Undated letter, ca. 1861, from Edward Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell. Barnwell mentions his distaste for "soldiering" and asks his mother to send "Moses" back to him writing, "he has had holiday enough." ca. 1861.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, about a washing machine he has purchased for her and includes a recipe for soap. He also informs her of a calf he is sending via his servant "Aleck" and tells her to "let the negroes know that if it is missing, I will have every one on the plantation punished." 1859.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to sisters, describing the rural nature of the parish he will minister near Columbia and inviting them to visit and assist him in setting up housekeeping in his new cottage. In addition to a servant provided by the parish, Barnwell has been given one of his father's servants, "Aleck the little". October 14, 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to father, William H. W. Barnwell thanking him for the gift of his servant "Aleck the little" and discussing possible future plans for his younger brother, William. October, 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing his activities as he prepares for his job as professor at South Carolina College. Barnwell writes of purchasing the cook and maid of outgoing professor, Dr. Francis Lieber, "partly [out of] comfort" and partly to relieve Dr. Lieber from "parting with slave property in the usual way of public sale." 1856.
Edward Barnwell writes to father, William H. W. Barnwell, about his employment in Charleston. After a brief stint with Coffin & Pringle Co., Barnwell has taken a more advantageous position with commissions merchant, Mr. Hubert. Barnwell also mentions a smallpox outbreak that has hit Charleston and the countryside and notes a bad reaction his brother, Robert Woodward Barnwell, has had to the smallpox vaccination. Barnwell suggests having his father's "little negroes" inoculated as well if enough vaccine can be found. January 19, 1854.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, from Laurel Bay Plantation. Barnwell writes of the well-being of the family, the health and spiritual training of the servants and neglect of the livestock by the slaves, and requests his mother to send a pineapple from Charleston to be served as dessert for an upcoming dinner party. January 22, 1853.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell at the family plantation, Laurel Bay, to father, William H. W. Barnwell. Barnwell writes of schooling his younger siblings and reports on the status of the plantation. January 15, 1853.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell at Laurel Bay plantation, to father, William H. W. Barnwell. Barnwell describes an eventful trip to Beaufort with his siblings, comments on his continuing education and the schooling of his siblings, and reports to his father on the status of the plantation's cotton crop. January 22, 1853.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to brother William H. W. Barnwell remarking on errors in "Traditions and Reminiscences Chiefly of the American Revolution" by Joseph Johnson regarding their father, Robert Gibbes Barnwell. Barnwell also writes of a disappointing planting season at his plantation and at William's plantation, Laurel Bay. October 20, 1851.
Letter from Edward Barnwell to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing visits to Bay Point and their family plantation, Laurel Bay, near Beaufort. Barnwell writes of a large devil fish caught off Bay Point and informs his father of the status of the crops and slaves at Laurel Bay. July 18, 1851.
Robert Woodward Barnwell, Beaufort, writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, Charleston, about temperance speeches he has been attending and the increase in local support for the temperance cause and lists family members who both support and oppose it. August 16, 1847.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, concerning a trip from Charleston to Beaufort. Robert details a bout of seasickness while traveling, reports on the status of his parents' and grandparent's plantations at Laurel Bay and Keans Neck and relates family news from Beaufort. August, 1847.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to William H. W. Barnwell extracting details of the estate of their late sister. Barnwell writes, "the fall is bringing back all of our friends to Beaufort, but she comes not." October 27, 1846.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Beaufort, SC, to brother William H. W. Barnwell. Barnwell writes about his summer in Beaufort, the inheritance of 25 negroes from "Cousin John's" estate, and the intention of the local planters to hire a "Rev. Webb" to attend to the "parochial charge of their negroes." August 28, 1837.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to brother, William H. W. Barnwell, about his travel plans and the last will of their recently deceased sister, in which William was bequeathed $5000. Robert tells William that the amount is enough to clear his debts and the sale of his slaves is now unnecessary, though he still encourages William to do so, writing, "at Laurel Bay they cannot support themselves and will inevitably be exposed to the dangerous temptations of idleness." February 18, 1833.
William H. W. Barnwell, from Laurel Bay Plantation, writes to friend Edgar Day in Catskill, New York. After 4 years without correspondence, Barnwell apprises Day of his marriage, the birth of his first child and his religious conversion during a revival in Gillisonville, SC. He also speaks of forming a local temperance society and hopes to establish "one upon my plantation among my Negroes." January 18, 1832.
