"I was almos' twelve or thirteen when de war ended. Us didn't know 'zackly when us was free 'til one nite after us had et, Mars called us all together in de back yard. He was standing tall and straight on de gallery, de moon was shinin' bright. Us all jist stood deir wonderin' what was gwine ter happen, den he say "you all is free now", and fer us who could and we would be paid fer us work." Hannah Chapman, former slave of William K. Easterling in Simpson County, Mississippi
FREEDMEN LABOR CONTRACT - LIST OF FREEDMEN
Planter: E. Owens
County: Simpson County, MS
Date: August 09, 1865