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State of North Carolina }
County of Edgecombe }

Articles of agreement between B.T. Lyon and Dred Lyon, his sons Fred, Dred, & Jacob; Sandy Lyon, his wife ^[[insertion]] Ann [[/insertion]] & boy Omstead; Moses Lyon & his wife Isabella; John Lyon & his wife Anica; William Lyon & his wife Bettie; Wilson; Kinchur; Washington Whitfield & his Mother Eliza: Freedmen, Women & children, whose names are hereunto attached;

1st The said servants agree to hire their time as laborers on the plantation of B.T. Lyon from January 1st 1866 to January 1st 1867; to conduct themselves faithfully, honestestly, civilly, ^[[insertion]] soberly [[/insertion]] & diligently to perform all labor on said plantation, or such as may be connected therewith, that may be required by the said B.T. Lyon, or his agent; & without the written consent of the proprietor or his agent to keep no fire arms or deadly weapons.

2nd The said servants agree to perform the daily labor hitherto usually performed on said plantation. They agree to labor faithfully & diligently from 
sun-rise to sun set, or later if important business is required 

3rd For every day's labor lost by absence refusal or neglect to perform the daily task said servant shall forfeit fifty (50) cents. If absent voluntarily or without leave, two (2) dollars a day; if absent more than one day, without leave, to be subject to dismissal from the plantation & forfeiture of one third of the wages then due. All such fines & forfeitures shall inure to the benefit of the employer

4th Said servants agree to take good care of all utensils, tools, implements committed to their charge & to pay for the same if injured or destroyed; also, to be kind & gentle to all work animals under their charge, & to pay for any injury which they may sustain while in their hands.

5th The said employer agrees to treat his hirelings with Justice & kindness; to furnish each family with quarters on his plantation, with the privilege of getting firewood from some portion of the premises to be

Transcription Notes:
changed "South" to "North" Carolina (looks at first like a capital "S," but it is a cap. "N" with a flourish) (Good catch on that and "soberly"! -- Beth)