Freedmen Bureau Labor Contract may provide clues to previous Slave Owner

Labor contract John C. Adamson

John C. Adamson Labor contract dated 13 Jun 1865 between the following named freed person; Easter, Fannie, Hanna Peter, Sylvia, and Charley.
Source: “United States, Freedmen’s Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W3-6XC8 : accessed 11 September 2016), John C. Adamson 13 Jun 1865; citing Employment, Montgomery, Alabama, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1900, Records of the field offices for the state of Alabama, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 25; FHL microfilm 2,424,743.

Transcription of the above text in question lower left corner of a Labor contact for John C. Adamson and a number of named freed persons:

The state of Alabama, Tallapoosa County known all new by these present that I John C. Adamson of the state and county have entered this day into an agreement with the following named freed persons to wit:  Easter a woman about sixty years of age, Fannie a woman about thirty years of age and her six children under 10 years old and Hanna a woman about 20 years and her child 12 months old and Peter a boy sixteen years of age and Sylvia a girl about eight years of ago and Charley  a boy 9 years old which persons, I agree to furnish with clothing and feed for there labor, I also agree to furnish them with wood and fuel and pay their Doctor bill and other expenses which freed persons do agree to remain with me until the 25th day of December after which time if not further agree upon said persons will be at liberty to go where they think proper signed in the presence of us this June the 13th 1865. Easter X her mark, Fannie X her mark, Hanna X her mark, Peter X his mark.                                                                                                              John C. Adamson

G. B. Adamson

C. T. Welch

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So who was John Coates Adamson?  The challenge will be to learn as much as possible about John Coates Adamson prior to entering into a labor contract with those 13 freedmen listed –Easter a woman about sixty years of age, Fannie a woman about thirty years of age, and her six children under 10 years old and Hanna a woman about 20 years and her child 12 months old and Peter a boy sixteen years of age and Sylvia a girl about eight years of ago and Charley  a boy 9 years old which persons.   Also what became of those 13 freedmen after that labor contract expired?  I hope to learn more about whether or not there was a previous connection between John Coates Adamson and the newly freedmen that was extended shortly after the end of slavery.  Stay tuned for more.

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