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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.

This Agreement, made this 16th day of August A.D, 1865, by and between Ephraim Leech of the County of Lowndes, and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the person hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, party hereto of the second part, 
WITNESSETH, That for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as home of Ephraim Leech, in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 1st day of June A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said Ephraim Leech, party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part of the party 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 that he will further more allot to them as secured or at the end of the year, one sixth of all the crop, made on his plantation, the present year, and exempt them from labour every Saturday afternoon unless the necessities of the crop, or some other urgent business requires their attention at that time

And it is Further Agreed, That in case the said Ephraim Leech shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfill 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 Ephraim Leech may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours per day in winter, and in every respect be dutiful and faithful servants; and in case any laborer shall voluntarily 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 of Freedmen shall deem proper. And the parties of the second (see below *

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

* part furthermore bind themselves each to preserve order & good behavior on the premises of said Leech and that they will not wantonly or mischievously, destroy, any property belonging to him and that they will accountable for any such loss or for the unnecessary loss of time during the prescribed hours of work at a fair & reasonable rate

[[4 columned table]]
| NAMES. | Age. | No. of Dependents. | REMARKS. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack x | 53 |   |   | 
| Stephen x | 40 |   |    |
| Lucy x | 30 |   |    |
| Edy x mark | 27 |   |   |

[[left margin]] Approved E P Bennett  Asst Pro Mar Freedmen 
[[/left margin]]