Planting Corn on a Plantation Near Moncks Corner, SC
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, 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 “R.”
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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:
Edward M. Royall with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Harry Bolles
Jesse Dean
David Waring
Joseph Goodwater
Elsey Goodwater
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:
Wm. Rivers, agent, Estate W.H. Rivers with Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 7, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
James Island
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Henry Johnson
Richard Backman
Robert Richardson
William Forrester
James Fell
Frank Gadsden
Charles Howard
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:
John Rawlins with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Rice Hope Plantation
Cooper River
Rice & High Lands, Benevento, Hagar, and Woodlands Plantations
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
No names listed
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:
Samuel W. Ravenel with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 13, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Moonfield Plantation
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
John Grant
Clara Grant
Antony Bryan
Philippa Bryan
Peter (Illegible)
Cibel Green
Bass Loudin
Rial duBose
Juno DuBose
Robin (Illegible)
Toll Green
Paul Swinton
Hannah Swinton
Aleck Nisbitt
Misha Bennett
Benjamin Campbell
Hector Hamilton
Stephen Hamilton
Venus Hamilton
Samuel Glover
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 1
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
Dr. E.M. Royall with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 1, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Robert Jones
James Evans
Primus Simons
Monday Habersham
Lewis Grant
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 1
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
Dr. E.M. Royall with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 21, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Harry Bolles
Shem White
Jethro Jenkins
Joe Nelson
James Grant
John Gaillard
Rebecca Gaillard
Chance Right
Emma Right
Stepney Right
Daniel Cummings
Dinah Cummings
Sybil Gray
Philippa Gray
Jemmy Grant
Chloe White
Louisa Habersham
Jane Evans
Rebecca Homes
Mary Simons
Joe Jenkins
Fannie Jenkins
Maria Nelson
Joseph Fraser
Maria Fraser
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:
B.Y. Richwood and five freedpeople
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 1, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Joe Smart
Celia Smart
Isaac Brickman
Charlotte Brickman
Nick Cashaw
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:
B.Y. Richwood and two freedpeople
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 2, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Sidney Davis
Pember Davis (his wife)
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:
B.Y. Richwood and two freedpeople
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 2, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Jimmy Wragg
Nick Cashaw
