[Copy by Moses Austin.]
Agreement indented made and concluded upon this sixteenth day
of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
Ninety five Between Stephen and M Austin of Wythe County State
of Virginia Merchants of the one part and John D Blanchard and
George Lauman of the City of Philadelphia in this State of
Pennsylvania Merchants of the other part—
Witnesseth that it is mutually covenanted stipulated promised and
agreed by and between the said Parties to these presents in manner
following, that is to say—That the said Stephen and Moses Austin
shall and will make discoveries of and take up and secure lands
lying within the State of Virginia or elsewhere on the joint account
of all the said parties hereto to be held in proportions following, to
wit the said Stephen and Moses Austin one equal third part thereof
the said John D Blanchard one equal third part thereof and the said
George Lauman the remaining one equal third part thereof as tenants
in common—
That all the purchase moneys for said Land, surveying and office
fees and other incidental charges and expenees in the prosecution of
the said business, shall be equally borne and paid by all the said
parties, each of them one equal third part thereof
On account whereof they the said Stephen and Moses Austin have
now received from the said John D Blanchard and George Lauman
the sum of one thousand dollars
That for all monies which may from time to time be necessary
and requisit in the said business they the said Stephen and Moses
Austin shall and may draw on the said John D. Blanchard and
George Lauman who hereby engage and agree without Delay to
honor and pay the same that all the warrants Surveys and patents
for the land to be taken up and secured in pursuance of these
presents shall be taken issued and made to and in the name of him
the said George Lauman in trust however for the use of All the said
parties to these presents
That the said Stephen and Moses Austin shall and will not
during the continuance of the concern hereby created be interested or
connected with any other person or persons than the said John D
Blanchard and George Lauman in any Business of a similar Nature
and that upon the request of any two of the parties to these presents
a sale or Sales of the said land or a division thereof in the
proportions aforesaid which ever may be deemed most to the advantage
of the said concern, shall be effected and made and they the said
parties of the first and second parts to these presents for themselves
their several and respective Heirs Executors and Administraters do
hereby mutually and reciprocally convenant and agree promise
engage to and with each other and with each and every of their
Heirs Executors and Administrators that they the said parties and
each of them shall and will well and faithfully stand to perform and
keep the several covenants stipulations engagements and agreements
herein before mentioned and expressed—without any default or
delay—and for the true performance the said parties do hereby
mutually bind themselves their respective Heirs Executors and
Administraters each unto the other of them in the penal sum of
Fifty Thousand pounds firmly by these presents In witness
where-of they have interchangeably set their hands and Seals hereunto the
day and year first above written
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
Coppy
Joseph Bickey Jn° D Blanchard
Charles Austin George Lauman
Stephen and M Austin
[Endorsed:] Contract with Lauman and Blanchard. (Copy.)