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AGREEMENT WITH FREEDMEN,
This Agreement, made this 14th day of October A.D., 1865, by and between John W Cotton of the Co of Noxubee 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 Cotton in the County aforesaid, during the year commencing on the 15th day of April A.D., 1865, and terminating on the 1st day of January, 1866. The said John W. Cotton party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and conditions hereinafter mentioned on the part of the part is of 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; [[strikethrough]] to allot the lands of said plantation, for garden purposes, one acre to each family; such allotment to include a reasonable use of the tools and animals for the cultivation of the same; [[/strikethrough]] to exact only one half a day's labor on Saturdays, and no unnecessary work on Sundays.
He further agrees to give one fifth of corn crop

And it is further agreed, That in case the said John W. Cotton shall fail, neglect, or refuse to fulfill any of the obligations assumed by him or shall furnish said part is 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 is of the second part that they will each well and faithfully perform such labor as the said John W. Cotton may require of them for the time aforesaid, not exceeding ten hours per day in summer and nine hours in winter, and in case any labor herein promised, and the fact shall be proven to the satisfaction of the proper officer, the party or offending shall be punished in such manner as the Provost Marshall 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 Marshall of Freedmen shall certify that all others to said laborers are paid or satisfactorily arranged.

Transcription Notes:
Please look at other contracts to see wording. Also look at INSTRUCTIONS as to rules about using [[strikethrough]] [[/strikethrough]]. Also, no indentations.