The History of Enslaved People at UA, 1828-1865

John

Item

Name

John

Birth Date

February 22, 1843

Basil Manly Diary II (1834-1846) image 300, Feb 22, 1843

"Between the hours of 12 & 1 o’clock this morning, my servant, Lydia, was delivered of a small child. The affair was all over within 15 minutes after we were first apprized of her complaints – and some time before the mid-wife could be procured. All doing well. The child is named John."

Sex

Male

Freedom Status

Basil Manly Diary VI (1858-1878) image 83, June 20, 1865 (signed contract with Manly to work on property)

"This day, at the plantation made an arrangement with my negroes to work on my place, being declared freedmen & freedwomen, by the Yankees. The arrangement includes my house – servants at home. They are to have the productions of ten average acres of corn. The following is a copy of the contract, and the names of the signers.
“We, the undersigned, declared “freedmen & freedwomen’” by the U.S. military authorities, and residing on the plantation of B. Manly, near Foster’s ferry, Tusk. Co. Ala do hereby agree to continue to work on the said plantation, under the direction of said Manly or his agent; to use due diligence during the customary number of hours, daily; to take care of all the stock, implements, or other property on the place or committed to us severally; and to act faithfully as laborers and employees on said plantation in all respects, until the close of the present year, on pain of being dismissed there from by said Manly or his legal representative by his desire. And we do also hereby agree to receive as full compensation for said services, the food, clothing, house-room, fuel and medical attendance in actual sickness, of ourselves and families; and further, that we receive the productions of a lot of ten (10) acres of land, to be selected as an average of the crop of corn; to be divided raticebly among us at the close of the year.
As witness of our freely & voluntarily agreeing here unto we have affirmed our mark opposite to our names, to this paper, before witnesses, at the said plantation, this 20th day of June, A.D. 1865.
Winter, Wood, Peter, William, Archy, Andrew, George, Robert, Alick, John, Henderson, Edmond, Oliver, Levi, Judy, Rose, Patsey, Martha, Sabra, Rebecca, Priscilla, Lydia, Binkey, Ann, Old Sabra, Julia, Morris, Arthur

U, B. Manly as named in the preceding instrument, do hereby express my agreement to employ the persons whose names are thereunto attached, according to the terms thereof.
Given, under my hand, the day & date before written.
B. Manly"

Original Location

President's Mansion, Univeristy of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Child of

Lydia

Sibling of

Hetty

Fanny

Serena

Charity

Work Location

Manly's plantation near Foster Ferry Road

Enslaver

Basil Manly (Second President of the University of Alabama 1837-1855) and Sarah Manly

Item sets

Enslaved by Manly Family

Enslaved by Presidents, Professors, and Trustees

Site pages

Their Names