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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.
This Agreement, made this the 16 day of August A.D, 1865, by and between Rebecca Brock 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, part  hereto of the second part, 
WITNESSETH, That for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as the Farm of the Est Benj Brock, in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the first day of January, 1866. The said Rebecca Brock, 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, [[strikethrough]] clothing and [[/strikethrough]] food of good quality and sufficient quantity; good and sufficient quarters; medical attendance when necessary, and kind and humane treatment.
And to give them one sixth of all crops grown on said farm during the present year, consisting of corn, fodder, wheat, cotton, and potatoes, Said Freedmen bind themselves to forfeit a fair value for all property unlawfully made away with or damaged through neglect or abuse, and they further agree to forfeit fifty cents per day for every day lost from protracted sickness or otherwise lost.  Said Freedmen prefer and agree to furnish their clothing.

[[margin note 1]]

And it is further agreed, That in case the said Rebecca Brock shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by her, or shall furnish 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 Rebecca Brock or her agent 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 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.

In Testimony Whereof, The said parties have affixed their names to this AGREEMENT at [[blank]], State of Missississippi, on the day and date aforesaid.
Rebecca Crock
per [[J H?]] Brock Agt

[[4 columned table]]
| NAMES. | Age. | No. of Dependents. | REMARKS. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurt & his mark | 56 | 4 | Children of Kurt & Vina |
| Vina her x mark | 45 | 4 | disable on account of rheumatism |
| Levi his x mark | 35 |   |   |
| Charles his x mark | 29 |   |   |
| Louisa | her x mark | 100 |   | Blind and disable from old age. |
| Mary Ann her x mark | 18 |   |   |
[[/4 columned table]]

[[margin note 1]] Approved  E.P. Bennett  A.P.M.F.

          

Transcription Notes:
Missississippi - misspelled. Mississippi is the correct spelling. A.P.M.F. - Asst Provost Marshall Freedmen.