Berkeley County Freedmen's Labor Contracts, Slaveholder Surnames Beginning with "B"

Comingtee Plantation, Berkeley County, SC
Historic American Buildings Survey, www.loc.gov

Freedmen’s Bureau labor contracts were some of the earliest records which listed former slaves with newly-chosen surnames.

These records, which predate the 1870 census by several years, can provide clues for breaking through the 1870 Brick Wall by connecting census records with surnames to plantation journals with first names only.

Lowcountry Africana Co-Administrator Alana Thevenet has transcribed labor contracts for Berkeley County, SC. Here you will find records for slaveholder surnames beginning with the letter “B.”

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Freedmen’s Labor Contract
Berkeley County, SC, 1866
Records of the Field Offices for the State of South Carolina,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
MC 1910, Reel 62, Target 3

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Geo. M. Bird & Co.

DATE OF CONTRACT:

March 27, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Oakley Plantation

Charleston, S.C.

St. Johns Berkeley

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Gabriel Gibbs, fullhand
Benjamin Glover, fullhand
Sally Glover, fullhand
Casey Nisbeth, fullhand
Albert Lawrence, fullhand
Tony Brice, fullhand
Sally Vinegain, fullhand
Ellen Johnson, fullhand
Flora Bennett, halfhand
Frederick Wright, Foreman, fullhand
Grace Wright, fullhand
Billy Maziak, fullhand
Martha Maziak, fullhand
Peter Johnson, fullhand
rebecca Brown, fullhand
Lydia Swindoll, fullhand
Flora Alback, fullhand
Nippy Nelson, fullhand
(Illegible) Jane, fullhand
Fanny Nesbeth

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Charles Bensch & Scipio Days (colored)

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Aug. 2, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mount Pleasant, S.C.

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Scipio Days, house servant

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Moses Brown with E.H. Freer

DATE OF CONTRACT:

March 26, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

E.H. Freer

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

W. Izard Bull contract with Laborers

DATE OF CONTRACT:

April 30, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

St. Andrews Parish

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Thos. Green
Rina Simmons
Dolly Walker
William Walker
Bess (Illegible)
Sue Henry
Alex Washington
(Illegible) Washington

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

J.H. Barnett

DATE OF CONTRACT:

March 1, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Edisto Island

Riverside Plantation
Old Dominion Plantation
Maxey Plantation

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

None Named

Freedmen’s Labor Contract A-W
Berkeley County, SC, 1866
Records of the Field Offices for the State of South Carolina,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
MC 1910, Reel 62, Target 3

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Charles Bethune with Isaac Buckner

DATE OF CONTRACT:

June 25, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mount Pleasant, S.C.

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Isaac Buckner

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Keating S. Ball with Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Feb. 23, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Comingtee Plantation

Cooper River

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Marcus Dart, Foreman
Daniel Pinckney, halfhand
Judy Pinckney, halfhand
Becky Vanderhorst, quarterhand
Dublin Easton, halfhand
Binah Easton, halfhand
Monemia Easton, halfhand
Benjamin Gadders, halfhand
Isaac Johnson, halfhand
Rose Johnson, halfhand
Alec Ladsden, halfhand
Rachel Ladsden, halfhand
Solemon Heyward, halfhand
Sue Heyward, halfhand
Polly Simon, halfhand
Phoebe Gamble, do. hurse
Stephen Green, halfhand
Celia Green, halfhand
Mathias Withers, halfhand
Phillis Rivers, halfhand
Manza Singleton, halfhand
Bella Withers, quarterhand
Lavinia Aiken, quarterhand
Sarah Aiken, halfhand
Jane Brian, halfhand
Primus Singleton, halfhand
Cloe Singleton, halfhand
Eleg Simon, quarterhand
Devonshire Simon, halfhand
Sucky Simon, quarterhand
Peter White, halfhand
Mosey White, halfhand
Coena Watson, halfhand
Peter Broughton, halfhand
Jeffry Bennet, halfhand
Jeffry Bennet Jnr, quarterhand
Manza Roper, halfhand
Violet Roper, halfhand
Cupid Green, quarterhand
Marian Simon, halfhand
Hannah Lash, quarterhand
Hezekiah Black, halfhand
Sally Singleton, halfhand
Fender Fayall, halfhand
Nanny Wigfall, halfhand
Ezekiel Wigfall, halfhand
Carlo Wigfall, halfhand
Hannah McKnight, halfhand
Tenang McKnight, quarterhand
William Pinkney, halfhand
Rachel Evens, halfhand
Rhina Brian, halfhand
Rachel Fleming, quarterhand
Chloe Collins, halfhand
Jewel Wigfall, quarterhand
Ceasar Collins, halfhand, carpenter
Martin Parker, halfhand
Phillis Singleton, halfhand
Hannibal Singleton, halfhand
Peter Frost, hostler, halfhand
Maria Frost, halfhand
Nellis Frost
Peter Frost (Nellie and Peter are in brackets), quarterhand
Cupid Frost, halfhand
Jack Robinson, quarterhand
Marian Pinkney, quarterhand
London Ellington, halfhand, carpenter
Marcus Ellington, halfhand, blacksmith
Gibby Pinkney, halfhand, stockminder
Bella Pinkney, quarterhand
Dido Horlebeck, 1/2 hand
James Horlebeck, halfhand
Flora Collins, quarterhand
Brawley Hasgill, quarterhand
Binah Hasbill, quarterhand
Jenny Gadders, quarterhand
Dorcas Pinkney, quarterhand, midwife
Bella Broughton, quarterhand
Hannah Ellington, quarterhand
Ben Singleton, halfhand
Adam Ash, halfhand
James Collins, halfhand
Auba Collins
Susan Collins (Auba and Susan are in brackets), halfhand
Patty McKnight, halfhand
Samuel Gainey, halfhand
Longon Williams, quarter
Carlos Fork, halfhand
Fortune Gilland, halfhand
Judy Johnson, halfhand
Philip Green, halfhand

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

P.P. Bonneau & Freedmen

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Febr. 6, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Joseph Blake
Rose Blake
Rose Uger
Frank Bonneau
Susan Uger
Betsy Braddock
Louisa Seabrook
Dorcas Cowen
Lucy Bunneau
Ellen Small
Celia Thomson
Cyrus Uger
Marsh Dash
Nero Glover
Harry Graddock
Sarah Graddock
Turieser Scoot Glover
Charlotte Braizely
James Cappus
Sarah Cappus
Ned Bryant
Maryan Gillaird
Henry Chandler
Harry Wilson
Jane Wilson
Ephrian Glenn
Peggy Liston Seabrook
George Grey
Adam Simons
Peggy Simons

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

W.N. Batcheller with Freedmen & women

DATE OF CONTRACT:

March 23, 1866

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mount Pleasant, S.C.

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:

Catherine Brow
Joseph Elph
Abel Robert
M(illegible) Elph
Rinah Robert
Jacob W. Fashion
Abram Brown
Chloe O. Fashion
Martha Brown
Abram (Illegible)ison
Charles Brown
Scipio Legree
Edward Smith
Isabella Green
Ann M. Smith
David Small
Samuel Green
Edmond McDaniel
James Fordom
Elizabeth McDaniel
Antoney Turpin
Cinder Brown
Nelly Smith
Patra Capers
Hester Miler
Claus Brown
Tesby Gordan
Netta Brown
Susan Garman
Edward (llegible)
Judy Rivers
Rose Smith
Anna Legree
Eliza Gadson
Eve Howard
Joseph Nelson
Nanny Legree
Hector White
Ellen Washington
Scipio Wright
Hester Small
Cane Bryant
Richard Garman
Robert Eatis
Scipio Deveaux
Dan(illegible) Dart
Hannah Deveaux
Cenea Legree
Richard Miller
Adam Miller
Isabelle Grace
George Legree
Jenny McKnight

Freedmen’s Labor Contract
Berkeley County, SC, 1867
Records of the Field Offices for the State of South Carolina,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
MC 1910, Reel 62, Target 4

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

James C. Brown with Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Jan. 5, 1867

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Munday Peeples

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

James C. Brown with Julia Brown (col.)

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Jan. 3, 1867

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Edisto Plantation

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Julia Brown

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

James C. Brown with Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Jan. 1, 1867

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Charles Glen for self & wife

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

P.P. Bonneau with Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

May 24, 1867

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Allen Edwards
Sam Edwards
Gadsden Edwards
Sally Edwards
Florine Edwards
Columbus Edwards
Ceaser Edwards

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

John M. Bryan with Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Jan. 1, 1867

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mount Pleasant

Horlbeck Plantation

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Jacob Sumter
Aaron Wright
Guy McElvey
Alexander Squire

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

J.H. Barrett with Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

March 22, 1867

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Bailey’s Island Plantation

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Wm. Williams
David Williams
Louisa Williams
Bob Seabrook
Nannie Seabrook
Jane Peters
Jos. Lambert
Daniel Turner
John W. Hall
Simon Williams
Frank Hayward
Di Hayward
Joe Holmes
Scipio Holmes
Jos. Prater
Frank Johnson
Gabe Murrel
Paul Blunt
Munday McKee
Cyrus Allston
Hammond Small
Dick Richards
Sam Gardner
Sam Green
Martin Greenhill
Richard Darby
Sam Camel

Freedmen’s Labor Contract
Berkeley County, SC, 1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of South Carolina,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
MC 1910, Reel 62, Target 5

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Sambo & Hager Branch hire their daughter to P. Thos. Ravenel
with Hagar Branch (col. woman)

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Jan. 10, 1868

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Woodbro Plantation

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Sambo Branch
Hagar Branch

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Moses Burch & Freedmen

DATE OF CONTRACT:

No date, 1868

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Antoney Glover
Scippia Palmer
Dennis James
Jacob Milford
(The above names also include their wives and children.)

Freedmen’s Labor Contracts
Berkeley County, SC, 1868
Records of the Field Offices for the State of South Carolina,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
NARA Record Group 105
M1910, Reel 63, Target 2

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

John M. Bryan and 55 Freed people

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Feb. 16, 1868

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mt. Pleasant

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

William Murell
Charles Thompson
Enoch Murrell
Jacob Montgomery
Sasan Murrell
Flour Wells
Tener Gilyard
Luisa Bruner
Rufus Lawrence
Maryan Lawrence
George Perchers
Mary Perchers
Dido Gylard
Alfa Gylard
Mosa Wilson
Lucy Wilson
Sally Brown
William Singleton
Catharine Middleton
James Hampton
Sarah Hampton
John Pouelin
John Jackson
Nancy Jackson
Robert Manning
Fanny Manning
Henry M(illegible)
Susan Mathew
(Illegible) Rochman
Susan Mitchell
Rose Mitchell
Nelly Mitchell
Bungy Paris
Gal Satter
Hannah Satter
Thos Seabrook
Sarah Tompson
Lawrence Seabrock
Pegy Seabrook
John Brown
Nancy Brown
Any Brown
Sena Small
Ellen Smith
Syrus Huger
Maryan Hares
Mims Hankell
My (Illegible)
Nancy Blaky
Susan Blaky
Simpes Bryan
Susan Bryan
Julia Thomas
Susan Thomas
John Mitchell
Hager Mitchell
Sam Strong
Jane Huger

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

S.B. Blackwell and 40 freedpeople

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Feb. 18, 1868

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mt. Pleasant

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Daniel Wilson
Patsey Wilson
David Addams
Amelia Addams
Joseph Grant
Rose Grant
Andrea General
Lucia General
Ephram & wife
Dick Reddick
Affey Reddick
Ben Redick

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Dr. P.P. Bonneau and the freedmen and women on Dahomony and Phillips Tracts

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Jan. 1, 1868

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Dahomony and Phillips Tracts

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Stepney Graddock
Betsy Graddock
Harry Graddock
Sarah Graddock
Adam Simons
Peter Ravenel
Ned Bryan
Harry Nelson
Frank Bonneau
Scipio Small
Penda Small
Tom Rouse
Charles Rouse
London Reney & wife Rinah

TITLE OF CONTRACT:

Peter P. Bonneau and 54 freedpeople

DATE OF CONTRACT:

Feb. 17, 1868

PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:

Berkeley County

South Carolina

Mt. Pleasant

NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS

Cornelius Dingle & Lucy his wife
David Palmer & Phoebe his wife
Primus Glover
Moses Gaillard
Ben Gaillard
Israel Davis
Jim Fioll & Phillis his wife
Bob Washington & Mary his wife
Dick Gourdin & Marianne his wife
Thos Brown & Rosanna his wife
Semprey Gaillard & Clara his wife
Hannibal Green & Maria his wife
William Washington & Linda his wife
Daniel Robinson & Venus Robinson
Sam Porcher & Janey Porcher
Israel Gaillard
Charlotte Brisley
Annette Bradley
Betty Bradley
Jim Brown & Margaret his wife
Edward Brown
Ned Brown
Jim Brown Jr.
Dick Coldough
Jimmy Bowman
Solomon Carson
Liddy Carson
Virginia Gaillard
Riah Gaillard
Rachel Gaillard
Hagar Gaillard
William Cohen
Dorchas Cohen
Nero Glover
Theresa Glover
Nat Palmer
Ann Palmer
George Frederick
Sarah Frederick
Mary Capers
Franklin Coldough
Liz Coldough