4 page ink MS. document on two separate leaves, closely written in 3 pages, docketed on the fourth. 10x8.

Fascinating and informative articles of agreement, whereby Samuel M. Nelson agrees to outfit and provide transportion to the California gold fields for William Lauderback, William S. Deskins and Edward Smith, in exchange for either a thousand dollars apiece or a half share in the profits. The document is unusual and revealing in its detail, and amazing in its spelling and attempted legalese. Samuel Nelson agrees "to furnish the named parties of the Second part a good and sufficiant outfit for the parties to go the trip from the named place to the Gold Digings in California say waggans clothing teem and pervision and all other materials nesisary for the trip..." Two of the men headed to California have families, and Nelson agrees "to furnish the families of the said Lauderback and Deskins say shugar and coffee and h'spun thread and domestic [?] and quantity to suffice for the use of said familiies say at least the term of two years unles the said Lauderback and Deskins should return within the time named..." Furthermore, "if the families...should by axadent or say sickness or any other thing that might happen the said Nelson shall give due attendence and say all nesisary expendatures in regard to said families..." The document goes on to lay out other procedures for the men to follow, from the possible necessity of selling their wagon, to the purchase of such tools and equipment they need. Signed by Nelson and Deskins, with the marks of the other two.