A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing Allston's poem at college, that John has "grown very fat," Mr. Williams contracting a disease, the "nature of man," the family leaving for the winter, and the Battalion of the 30th Regiment under John Ball Sr.'s command.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice and slip crops, the carpenters not working and a list of measurements.
A letter from John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing traveling to Newport, Susey's boys and her financial struggles, the health of citizens in Charleston, and a publication on the number of deaths in the city for whites and blacks. The letter ends discussing the deaths of the P.M. Parker, the newly elected assistant rector of St. Philip's Church and Cousin Corbett's son Tom.
A letter from Elias Ball II at Comingtee Plantation to his son John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina discussing a shipment of cattle, the health of Edward Simons, a fight John had with Bob Simons resulting in a black eye, and the health of Elias Ball III's "house wench."
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the work of Elsey, Thomas, Sena, Rachel and Jack, the rice and pea harvest, the poor health of numerous enslaved persons, and having to "switch" Stoke Abram, Stoke Rose, and Silvey's Hannah for stealing.
A letter from Elias Ball IV at Limerick Plantation to Elias "Wambaw" Ball III exiled in Bristol, England discussing family, health, the upcoming marriage between Elias Ball III's daughter and "young Moultrie," the lands of England, the South Carolina legislature passing a tax bill on enslaved persons, agreements with the "Torey's," a bill of exchange for money due and accounts current, the removal of "Old Tom" from Wambaw, missing enslaved runaways, the work of various enslaved persons, and the sale of Elias Ball III's enslaved persons for cash by Mr. Gaillard.
A letter from Elias Ball III to his brother John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina on sending the enslaved man Plimouth with a delivery, and a request for news from town through either a letter or a newspaper.
The Florida Herald on June 10th, 1835, discusses laws of the United States, extracts from letters and other newspapers, the gold mines of the south, a section titled "Confession of a Pirate," word of a cholera outbreak from The Natchez Courier, the death of Reverend Parker Adams from consumption, and advertisements for enslaved persons to work at the saw mill. Page three of the newspaper includes a posting titled "Committed to Jail" where two runaway enslaved persons were arrested. The posting describes the physical characteristics of these men and that they identified themselves as Chambers and William but now call themselves John Smith and Tom Brown.
A letter from Elias Ball IV at Limerick Plantation to Elias "Wambaw" Ball III exiled in Bristol, England on James Gordon receiving rice, charters send to Comingtee Plantation to receive rice, a frost ruining a supply of rice, a request for "negro" clothing and plantation tools and Elias Ball IV's feelings on laboring.
