Contract Between Burton W. Bellamy & Prince 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

1867-01-16

Bellamy, Prince

contracts

eng-US

Text

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L346

12

Jefferson County (Fla.)

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GBP Agreement made this sixteenth day of January, A.D. 1867, BETWEEN B.W. Bellamy of the first part, and Prince Bellamy, Freedman and a foreman (upon the plantation of the said party of the first part), all of the County of Jefferson and 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 part of that part of the plantation belonging to said B.W. Bellamy and known as the [blank] acres, more or less, as foreman, and to employ laborers whom he will require to plant and work faithfully and industriously, according to the orders received by said foreman from said B.W. Bellamy, or his agent, until the 24th 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, if required to do so by the party of the first part, or his agent. 4. To take good and proper care of the maues 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 any wanton injury inflicted upon any mule or farming utensil entrusted to any employee 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 medicinal 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 said party of the first part, or his agent. 8. He will not allow anyone to visit said plantation, unless he or they first report to the said 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 furnish 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 thereunto himself 20 bales, weighing 450 lbs. Each; also, one-half of all the corn-fodder, sugar and syrup saved thereon, together with the whole of everything else 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 plantation, then and in case he shall be dismissed therefrom by the party of the first part, or his agent, any allowance 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 B.RF. & A.L., to whom all disputes not settled shall be submitted. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Burton W. Bellamy Prince Bellamy [his X mark] Sealed and delivered in presence of J.B. Collins William Flouring

No. 107 Contract B.W. Bellamy & Prince Bellamy, Freedman 20 bales of cotton Approved February 26, 1867 A.B. Grumwell Bt. Capt. & S.A. Com. B.R.F. & A.L.