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.
Letter from John W. Chambers to James B. Heyward concerning his slave, John, the body servant of James' deceased son Nathaniel. Captain Chambers writes that sending James' servant to Richmond is problematic because of the heavy travel on the rail route and that "it is with difficulty a white person can engage a passage and any servant would be compelled to walk." 1p. November 1, 1862.
List of 118 slaves, (location and exact date unknown), numbered in pen and an additional 12 duplicate names listed at the end in pencil. The list was perhaps compiled as an inventory of property after the death of Nathaniel Heyward (1766-1851). 3p.
Memorandum for purchase of Fife Plantation by Nathaniel Heyward (III), James B. Heyward, and William Henry Heyward from Daniel Heyward Hamilton. The memorandum declares the property will be jointly held by the three and all monies made will either go back into the plantation for operating costs or to pay back the principal and interest of the loan. In addition to the property and slaves of Fife Plantation the Heywards purchased an additional forty slaves from the estate of "Mrs. Hamilton." 3p. January 7, 1852.
Detailed notebook with lists of slaves and cloth (in yards?) assigned to them at Rotterdam, Myrtle Grove, Hamburgh and Copenhagen Plantations from 1850 -1852. Also includes lists of "Blankets to Infants" and "Blankets to young negroes". 17p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to an unknown recipient carried by one of his overseers, C. R. Hains, who is reporting for duty. In his letter, James protests the conscription of plantation overseers into the Confederate army claiming they "have large numbers of negroes under their charge" and that "in his absence the timid become panic struck and the bold mischievous." He also argues that the overseers "by means of espionage know every thing that is going on" and that well run plantations can better provide supplies to the war cause. 4p. November 12, 1861.
Bill of sale for slaves between Charles Heyward and James B. Heyward. James purchased, for $550, the slave "Phoebe and her daughter Charlotte." 2p. August 7, 1851.
