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Approved
E P Bennett
Asst Pro Mar Freedmen
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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN. 

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This Agreement, made this 20th day of September, A. D. 1865, by and between James B Bell 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, parties hereto of the second part [[blank]]

WITNESSETH, That for the purpose of cultivating the Plantation known as the Bell Plantation, in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 20th day of September, A.D. 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said James B Bell, party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part [[blank]] 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 quarters; medical attendance when necessary, and kind and humane treatment. 

and the said James B Bell of the said first part further more agreed and promises to give said the laborers of the second part one eighth of the corn one eighth of the fodder one eighth of the potatoes which may be produced on the plantation afore said during the present year

And it is Further Agreed, That in the said James B Bell shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfill 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 Freedom. 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 James B 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 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 manner as the Provost Marshal shall deem proper. 

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

[[4 Columned Table]]
| NAMES. | Age. | No. of Dependents. | REMARKS. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| Dockton X | 75 |   |  |
| Rose X | 76 |   |   |
| Little Henry X | 28 |  |   |
| Amanda X | 17 |   |   |

Transcription Notes:
Edited: read instructions on how to format tables