SUBMITTED BY: Stephen Pope (transcribed by Cheri Todd Molter)
The following is a transcription of the document in the attached photograph (click to enlarge):
Office Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands … for Robeson County
Lumberton Sept 2nd 1865
This indenture made and entered into this 2nd day of Sept. 1865 between Catharine J. Ashely [sic] of Robeson Co of the one part and Edmund, Amos, Clara, and Barbary and Lucy (freed men and women) of said as of the other part witnesseth that for and in consideration of the said CJ [A]shley, paying to the above mentioned freedmen and women the following rules – The proportionate part of the crop that this bureau allows after said crop is made gathered, that the said freedmen and women agree to render true and faithful service to the said Mrs. Ashley and obey all lawful commands that she or her agent may give, as they did when they were slaves.
Witnessed and approved C. J. Ashley
James Sinclair Edmund X Ashley [his mark]
Agent [Barden] Amos X Ashley [his mark]
Clara X Ashley [her Mark]
Barbary X Ashley [her mark]
Clara X Ashley for her daughter Lucy [mark]
Clara who has one child 16 years old, another 10 who is worth his victuals and clothes remains until the end of the year. And Barbary who has a child worth his food and clothes and another who is worth remains until the end of the year