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Agreement with Freedmen

This Agreement, made this 11th day of August A.D. 1865 by and between Nathaniel P Wells of the County of Hinds and State of Mississippi of the first part and the person hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, part is hereto of the second part, 

Witnesseth, That for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as the Plantation of N.P. Wells in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 11th day of August A.D., 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said N.P. Wells 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 the said laborers and those rightfully dependent upon 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; to allot from the lands of said plantation for garden purposes, one acre to each family; such allotment to include a reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of the same; to exact only one half a day's labor on Saturdays, and move none whatever on Sundays.

And it is further agreed, That in the said N.P. Wells shall fail, neglect, or refuse to fulfil any of the obligation 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 as the said N.P. Wells may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours in winter, 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 the Provost Marshal of Freedmen shall deem proper.

IT IS FURTHER AGREED, That any wages or share of profits due the said laborers under this agreement, shall constitute a first lien upon all crops or parts of crops produced on said plantation or tract of land by their labor. And no shipments of products shall be made until the Provost Marshal of Freedmen shall certify that all dues to said laborers are paid or satisfactorily arranged.