Viewing page 151 of 309

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

JAMES S. MOORE of Yazoo County Miss. and the freedman Louis Webster, Ben Webster, Omar Webster, Nancy Webster, Placetts Webster, Ann Gilman, Amy Webster, Isaiah Webster agree as follows: Said L. W & family agrees to labor for, and faithfully serve J. S. Moore for one year, commencing on the first day of January, 1866, and ending on the last day of December, 1866. He agrees to work from sunrise to sunset, every day in the week, except Sunday, and except three quarters of an hour each day, consumed in eating dinner, and to do such work on Sunday and at night as said Moore or his agent shall think necessary; said Moore or his agent to be the solo judge of the necessity of such work; such night work or Sunday work to consist in attending to horses stock, etc. He also agrees that when said Moore or his agent shall see fit to give task work, he will perform the task allotted to him, and if he fails, there shall be a deduction from his wages. It is also mutually agreed, that when task work is given, the following shall be a task for a day in the different kinds of work, to wit: In hoeing cotton, corn, or other things, two acres and a half; ploughing cotton, corn or other things, with two furrows to the row, four acres and a half, or four furrows to the row, two acres and a quarter; breaking up land in proportion, according to the number of furrows it takes to the row; splitting rails, on hundred and fifty; picking cotton, two hundred lbs. It is also mutually agreed that said Moore or his agent shall be the sole judge of the quantity or quality of the work, when the task is given, and of the time when gang work shall be done. Said L. W & family agrees to obey all orders of said Moore, or his agent; to be sober and respectful, and to work: when and where said Moore or his agent shall direct. 

Said J.S. Moore agrees to pay said L. W & family for said services or labor, as follows: To give L. W & family 3 pounds of meat, one peck of meal and one pint of mollases per week, each and to pay said L. W & family Louisa $8. L. W. $15, B W. $10, S. W $15, P. W $12, A. G. $8, Amy $8, Nancy support at the rate of $ per month in money, one third of said monthly wages in money to be paid at the end of each month, and the remainder to be paid at the end of the year, But if said L. W & family shall leave the plantation of said Moore at any time during the year, without written permission, for a day or any time less than a day, he shall forfeit $5 for each offence; but should the absence be for a longer time than a day or the offence of leaving for a day or less than a day, be repeated three times, then the said Moore or his agent shall have the right, at his entire discretion, to dismiss the said L. W & family from the plantation; the said L. W & family forfeiting all the wages that may be due him at the time of his dismissal.

Transcription Notes:
Edited: changes and corrections