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 “K.”
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:
Geo. F. Kinlock and Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 7, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Mount Pleasant, S.c.
Parish of Christ Church
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Jeffrey Snipes
Paul Brannon
Rhina Snipes
Sam Robinson
Mingo Ward
Nellie Ward
Dan’l Dial
Cinda Dial
Frank Forker
Silvy Forker