Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, concerning a trip from Charleston to Beaufort. Robert details a bout of seasickness while traveling, reports on the status of his parents' and grandparent's plantations at Laurel Bay and Keans Neck and relates family news from Beaufort. August, 1847.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to brother William H. W. Barnwell remarking on errors in "Traditions and Reminiscences Chiefly of the American Revolution" by Joseph Johnson regarding their father, Robert Gibbes Barnwell. Barnwell also writes of a disappointing planting season at his plantation and at William's plantation, Laurel Bay. October 20, 1851.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell at Laurel Bay plantation, to father, William H. W. Barnwell. Barnwell describes an eventful trip to Beaufort with his siblings, comments on his continuing education and the schooling of his siblings, and reports to his father on the status of the plantation's cotton crop. January 22, 1853.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, from Laurel Bay Plantation. Barnwell writes of the well-being of the family, the health and spiritual training of the servants and neglect of the livestock by the slaves, and requests his mother to send a pineapple from Charleston to be served as dessert for an upcoming dinner party. January 22, 1853.
Edward Barnwell writes to father, William H. W. Barnwell, about his employment in Charleston. After a brief stint with Coffin & Pringle Co., Barnwell has taken a more advantageous position with commissions merchant, Mr. Hubert. Barnwell also mentions a smallpox outbreak that has hit Charleston and the countryside and notes a bad reaction his brother, Robert Woodward Barnwell, has had to the smallpox vaccination. Barnwell suggests having his father's "little negroes" inoculated as well if enough vaccine can be found. January 19, 1854.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing his activities as he prepares for his job as professor at South Carolina College. Barnwell writes of purchasing the cook and maid of outgoing professor, Dr. Francis Lieber, "partly [out of] comfort" and partly to relieve Dr. Lieber from "parting with slave property in the usual way of public sale." 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to father, William H. W. Barnwell thanking him for the gift of his servant "Aleck the little" and discussing possible future plans for his younger brother, William. October, 1856.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, about a washing machine he has purchased for her and includes a recipe for soap. He also informs her of a calf he is sending via his servant "Aleck" and tells her to "let the negroes know that if it is missing, I will have every one on the plantation punished." 1859.
