules are not used for any purpose other than farming purposes, except to send for a physician. 5. To become responsible to the party of the first part for wanton injury inflicted upon any mules or farming utensil entrusted to any of the employees of the said foreman. 6. He will not use or allow any of the laborers to use or bring upon the said plantation any kind of ardent or spirituous liquors, except for medical purposes, without the permission of the party of the first part. 7. He will not allow the gathering of persons upon said plantation without permission of the said party of the first part, or his agent. 8. He will not allow anyone to visit said plantation, unless he or they report to the party of the first part, or his agent, and receive permission therefor. And, in consideration of the aforesaid promises and agreements, said party of the first part agrees to furnish said foreman with mules and farming utensils for the proper cultivation of said land. He also agrees to provide said foreman with provisions for himself and those in his employment, at market prices or as per agreement, and the amount of money due said party of the first part on account thereof to be deducted from the portion or share of the crop due said foreman and his laborers at the end of the year. He also agrees to pay and turn over to said foreman all the cotton produced on said land by said foreman and his laborers, saving and excepting therefrom to himself 40 bales, weighing lbs. 450 each; also, one-half of all the corn-fodder, sugar and syrup saved thereon, together with the whole of everything else saved saved upon said plantation. It is mutually understood by and between the parties hereto, that if, from any cause other than idleness or other bad conduct on the part of said foreman and his employes, or either or any of them, they should fail to make the number of bales of cotton of the weight above mentioned due to said party of the first part, the said party of the first part will pay them, in money, a reasonable compensation for their services. In case said foreman shall give just cause for his dismissal from said plantation, then and in case he shall be dismissed therefrom by said party of the first part, or his agent, any allowances due him at the time of such dismissal shall be forfeited, if so determined by a board of arbitration composed of two reliable citizens and the agent of the B.R.F. & A.L., to whom all disputes not settled shall be submitted. IN WITNESS THEREOF, said parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Burton W. Bellamy Jos. Bellamy [his X mark] Sealed and delivered in presence of William Flouring J.R. Mayes

No. 108 Contract B.W. Bellamy Jos. Bellamy, Freedman 40 Bales cotton Approved February 26, 1867 A.B. Grumwell Bt. Capt. & S.A. Com B.R.F. & A.L.