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Contract for Labor for 1866

This indentiture this day made and entered into between William R Cox of the County of Wake and State of N.C. of the first part and the undersigned Free Laborers of the second part [[Wimepeth?]]. That the said Laborers have agreed to work for the said Cox from this date, until the 1st day of January 1867 to do all kind of labor common to the farms of Edgecomb County and to work as such hours as his Superintendant may desire promptly obeying all signals that he may give or have given, for them to commence and to cease laboring to do their work faithfully and at all times to be respectful in their deportment, not to drink intoxicating liquors to excess nor to keep in about their houses to sell or give away not to collect in unusual assemblages about the premises. Though a temperate discussion of all subjects in a respectful manner is guaranteed. And they further agree that the said Cox shall retain one half of their monthly wages, until the end of the year 1866, and that the amount due any one shall be [[strikethough]] by a violation of this contract, on his or her part, and that upon reasonable suspicions being entertained that any property of the said Cox is stolen or secreted about their houses, then the right is given for him or his agent to examine their houses for the same, without applying for any other authority, than this herein granted. And they also agree to loose all time when they may fail to labor within from idleness, sickness or absence without proper authority. And the said Cox on his part does agree that he will furnish the said laborers comfortable quarters and teams to haul fuel and that he will give the men 4 lbs of Bacon or its equivalent in Pork and one peck of meal per week, and the woman and Boys who are classed with them, three and one half pounds of Bacon or it's equivalent in Pork and one peck of meal per week and such vegetables as may be grown outside of the superindentant's garden. And the less efficient hands will have a pro ratio reduction of their rations.And he does further agree to pay all number one men twelve (12) dollars per month as above agreed asn upon his being reported as the end of the year by his siperintendant as having uniformly given satisfaction then these wages are to be increased to 15$ per month, and for women and boys