“Be it known to all men whom it shall or may concern that we James Patterson on the harbour of Pictou and James Turnbull of the East River of Pictou have made the following bargain and argument – that is to say the aforesaid James Turnbull hath sold and doth hereby bargain and sell to the aforesaid James Patterson forty tons or thereabouts of good merchantable square pine timber which timber the said James Turnbull doth hereby bind and oblige himself to deliver to the said James Patterson above the new bridge in the town gut on the harbour of Pictou which Timber shall be surveyed by the proper surveyor of lumber and delivered to James Patterson as soon as the harbour is clear of ice.  

In consideration where of the said James Patterson doth hereby agree to pay the aforesaid James Turnbull at the rate of five shillings per ton for each ton of good merchantable pine timber delivered to him as above which payment is to be made in merchants goods out of his store at the current prices in Pictou and is to become due and payable six months after delivery of said timber and hereunto both parties being agreed do hereby bind and oblige themselves to perform each their respective part of the promises under the penalty of twenty pounds [cuninay?] to be paid by the party failing to the party observing or willing to observe.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this day of March [annoque?] Domini 1795

By and in consideration of the above sum of 2 pounds three shillings and ten pence shilling witness my hand this 10^th”