Receipt of monies received by Susan S. Keith from James B. Heyward as executor/trustee of the estate of Nathaniel Heyward. The receipts mostly depict interest from a bond bequeathed to Susan Keith in the will of Nathaniel Heyward. 30p.
Various receipts from the Heyward and Ferguson families including plantation goods and services, rent, and a Civil War receipt for "permanent labor on fortifications." 32p.
Pages from a larger volume with slave names, births, and deaths. The incomplete volume lists scores of slaves from unnamed plantation(s), including the births and deaths of their children. 20p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Combahee to his wife Maria Heyward. James was unable to travel to Savannah as planned due to skirmishes at "Coosahatchie." He mentions the death of an "Edward" at the "Church Creek encampment" and bemoans his inability to get news on local troop movements and battles writing "Sunday night the enemy made a raid on the other side of Combahee and I never heard of it until Tuesday. I fear sometimes they may capture me in bed." 6p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Hamburgh Plantation to his wife Maria Heyward in Columbia. James writes Maria about troubles in Savannah and fears the city will fall soon depending "upon the time it will take to reduce the Fort." He continues to mull over the fate of Fife Plantation and its slaves but speaks optimistically about plans for next summer. 8p.
Christmas day letter from James B. Heyward back at Combahee to Maria Heyward in Columbia. In his letter, James is reflecting on the dire situation and the bleakness of their future believing soon "it will all be over and we shall be reduced to a poverty irretrievable." He struggles with what to do with his slaves given the eventual "scarcity of food" and "depreciated currency." He intends to leave the majority at his plantation but expects to bring up to Columbia "John's wife so as to take from him that temptation to running off." He writes that he will also bring "Mary if she will leave her daughter Molly...I don't value Mary so much as to saddle myself with the support of Molly." 10p.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney discusses the recurring problem of obtaining a steady supply of labor for Dean Hall and sends Ferguson several bushels of "Fripp" cotton seed. 6p.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall. McBurney alludes to problems Ferguson is having with the lack of good labor and discusses cotton and rice options for the next planting seasons. 6p.
Legal complaint between William C. Bee and Godfrey Blake concerning the adjudication of several large tracts of lands bequeathed by Charles Heyward. 9p.
Letter from Edward Barnwell Heyward to James B. Heyward telling James that he is moving all his father's slaves from Combahee and Pocotaligo to Wateree, SC, for safety. He offers James some land nearby to move his slaves to and "rough it out" a while with him. His plan includes putting all his father's slaves in a camp in the woods "out of the wind, and driving rain, plenty of firewood, and dry ground." 8p.
Small booklet with the names of slaves and the carpenter's tools assigned to them on a yearly basis from 1853-1858 (cover of booklet lists 1852). There is no mention of the plantation but the slave names match several on the list of Fife Plantation slaves (no. 117). 16p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" at "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. His aunt writes about the family, how ice has destroyed their avenue of oaks, and comments on how the legislature in Columbia is attempting to make the college there the only one in the state and turn Charleston College into a preparatory school. 4p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" at "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In addition to updating James on family news, the writer comments on the historic low temperatures of the winter, the destruction of St. Philips Church in Charleston due to fire, and the presence of elephants and other "Beasts" in town, presumably overwintering circus animals. 4p.
Letter from an unknown sender in "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer mentions several mutual friends and family and informs James of weddings and social events in Beaufort and Charleston. The writer also mentions James' grandfather's trips to attend to plantation affairs in Pon Pon, a new house being built along the Ashepoo and other trips to Hilton Head and "Hunting Islands." 4p.
Nathaniel Heyward writes from the "Bluff" on Combahee to his grandson James B. Heyward. He references a conflict, "Morris Vs. Wilson," vowing "not to interfere" and leaves James an order for cotton and stone lime. 2p.
Memorandum between Matthew I. Keith, Susan Keith, William Henry Heyward, James B. Heyward, and Maria Heyward concerning a house on Meeting St., Charleston and the use of trust monies to purchase a summer house on Sullivan's Island. 4p. February 16, 1853.
Letter from James B. Heyward on behalf of his infirm grandfather, Nathaniel Heyward, to Francis D. Quash about an offer to invest his property in some unspecified manner. 2p. January 1, 1851.
Letter from William Henry Heyward to James B. Heyward. William writes from Montreal about his health and the gifts and commissions he has procured or investigated for James and his wife on his trip north. He claims "Philad. is the place for domestic manufactures" and "N.Y. for imported." 4p.
Letter from Eliza Smith Heyward in Beaufort to her brother-in-law, James B. Heyward. In her letter, Eliza teasingly accuses James of being "anti-lady" and that she has heard "you were enjoying yourself extremely in society." 4p.
Letter from J. Robert Coburn, missionary, to James B. Heyward requesting refreshments for himself and his pony during his stay at Fife Plantation. 1p. February 27, 1863.
Letter from Esther Heyward in Rome, Italy, to her brother, James B. Heyward. Esther writes of her plans to return home soon, claiming that after she sees "Mont Vesuvius and Pompeii, my astonishments will be over." She writes in detail about St. Peter's Basilica and notes that she climbed to the top and that "It was much easier than I expected, but I made it still easier by being carried in a chair." She mentions the time honored tradition of kissing the statue of St. Peter's toe and requests additional funds to pay for the care of her children she left behind in South Carolina. 4p. January 22, 1851.
Letter to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass., from his aunt, Mrs. Smith, in "Old Fort", Beaufort. His aunt relays a message to James to research Old Fort in the Harvard library for his uncle and writes at length of the events at "Carolina College." 4p.
Letter from Hetty Heyward in Combahee to her mother, Mary Barnwell, in Beaufort, South Carolina. Hetty informs her mother that they are "home" at their plantation on the Combahee after a journey of three days from Charleston. They are not quite settled yet "as the Sloop has not yet arrived with our Servants and baggage." 3p.
Letter from Nathaniel Heyward at Combahee to his grandson James B. Heyward. Nathaniel mentions a cargo of rice he is sending to Ladson and Co., the disappointing rice crop, and a broken water wheel shaft at Rose Hill plantation that "stops all our pounding at No. 6 & 7 for this winter." 2p.
Receipt of note to Frank Myers from James B. Heyward for $2500 for the "tenancy of my plantation on Bluff Road twelve miles from Columbia." 1p. March 13, 1863.
Letter from William Henry Heyward at Clayhall Plantation to James B. Heyward about a recent survey and a misunderstanding concerning the sale of property on or around Myrtle Grove Plantation. 3p. April 25, 1852.
Letter from fellow Charlestonian Aimee B. Stevens in Pendleton, SC, to Maria Heyward in Columbia. Aimee offers her condolences on the destruction of the Heyward's house in Charleston and inquires if she saved "all her silver." She writes about living with other families who had fled Charleston and the warm "welcome given by the hospitable inhabitants" of Pendleton. 4p. June 17, 1862.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. Upon hearing of James' recent trip to Canada, his aunt relates the story of her trip there seven years earlier when "Quebec only had one good hotel and Montreal...not half enough to accomodate the numerous travelers." She writes of news of the family and of the several parties in Beaufort. 4p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Old Fort, Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. James' aunt writes at length of the politics of "Columbia College" in South Carolina including the news that his friend has been named president. 4p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to Joseph Daniel Pope concerning a recent monetary judgment against him. Heyward asks Pope to look into the matter and thinks it may have something to do with an ongoing dispute with Frank Myers concerning property Heyward rented during the war. 4p. December 27, 1870.
Letter from William Manigault Heyward at "Pine Land" to his mother, Henrietta Heyward. William apologizes he is unable to get to the Combahee plantations any more frequently than once in ten days due to excessive heat and comments that the lack of rain has damaged many vegetable crops. He laments missing the social scene in Charleston and claims that reading "is our chief amusement." 3p.
Nathaniel Heyward writes his mother-in-law, Mary Barnwell, about a perilous trip from Coosaw island to Charleston aboard a leaky schooner that required "all hands constantly at the pump." He mentions that he has secured passage on the 'Georgia Packet' for a summer trip north but may have to skip Philadelphia because of news the "Yellow fever has shown itself" there. 4p.
Letter from J. Robert Coburn, missionary, to James B. Heyward requesting refreshments for himself and his pony during his stay at Fife Plantation. 1p. January 28, 1863.
Letter from Edward Barnwell to James B. Heyward informing him that he has arranged for empty railroad cars to be parked at "Union Road" and that they must be loaded by morning next. 1p. October 24, 1862.
Handwritten memorandum concerning the purchase of Myrtle Grove plantation by William Henry Heyward. W. H. Heyward purchased the plantation and turned the rights over to James B. Heyward with the understanding that James would allow him to dig a canal from his "Pines" Plantation to the Combahee River through a portion of Myrtle Grove. The memorandum states that James B. Heyward has given W.H. Heyward a sliver of Myrtle Grove for $5. 4p.
Letter from William Manigault Heyward to his mother. Heyward mentions a drought that has severely hurt his rice crop and writes about hunting, fishing and daily rides with his wife Susan. 4p. June 20th, 1816.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In her letter, she informs James about the news of family and friends and mentions that she was hoping to go to Charleston to visit a dentist "to Beautify your Uncle and myself in our old days--not wishing yet to be accounted toothless." 4p.
Short contract between W.L. Hadine (?), C.R. Hains and James B. Heyward to oversee two unnamed Heyward properties in 1858 and 1859. The handwritten document includes short statements from 1859 detailing the fulfillment of the contract. 1p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" in Charleston to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. She write James that the health of his grandmother has forced her to take a trip upstate to Flat Rock and that his brother Nat met her in Columbia via "the RailRoad as far as Branchville, and then took his Horse and went on." She writes of family members and friends travelling in Europe and that "Strangers fever is rather more prevalent than some years back...owing to...so many cellars being left open, and water collecting in them." 4p.
Letter from Aunt M. Smith in Beaufort to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. James' aunt relates the news of the family and writes of her desire that James uses his education to teach in the "Sabbath Schools." 4p.
A satirical, almost poetic, letter from an unknown sender to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer teases James about the relative charms of Boston versus Charleston. 4p.
Letter from Lacklison & Co. in Savannah to James B. Heyward. The letter states that "owing to all communication being cut off from the South," the company is unable to secure from Philadelphia the boilers James had ordered for Fife Plantation. 1p. May 31, 1861.
