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and the said Ivey hereby agrees to furnish to said freedmen without expense to them the land seed tools (to be used in the cultivation of said Plantation) and sufficient quarters for themselves and families, also agrees to deliver to the said Saul. S Ashley or to his authorised agent or successor in office for the benefit and possession of said freedmen one half of three fourths of such products as may be produced on said Plantation by said Freedmen under said Ivey's direction. It is also agreed and understood that the aforesaid freedmen shall be furnished with rations as now allowed by the U.S Government to Refugees as long as said allowance is authorised by competent authority. It is also agreed and understood that said freedmen shall hold this contract as binding until the crops cultivated by them as aforesaid are properly secured and prepared for market, and if any freedman violates this contract by voluntary absence or continued neglect to work, his share of the produce shall be forfeited one half to the said Ivey, and one half to the Superintendent of Negro affairs, for the support of the helpless Signed this Sixth day of May at Wilmington N.C. In presence of S.S. Ashely} Witness Levi Craft his + mark Toby Walker his + mark Ned Hunter his + mark Jasper Wilson his + mark Bob Wilson his + mark Cato Wilson his + mark Ned Keven his + mark Carolina Wilson her + mark Ab McNair his + mark June McKeven his + mark Pristen Kelly his + mark Israel Allen his + mark Bunnill Lyde his + mark Elijah Hall his + mark David Lyde his + mark Adam Thompson his + mark S.P. Ivey Sam Bennett his + mark Simmen Huggins his + mark Ben Huggins his + mark