Transcription of a Labor Agreement between Slaughter B. Bullock and his Laborers

Transcription of a Labor Agreement between Slaughter B. Bullock and his Laborers

African Americans, labor, race relations

In June 1865 Hanover County farmer Slaughter B. Bullock contracted with his former enslaved laborers to work for him for stated wages and a place to board on his farm. The agreement was unusual (and unusually fair) in that it allowed either party "to make any change they may choose at the expiration of each month."

Slaughter B. Bullock

Slaughter B. Bullock, Agreement, 1865, Accession 22133, Personal Papers Collection, Library of Virginia.

June 7, 1865

Library of Virginia

CC BY-SA

JPG

Transcription

Bullock Slaughter agreement_1865_transcription.pdf

Hanover County, Virginia

 This agreement made & entered into this seventh day of June 1865 between Slaughter B. Bullock of the one part, & his former Slaves of the other part, Namely, Edmund, Bob, John, George, Andrew, Anthony, Melinda with her four youngest children, Margaret with her two children, & Patsy, Witnesseth, the sd: S. B. Bullock, agrees on his part to pay in Money, or its equivalent in provisions, to Edmund, five dollars per Month, & to Bob, the same, to John four dollars per month, to George two dollars & fifty cents per Month; to Andrew the same, to Antony the same, Melinda, & her four youngest children to receive their board, Margaret, & her two children to receive their board, & Patsy to receive her board & clothing, all commencing from the above date, either party can, & is at liberty to make any change they may choose at the expiration of each month, the sd: S. B. Bullock agrees also, to board the above named Negroes free of charge, while in his employment.                                                                            Slaughter B. Bullock.

Witness.

James, H, Dodson

John Rogers

James S. J. Rogers

Manuscript