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Agreement with Freedmen.

This Agreement, made this 12th day of June, A. D., 1865, by and between C. M Woods M F Richardson of the County of Kemper and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the persons hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, parties hereto of the second part, 

Witnesseth, That for the purpose of cultivating the planation known as the Woods place in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the ___ day of ___, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said C M Woods & M F Richardson party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part of the parties of the second part, agrees to furnish to the said laborers and those rightfully dependent on them, free of charge, clothing and food of good quality and sufficient quantity good and sufficient quarters; medical attendance when necessary, and kind and humane treatment. and to give the parties of the second part one sixth of their entire corn crop
[[written on top of text]] Office Sub Comr. Meridian Miss. [[??]]d Octo 1865 Approved Ewd. Buckwalter Capt & Sub Comr. [[/written on top of text]]


And it is further Agreed, That in case the said C M Woods & M F Richardson shall fail, neglect, or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by them, or shall furnish said parties of the second part with insufficient food or clothing, or be guilty of cruelty to them, he shall, besides the legal recourse left to the party or parties aggrieved, render this contract liable to annulment by the Provost Marshall of Freedmen. And it is agreed on the part of the parties of the second part that they will each well and faithfully perform such labor as the said C M Woods & M F Richardson may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours in winter, and in every respect be dutiful and faithful servants; and in case any laborer shall voluntarily absent themselves from, or shall neglect, or refuse to perform the labor herein promised, and the fact shall be proven to the satisfaction of the proper officer, the party so offending shall be punished in such manner as the Provost Marshal shall deem proper.

In Testimony Whereof, The said parties have affixed their names to this Agreement at Scooba Kemper Co, State of Mississippi, on the day and date aforesaid.

Cecilian M Woods  Mary F. Richardson of the 1st part

Melinda her X mark
Adaline her X mark
Dick his X mark

Executed in presence of 
W A Moseley
Henry Jones