The Robert F.W. Allston Account Book covers the years 1857-1859 discussing Chicora Wood and Nightingale Hall Plantations. The book includes information on acres of land, stock and cattle, payments and accounts, a purchase of forty-one enslaved persons and the number of enslaved persons at each plantation in which they are listed as dependencies. Book includes a second use with passages written from the back of the book towards the front.
Volume contains a chronological record (1855-1856) of the number of bushels, tolls, vessels on which the rice arrived, names of individuals (plantation owners), where the rice was stored (floor and "binn") and the marks used, the names of factors, the vessels on which rice was shipped, and other data. Mill accounts contain expenses for rice, drayage, coopers, carpenters, watchman, Negroes (hire), labor, salaries of various individuals, repairs, baskets and brooms, rice, cords of wood, poles, barrels, mill stones, wharf building, cart license, a butcher's bill, horses, insurance on rice, discount on a note, sales of rice, ironwork, sweep chimney, blacksmith work, and other expenses. Income is from cash received at mill, from various individuals for rice flour and rice, from freight and tolls on rice, from notes, and from other items. The Cannonsborough Mills, begun in 1825 by former Governor Thomas Bennett, included twenty-two pestles driven by steam and fourteen pestles run by tide power. Its property fronted Ashley River a third of a mile. In 1847 Bennett deeded the property to his son-in-law, Jonathan Lucas, III. The larger of the Cannonsborough mills burnt in February of 1860.
The Richmond Plantation Journal, 1859-1860 was kept by Anthony Weston, Benjamin Huger's overseer. Entries concern activities on the rice plantation primarily related to rice cultivation (plowing, manuring, cleaning ditches, threshing and winnowing.) Also mentioned are corn, peas, potatoes, livestocks, the weather and lists of goods and prices. The journal also includes entries relating to slave allowances as well as violence towards slaves including flogging and imprisonment. The names of the slaves are listed as: Affee, Anthony, Benego, Big Tony, Billy/Runaway Billy, Bina, Carpenter Sam, Cloe, Cornelia, Cyrus, Delia, Dina, Ellick, Ellie, Grace, Handy, Hector, Jack, Jak, John, Jose, Juda, Juiet, Margaret, Martha, Morris, Moses, Peggy, Peter, Pino, Racheal, Rock, Sally, Sarah, Simon, Thomas, Toby and William.