Limerick Plantation House, Cordesville, Berkeley, 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 “W.”
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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:
Benjamin Whitesides and Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 17, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Isaac Brown
Thomas Brown
(Illegible) Thompson
Sally Thompson
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:
Mrs. Catherine G. White with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Gibby Simmons
Lizetta Simmons, his wife
Chance Wilson
Cumsee Wilson, his wife
Billy Hopkins
Best Hopkins, his wife
Castler Green, Foreman
Harriet Green, his daughter
Cain Michael
Dolly Michael, his wife
Fender Gadson
Sander Gadson
Adilaine Gadson, his wife
Gabrial Harris
Lucie Harris, his wife
Billy Williams
Gabrial Ferguson
Clara Ferguson, his wife
Jerry Ferguson, his daughter
Andrew McNeil
Fatima McNeil
Boser Gillins
Cloa Wescott
Jacob Augustis
Mily Augustis
Sery Augustis
Ellen Augustis
Joseph Schifel
Willey Schiffel
Ben Bowman
David Haynes
Eve Haynes
Rosetta Singleton
Martha Sanive
Beck Duncan
Nancy Dyles
Satin Sheppard
Martha Wigfall
Saby Giddis
Susan Giddis
Alec Wright
Agrippa Champlain
Maria Dyles, Nurse
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:
Moses Whitesides with Freedmen & women
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 1, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Mount Pleasant, S.C.
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Rose White
Will White
Daniel White
Sarah Whitesides
Beller Mitchel
Brister Geders
Martha Capers
Dandy Green
Hanna Green
Primas Ravinal
Tom Ravenel
Charles Brown
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:
E. Clarence Whaley and Freedmen & women
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 22, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Wadmalaw Island
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Thomas Evans
John Roseburnell
Ceasar Brown
Louis C. Brown
Samuel Drayton
Samuel Brown
Mary Ann Brown
Margaret Jamison
Watt Johns
Daniel Cooper
Henry Fogarty
Ned Wright
Noble Bull
Maria Carper
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.J.R. Wescott with freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
May 7, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Edisto Island
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Leonard Lewis
Benjamin Manigault
Billy Gaze
Sam Gadsen
Scipio Polite
Jerry Poyas
Andrew Moultrie
Wrenty Jenkins
Hercules Brown
Daniel Shaw
Jacob Moultrie
Kit Moultrie
Wm. Manigault
Ksaac Manigault
Donny Captain
Stephen Mack
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:
Joe Walker with Fr. peo.
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 23, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
James Island, S.C.
Lawtons Planatation
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Joe Walker
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:
Thos. D. Wagner and Freedmen & women
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 3, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Thomas Aiken
Lynda Aiken
Isac Reid
Clarisa Reid
Rinty Brown
Juliana Brown
Peter McBride
Huber Vince
William Simons
Jessy Brown
Fannie Brown
Tina Reid
Maryann Reid
Sarah Brown
Cain Brown
Tenah Smith
Moses Witherspoon
Deliah (Illegible)
Toby Rurden
Friday Geddins
Lida McDaniel
Sarah Reid
Hativer Singleton
Lucy Moultry
Cain Moultry
George Brown
Henry Goodman
Rachel Capers
Louis Reid
Tina Rurden
Jim Brown
Ginny Washington
Betty Rivers
Cumba Wilson
Daniel Middleton
Jack Reid
George Singleton
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.J.R. Westcott & Thos. A. Baynard & the freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
May 7, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Bailey Plantation
Point of Pines Plantation
Edisto Island, S.C.
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Sampson Gadsen
Johnson Tailor
Matthias Johnson
Matthias Johnson
Plenty Green
Sandy Simmons
Walley Wilson
Joe Williams
Richard Neat
George Manigault
Tom Reed
(Illegible) Drayton
Francis Glover
Maria White, mother
Peter Campbell
Will Wright
Jim Burnell
Maria Green
Phebe Williams
Titus Finley
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. Legare Walpole with Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 4, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Dr. J. Edwin Matthews Place
Johns Island
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Tom Hornet
York Frazer
Asberry Jones
David Small
Jupiter Murrin
Cyrus Frazier
Henry Small
Munday Gibbs
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. Legare Walpole and the Freed people
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 30, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Johns Island
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Joe Clements
York Guillard
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:
F.M. Whaley with Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 18, 1867
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Joseph Jenkins
Camden Brown
Maria Days
John Rosebrick
Margaret Rosebrick
Lindsy Chisolm
Simon Mackey
Stephen Frasier
Lizzie
Sophrone Gilmore
Louisa Keith
Nancy Brown
Betty Frasier
Eliza Taylor
James Bradly
Kit Williams
Washington Smith
William Filmore
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:
N.L. Westcott for his farm of California
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 2, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Cornelius Jenkins
Nancy Singleton & children
Henry Cumming
Peter Loy, wife & 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 1
TITLE OF CONTRACT:
James M. Ward and (Illegible) B(illegible)
DATE OF CONTRACT:
April 1, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
None listed
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:
Edward Wedigan and October
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 23, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
October
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:
Edward Wedigan and October
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Jan. 23, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
October
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 Whitesides and Fifteen Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 12, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Whitehouse Plantation
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
John Gillan
Peter Thomson
Joseph Elf
Scppio Wright
Elin Washington
Sarah Thomson
Moley Elf
Sarah Ann Wilson
Friday Bollough
Silvey Jenkin
Mary Graerson
Hanna Breen
George Hambleton
Mordci Fordam
Edward Graerson
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.J. Whitesides and Fifteen Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
Feb. 12, 1868
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Whitehouse Plantation
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS
Primas Ravnel
Tiner Ravnel
Daniel Green
Hanna Green
William Harley
Laura Harley
Hecter Gillen
Daneal Jerry
Maria Jerry
Brister Geddis
Clarra Elf
Thomas Legare
Dianna Legare
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:
A.V. Toomer with Freedmen
DATE OF CONTRACT:
March 30, 1866
PLACES MENTIONED IN CONTRACT:
Berkeley County
South Carolina
SC
Mount Pleasant, S.C.
NAMES OF FREEDPERSONS:
Sam Porcher
Nancy Porcher
Isabell Porcher
Zike Vanderhorst
Henny Vanderhorst
Francis E. Gaillard
Zilfer Gaillard
Tom Hopkin
Ugenia Hopkin
Marcus Snowden
Hariet Snowden
Marry Press
Chloe Press
Sally Press
Jor Horlbeck
Sarah Horlbeck
