Viewing page 291 of 309

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Agreement with Freedmen

This Agreement made and entered into this 4 day of January, 1866 
by and between Dwight Bunker 
of the Country of Cook and State of Illinois, 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 Wyoming Plantation, situate in the County of Yazoo and State 
of Miss, during the year 1866, commencing on the 4 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,
[[blank]] thereof. if money, to be paid on the [[blank]]
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 part[[blank]] 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, all necessary medical
attendance and supplies in case of sickness, [[strikethrough]] to supply each hand with one suit of clothing for summer and one for winter wear, to include hats and shoes[[/strikethrough]]; to allot from the lands of said plantation, for garden purposes, to each family, not less than 1/2
acre, if desired, such allotment to include a reasonable use of tools and animals for the cultivation of said gardens, to exact only
10 hours work per day in summer, and 9 hours work per day in winter, and no labor whatever on Sunday; 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; 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
[[blank]], and the potential 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 Dwight Bunker
party of the first part, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, to render, during the period [[blank]]
before named, respectful, faithful, and obedient labor, in strict conformity with the condition aforesaid.
It is furthermore agreed, That in case the said Dwight Bunker
party of the first part, shall fail, neglect or reuse to fulfill any of the obligations assumed by [[blank]] 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 the wages due to the party so offending, and retained in the hands of Dwight
 Bunker, the party of the first part shall be forfeited to him, for his
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.