Freedman Reddick Barnes signed a labor contract with white farmer Elisha Barnes commencing in January 1866. After several months, when Elisha failed to pay Reddick wages, Reddick complained to the Goldsboro field office of the Freedman’s Bureau. Though Ben Barnes, another freedman, testified against him, Reddick seems to have won his case.
Case of Reddick Barnes Freedman vs. Elisha Barnes white, Breach of Contract
Reddick Barnes freedman sweares that he has been to Work for Mr Barnes white for some time he general went to work at sun rise in the morning. Ben Barnes freeman testified that he has been to work with Reddick Barnes. And has often found him asleep and was not out in the morning to feed his stock went he went out. And left his quarters most every night and went to Town with out permission Mr Elisha Barnes always treated him well Mr Rett Barnes Testified that Reddick did not work as he should have done got up late in the morning and often caught him asleep on his plough in the field and caught him shelling corn.
Contract fairly broken by Reddick Barnes Freedman, Wilson July 12th 1866
Reddick Barnes’ receipts.
Roll 17, Miscellaneous Records, Goldsboro Subassistant Commissioner’s Records, North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, National Archives and Records Administration images, www.familysearch.org.
That’s rare indeed. I wonders what happened ‘after’ Reddick Barnes won the case? I don’t believe it simply stopped there.
The Freedmen’s Bureau meted our justice pretty even-handedly. The problem came after the Bureau shut down.