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.”
You may use the navigation bar on the right to navigate to related pages.
If you find ancestors here, we would love to hear from you. Please use our Contact form to tell us who you found!
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:
J.T. Crawford and the Freedmen and Women
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 22, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Prince Jenkins
Dianah Jenkins
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:
J.C. Cain with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 15, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Jack Gasdon, 30 compass
Sam Bush, 30 compass
(Illegible) Perry, 30 compass
Titus Pointsett, 20 compass
Alice Pointsett, 30 compass
Minda Pointsett, 20 compass
Abby Pointsett, 20 compass
David Major, 30 compass
Grace Major, 25 compass
Andrew Mazennt, 30 compass
Aggy Thompson, 30 compass
Marcus Johnson, 30 compass
Nancy Johnson, 15 compass
Rachel Yeadon, 30 compass
Michael Major, 15 compass
Dorinda Major, 15 compass
Hagar Broughton, 30 compass
Titus Cordes, 20 compass
Lizzett Cordes, 20 compass
Cynthia Cordes, 20 compass
Amy Book, 30 compass
Caleb Book, 15 compass
Henry Tinnent, 30 compass
Hester Blacklock, 30 compass
Irving Dawson, 30 compass
Mary Brown, 30 compass
Judy Brown, 30 compass
Scipio Mitchel, 30 compass
William Lovely, 30 compass
Louisa Lovely, 15 compass
(Illegible) Finnick, 30 compass
Sally Finnick, 30 compass
Bob Finnick, 15 compass
Hester Prioleau, 15 compass
Betty Prioleau, 15 compass
Mary Colonel, 30 compass
Tena Colonel, 15 compass
(Illegible), 30 compass
Sam Barrett, 30 compass
Maria Barnett, 30 compass
Bob Wilson, 30 compass
Eve White, 30 compass
Sy White, 15 compass
Rachel Simons, 15 compass
Dick Levine, 20 compass
Peggy Nyette, 20 compass
Irving Atterly, 20 compass
(Illegible) McGehey, 20 compass
Bill McGehey, 20 compass
Henry McGehey, 20 compass
Liddy McKelvey, 20 compass
Susan Wright, 20 compass
Jenkins Thompson, 30 compass
Sam Grant, 30 compass
Satia Grant, 30 compass
Cornelius Grant, 15 compass
Mario Gillinger, 15 compass
Eliza Levins, 15 compass
Sucky Sparm, 30 compass
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:
Dr. Jos. T. Cain & Freedmen on Prince Rose
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Charles Gibbes, wife and two children
Joseph Gibbes and wife
Ginko Gibbes, wife and child
Meshach Gibbes, wife and child
Shadrack Gibbes, wife and child
Pompey Grant and wife
Ben Grant, mother and two children
Thomas Green, wife and three children
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:
Joseph M. Clarke with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Febr. 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Joseph M. Clarke Plantation
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Primus
Martha
Isaac
Mariah
Nancy
Mariah
Winton
Ansel
Cinda
Liza
Nancy
John
Robert
Warley
Moses
Rose
Wene
August
Jennetta
Sandy