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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN.

This Agreement, made this 12th day of September, A.D. 1865, by and between W.B. Aikin of the County Oktibaha [Oktibbeha], 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 the W B Aikins in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the first day of January, A.D., 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said W.B. Aikin, 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. Furthermore any laborer absenting himself or herself without permission shall forfeit his pay the sum of fifty cents for each day absence, to the said WB Aikin, Furthermore any laborer who is absent from labor by sicknes shall after the first five days [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] sickness, pay to W.B. Aikin the sum of fifty cents for each day of absence thereafter. Furthermore, all laborers are required to obey all orders, as to the work [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] ordered by W.B. Aikin on his place or connected with his business; provided such orders does not materially conflict with the above agreement. That the said W B Aikin agrees to give the said laborers one sixth part of all the Wheat corn fodder Potatoes Peas & cotton produced upon his place for the year 1865    

And it is Further Agreed, That in case the said [[strikethrough]] Laborers [[/strikethrough]] W B Aikin 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 WB Aikin 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 a manner as the Provost Marshal shall deem proper. 

W.B. Aikin

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

[[4 column table]]
| NAMES. | Age. | No. of Dependents. | REMARKS. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addison His x mark | 40 | 3 |  |
| Eliza Her x mark | 27 | 3 |  |
| James His x mark | 24 | 1 |  |
| Lucy Her x mark | 30 | 4 |  |
| Susan Her x mark | 20 |  |  |
| Margret Her x mark | 23 | 1 | |
| Thomas His x mark | 14 |  |  | 

Executed in the presence of

Executed in presence of
LJ Perkin
W. T. [[Scope?]]