[Docket: Copy of a Contract made with Jeremiah Buck for sup= plying the Troops of the No 3 District at [the] Count[ies] of Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland & Cape May, New Jersey — Jeremiah Buck Contlr.] Articles of Agreement made this Sixth day of May in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ninety nine, between Jeremiah Buck of Bridgetown in the County of Cumberland and state of New Jersey of the one part, and Jonathan Rhea of Trenton, for and in behalf of the Secretary of War of the United States, of the other part Whereas a Recruiting Rendezvous is established at Bridgetown designated by 2^d District N^o 3 and to include the Counties of Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May in the said state of New Jersey; and it being necessary that provision should be made for such Troops as may be stationed, marched or recruited within said District for and during the residue of the year 1799, the said Jeremiah Buck doth agree, that he will furnish to all such troops, all rations they may be intitled to receive, upon returns to be made by the proper officer whose duty it may be to make such returns, and will procure proper receipts for the rations he may so furnish; that he will supply rum, whiskey, or other ardent spirits, at the rate of half a gill per ration, and vinegar, at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations, when thereunto required; that he will supply the troops with fuel and straw: and further, that he will answer all requisitions made for rations by Major General Hamilton, or Officers acting under his authority; and that he will finally settle his accounts at the Office of the Treasury of the United States. And the said Jonathan Rhea doth agree, that the said Jeremiah Buck shall and may be paid on account any sum or sums of money not exceeding the amount of his supplies, on his signing duplicate receipts for the same, And it is further agreed between the said parties, that the ration to be supplied shall consist of the following articles, and be furnished at the following prices or rates, to wit: Eighteen ounces of bread or flour or when neither can be obtained, one quart of rice, or one and an half pounds of sifted or bolted Indian meal; when not exceeding fifty rations daily, at the rate or price of 5 Cents 8 Mills. when not exceeding one hundred daily, 5 Cents 6 Mills, when not exceeding two hundred daily 5 Cents 5 Mills, when not exceeding three hundred daily, 6 Cents 5 Mills, when exceeding three hundred daily, 5 Cents 4 Mills. if Indian meal should be supplied 4 Cents, when Rice 5 Cents. One pound and a quarter of fresh beef, or one pound of salted beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted pork, and when fresh meat is issued, salt at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations; when not exceeding fifty rations daily, at the rate or price of 7 Cents 8 Mills, when not exceeding one hundred daily, 7 Cents 6 Mills, when not exceeding two hundred daily, 7 Cents 4½ Mills, when not exceeding three hundred daily, 7 Cents 4 Mills, when exceeding three hundred daily, 7 Cents 3 Mills. Soap at the rate of four pounds, and candles at the rate of a pound and an half for every hundred rations, at the rate or price of 1 Cent 8 Mi[lls] and that rum, whiskey or other ardent spirits, shall be furnished, for every half gill at the rate or price of 1 Cent 5 Mills. Vinegar at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations at the price of 8 Mills. Straw, per sheaf, to weigh 14^lb at the price of 4 Cents. Oak and other wood, quartered for the Troops, and transportation, to be supplied at 2 8½ ⅌ Cent. all which articles shall be of good, wholsome and merchantable quality. And it is also further agreed, that each party shall have the privilege of discontinuing this Contract at any time, on his giving to the other party one months notice of the same. For the true performance of every article and thing herein contained, each party binds himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, to the other part his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, in the penal sum of four thousand Dollars In witness whereof, the parties to these presents, have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. [Signed] Jeremiah Buck [seal] [Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of] J Rhea [seal] Gitty Maria Rhea, as to the execution by Jonathan Rhea Eli Elmer, as to the signing of Jeremiah Buck Price of a Ration                                                 Cts.  Mills. Not exceeding  50  daily ——  5 „  8     Ditto ——  100  „ ——  [undecipherable: probable reading 16] „ 6     Ditto ——  200  „ ——  [undecipherable: probable reading 16] „ 3½     Ditto ——  300 ——  „ ——  [undecipherable: probable reading 16] „ 3 Exceeding ——  300 —— „ ——  [undecipherable: probable reading 16] „ 1