A copy of a letter to Eliza Laurens from an unidentified writer inquiring if she wishes to renew her late husband's contract with the Commissioners of Public Roads to repair Mepkin causeway and bridge.
Articles of Agreement between Elizabeth Ashby, John Vivaridge, and Philip Dawes in which widow Elizabeth Ashby, is marrying John Vivaridge. The document discusses Elizabeth Ashby's debts, estates and enslaved persons.
Articles of Agreement between John Ball Jr. and Back River Plantation overseer Arthur McFarlane. The agreement includes that $250 is paid to McFarlane, reasonings for dismissal, that McFarlane and his family are allowed hogs, poultry, one horse and the milk of one cow, to have "a boy to wait on him and a woman to cook and wash for him." The agreement also includes McFarlane "taking care of the negroes; especially when sick-treating them when well with moderation and humanity-and is on no occasion to beat them with sticks-when necessary, always to correct them with switches."
Articles of Agreement between John Ball Jr. and Back River Plantation overseer John E. Moreton. The agreement includes that $220 is paid to Moreton, reasonings for dismissal, that Moreton and his family are allowed one cow, one horse and access to the crops, allowed to raise hogs and to have one "wench" to cook and wash, and one enslaved male and female child to serve Moreton's family.
A newspaper clipping on articles of agreement for a plantation overseer "from an old Virginia Paper." The agreement includes that the overseer is not "the master" of the employer, is not to spend more than one half of his time at "court-houses or elsewhere, or on pleasure, at horse-races, cock-fights, barbecues," and is given one-tenth of the plantation crops.
Copy of "Resolutions of the Board of Commissioners of Roads" appointing John Ball, Edward Simons, and Robert Roper to a committee to oversee Mrs. Laurens and Mepkin Bridge. The document makes notations regarding enslaved men reporting for road duty, and Mrs. Laurens' contract to make repairs to the bridge.
Letter from the Board of Commissioners of Roads discussing Mrs. Laurens' contract with the board, the dangerous state of Mepkin Bridge and an issue concerning Mrs. Laurens' carpenters.
A letter from Eliza Laurens at Mepkin Plantation to Mr. Simons and Mr. Ball discussing her approval of making a new bridge and her hiring carpenters to assist. Laurens states that these carpenters, when sent to help, were forbidden in taking down the old bridge. As a result of this, Laurens denied her approval and renewal of a contract.
