A letter from John Ball Sr. at Kensington Plantation to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing the weather, Jane Ball's health, an outbreak of measles in Charleston and small pox at Midway Plantation, the inoculation of forty enslaved persons, a publication from Doctor Waterhouse on diseases, and the death of cattle due to a drought.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts on letter writing, how to behave while at school and with friends, avoiding "extravagance" and living with " generosity tempered with prudence."
A letter from John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing the family relocating to the country for winter, and inquiry on "Allston and Wainwright" from South Carolina at the college. The letter concludes with John Ball Sr. asking about sites in Boston such as Bunker Hill, the dome of the new state house and the methods people use to keep warm in Boston during the winter.
A letter from John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing their fears of John Ball Jr. getting yellow fever in Boston, Uncle Ball sick with fever, John Ball Jr.'s friends "Allston and Wainwright" at university, John attending class with "67 scholars," and the importance of an education.
A letter from Jane Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing the death of Mr. John Cordes from "fits" at Pine Ville, and the poor health of Dr. McCormick.
A letter from Jane Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing John Ball Sr. being in the country, John Ball Jr.'s friend Archer Lord on the verge of death, John's school vacation in Newport, Rhode Island, Jane Ball attending "Cato, a Tragedy" performed by students from the seminary where there were no female characters due to the boys "thinking a female character too trifling."
A letter from Jane Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing how John must pursue the "paths of virtue & knowledge," the weather in Charleston, the death of Doctor McCormick's son William, Isaac Ball shooting arrows, and John Ball Sr. spending time at Midway Plantation.
A letter from John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing the poor service of the post office, a "malignant" fever outbreak in Boston, inquiry into John Ball Jr.'s voyage across the water to Massachusetts, and advice on proper behavior while in school.
A letter from John Ball Sr. at Kensington Plantation to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing a return to the country for winter, a leak at the water mill, Miss Dart spending the winter at Fish Pond Plantation, and advice on being respectable, honorable and esteemed.
A letter from John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing their fears of John being in Boston when there is a "prevailing disease," the safe arrival of his baggage and "liquor case," a bond of 200 silver, a request for John Ball Jr. to create an account of his expenses, certificates from Mr. Osborne and Doctor's Buist and Purcell, John Ball Sr. suffering from a fever, the poor health of Archer Lord and the death of Archer's sister Maria, and a spread of fever but no symptoms mirroring yellow fever such as black vomit.
