A torn letter written by Elias Ball III to his brother John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing leaving town, the "poor Dyana" who is ill and unable to nurse and having items sent from the store to the plantation.
A torn letter written by Edward Simons to his brother-in-law John Ball discussing his sister Lydia's desire to "call on" for her shoes and to have them sent up by the enslaved man Ben, sending "Mol" to purchase cakes, shipping papers and soap, and the wellness of other family members.
The last will and testament of John Coming Ball in which he leaves his plantation and other purchased land to his son Elias Ball, money for his daughters Elizabeth and Catharine, six hundred pounds "in lieu of two negros," tracts of land called "Three Mile Head" to Elias and John Ball, acres of land and "oak and hickory land" to his daughter Jane Ball. John Coming Ball leaves his wife Judith Ball tracts of land, horses, furniture and a "wench called Molly and her son." Makes notation on the division of enslaved persons among the Ball children. The enslaved persons are referenced as "Monimias" daughter Sally, a girl called Senah, Marcus, a girl called Silvia, and a boy called Pino. Makes a statement that the enslaved man and driver Sambo is to be free upon the death of John Coming Ball, given money yearly and is allowed to live on any plantation under the ownership of the Ball family.
A copy of a petition to parliament titled "The Great Grievances and Oppression of James Child" in which the writer discusses "illegal rates" that were falsely presented as "repairs for the church" in Amersham. James Child and others refused to pay resulting in financial charges from the Ecclesiastical Church. The petition goes on to discuss charters for Amersham, James Child's imprisonment over his refusal to deliver an "Exemplification," and James Child being forced to abscond and sell his estate to pay off his debts. The second half discusses the various finances and property that James Child is giving to his son Isaac Child in South Carolina. Makes notations regarding Strawberry Plantation and Mepkin Plantation.
A portion of the last will and testament of Elias Ball II in which he settles all debts, gives his son Elias Ball III Comingtee and Limerick Plantations, tracts of land to Samuel Eveleigh, tracts of land and Kensington and Hyde Park Plantations to his son John Ball, and a lot of land situated "on the Bay of Charleston" to his daughter Lydia Bryan. Makes various notations regarding "negro slaves and their issue and increase" as well as statements that his sons Elias and John Ball are given the enslaved persons living at each plantation they inherited.
A case concerning the will of James Child for property left to his grandson Robert Dicks. Upon the death of Robert Dicks, the property was then given to James Child's other grandson William Child.
The Account Book of John Ball Sr., 1788-1812, is an unbound book containing financial accounts for clients such as Hyde Park Plantation overseer David Franklin and the freedman Robin. The account book also makes various references to enslaved persons named Almanza, Caesar, Daniel, Hercules, Mauney, Plimoth, Sampson and Terror.
The Household Account Book of John Ball Sr., 1805-1817, is an account of expenses for household services and needs of the family and servants such as childcare, allowances, the services of a wet nurse, and a pulpit subscription to the Circular Church.
The Register of Enslaved Persons and Blanket Book, 1804-1821, is a bound volume kept by or for a member of the Ball family. The register contains lists of enslaved men, women and children given blankets at Midway, Limerick, Quinby, Hyde Park, Backriver and Jericho Plantations. Information also includes lists of enslaved children born on the plantations, the name of their mother, date of birth and date of death.
The Ball Family Blanket Book, 1835-1840, is a bound volume kept by or for members of the Ball family. The volume includes yearly lists of blankets given to enslaved persons. Blankets are sometimes noted as being "first quality" or "second quality."
The Orderly Book of Col. Daniel Horry, 1779, is an orderly book of Commander Col. Daniel Horry's SC Light Dragoons kept by John Ball Sr. during the Revolutionary War. The volume includes information pertaining to the appointing's of military officers such as Major Hezekiah Maham, notes on military drills and roll calls, notes from the camp at Stono and various names of sergeants and lieutenants.
The Memo Book, 1821-1824, is a bound volume kept by or for a member of the Ball family. The volume lists crops at Hyde Park, Limerick, Jericho and Quinby Plantations as well as specifications for a rice mill at Limerick Plantation. Dried, pressed tree leaves are compressed throughout the blank pages. Also found within the volume are a list of enslaved persons given plough lines at various plantations. The names of the enslaved persons are Hercules, Jingo, Linus, Mathias, Mill Natt/Natt, Paul, Sam, Simon, Tim, Toby, Tom and Tycho.
The John Ball Memo Book, 1850-1851, is a bound volume listing crops at Hyde Park Plantation and the Villa as well as miscellaneous accounts for corking a dock, grass for cows, seeds for the garden, blue denim cloth, tobacco, ticking, shoes, molasses, tea and other household items. Also included is a list of men defaulting on militia duty and patrol service for January, March and April of 1851.
The Travel Expenses Book, 1806-1810, is a bound volume kept by John Ball listing expenses for his travels to New York, Boston, Cambridge, Montreal, Quebec, Philadelphia, Bowling Green, Washington, Alexandria, Trenton, and other locations. Expenses are kept for food, clothing, lodging, and hiring servants. Notes indicate Mr. Ball's rating for service and fare at hotels and taverns in various locations.
The Account of Enslaved Persons and Various Stories, 1831-1844, is kept by or for a member of the Ball family. The first half of the account book contains various lists of enslaved men, women and children owned by John Ball at Comingtee/Stoke, Kensington and Midway Plantations in Berkeley County, South Carolina. These lists include enslaved persons given first or second quality blankets, cloth, clothes and osnaburg fabric as well as lists of pregnant enslaved women or enslaved infants given clothes.
The second half of the book contains stories retold by various persons on topics such as an eyewitness account of the Steamship Pulaski Disaster in 1838, stories of enslaved persons including the execution of an enslaved man, stories about the family of George Chicken, eyewitness accounts of the British occupation in Charleston during the Revolutionary War, numerous ghost stories and an account of the first settlers of Charlestown.
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing the arrival of eight mules, the measles outbreak among Cheves' enslaved persons, the exemption of overseer Steven Oliver from military service, and the enslaved persons "behaving themselves quite well and are orderly and submissive." The letter ends with Haskell discussing one punishment given to an enslaved man named Sandy for beating his wife.
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing Haskell returning from North Carolina where his son was suffering with an illness, the death of an enslaved person from Pneumonia, the overseer leaving the plantation, "quarrelling" among Cheves' enslaved persons and construction of additional slave cabins.
A letter from the town marshal to overseer John Oliver discussing the enslaved boy Sharper. The letter details that the enslaved boy was committed to the guard house and is owned by Langdon Cheves Jr. Sharper is described as "about twenty years of age, 5 foot 3 or 4 inches in height, of rather dark complexion, high cheek bones and 'beautiful' white teeth."
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing the enslaved men Sharper and Stephney. Haskell states that the men "absented" themselves from the plantation, Sharper was jailed and there is no belief they ran away. Haskell ends the letter hoping "the enemy has relinquished his attacks on Savannah."
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing the death of the enslaved man Sharper from Pneumonia. Haskell goes on to discuss corn, bread for the enslaved persons and their overall health.
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves discussing mules, Confederate bonds, valuable papers, the purchase of 600 bushels of corn, and Cheves' enslaved persons.
A letter from William P. Carmichael to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing the death of one of Cheves' enslaved persons. The enslaved person is described as "prime" and having "walk right overboard-it is supposed he was either asleep, or perhaps wanted to go to the edge of the boat..." The letter goes on to state that rescue attempts were made but "he was not seen after he fell." Carmichael concludes with a discussion on the anticipated arrival of the enslaved persons in Abbeville on rail cars and they are to "not leave the cars, as the same cars are to take them through to Abbeville depot."
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing the Branch Bank of Charleston, cattle, the enslaved persons petition for tobacco and fixing up their cabins, planting corn, and a cabin for the overseer.
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing the arrival of Cheves' enslaved persons in Abbeville, one enslaved woman arriving with a fever, bringing the enslaved persons to Turkey Hill Plantation and difficulty procuring mules.
A notice from General Thomas Drayton stating that several plantation owners have refused to remove their enslaved persons from the area as "their removal is necessary for the successful prosecution of his (my) military duties and required by the public interest..."
A letter from Charles Haskell to the Branch Bank of Charleston stating his reasoning for wanting to withdraw $5,000, which includes receiving Langdon Cheves' enslaved persons and needing to make them "comfortable."
A letter from Charles Haskell to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing Haskell's willingness to "do all that is in my power to make your negroes comfortable," moving Cheves' enslaved persons to Haskell's plantation, land cultivation, and securing finances in case of attack.
A letter from Langdon Cheves Jr. to Charles Haskell discussing Cheves' removal of his 250 enslaved persons due to movement from "the enemy," anticipation of a battle and "my plantation being the theatre of a part of it," the enslaved persons being consigned to William P. Carmichael of Augusta and managed by overseer Stephen Oliver, and the living conditions upon the enslaved people's arrival.
A letter from Langdon Cheves Jr. to Charles Haskell discussing Cheves' removal of his 250 enslaved persons using a steamer and his anticipation of fighting occurring on Cheves' "plantation and settlements."
