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Agreement with Freedmen
This Agreement made this 1st day of August A.D. 1865, by and between William S. West of the County of Hinds 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 plantation known as the [blank] in the County aforesaid, during the year Commencing on the 1st day of August A.D. 1865 and terminating on the 1st day of January AD 1866. The said Wm S. West 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 it is further agreed, That in case the Said Wm. S. West 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 it is agreed on the part of the parties of the Second part that they will each well and faithfully perform Such labor of the Said Wm. S. West May require of them for the time aforesaid, and in every respect be dutiful and faithful Servants; And in case any laborer Shall voluntarily absent himself 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 of the Freedmen Shall deem proper. 
In Testimony Whereof, The said parties have affixed their names to this agreement at Wm. S. West's Hinds Co.,