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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.

This Agreement, made this 14th day of August, A.D.1865, by and between Charles Sturdivant of the County of Lowndes, and State of Mississippi, of the first part and the persons thereafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, parties hereto of the second part [[blank]]

WITNESSETH, That for the purpose of cultivating the Plantation known as the home of C Sturdivant in the County & State aforesaid, during the year commencing on the first day of May, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866.  The said Charles Sturdivant 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 allot to them, as secured or at the end of the present year, one sixth of all the crop of corn, wheat, sweet potatoes, & Sorghum syrup, made & manufactured on his plantation and that he will furthermore excuse them from labor for himself every Saturday afternoon & give them as much land as they choose to cultivate: and to Jerry, blacksmith one third of his nett profits of Blk shop owned and conducted, by R.D.Powell & said Sturdivant jointly,

And it is Further Agreed, That in case the said Charles Sturdivant 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 as the said Charles Sturdivant 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: The said parties of the second (see below*)

In Testimony Whereof, The said parties have affixed their names to this AGREEMENT at the house of C Sturdivant, State of Missississippi, on the day and date aforesaid.

[[4 column table]]
|NAMES.|Age.|No. of Dependents.|REMARKS|
|---|---|---|---|
|Granderson X|57|   |[[note 1]]|
|Moses X|48|   |[[note 1]]|
|Lud X|43|   |[[note 1]]|
|Gilbert X|38|   |[[note 1]]|
|/4 column table]]

[[note 1]] *part, furthermore bind themselves to preserve orderly & good conduct & behavior on the premises of said Sturdivant, and not wantonly & mischieviously, to waste or destroy, any property belonging to him; and to be accountable for any such loss, and for loss of time & unnecessary absence during prescribed hours of work, at a fair & reasonable estimate

[[vertical note]]
Approved
E P Bennett
Ass Pro Mar Freedmen
[[/vertical note]]

Transcription Notes:
Blk shop - Blacksmith shop Mississippi was misspelled on this document.