Slaveowners needing additional labor sometimes looked beyond the borders of Wilson County for supply. J.J. Williams, William M. Gay, B.G. Albritton, and C.L. Vines,  agreed to pay T.T. Clifton $675 for twelve months’ hire, beginning on or before 1 January 1861, of enslaved men Wesley, Ned, and William. The men were to be returned to Clifton in Louisburg, Franklin County, the following Christmas Day 1861, barring “unavoidable accident.”

A cryptic post script at the bottom of the note appears to read: “hire of 1 boy off say $225”

What was going on with these leases? Only one of the slaveholders can be placed in Wilson County — what kind of work was this cabal engaged in?

• T.T. Clifton — in the 1860 slave schedule of Franklin County, N.C., T[homas]. T. Clifton is listed with 24 enslaved people.
• J.J. Williams
• W.M. Gay — in the 1860 slave schedule of Wilson township, Wilson County, William M. Gay is listed with ten enslaved people.
• B.G. Albritton — in the 1860 slave schedule of Pitt County, N.C., B.G. Albritton is listed with 19 enslaved people.
• C.L. Vines — in the 1860 slave schedule of Edgecombe County, N.C., C[harles]. L. Vines is listed with 14 enslaved people.

Slave Hire-1861, Records of Slaves and Free People of Color, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.