Viewing page 162 of 300

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Agreement with Freedmen.

This Agreement, made this 25th day of September A.D., 1865 by and between J.B. Shepard of the County of Leah 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 Shepard place in the county aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 25th day of September A.D., 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said J.B. Shepard party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part of the parties of the second part, agrees to furnish to the said laborers and those rightfully dependent upon them, free of charge, [[strikethrough]] clothing and [[/strikethrough]] food of good quality and sufficient quantity; good and sufficient quarters; [[strikethrough]] medical attendance when neccessary, [[/strikethrough]] and kind and humane treatment; [[strikethrough]] to allot from the lands of said plantation for garden purposes, one acre to each family; such allotment to include a reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of the same; [[/strikethrough]] to exact only one half a day's labor on Saturdays, and none whatever on Sundays.

[[?]] the usual feeding and watching of flock and such chores are as nesessary.

And it is further agreed, That in case the said J.B. Shepard, 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 [[struckthrough]] or clothing, [[/struckthrough]] or be guilty of cruelty to him 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 he will [[strikethrough]] each [[/strikethrough]] well and faithfully perform such labor as the said J.B. Shepard may may require of him [[strikethrough]] them [[/strikethrough]] for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours in winter, and in case he [[strikethrough]] any laborer [[/strikethrough]] shall voluntarily absent himself from, or shall neglect, or refuse to perfrom 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.
IT IS FURTHER AGREED, That any wages or share of profits due the said laborers under this agreement, shall constitute a first lien upon all crops or parts of crops produced on said plantation or tract of land by his [[strikethrough]] their [[/strikethrough]] labor. And no shipment of products shall be made untill the Provost Marshal of Freedmen shall certify that all dues to said laborers are paid or satisfactorily arranged.
J.B. Shepard