Can Anyone Identify This Document?

Posting at almost the same time!

 

That is so interesting. But why would someone mention heirs for only a one year sharecropping agreement?

 

The printing press was invented in the 15th century.

 

Because people die unexpectedly.

 

Exactly. And in those times, people lived harvest to harvest, like folks now live paycheck to paycheck. The sharecropper (and probably his family) would, during that year, invest labor and expenses farming that land. If the man in the agreement were to die, it would be reasonable for the agreement to extend to his heirs so they could recoup at the end of the season what they had invested into the crop.

 

You might to a ancestry search to locate descendents as Deborah mentioned that they would have to most interest. I have done that on photos and antique bibles. They were delighted to get them.

 

It can work the other way too. I listed photos of a lady in her wedding gown on eBay (photographer's proofs) and a family member bought them and asked if I had anything else. Yep - sent him that for the a bit over cost of shipping too. Happy camper.