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[[left side]]
Approved
E.P. Bennett
Asst. Pro Mar. Freedmen
[[/left side]] 

AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.
This Agreement, made this 20th day June A.D. 1865, by and between Richard Sykes of the County of Lowndes and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the person hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, part hereto of the second part

WITNESSETH, That for the purpose of cultivating the Plantation known as the Farm of Richard Sykes, in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said Richard Sykes, party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on 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 grant them the (1/5) one fifth part of all the cotton, corn & fodder made on said plantation the present year after deducting enough corn & fodder for plantation use and [[?]] Lot until 1st Jany next and deducting enough Rope & Baging to bail up their one fith [[fifth]] part of the cotton
[[written over text]] Approved E.P. Bennett Asst. Pro. Mar. Freedmen [[/written over text]]

And it is Further Agreed, That in case the said party of the first part shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by him, 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 Marshal of Freedmen. And 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 party of the first part may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in the summer and nine hours in the winter; and in case any laborer shall absent him or herself 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 in Lowndes County, State of Mississippi, on the day and date aforesaid.

[[6 columned table]]
| Names. | Age. | No. of Dependents. | Names | Age | No. of Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| Abram X | 30 |   | Adaline x | 30 |   |
| Albert X | 32 |   | Becky | 36 |   |
| Antony X | 28 |   | Charlotte Miller X | 25 |   |
| Cato X | 18 |   | Little Charlotte X | 26 |   |
| Dick X | 32 |   | Emily X | 16 |   |
[[/6 columned table]]