Labor Agreement for Truss B. Hall
8/28/1865
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Following the Civil War, the Federal Government established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands to aid former slaves – better known as the Freedmen's Bureau.
One of the services this agency provided was assisting freedpeople with labor contracts. This contract acknowledged that Robert McKenzie, representing Robinson Company, would pay Truss B. Hall $4 a month for his service until December 25, and that Hall would "obey all lawful commands as he use to when a slave."
One of the services this agency provided was assisting freedpeople with labor contracts. This contract acknowledged that Robert McKenzie, representing Robinson Company, would pay Truss B. Hall $4 a month for his service until December 25, and that Hall would "obey all lawful commands as he use to when a slave."
Transcript
Office of Bureau of Refugees Freedmen &c.For Robeson Co
Lamberton Aug 28th 1865
This instrument witnesseth that Robert McKenzie of Robeson Co agrees to pay Truss B. Hall $4.00 per month until 25th day of December next for an in situation of the said Truss B. Hall rendering the Robert McKenzie true and faithful service and obey all lawful commands as he use to when a slave.
Robert McKenzie
Truss B. Hall
x his mark
Witnessed and approved
James Sinclair, agent of Bureau
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
National Archives Identifier: 595055
Full Citation: Agreement of Labor for Truss B. Hall; 8/28/1865; Freedmen's Labor Contracts, 5/1865 - 12/1867; Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Record Group 105; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/hall-labor-agreement, March 23, 2025]Activities that use this document
- How Effective were the Efforts of the Freedmen’s Bureau?
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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