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Agreement with Freedmen.

This Agreement, made and entered into this 5th day of January, 1866 by and between Dr Jas Carroll of the County of Yazoo and State of Mississippi, part of the first part and the undersigned Freedmen, parties of the second part, WITNESSETH: That, for the purpose of cultivating the plantation known as the Dr Carroll's Plantation, situate in the County of Yazoo and State of Mississippi, during the year 1866, commencing on the 5th day Jan, 1866 and ending on the 31st day of December, 1866-the said part 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 [[strikethrough]] or, in lieu thereof such proportions of the crop, [[/strikethrough]] as are set opposite their respective names, thereof, if money, to be paid on the First day of Jan 1867 [[strikethrough]] 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 said interest or proportion when the crop is gathered and ready for market. [[/strikethrough]] The said part 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; to furnish the Freedmen, parties of the second part, free of charge, full, substantial and healthy rations, [[strikethrough]] 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 ___ acre, if desired; such allotment to include a reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of said gardens; to exact only [[/strikethrough]] 10 hours work per day in summer, and 9 hours work per day in winter, and no labor whatever on Sunday; to [[strikethrough]] grant one-half of each and every Saturday, to enable them to cultivate the portions of land allotted to them for garden purposes; and [[/strikethrough]] 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; and to co-operate in the establishment of any school for the education of the children of said Freedmen.

And in consideration of the faithful performance, by the said part of the first part, of all the obligations by Dr Carroll and of the punctual payment by him of all the wages agreed upon, as aforesaid, the said Freedmen, parties of the second part, hereby COVENANT AND AGREE with the said Dr Carroll part of the first part, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, to render, during the period before named, respectful, faithful and obedient labor, in strict conformity with the conditions aforesaid.

It is furthermore agreed, That in case the said Dr Carroll part of the first part, shall fail, neglect or refuse to fulfill any of the obligations assumed by him or shall be guilty of cruelty to the Freedmen, or any of them he 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 wages due to the party so offending, and retained in the hands of Dr Carroll, the part of the first part shall be forfeited to him for his own use and benefit; and 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 crops produced on the plantation aforesaid.