The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-06-12
LOOKING
BACKWARD
BUREAU CONTRACT
WITH FORMER SLAVES MADE
in 1865.
Peculiar Provisions and Singular OBJ
legations Set Out in Extensio in
An Old Document.

AS a document both curious and his
toric, the one presented herewith in
The News, will be found worth the
reading
The original Of this document is dat
ed July 6, 1865 and is an agreement
entered into by VIM. L. Powe, as agent
and Allen C. Powe with some thirty of
the former slaves of William H. p.
Powe, deceased, the purpose being to
carry on the usual farming operations
of the estate. The contract is con-
tersigned as follows:
"Office of the Freedman's Bureau,
Gainesville, Ala, July 20, 1865. The
within contract has been examined
and approved by me.
IN. WOODS, Asst. Supt."
w. l.. Powe, who acted as agent was
the uncle and Allen C. Powe was the
father of Alderman A. T. Powe, of
Hattiesburg, who found the old docu-
ment few days ago among some of
his own papers. The contract says:
The following colored men, women
and children who have heretofore
been the slaves of William H. p. Powe
deceased, have agreed to remain in
charge of Allen C. Powe, who is and
was conducting the farm of said de-
ceased at the time of his death, on
the terms hereinafter mentioned.
namely: there follows the name and
age of each of the former slaves, such
as from Judy 80 years old and Isaac
60 years old Gnfirm) to Henry Z
months old All are known by their
given name, no surname being used.)
Each of these colored persons have
agreed (the parents agreeing for their
children who are too young to con.
tract for themselves) to continue in
the services of the estate of said de
ceased until the 25th of December,
next, to work faithfully, behave them
selves properly and respectfully to
obey the orders of A. c. Powe, as they
did when they were the slaves of
said deceased, and not to leave the
premises of deceased without the con-
sent of the said Allen c. Powe. until
that time, and not to leave the prem
ises at any time without the permit of
the said A. C. Powe.
For the services under this agree
ment /, William T. Powe, agent for
the heirs Of the said deceased, do
agree to have them treated with prop
er humanity and kindness, to furnish
them while they continue in the SER
vice of said estate with the usual
amount of food and clothing, medical
attention, fuel and houses to live in
and in addition to give them one-sixth
of the corn crop, now growing on the
plantation of said deceased to be d.
vided justly between them after il
has been gathered
Any enc of them who shall fail to
work faithfully or behave properly or
TO perform his or her part of this
agreement in any respect or shall take
or injure any of the property in said
plantation or the property in the plan
tations in the neighborhood, shall
leave the premises and never return
and shall forfeit all right under this
agreement and adj claims upon said
estate whatever and his or her portion
to be given to those performing faith
fully this agreement.
mo physician shall be called to any
Of said colored persons at the expense |
Of the estate without an order from |
c. Powe, or some white member
IF the family of said deceased. resid-
ng on the premises nor must any 9th
er expense be incurred by any of
hem upcn the account of the estate
Without the express consent of A. c
owe. nor must any OF them keep any
nimal upon the premises 'eXcept poul-
" nor must any other colored or
hfte person be entertained by any l.
said colored persons, without the {
ritten permission CT the said A. c. 7
,we
AS evidence that I as agent MS Z
1resaid, made and will stand by this +
reement, hereto subscribe nv Ii
me ard as evidence that all of said CT
ored persons have made and will
nd by this agreement and that ii Fl
) been read and explained to them Fl
they have freely agreed and con- de
ted to stand by ii in the presence or