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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.

This Agreement, made this 4th day of August, A.D. 1865, by and between Mrs PC Brown of the County of Loundes, Columbus and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the person 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 [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] Mrs P.C Browns, 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 Mrs PC Brown, 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. One Eighth (1/8) of the entire growing crop of whatever kind cultivated & growing on said plantation this year. [[crossed out]] If any of the undersigned shall absent himself or herself Voluntarily [[?]] for its his or her share said share to go to Mrs P.C. Brown [[/crossed out]]
[[margin]]

And it is Further Agreed, That in case the said Mrs PC Brown shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by her, or shall furnish said part 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 Mrs P.C. Brown 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 himself 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 AGREEMEN at Mrs Browns Plantation, state of Missississippi, on the day and date aforesaid.

[[four column table]]
|NAMES.|Age.|No. of Dependents.|REMARKS.|
|---|---|---|---|
|PC Brown|---|---|---|
|Needham +|45|---|---|
|Charles +|45|---|---|
|John +|16|---|---|
|Green +|22|---|---|
|Mary +|37|---|---|
|America +|22|---|---|
|Betsy Ann +|50|---|---|
|Melissa +|14|---|---|

[[note]] Approved E.P. Bennett Apt Pro Mar Freedmen [[/note]]