1863-1865 Rare Contract of Emancipated Black Slave Feliciano of the Congo Whose Contract to Work Under Los Minas del Cobre Has Been Renewed

On offer is a remarkable early contract for an emancipated African slave whose contract to work under Los Minas del Cobre of Havana has been renewed for two years. 

The contract is for Feliciano, who was born in the Congo, Africa. The contract is from the Governor Captain General Superintendent of the Treasury of the Island of Cuba. It states that Feliciano is being “consigned” to del Cobre on a contract renewal. The number of years for which Feliciano is contracted says tres (three) but that number is crossed out, and a note indicating the duration of the contract renewal is handwritten at the bottom of the contract. The contract indicates that Feliciano was slave #164, brought from the Congo to Cuba on the ship Guantanamo (which was later used to transport Chinese coolies from Macau). The contract states that in exchange for Feliciano’s work, he will be paid 5 pesos and 33 ⅓ cents every month, and that the contract cannot be changed without authorization from the Havana government. The back of the contract contains all of the rules that must be followed by the worker and the boss. There is a heavy slant toward discussion of penalties for the worker escaping and breaking rules as well as discussion of baptism and religiosity. The contract was signed in Havana on January 21, 1863 by the Secretary of the General Superintendent, Jose (Vallz?). There is a handwritten note at the bottom indicating the contract would renew on December 21, 1865, also signed by the Superintendent.  Contracts such as this one were provided to emancipated slaves after completion of a primitive contract. 

Cuba had a great need for inexpensive labour to support their sugar industry. While America and Britain signed a treaty in 1814 to abolish the African slave trade, it took many years for complete global abolition. The African slave trade was not ended in Cuba until 1886, despite it being formally abolished in 1867 (Yun & Laremont, 2001). The details of this contract closely align with contracts of Chinese coolie labourers, and the printed nature of this contract implies that many emancipated African slaves were contracted following their emancipation. Based on knowledge of the contracted Chinese labourers, we know that conditions for indentured workers were equal to, or worse than, those of slaves. 

This document is printed and filled out in ink. It is two pages on recto and verso of a single sheet. It measures 8x12 inches. It exhibits age toning and creasing appropriate to its age. Overall VG.