[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.)