Memorandum
of Agreement
between R.P. Hames Planter,
of the County of Marion State
of South Carolina and Bob McGaha Laborer, engaged, or to
be engaged, in plantation work upon the lands of said Planter known as McKeller Plantation; made this 1st day of January Anno Domini eighteen
hundred and seventy five and
to continue in force until the first
day of December 1875
The party of the first part (Planter) agrees to
furnish the said Bob with the same
farm he worked last year and what Guano furnished if any to be put at
the credit county price, all other advances that I may furnish to be
put on the same conditions reserving the rite of controll of said farm
in full.
and the party of the second part (Laborer) agrees to use all diligence,
and give his time and attention, to the best of his ability, to the
cultivation of the soil, to the tending and gathering in of the crop,
and all to be done in due time
repair all the fencing and secure [?] from fier by cleaning under it,
replace fencing for crossfence ends and finish ditch that is started so
as to drain ponds intended to drain do all the surfing [?] in power to
do this spring on my cottonland keep fier off of said lands, answer to
all calls from the said Hames or his agent
And in consideration of the services of said
Laborer the said Planter agrees to give him for his sole use and
benefit all crops raised upon such portion of the land as he may
cultivate in excess of twelve
hundred lbs. good white lint cotton and enough of ballance of crop to
pay for all advances from said Hames, if it takes all the crop to do so
which last the said planter reserves for his own use and benefit.
And it is mutually agreed that none of said crop
shall be removed from said plantation without the written permission of
said Planter; and the said laborer, for any violation herein, shell
forfeit all share and interest in said crop.
And it is further agreed that the Laborer shall
deliver to said planter the planter’s portion of said crop as fast as he may direct--in gathering and
lined [?] as he may direct--and put in marketable condition on
or before the fifteenth day
of November 1875.
And to the performance of this agreement each party binds himself, his
heirs, executors and administrators. The seed to the amount of
three hundred an seven bush belongs to the said Hames in return of seed
used this year for [illegible] said crop advanced by said Hames.
sined Feb 26, 1875
Witness,
Robt. P. Hames
J.J. Sineath
Bob McGaha + his mark
[on the reverse]
State of South Carolina
Marion COUNTY
Personally appeared before me, J.H. Sineath and made oath that
he was present and saw Robt. P. Hames
& Bob McGaha sign and execute the within instrument, and
that he subscribed his name as witness thereto.
Sworn before me, this 27th day of Feby A.D. 1875.
J.W. Dillon
J.H. Sineath
Notary Public
[portions in italic are handwritten]
[source: Collection of Peter Tiersma]