A personal account of visiting Old Dorchester describing the land, roads, a Presbyterian Church, an old fort built by the English for protection from the "Spaniards and Indians," and a tombstone used during the American Revolution to butcher meat.
A letter from William Ball at Limerick Plantation to Mary thanking her for a package she sent, his poor health and treatment from a doctor, and reflections on a party during the Christmas season. The letter goes on to discuss the Christmas of the "good old days in slavery time, thanks to Mr. Lincoln" and that two servants remain in the household as they "never left us."
A letter from P.D. Hay at the St. Helena's Rectory to William Ball on wanting to visit Strawberry Ferry, William Ball's parish St. John's and Ms. Deas traveling to Charleston.
Accounts rendered for Keating Simons Ball from C. & E. L. Kerrison, Staple and Fancy Dry Goods. Expenses include those for flannel, calico and homespun cloth.
A letter from Keating Simons Ball at Comingtee Plantation to William Ball requesting him to take care of a dog while Keating Ball's family moves to the "Pine Lands." The letter goes on to discuss that this dog ran into a flock of sheep and injured one.
A letter from Pastor Howe in Summerville to William Ball expressing his sympathies for the death of William Ball's son, Private William James Ball. Howe states in his letter that William Ball died of fever as did Howe's own brother many years ago.
A letter from Henry L. Barker at South Mulberry Plantation to William Ball in Cordesville expressing his sympathies for the death of their friend Bill.
A note from John Coming Ball at Limerick Plantation on a receipt for $136 from William Ball, executor of the estate of Eliza Ball. The receipt is for shares of rent for a house on the corner of East Bay and Vernon Streets.
A note from John Coming Ball at Limerick Plantation on a receipt for $2,035 for shares of the proceeds of the sale of the house and lot on the corner of East Bay and Vernon Streets in Charleston.
An account of sales of a house and lot on the corner of East Bay and Vernon Street in Charleston on account of the estate of the Ball family. Costs include those for advertising, commissions and the sale of bonds.
A statement on rents collected and distributed for the estate owned by Mrs. Eliza C. Ball with William Ball as her executor. The account also includes taxes and commissions.
A document titled "memorandum from my executors in the event of my death" discussing the Bank of Charleston, various financial accounts, and insurance policies.
A letter from Alwyn Ball in New York to his cousin William Ball in South Carolina asking for financial help, having to sell furniture to "keep the wolf from our door," getting into a retail butter stand, spending one and a half years in an asylum for drinking, and not receiving any assistance from other friends and colleagues.
A receipt for $12 from William Ball, executor of the estate of Eliza Ball to Catharine Poyas for the shares in the South Western Rail Road Bank and the South Carolina Rail Road.
A letter from William Ball to his aunt discussing the birth of William's sixth son, him wanting a baby girl, ideas for the name of the boy, his endeavor to write a record on the family, a statement on the original grant of Comingtee Plantation, the "invasion of the Yankees in 1863," descriptions of land plats and questions regarding family history.
A Conveyance of property for $4,000 to Mrs. Annie Boyd Glover from Charles Darby, Catherine Lowndes Darby and James Lowndes Brisbane. The property is situated on the east side of Legare Street in ward number two in Charleston.
A letter from the accommodation wharf Cart, Kopff & Jervey to William Ball discussing the quality and value of rice from John Harleston's plantation. Makes notation, "how are you getting on with the freedmen?"
A receipt of $60 from Cedar Hill for bushels of rice from William Ball. The receipt includes a mark, most likely in place of a signature from an enslaved or freed person.
A letter from Mrs. A. R. Young of Pendleton, South Carolina to Eliza C. Ball in Charleston discussing the current state of the "humiliation & impoverishment" of the people, religious beliefs, and remembering a visit to Virginia.
A letter from William Ball at Limerick Plantation to his mother Eliza C. Ball discussing the birth of William Ball's daughter and Eliza Ball's first granddaughter and the timeline of Faith Ball giving birth. Makes notation on the presence of the enslaved women Masylla and Flora but not Harriet who was sick, and the baby having fingers made to learn how to play the piano "if war ends in time enough for her to learn." The rest of the letter goes on to discuss friends and family visiting the baby, the "negroes" in Charleston, the poor health of Frank, the myrtle berry pickers, and the weather.
A letter from E.A. Poyas to William Ball discussing the history of Josiah Smith, cashier of the U.S. Branch Bank of Charleston. Details include Smith's birth at Cain Hoy, his father's position as pastor of the church, the family's relocation to Charles Town due to the father's new position as pastor of the Independent Church or "Pastorship of the White."
A letter from Eliza Ball to her son William Ball discussing a shipment of items such as towels, needles, scissors, a cake canister, honey comb, granite, and buttons on a schooner, a "bundle of work" for Sylvia, Marcia, Mat and Hetty to do, the status of Nanny's eyes and Sylvia's leg, the poor health of Eliza Ball's horse, the work of Handy, the secession of Georgia, the South Carolina company coming up from Morris Island, a sickness (possibly pneumonia) among family members and enslaved persons, and Isaac sending scissors to his mother Hetty.
A bond from Elias Ball to executors of William Carson's estate Alexander Robertson and John Blacklock for $18,000. The document includes records of paid installments.
A bond from Elias Ball to executors of William Carson's estate Alexander Robertson and John Blacklock for $18,000. The document includes records of paid installments.
A bond from Elias Ball to executors of William Carson's estate Alexander Robertson and John Blacklock for $8,000. The document includes records of paid installments.
A bond from Elias Ball to executors of William Carson's estate Alexander Robertson and John Blacklock for $18,000. The document includes records of paid installments.
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.
A letter to William Ball at Limerick Plantation from his mother Elizabeth Poyas discussing the seal and signature of Ball's grandmother Jane, a release of dower to Elizabeth Smith, a renunciation of dower from Judith Ball for lands at "Wambaw," a release of 500 acres of lands in "Irishtown," information on land held by Henry Laurens, a list of marriages within the family, the death of Catherine Ball (Smith) and her infant and the Ball family's connection to Henry Laurens. The letter continues by discussing the memoirs of Henry Laurens and Eliza Ball's daughter Martha Laurens Ramsay. These memoirs details the Laurens family's "extraction" from France, being Huguenot or Protestant, compelled to leave France due to the Edict of Nantes, traveling to America in 1685, the migration of the Ball family from England, the death of Eliza Ball, Henry Laurens traveling to England to oversee his children's educations, leaving England for America because "love for his country brought him back to it's defence against the aggressions of Britain," the death of John Laurens in 1782 due to a wound from battle, Henry Lauren's imprisonment in the Tower of London for high treason, his liberation and signing of the "preliminaries of peace," and a genealogy chart of the family.
A letter from Kate Tabor to Julia Ball discussing the departure of the Laurens party from her home, the sweet disposition of Eliza, requesting the Lanneau boys to stay in the house to guard them, sending a "knight errant" to aid them, a man on his way to Augusta that "got left by the cars" and needs to stay at the residence, a visit to Graniteville's factory and Methodist church, runaways taking over as operatives at the factory, a visit to the village school, and Mr. Laurens' desire to build a house and three cottages.
A broadside containing rules and resolutions for the St. John's Post in which members establish rules for the weekly postal service. These rules and regulations include an all-male membership, submitting applications, meetings, and resignations. Resolutions include those for behaviors with other postal organizations, resolutions for plantations and fines for failure to complete delivery of letters and papers.
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 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.
Letters of Testamentary for the deceased Ann Ball in which the administration of her goods, rights and credits is bestowed upon Thomas Simons and Keating Simons Ball
A codicil for the last will and testament of Ann Ball in which she gives and bequeaths $2,000 to her son John Coming Ball and silver waiters to her son Keating Simons Ball.
A letter from William Ball at South Carolina College to his mother Eliza Ball in Charleston discussing his desire to leave school, his opinions on a college education, the differences of colleges between England and the United States, his dislike of the food at school, and the "hatred" between the president and William Ball.
A letter from Comingtee Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball discussing the crowded houses on the plantation, placing the enslaved women and children in the sick houses, Coward's disappointment in his work, the cooper "Midway Marcus," a burnt child, the work of the enslaved persons Phyllis, Caesar, Benjamin, young Stephen, the health of "Monemah's" child at Kensington Plantation and the enslaved persons Boris, Driver Jack, and Cate.
A letter from J. E. Holmes in Charleston to Ann Ball at Comingtee Plantation on advertising the sale of the "plantation and negroes", the potential hindrance the crops would have on the sale, their advice that Ann Ball should not maintain control over the entire estate for her own well being, and selling the enslaved persons first.
Letters of Testamentary for the deceased John Ball in which the administration of his goods, rights and credits is bestowed upon Ann Ball, Ledgwick Simons and Thomas Grange Simons.
A letter from John Jacob Ischudy to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing a delayed visit due to rain, and the departure of the enslaved woman Phyllis from the rectory (believed to have gone to Comingtee Plantation) with the hope that "she might be at liberty to idle away." The letter goes on to discuss an earlier situation with Phyllis breaking the Ischudy's rules regarding "servants" eating breakfast and dinner. Due to her behavior, Ischudy writes that Phyllis was whipped with a "chincopen switch" and gave her "five or six cuts upon the shoulders." He ends his letter stating that Phyllis "has not been ill treated" and wishes for John Ball to punish her if she arrives at Comingtee Plantation.
A list of enslaved children born at Comingtee and Stoke Plantations. Information includes the name of the enslaved child, their mother, and their current age.
A bill of sale for seven enslaved persons for $3,470 from Edward, Maurice and Thomas Simons, executors of the last will and testament of Keating Simons, to Ann Ball. The names of the enslaved persons are Sam, James, Chloe, Chloe's two children Adam and Betty, Judy and Monimia.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing enslaved runaways in the neighborhood, putting together a patrol of overseers and the enslaved persons Scipio and Ned to find these supposedly armed runaways. The letter goes on stating that the runaway named Morris tried to kill Scipio with a sword and the other runaway named Adam had a gun. Finklea ends with the death of the enslaved woman Amey and the poor health of various enslaved persons, that Morris was shot and injured and an inventory of cattle.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing a shipment of butter, the planting of slips, an issue with the carpenters Robert, Tom and Gabe, having Tom punish Gabe for lying, a list of enslaved persons who are sick and an inventory of cattle.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the harvest, the birth of an enslaved male child, numerous enslaved persons suffering from a fever, the poor weather, and the work of Jack, Rachel, Daniel and Sena.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to Ann Ball in Charleston discussing the enslaved persons Rachel, Sena and Jack sending over supplies, the poor health of Old Nat and Sena, and having the enslaved person Gabe "switched."
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the arrival of shingles, the plantation's crops, London's request for raw tallow and Vilet and Betty's shoe measurements.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing the plantation crops, the notation that Moses "went off" for receiving fifteen lashes, an enslaved person suffering from venereal disease, shoe measurements, and a list of enslaved persons at Quinby Plantation.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing the health of the family, the corn, potatoes and rice crops at Kensington and Midway Plantations, and the health of Beck's child.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing how Manuel was received from town, the rice and slip crops, and a request of tools from the carpenters.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice crops, the poor health of one of the mules, and details about Turner leaving Quinby Plantation for "larger business."
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the corn and rice crops, harvesting the oats, and castrating a colt.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice and slip crops, the carpenters not working and a list of measurements.
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the corn crop, the mill pond, sickness on the plantation, the enslaved man August under Dr. Edward's care who believes August is suffering from consumption, the enslaved women and children gathering peas, and Lucy confined for giving birth to a boy.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing the doctor visiting the plantation, the midwifery, sick enslaved persons from various plantations suffering from fevers or pox, and the rice crops.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing a steamboat, the health of James Coward, the rice and pea crops, and Old Mary sick with fever.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice, pea and corn crops, the death of Mr. Simmons, and the death of young children due to sickness.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing work done on the Santee road, and the construction of a fence at Turkey Hill.
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing a letter to Mr. Coward's father, the rice crops and the health of Mrs. Coward.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the plantation crops, London's work with the rice, Pompey losing cattle, a list of sick enslaved persons, an inventory of cattle and Scipio's work with the cattle.
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the recovery of John Ball, the rice crop and sawing. Coward goes into an account of the enslaved man Julius running away but believes he will return as Julius has done so in the past and finishes his letter discussing the enslaved girl Judy suffering from a sickness.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the health of John Ball, the weather, planting slips, the death of Celia at Midway Plantation, and details on when the enslaved persons "strip themselves" when it rained due to the warm weather.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball discussing the poor health of John Ball, the planting of slips, the pea and rice crops, the weather, sick children, and the confinement of Eliza.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball discussing the recovery of John Ball, the death of the enslaved woman Sarah, the confinement of Eliza, sick children, and the rice crops.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball in Charleston discussing the poor health of John Ball, the weather, the corn crop and a shipment of supplies.
