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These articles of agreement and contract made and concluded this 2d day of January 1866, by and between John G. Skinner of the first part, and Heath Mason a freedman of the second part, Witnesseth: That for and in consideration of the payments herinafter stated to be made, the said Heath Mason freedman agrees and binds himself & his wife Matilda to work as plantation laborers for said Skinner from the 1st day of January 1866, to the 1st day of January, 1867, on the plantation or said Skinner in Yazoo County, Mississippi. He agrees and binds himself to render to said Skinner during said year, (1866,) respectful, obedient and faithful labor, and to labor from daylight until dark, of each day, under such plantation regulations as the said Skinner or his Agent, shall make.

In consideration of the faithful performance of this contract by the said Henry Mason freedman, the said Skinner hereby obligates and binds himself to pay said Heath Mason the sum of $18.00 per month, payable at the end of the year, and to furnish him with 4 lbs. of meat and one peck of meal per week and with good and comfortable quarters and fuel, and shoe, &clothing. and he further binds himself to pay his said wife Matilda $12.00 per month, at the end of the year & to furnish her the same rations of food & clothing.

The said Skinner further agrees to keep constantly on hand meat, meal, and salt which he hereby binds himself to furnish said Henry Mason & his wife in sufficient quantity over and above his ration as stated, at current market price.

The said Skinner further agrees to require no labor of the said Heath Mason or his wife from twelve M. Saturdays until the Mondays following, except attention to stock and except further, that when work and labor may deemed indispensable by the said Skinner to the successful cultivation and gathering of the crop, and when said Heath Mason or his wife shall be so required to labor on the afternoons of Saturdays as above stated, the said Skinner agrees either to pay said Henry Mason for such extra labor, or to allow said Heath Mason or his wife an equal amount of time for his own use, out of laboring days when the situation and condition of crop and plantation will permit.

It is further agreed that in case the said Mason, shall absent himself without permission, or shall neglect or refuse to labor, as above stipulated, the said Skinner or his Agent, reserves the right to discharge said Henry Mason or his wife, from his employ, and the said Henry Mason

Transcription Notes:
Name switches back and forth between Henry Mason and Heath Mason.