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(Duplicate) Contract for Labor 

This Indenture made and entered into on the 30 day of December 1865 between Wm. F. Mercer of the County of Edgecombe and State of North Carolina of the first part, and the undersigned freed laborers of the second part;
Witnesseth that the said laborers have agreed to work for the said Wm. F. Mercer from the 1st day of January 1866 to the 1st day of January 1867, to do all kinds of labor common to the farms of the County, to do their work faithfully; and to be respectful in their deportment; And they further agree that one half of their monthly pay shall be retained by the said Wm. F. Mercer till the end of the year, and that the amount so retained shall be forfeited by a violation of this contract, And they further agree that time lost by idleness; sickness; or absence without leave shall not be paid for, And they reserve one half of every other Saturday not to be paid for, but to be deducted from their pay
And the said Wm. F. Mercer has agreed to furnish the said laborers with comfortable quarters and sufficient rations, and the amount of current money (or its equivalent) annexed to their respective names and that he will treat them kindly.
And the said Wm. F. Mercer has agreed to furnish Dick Bullocks Family (Consisting of Wife Lotta and daughter Effa aged 2 months and son Dick aged 4 years) with Comfortable quarters and