Viewing page 267 of 301

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Contract for Labor

This indenture made & entered into this the 1st January 1866 between Wm D. Mercer of the County of Edgecomb & state of No Carolina of the 1st part & the undersigned Freedmen & women of the 2d part

Witnesseth, that the parties of the 2d part have agreed to become laborers on the farm of W D Mercer from the present time to the 1st January 1867, they do agree to do all kinds of farm work common to the farms of the county, to obey all the regulations necessary for the proper government of the farm, to render the amount of labor faithfully that is usual for their capacity & to remain till the expiration of the Contract; And they further agree that one half of the amount due as wages shall be retained till the end of the year, & if the Contract is violated that the amount due as wages at the time of such violation shall be forfeited. A refusal to perform the proper amount of labor unless in case of sickness shall be considered a violation of the Contract & the amount of labor lost shall not be paid for. 

And the party of the 1st part agrees in compensation for such labor he will furnish the men with four pounds of pork or its equivalent & 1 peck of meal the women their [[1/2?]] in Pork & 1 peck of meal ^[[insertion]] per week [[/insertion]] and the children over nine years old that work in the field with pork & meal in proper ratio as compared with adults, and comfortable quarters, & the amount of money per month set opposite their names & the parties of the 2nd part agree to observe a respectful deportment to the party of the 1st part and his agents and do their work cheerfully & faithfully. And the party of the 1st part agrees to treat the parties of the 2d part kindly