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Articles of Agreement made and concluded this 1st day of January 1866 by and between James Spiars & E. F. Irwin of the first part and the undersigned freedman of the second part, whereby it is agreed and covenanted as follows:

For and in consideration of the payments hereinafter agreed to be paid, the said undersigned [[strikethrough]] freedman [[/strikethrough]] freedmen,s agrees and binds [[strikethrough]] himself [[/strikethrough]] themselves to work as [[strikethrough]] a [[/strikethrough]] plantation laborers from 1st January 1866, to 1st January 1867, on the plantation of the said Spiars & Irwin in Yazoo County Mississippi. [[strikethrough]] He [[/strikethrough]] They agrees and [[strikethrough]] binds himself [[/strikethrough]] bind themselves to render to said party of the first part, during the period of one year, as before stated, respectful, obedient and faithful labor; to work [[strikethrough]] 10 hours each day in summer and 9 hours in winter [[/strikethrough]] from sun rise to sun set, under such plantation regulations as the party of the first part shall make, not inconsistent with the provisions of this contract or the rules and regulations of the freedman's bureau.

In consideration of the faithful performance of [[strikethrough]] his [[/strikethrough]] their contract by the said undersigned freedman, party of the second part, the said Spiars & Irwin party of the first part offers and binds [[strikethrough]] himself [[/strikethrough]] themselves to pay to said undersigned freedman at the rate of $ [[blank]] per month with rations of 4 pounds of meat, 1 peck of meal,[[strikethrough]] 1 pint of molasses and [[/strikethrough]] [[blank]] pounds of salt per week.  [[strikethrough]] One [[blank]] (of said wages to be paid quarterly on 1st of April, 1st of July, 1st of October 1866, and the remainder on or before the 1st of January 1867.)[[/strikethrough]] The full payment to be made January 1st 1867. The said Spiars & Irwin party of the first part, agrees to furnish the said undersigned party of the second part free of charge, during [[strikethrough]] his [[/strikethrough]] their continuance to labor, good and sufficient quarters and fuel. He also agrees to keep constantly on hand meat, meal, molasses and salt, which he binds himself to furnish to said [[blank]] freedman, in such quantities as he may need for his own use, at a price not exceeding the cost to the party of the first part.

[[strikethrough]] There shall be no labor required of said [[blank]] freedmen from 12 M Saturday until Monday morning, except the care of stock and other necessary labor [[/strikethrough]] Sundays excepted.
 
It is further agreed, that in case the party of the first part shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the obligations assumed to said undersigned freedman, or shall be guilty of cruelty to [[strikethrough]] him [[/strikethrough]] them, this contract shall be considered liable to annulment in addition to legal remedies left to said freedman. And in case the said undersigned freedman shall voluntarily absent [[strikethrough]] himself [[/strikethrough]] themselves from or shall neglect or refuse to perform the labor herein contracted for, the said Spiars & Irwin party of the first part shall have the right to discharge the said undersigned freedman party of the

Transcription Notes:
James SPIARS - look at next page. Found on internet censuses. IRWIN - signature on next page of contract is more clearly written