A letter from Lydia Simons to her brother John Ball discussing John Ball's inability to use his fingers, and the crops at "Limeric" (Limerick) Plantation.
A diagram of the "Plain Scale." The horizontal axis is labeled "inclinations of meridians" and vertical axis is labeled hours. Various geometric shapes and lines such as chord, rhombus, tangents, secants, semi tangents, longitudes, and latitudes are drawn within the "plain."
A list of lands and enslaved persons owned by John Ball which includes Back River Plantation, it's swamps, lands for cultivation, pine land, a carriage house, smoke house, overseer's house, store house, corn house, a cooper shop and twelve "negro" houses. The document also lists that there are four enslaved men above fifty years of age, eighteen enslaved men under fifty and above twelve, ten enslaved boys under the age of twelve, seven enslaved women above fifty years old, nineteen enslaved women under fifty and above twelve and twenty enslaved girls under twelve.
A list of enslaved women confined at Midway Plantation and tools left out by the enslaved person Marcus. The bottom of the document is a balance of tools at Kensington Plantation.
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 receipt for thirteen 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 torn letter from Elias Ball II at Kensington Plantation to his son John Ball in "Charles Town" on spending a night at Comingtee Plantation, and the health of Elias Ball III and Isaac Ball.
A letter from A. Waring to her cousin John Ball in Charleston thanking him for a present, the crops at Backriver Plantation, and a potential visit in the spring.
An account of the enslaved persons and lands belonging to Elias Ball I that includes tracts of land at Comingtee Plantation, acres to plant and harvest crops, and sixty-eight enslaved persons.
Extract from Nicholas Trott's Law, "An Act for Establishing a Ferry Over the Western Branch of Cooper River." The extract pertains to the appointing of a "master or manager" of the ferry and his duties.
Anecdotes and memorandum of a watchman named Patrick who was whitewashing his cousin's floor and fell through a window, an "alligator committee," an Uncle Maurice crossing Strawberry Ferry and Bonneau's Ferry, and a story of Bishop Bowen finding a replacement for himself for patrol duty.
A list of enslaved men, women and children belonging to Ann Ball purchased from the estate of John Ball. Persons are priced as family units and includes valuations.
The division and appraisement of Judith Boisseau Ball's estate according to her last will and testament which leaves her daughter Eleanor 6000 in currency and the rest of the estate to be equally divided. The division includes currency, enslaved persons and cattle.
Memorandums on Elias Ball II discussing Comingtee Plantation given to him in the will of his father Elias Ball I, and the probability that Elias Ball Sr. was buried at St. Philip's Church in Charleston.
A torn letter from Elias Ball II to his son John Ball in "Charles Town" offering advice to be " a good boy and you shall want for nothing," and the poor health of John Longstaff.
A letter from Caroline Simons to her brother John Ball in "Charles Town" discussing a shipment of a keg with eggs sent by the enslaved man Ben, the health of their father, the price of "mirtle wax," and a request for oysters.
A portion of the last will and testament of Elias Ball II in which he settles all debts, gives his son Elias Ball III Comingtee and Limerick Plantations, tracts of land to Samuel Eveleigh, tracts of land and Kensington and Hyde Park Plantations to his son John Ball, and a lot of land situated "on the Bay of Charleston" to his daughter Lydia Bryan. Makes various notations regarding "negro slaves and their issue and increase" as well as statements that his sons Elias and John Ball are given the enslaved persons living at each plantation they inherited.
A torn letter from Isaac Ball to his brother John Ball in "Charles Town" discussing John Ball's physique, the death of Mr. Quash's wife, a shipment of rice and their fathering purchasing a horse.
A torn letter to John Ball by Elias Ball III at Kensington Plantation discussing Mr. Simon's Caty being ill, the safe arrival of Mr. E. Simons and guns.
List of all the conveyancers of rural estate to the late John Ball Esquire. The list is divided into fourteen lots, conveyancers and numbers of acres each property contains.
A list of Ball family members who had their portraits painted. The document also includes the name of the portrait painter, and dates of their birth and death.
A torn letter from John Ball to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing how John should interact with his peers, especially women, while at school.
A letter to Eleanor Ball from Thomas Smith discussing the division of his father's estate, Eleanor Ball's demands against the state, and a statement from a bond to Eleanor Ball.
