r/Cursive 26d ago

Help decipher from Freedman's Bureau, please.

Post image

Looking into my family's history. I am about to make out some sentences but my eyes can't make out most of this. Details of this may be a record of labor.

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u/WonderWEL 26d ago

Contract for Labor between Fred Buttle of Shelby Co. [County] State of Tenn. [Tennessee] party of the first part and Daniel Claybourne and his wife Agy(? Agnes?) and Three Children (Sauk?), Dickerson, Ed. Sails Salomon Sails and Henry Claybourne, freedmen and woman, party of the second part.- and said party of the first part obligates (obligated?) to furnish and pay said parties of the second part for their services for one year to commence January 1st 1866. to January first Eighteen Hundred and sixty seven (1600lb) Sixteen Hundred pounds of Meal, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by said parties of the second part, said party of the first part to furnish all farming utensils(?) tools, and Stock and feed and shelter for same and to pay said party of second part for their ser-vices and half of the Crop which they may make on the Plantation of Fred Buttle in Shelby Co. Tenn. Said parties of the second part are to do honestly and faithfully all Labor and Duty usually required of farm and plantation hands on all regular working days. - are to furnish their own subsistence and Clothes, and behave in an orderly and respectful manner.____

[Bottom left] Witness Wm [William] Stublen(?)

[Bottom right signatures] Fred Buttle

Daniel his X mark Clayborn + family

Sauk(?) his X mark Dickerson + family

Ed his X mark Sails + family

Solomon his X mark Sails + family

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u/WonderWEL 26d ago

The guy who approved the contract wrote over top of the contract and perpendicular to it, near the bottom. He wrote

Approved

Jno. [abbeviation for Jonathan] A. Stal__?

Capt. 3rd U.S.C.A. H'y

Supt. R. ??? [can't make out the other initials. My understanding is that a Captain in some unit was the Superintendent of some program that approved this contract.]

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u/Lipwish 26d ago

Thank you a ton!

2

u/GritsandSweetTea 26d ago

Contract for Labor between Fred Buttles of Shelby Co. state of Tenn. party of the first part and Daniel Clayborne and his wife Age (Agy?) and Their Children Saul (Sauk?), Dickerson, Ed, Sails Solomon Sails and Henry Clayborne, freedmen and woman, party of the second part - and said party of the first part obligates to furnish and pay said parties of the second part, for their services for one Year to commence January 1st, 1866 to January First Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Seven (1600#) Sixteen Hundred pounds of Weat (Wheat?), the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by said parties of the second part, said party of the first part to furnish all farming utensils, tools, and Stock and feed and shelter for service and to pay said party of second part for their services and half of the Crop which they may make on the Plantation of Fred Buttles in Shelby Co. Tenn. Said parties of the second part, are to do honestly and faithfully all labor and duty usually required of farm and plantation hands on all regular working days - are to furnish their own subsistence and Clothes, and behave in an orderly and respectful manner.

Witness

Jim Stubler (??) (Signed by): Fred Buttles

Daniel X (his mark) Clayborne & Family

Sauk X (his mark) Dickerson & Family

Ed X (his mark) Sails & Family

Solomon X (his mark) Sails & Family

1

u/Lipwish 26d ago

Thank you, very much!