Contract Between Jessee Harrell & Ned Burnett, Morgan Burnett, et.al.

Freedmen's Bureau Labor Records

Sharecropper Contracts

Labor Contracts

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

Harrell, Jessee

State Archives of Florida, Series L346

1867-01-01

Burnett, Ned

Burnett, Morgan

Burnett, Lee

Burnett, Luann

Burnett, Edwin

contracts

eng-US

Text

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L346

12

Jefferson County (Fla.)

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State of Florida County of Jefferson This agreement made and entered into this the 1st day of January AD 1867, between Jessee Harrell, the party of the first part, and the freedmen (laborers) whose names are hereunto annexed in token of their free and full understanding and acquiescence in the terms hereof of the other part witnesseth: That the said Jessee Harrell for and in consideration of and upon consideration that the said laborers shall faithfully [and] industriously work for him for and during the term of one year, i.e. until the 25th day of Decr. next, at any kind of work they may be called on to do, and faithfully fulfill the terms of this contract, he the said J. Harrell doth covenant and agree, and by these presents doth firmly bind himself unto the said laborers to give them and turn over to them one half of the corn and one third of all the other crops made by them on the plantation which they may work. It is further agreed that the said Harrell is to furnish and feed the teams used until gathering time, then they are to be fed on [common] feed, that is on feed made and undivided, each party furnishing his equal share. The said Harrell agrees to put in his stock of hogs and give one third part of the pork killed to all the laborers employed by him, each gang to receive their pro rata share of the one third, and furnish their pro rata share of feed to fatten them. The said Harrell is to furnish the tools and implements which cannot be made on the place and pay the [expenses] thereof. Each party to pay for the rope and bagging necessary to pack his share of the cotton. In case any of the laborers shall be unfaithful in the discharge of his or her duty, the said Harrell is to discharge said unfaithful laborer and

such unfaithful laborer is to forfeit such a portion of what his labor may be worth, as the Agent of the [Freedmen's Bureau] may determine. The said Harrell agrees to give them half of every other Saturday, also to furnish medicine and treat all simple cases of sickness, but when it is necessary to have a physician the party for whose benefit he is called shall pay the bill for treatment and medicine. The said Harrell also agrees to give the said laborers the buttermilk or [clabber] from his dairy that he does not need for the use of his family, on condition that said laborers or their friends on the place shall attend to and milk the cows. In consideration of the above premises, the said laborers bind themselves for the full term of one year, i.e. until the 25th day of Decr. next, as laborers unto the said Harrell, to labor faithfully, obediently, and industriously, six days in a week except half of every other Saturday as stated above, and from sunrise until dark, taking a reasonable time for dinner, say one and a half hours in winter and two hours in summer. Also, to attend to feeding and watering of stock at night and on Sundays, or perform any other work of necessity at any time. They further agree that they will be careful with the stock, not to abuse the mules, oxen, or other stock, or farming implements or any other property belonging to their employer, and if any such injury shall be inflicted personally or allowed to be inflicted by others without interference to prevent such injury, shall be charged to the person so injuring and be deducted from his part of the crop. If any of the laborers or their families on the place shall take or steal any article or thing from their employer, he, or she, shall pay double the

value thereof besides suffering the penalty of the law. They further agree that a deduction of fifty cents a day shall be made for all lost time, and for less than a day twenty five cents, except rainy days when they will do such work as can be done under shelter; that they will render implicit, unhesitating obedience to all lawful orders of their said employer or his agent, or the foreman selected to superintend their work. They further agree that without the permission of their employer they will not use any of the mules, oxen, or any other property of their employer, nor absent themselves from work on the plantation without the special permission of their employer. The hands are to furnish their own rations. If bought from their employer they are to pay the market value, or return the same amount on the 25th day of Decr. next to be deducted from their portion of the crop. The amt for lost time is to be divided between the employer and hands, the employer receiving two thirds and the hands one third. In witness of the above contract we hereunto affix our names this AD 1867: Names Jessee Harrell, Employer and a full Hand Signed in the presence Geo. W. Taylor R.B. Whitfield Names Ned Burnett - full hand [his X mark] Morgan Burnett - 3/4 hand [his X mark] Lee Burnett - 1/2 hand [his X mark] Gillam Burnett - 3/4 hand [his X mark] Edwin Burnett [his X mark]

State of Florida Jefferson County G.W. Taylor came personally before me & made oath that the written contract was read & explained to the laborers therein named & that they voluntarily executed the same in his presence. Sworn to and subscribed before me July 12, 1867, M.H. Strain, Judge of Probate Geo W. Taylor Contract Between Jessee Harrell & hands for the year 1867 No. 217 Jessee Harrell, col'd & Ned Burnett Portion of crops Approved July 12/67 A.B. Grumwell Bt. Capt. & S.A. Com. B.R.F.&A.L.