Freedman's Labor contracts

Post date: Dec 20, 2011 7:4:21 AM

This just in: Lowcountry Africana just informed us of documents they found in some work they were doing.  Labor contracts of Samuel W. Lynes (son of the Rev. Samuel Lynes) where he was working The Farm Plantation on the Cooper River in 1866.  Also are contracts between George Lynes and his laborers in the same year, for crops raised at Foxbank, Jinny Hill, and Hickory Hill plantations.  Interestingly, he listed three of his sons on the contract, John Henry, Samuel, and Richard.  Fair enough that they should receive a share also, since at 16, 14, and 13 years of age (and considered "half-hands") they also worked, no doubt.  Particularly exciting is the list of names of former slaves, many of whom, surely, are buried in the old Slave Cemetery on Foxbank.

Samuel W. Lynes