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[[image]] three TWO CENTS U.S. INTERN. REV. (George Washinton) stamps with date and initials [[/image]]

Agreement with Freedmen
This Agreement made and entered into this 22nd day of January, 1866 by and between Mitchell and Reading of the Country of Yazoo and State of Miss, party of the first part, and undersigned Freedmen, parties of the second part, WITNESSETH: That, for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as the Hammer and Johnson Plantation, situate in the County of Yazoo and State of Miss, during the year 1866, commencing on the 22nd day of January, 1866 and ending on the 31st day of December 1866 - the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements of the said parties of the second part, hereinafter contained, COVENANT AND AGREE to pay to the said parties of the second part, the amounts of money, or, in lieu thereof, such proportions of the crop, as are set opposite their respective names, 1/3 thereof. if money, to be paid [[strikethrough]] on the [[/strikethrough]] quarterly of said year; the remainder, on or before the 31st day of December 1866, and before the final disposal of the crop ; but if given an interest in the crop, to receive interest or proportion when the crop is gathered and ready for market. The said party of the first part also agree to furnish to said Freedmen, parties of the second part, during their continuance to labor, and for the time above specified, free of charge, good and sufficient quarters and fuel; to see that the premises thus furnished are kept in a good sanitary condition; [[strikethrough]] to furnish the Freedmen, parties of the second part, free of charge, full, substantial and healthy rations, all necessary medical attendance and supplies in case of sickness, to supply each hand with one suit of clothing for summer and one for winter wear, to include hats and shoes, to allot from the lands of said plantation, for garden purposes, to each family, not less than [[blank]] acre, if desired, such allotment to include a reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of said gardens, to exact only [[blank]] hours work per day in summer, and [[blank]] hours work per day in winter, and no [[/strikethrough]] to furnish 3 1/2 pounds of bacon or its equivalent in pork or beef and 1 peck of meal for week each for hands that labor [[strikethrough]] to grant one-half of each and every Saturday, to enable them to cultivate portions of land allotted to them for garden purposes; and if any labor, in excess of the above, per day is required, and rendered, the same to be paid for as extra labor, at the same rates as agreed upon for the monthly labor; [[/strikethrough]] and to exact no labor whatever on Sunday; and to co-operate in the establishment of any school for education of children of said Freedmen.  

And in consideration of the faithful performance, by the said party of the first part, of all the obligations assumed by them, and the punctual payment by them of all wages agreed upon, as aforesaid, the said Freedmen, parties of the second part, hereby COVENANT AND AGREE with the said Mitchell and Reading party of the first part them, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, to render, during the period before named, respectful, faithful, and obedient labor, in strict conformity with the conditions aforesaid. Laboring from sunrise until sundown allowing a reasonable time for meals.

It is furthermore agreed, That in case the said Mitchell and Reading party of the first part, shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfill any of the obligations assumed by them or shall be guilty of cruelty to the Freedmen, or any of them. They shall, besides being liable to the legal recourse left to the party or parties aggrieved, render this contract liable to annulment. And in case any of the Freedmen shall voluntarily absent himself or herself from, or shall neglect or refuse to perform, the labor herein contracted for, and the fact shall be satisfactorily proven, the one-third of the wages due to the party so offending, and retained in the hands of Mitchell and Reading, the party of the first part shall be forfeited to them, for their own use and benefit; and the party or parties so offending shall be discharged from said employment.

It is furthermore agreed, That any wages due the Freedmen, the parties of the second part under this agreement, shall constitute a first lien upon all the crops produced on the plantation aforesaid. The party of the second part further agree to looss all time lost by illness or sickness

Transcription Notes:
changed part 4 to party Deecember 1866 to December 1866 should "illness or sickness" be "idleness or mischief"? NO.