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Noble Lea
Thomas Bates X his mark

Seal
Witness
George Lea {seal}
Eloria Lea  {seal}

Also the said Thomas Bates do oblige himself to devote his whole time on the farm to raising corn and cotton and to improve the place.

Your Petitioner shows that when the said agreement was delivered to you, Petitioner it ended where the signatures are now found, subsequently Lea obtained the agreement from your Petitioner upon the place that he wanted it as a copy to make out an agreement with annother Freedman named Mansel to when Lea had hired annother portion of his (Leas) land.

While your Petitioners contract was thus in the hands of Lea, the said Lea without the knowledge or consent of your Petitioner, added to it the condition found after the signing and sealing. which condition reads as follows.

"Also the said Thomas Bates do oblige himself to devote his whole time on the farm to raising corn and cotton & to improve the place"

Your Petitioner shows that he could not, and would not have consented to this most unjust and unreasonable condition, thus without your Petitioners Knowledge or consent added by Lea, for the following among other plain reasons.

Transcription Notes:
The two notes noted at the top of the document are single words placed near the names George and Eloria. I can't read the words. Both words have a decorative scalloped edge inked around them.