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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN

This Agreement, made this 9th day of September, A. D. 1865, by and between Afner Bell of the Co of Oktibbeha, 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 Bell Plantation in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the first day of Jan, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said Abner Bell, 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 it is further agreed on the party of the first that he will pay to the party of the second part the one tenth of the Corn the one sixth of Sorghum the one fourth of potatoes and two stacks of fodder made and produced during the term of said labor.

[[across text]]
Approved
E.P. Bernett
A. P. M.
[[\across text]]

And it is Further Agreed, That in case the said Abner Bell shall fail neglect or refuse to fulfil any of the obligations assumed by him 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 Freedman. 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 Abner Bell 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 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 as the Provost Marshal shall deem proper. 

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

[[4 columned table]]
| NAMES | Age. | No. of Dependents | REMARKS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampson his x mark | 30 |   |   |
| Stepney his x mark | 27 |   |   |  
| George his x mark | 23 |   |   | 
| [[Kir?]] his x mark | 19 |  |  | 

Transcription Notes:
Tough to make out the names of the freedmen, and the name/signature of the provost marshall who marked this document as approve, as that was written sideways across some handwritten text. Also, need a second pair of eyes to tease out the last few lines of the handwritten paragraph, and to identify a few mystery words within.