Land and Supply Contracts

The following land and supply leases (share cropping agreements) were transcribed during the 2010 Research Trip.  Some note the leased land being at Home Place Plantation, which is where the Louisiana State Cotton Museum now resides on Highway 65 in Lake Providence, La.

Ruben Russell
Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book K, Page 130, Recorded February 1872, Jerry Russell, Ruben Russell and Viney Van Dyke contract to Boice and Smith, lease of Hood Home Plantation and supplies for the year 1872, Russell, Russell, and Van Dyke to find own rations, crops of cotton and corn, profit is split ½ and ½ minus advances given by Boice and Smith.


East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book O, Page 209, Recorded May 10, 1878, Supply contract with SW Davis in the amount of $150 in advances of cash, and merchandise to cultivate a crop in East Carroll Parish, first privilege of cotton and corn given to Davis to secure payment.


East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book Q, Page 161, Recorded April 12, 1879, Transaction March 10, 1879, Ruben Russell and Wm Meyers contract to J. Shelby Irvine

East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book R, Page 575, Recorded April 12, 1879, Transaction March 10, 1879, Ruben Russell and Wm Meyers contract to J. Shelby Irvine, lease of 18 acres of Hood Home Plantation to cultivate cotton and corn, Irvine provides supplies, feed, rations, mule hire, lien on cotton and corn produced for leasing 18 acres.


East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book T, Page 411, Recorded May 14, 1880, Transaction February 19, 1881, Jerry and Ruben Russell contract to J. Shelby Irvine, lease of 15 acres of Hood Home Plantation for ground rent of 75 pounds per acre (1,125 pounds total or 2.25 bales of cotton per acre), and repayment of any advances up to $200 for rations, supplies, feed, and mule hire, lien on cotton and corn until contract obligations paid.


Jerry Russell
East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book O, Page 573, Recorded January 3, 1877, I promise to pay to the order of BF Therrel, by the first day of October 1877, $70 advanced for supplies to cultivate cotton and corn at Bellagio Plantation, 8 percent interest per annum until paid, signed Jerry Russell and Angeline Russell.


East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book P, Page 67, Recorded March 26, 1877, Hood Home Plantation, Russell and Ben Williams, to secure payment of rent on 22 1/2 acres with rations for supplies and mule hire, give J Shelby Irvine privilege on first crops during the year 1877.


East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book U, Page 335, Recorded April 15, 1881, Transaction April 12, 1881, Jerry Russell contract to J. Shelby Irvine, lease of 15 acres of Hood Home Plantation for rental rate of 80 pounds of cotton per acre ((1,200 pounds or 2.4 bales per acre), plus repayment for advances of up to $200 for rations, supplies, feed, and mule hire, lien against all crops until debts repaid.


Lavenia (Viney) Van Dyke
East Carroll Parish, LA Clerk of Court, Mortgage Records, Book Q, Page 616, Recorded July 9, 1878, Gives lien of two bales of cotton at Oakland Plantation for plantation supplies to C Melrose.