Medway Plantation, Berkeley County, SC
Historic American Buidings 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 “V.”
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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:
J. John Vinning with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Mount Pleasant, S.C.
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Charles Cambell
Primus Black
Polidore Bee
Cuffee Washinton
Romeo Turner
Betsey Cambell
Mary Black
Amelia Bee
Susey Washington
Sukey Turner
Jane Simmons
Mary Murrell
Maria Murrell
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:
Elias Vining & Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Thomas McBride
Peter Goodwater
Billy Gaillard
Ellen Gaillard
Betty Boston
Tom Boston
Richard Boston
Janey Boston
Anny Bennett
Hester Withers
Charity Mazyck
Jeffrey Mazyck
Sally Small
Charlotte Brown
Julina McBride
Nelly Brown
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:
R.S. Venning and Seventeen freedmen on his plantation
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 12, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Israel Small
Solomon Wilson
Joe Taisock
Sucky Taisock
May Wilson
Polly Wilson
Katy Major
Sucky Huger
Abram Mack
Tilla Mack
Amy Mack
Abby Smalls
Binah Parker
Isa Wilson
Adam Smalls
Dinah Smalls
Jefferson Simons
Venus Simons
Bella Mack
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 Venning and 38 freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 27, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Prince White, Foreman
Joe Cambell
Emma Cambell
Isaac Cambell
Susanna Cambell
John Smalley
Elizabeth Smalley
John Green
Amarintha Green
Southerland Piatt
Aaness Piatt
Peter Holmes
Celia White
Sharlott Jenkins
Beck Gaillard
August Williams
Lena Williams
Jack Cooper
Beck Cooper
John Laurens
Bella Laurens
Boszy Gades
Mithel Wilson
Joe Stoney
Jacob Garison
Tenah Garison
Paul Levine
Mary Levine
Tom Jenkins
Maria Jenkins
Patrick Fiall
Clarra Fiall
Die Cambell
Sulla Howard
Jake Brown
Dick Jenkins
Mary Jenkins
Elsie Gethers
