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 $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.
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.
