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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.

This Agreement, made this 8th day of August., A.D., 1865, by and between B S Brown of the US.M.R.R. Lauderdale Co and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the person hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the [[strikethrough]] same place [[/strikethrough]] County of Lauderdale, parties hereto of the second part,

Witnesseth, That for the purpose of [[strikethrough]] cultivating the plantation known as the [[/strikethrough]] working in a Mill in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] 1st day of August, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said B S Brown party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part of the part of the second part, agrees to furnish to the said laborers [[strikethrough]] and those rightfully dependent [[/strikethrough]] on them, free of charge,[[strikethrough]] clothing and [[/strikethrough]] food of good quality and sufficient quantity; good and sufficient quarters; [[strikethrough]] medical attendance when necessary, [[/strikethrough]] and kind and humane treatment, &

Ben Sparker is to receive $12, per month
Prince Wentz is to receive $15/ [[strikethrough]] 00 [[/strikethrough]] pr month
Terrell is to receive $10. [[strikethrough]] 00 [[/strikethrough]] pr month
Bill Culleth is to receive $12 pr month
Mat Person is to receive $12 per month
Ames is to receive $10. pr month

And it is further Agreed, That in case the said B S Brown shall fail, neglect, or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by himself, or shall furnish said parties of the second part with insufficient food [[strikethrough]] or clothing [[/strikethrough]], 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 B S Brown may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding [[strikethrough]] ten [[/strikethrough]] 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.

If the Freedmen do good service I will raise their wages after the first month.

In Testimony Whereof, The said parties have affixed their names to this Agreement at Meridian, State of Mississippi, on the day and date aforesaid.
Benj S. Brown, USMRR[[S?]]

Prince Wentz his X mark
Terrell his X mark
Bill Culleth his X mark
Mat Person his X mark
Ames his X mark
Ben Sparker his X mark

Executed in presence of
Jno A Sprouse

[[left margin]]
Office P.M. Freedman
Meridian Miss  10th August 1865
[[/left margin]]

Transcription Notes:
Page 28 is identical to Page 27.