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Agreement with Freedman.

This Agreement, made 4 day of September A.D., 1865, by and between David Caldwell of the County of Madison and State of Mississippi, of the first part, and the person hereinafter named and undersigned, Freedmen of the same place, part a hereto of the second part, 
Witnesseth, That for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as the Plantation of David Caldwell in the County of Madison aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 4 day of September A. D., 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January 1866. The said David Caldwell party of the first part in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part of the part in the second part, agrees to furnish to the said laborers and those rightfully dependent upon 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; to allot from the last reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of the same; to exact only one half a day of labor on Saturdays, and none whatever on Sundays.

And it is further agreed, That in case the said David Caldwell shall fail, neglect, or refuse to fulfil [[fulfill]] any of the obligations assumed by him, or shall furnish said part in 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 part in of the second part that they will each well and faithfully perform such labor as the said David Caldwell may require of them for the aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours in winter, and in case any laborer shall voluntarily absent then belief 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.
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 their labor. And no shipments of products shall be made until the Provost Marshal of Freedmen shall certify that all dues to said laborers are paid or satisfactorily arranged.

D Caldwell