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Know all men, that I, Gus. L Holmes of the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee have this day entered into the following agreement, with the Freedmen, whose names are written below, to labor upon my farm, known as the Big-Creek farm, situated fifteen miles north from the City of Memphis in the above named county during the year 1866, commencing on the first day of Jan of said year and ending the first day of Jan 1867.  I agree to give said Freedmen, as laborers on said farm, one fourth (1/4) part of the net proceeds of the cotton raised by them and all the excess of corn and fodder beyond what is necessary for the consumption of the farm for one year and three fourths (3/4) of the wheat that may be raised. I agree to furnish said laborers comfortable houses fire wood, one [?]peck of corn meal and three and a half (3 1/2) pounds of bacon each per week and the necessary medical attention, free of charge also one acre at least to each family of land and team and tools to cultivate the same.  The laborers to receive their portion of the crop at the end of the year.  the laborers to be divided into three classes according to their ability to labor.  No 1-2-3- each laborer to recieve of the above named proceeds according to his classification.  They are to work faithfully nine hours per day during the three winter months and ten hours during the other months in the year. The time lost by each laborer by sickness or otherwise, to be deducted at the end of the year from his portion of the proceeds and added to that the others - if any laborer leaves before the crop is finally sowed, he or she forfits