Contract Between E. Drake & Francis Reed, Georgianna, et.al.

Freedmen's Bureau Labor Records

Sharecropper Contracts

Labor Contracts

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

Drake, E.

State Archives of Florida, Series L346

1867-01-07

Reed, Francis

Reed, Georgianna

Reed, Andrew

Nielsons, Isaac

Linton, Julia

Hill, Adam

Hughes, D.

Hill, Hunter

Hill, Sophia

Hall, Harry

Smith, Julia

Jones, Jackson

Douglas, Lucius

Walker, Reid

Toombs, Edward

Coleman, George

Callaway, Zachariah

Reeves, Charles

Jaynes, Nathan

Douglas, George

Douglas, H.

contracts

eng-US

Text

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L346

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Jefferson County (Fla.)

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Contract between E. Drake and undersigned Freemen & women This agreement made and entered into this seventh day of January, one thousand eight hundred sixty-seven, between E. Drake, party of the first part, of Jefferson County, Florida, and the undersigned Freedmen & Freedwomen laborers, party of the second part. Witnesseth that the said Drake, in consideration of the covenants on the part of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, doth covenant and agree to and with the undersigned party of the second part, that he, said Drake, will furnish land, team, & provender [therefore], all necessary implements for the preparation and tillage of said land. Further agrees to give to the said party of the second part one third of the cotton and half of the corn & fodder raised and harvested by them on the land now cleared, and one half of all produced on the land said laborers may clear. Further agrees to supply said party of the second part with such provisions as they may need at market prices at delivery, and waits until the close of the year for pay, all corn furnished to them to be replaced same in amount, other provisions paid for in money or produce as the parties may agree. Further said Drake reserves to himself the exclusive privilege of conducting the operations of the plantation to himself or agent and it is further agreed that if any differences shall arise which the parties to this contract cannot neutrally settle, the same to be submitted to a board of arbitration composed of two reliable citizens and the agent of the B.R.F. & A.L., whose decision shall be final.

And, the said party of the second part, in consideration of the covenants of the party of the first part, doth covenant and agree each one to and with the said Drake, that they will labor on the plantation belonging to him from the date of the foregoing agreement until sunset on the 24th day of December, 1867. To all of the covenants of the said Drake as set forth, we each cheerfully agree to and for our part bind ourselves to labor on said plantation at any kind of work necessary to be done on a farm or that is usually performed or required by a planter. We will do any kind of work, however trifling it may seem, that is of interest to the place or parties. We agree to labor from day light to dusk, losing only [a] half hour for breakfast. One, one [and a] half to two [and] half hours for noon, according to [the] season, and choice of said Drake, for a day’s work. And a week’s work shall begin Monday morning daylight and end Saturday sunset. We agree to pay for all loss of time at the rate of one dollar per day. Such fund to be divided according to contract. We bind ourselves to obey promptly all orders, and for disobedience, first offence to be fined one dollar, second offence two dollars, third offence expulsion from the plantation at will of said Drake. We further agree to give said Drake the preference at any produce and may have to sell at close of the year at market prices. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set four hands and seals the day and date above written.

Francis Reed [his X mark] Georgianna Reed [her X mark] Andrew Reed [his X mark] Isaac Nicksons [his X mark] Julia Linton [her X mark] Adam Hill [his X mark] David Hughes [his X mark] Hunter Hill [his X mark] Sophia Hill [her X mark] Harry Hall [his X mark] Julia Smith [her X mark] Jackson Jones [his X mark] Lucius Douglas [his X mark] Alice Douglas [her X mark] Reid Walker [his X mark] Edward Toombs [his X mark] George Coleman [his X mark] Zachariah Callancy [his X mark] Charles Reeves [his X mark] Nathan Jaynes [his X mark] George Douglas [his X mark] Henty Douglas [his X mark] E Drake E Drake I hereby certify that I explained above contracts and all parties acknowledged understanding its terms, Jany 7th, 1867. W. D Carroll J P 8th District

No 140 Contract: Francis Drake & Freedmen Portion of Crops Approved March 15, 1867 A.B. Grumwell Bt. Capt. & A. Com. B.R.F. & A.L.