A bill of sale for twenty-one enslaved persons purchased by Langdon Cheves Jr. and his sister-in-law Isabella Cheves from Pierce Butler for $17,275. The names of the enslaved persons are Philip, Hannah, Pender, Leve, Rachel, Kate, Cuffy, Abigail, Suckey, Cuffy, Sandy, Adam, Charlotte, Lea, Sally, Maria, Lima, Clementina, Tubby, Buck, and Noble.
A letter to Benjamin Allston from J. Sparkman regarding life on a rice plantation. He recounts that many from the north have "fancied slavery such a monster" and how the northern people question if enslaved persons are locked in chains at night. Sparkman recounts the times in which the enslaved persons on his property locked up him and his family in the house and hid the keys in their pockets.
A letter sent to Robert F.W. Allston from David Risley concerning a potential foreclosure on the mortgage for Waties Point Plantation. The following page includes Robert Allston's response.
Receipt of a bond of $4,500 from Ezra and David Risley for Benjamin Allston under the will of Mrs. Elizabeth Blythe following the sale of a tract of land from Waties Point Plantation.
A letter from D.F. Jamison in which he discusses a trial over a disturbance at a religious gathering by enslaved persons. He writes about a quarrel that ensued between two enslaved men, Allen and Jim, at St. Matthew's Parish, which later involved multiple enslaved persons, including Jamison's own "slave boy Sam." The court decided that those involved would receive between twenty-five to one-hundred lashes, depending on the individual's involvement in the quarrel. Jamison makes note that even though his enslaved boy Sam was said to not have been involved due to testimony, the court still sentenced him to lashes and Jamison did not appeal it due to the encouragement of his neighbors. While not present for the lashings, he heard they were severe since a constable, known for his cruelty, was brought in from a neighboring district to perform the lashings. Due to indignation from the crowd over the cruelty performed, the enslaved man Jim, who was sentenced to one-hundred lashes, only received fifty.
Plat of 19 acres in St. Andrew’s Parish. A corn field is noted as is a public road along with the neighboring property owners. Little other detail. Names associated with this plat are James C. Perry, Cook, Sault, Benjamin, F.R.N. [?] Smith, Dinzhals [?], S. Charles, and Cattell.
Plat of 288 acres of land situated on Wadmalaw Island. Names associated with this plat are William Weston, Jonathan Runnel, James Clarks, Benjamin Allston [?], and Henry Treads. Notable geographic locations include Wadmalaw River, Wadmalaw Island, Bain Bluff, and Charleston District.
The Robert F.W. Allston Plantation Memo Book, 1859, is a Miller's Planters and Merchants Almanac repurposed as a personal account book for Robert Allston. The book records the names of the enslaved men, women and children on Chicora Wood and Nightingale Hall Plantations as well as their births, deaths and whether they were hired out by other South Carolina plantation owners. Other entries include information on crops, payments and the smoking of bacon.
