Contract Between Joseph Reid & Sam Scripps, Jack Hutson, et.al.

Freedmen's Bureau Labor Records

Sharecropper Contracts

Labor Contracts

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

Reid, Joseph

State Archives of Florida, Series L346

1867-03-31

Scripps, Sam

Hutson, Jack

Gilmore, Dick

Morris, Jake

Morris, Nat

Evrett, Diana

contracts

eng-US

Text

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L346

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Jefferson County (Fla.)

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State of Florida County of Jefferson This agreement made and entered into between Joseph Reid of the first part, and Sam Scruggs, Jack Hutson, Dick Gilmore, Jake Morris, Nat Morris, Dianna Evrett of the second part and of the County and State aforesaid. Witnessesth, that the said party of the second part for the consideration hereinafter mentioned do hereby covenant and agree with the said party of the first part, that they will labor upon his plantation during this present year, that during said time they will to the best of their knowledge, skill and ability will and faithfully serve the said party of the first part performing all the customary labors of a plantation laborer, and obey all the orders of the said party of the first part, his agent or representative, that they will labor from daylight until twilight with an intermission of a half an hour for breakfast, and one and a half hours for dinner, that they will not purloin to the detriment of the party of the first part, any property from the plantation aforesaid or entrusted to their care, and should any property be injured or destroyed by the said party of the second part wilfully, maliciously, or from neglect such one or ones so injuring or destroying said property shall be charged the full value of the property as injured or destroyed, that the said party of the second part will not leave the plantation aforesaid without the permissions of the said party of the first part. When any of the party of the second part shall be sick it shall be at the option of the said party of the first part to charge them 75 c pr day, said money to be divided like his part. In case of the violation of this agreement without good and sufficient cause, the said party of the second part so offending shall be discharged from

the plantation and forfeit the amount decided upon by a board of arbitration hereinafter mentioned. In consideration whereof the said party of the first part for himself, his executors and administrators doth covenant that he will furnish houses for them to occupy during the existence of this agreement, that he will furnish land for them to cultivate and a sufficient number of mules and forage for the mules, and all the farming utensils, and pay them (½) half of all the corn, fodder, potatoes, sugar & syrup, and one third (⅓) of all the cotton raised & gathered [crossed out: and for expenses for Miss Kit] during the present year by the aforesaid laborers in the aforesaid plantation. All monies forfeited on account of sickness or absence shall be divided as follows: the said Reid to take (⅔) two-thirds and the balance to be divided amongst the said party of the second part. It is further agreed by the parties to this contract that if any differences shall arise on account of this contract which cannot be mutually settled, it shall be submitted to a board of arbitration composed of two reliable citizens, one selected by each, and the agent of the B.R.F & A. L. whose decision shall be final.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this the 31st day of March AD 1867. Joseph Reid Sam Scruggs [his X mark] Jack Hutson [his X mark] Dick Gilmore [his X mark] Jake Morris [his X mark] Nat Morris [his X mark] Dianna Evrett [her X mark] Witness J.P. Grantham W. R. Grantham

No. 225 Joseph Reid & Freedmen Portion of crops Approved July 30th 1867 A.B. Grumwell Bt. Capt & S.A.Com. B.R.F. & A. Lands