| The Tait family occupied a
prominent place in Alabama politics and agriculture in
the 1817-1880 period. James Tait (1791-1855) came to
Wilcox County from Georgia during the great land rush
which followed the Creek War, bringing twenty slaves, ten
of them field hands. During his first few seasons, his
hands planted only 175 acres of cotton and 80 acres of
corn a year. He was soon followed by his father, Charles
Tait, (1768-1835) a former U.S. Senator from Georgia, who
became the first U. S. Judge for the Alabama district,
1820-1826. As Tait prospered, he bought more slaves
and land. From his father, he inherited 100 slaves and
two nearby plantations. In 1851, Tait owned 311 slaves.
His six plantations produced 465 bales of cotton, and
15,000 bushels of corn, and 340 hogs for slaughter.
Tait's vast holdings lay on both sides of the Alabama
River. Steamboats called regularly at his landings for
cotton and corn and to take members of the Tait family to
Mobile or Montgomery. Tait served as a trustee of the
University of Alabama, a stockholder in Wilcox Academy,
and a member of the American Colonization Society which
advocated that free blacks and slaves, purchased from
their owners, be resettled in Africa. James A. Tait and
his wife had eight children, one of which was James G.
Tait (1833-1911). James G. attended Harvard University
and returned to the Wilcox County plantation and life as
a planter.
Looking back with satisfaction on nearly 35 years as
an Alabama planter, Tait wrote in his farm book in 1853:
"Since I came into possession of my Father's
estate, my progress has been steadily onward but not
rapid, for I have always worked by the rule, ‘take
care and hold on'." (Hamilton, 162)
James G. Tait (1833-1911) landowner in this Labor
Contract dated July 31, 1865, just three months after the
Surrender (end of the Civil War), evidently adhered to
this rule too as this labor contract insured that his
crops would be harvested.
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Freedmen's
Bureau Contract
Freedman's contract, 1865 Written across
script : "Approved Aug 9th 1865 By Order Saml S.
Gardner Asst Supt Freedmen by Fergusen Selma Ala
Registered Sept 4, 1865" State of Ala } Wilcox Co }
a contract entered into, this the 31st day of July,
between James G. Tait as employer and the following named
Freedmen, or Laborers as employees of the County &
State aforesaid. The said Freedmen or Laborers, on their
part, for & in consideration of the terms hereinafter
state, bind themselves, to:-- faithfully & diligently
labor for said Jas G. Tait, during the rema- -inder of
the year 1865, (according to the (torn) regulation,
conditions & penalties prescribed & contained in
a (torn) rules & regulations for the State of Ala.
& c.--) and said labor is to (torn) formed under the
direction of the said J.G. Tait, or any agent by him
appointed. The said Freedmen, or Laborers bind themselves
to visit, or receive visitors on such conditions as may
be agreed upon, by said J.G. Tait or his agent. The
Freedmen, or Laborers further bind themselves to account
to the said J.G. Tait, for the value of any property of
whatever kind or description that may be wasted, lost, or
destroyed by reason of the negligence, or careless
conduct of said Freedmen or laborers, & the part of
the crop allotted to said Freedmen or Laborers, is hereby
made liable for the value of any property, so wasted,
lost or destroyed. It is further agreed & stipulated,
that if any of the said Freedmen or Laborers shall
refuse, or fail to work faithfully & diligently, the
said James G. Tait or his agent shall have power & is
hereby authorised to discharge him or them. The said Jas
G. Tait binds himself to pay over & deliver on the
premises to said Freedmen or laborers one-eighth part of
the present growing crop ^of corn, fodder, cowpeas &
ground peas, and also one half of the potatoes &
sorghum syrup of sickness & rice, & also to
furnish food, clothing, houses, fuel, &
medicines--& in bad cases a physician
James G. Tait.
Witness
A. L. Whisenhart
W. P. Barnes
A.W. Bethea
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