The Account of Enslaved Persons and Various Stories, 1831-1844, is kept by or for a member of the Ball family. The first half of the account book contains various lists of enslaved men, women and children owned by John Ball at Comingtee/Stoke, Kensington and Midway Plantations in Berkeley County, South Carolina. These lists include enslaved persons given first or second quality blankets, cloth, clothes and osnaburg fabric as well as lists of pregnant enslaved women or enslaved infants given clothes.
The second half of the book contains stories retold by various persons on topics such as an eyewitness account of the Steamship Pulaski Disaster in 1838, stories of enslaved persons including the execution of an enslaved man, stories about the family of George Chicken, eyewitness accounts of the British occupation in Charleston during the Revolutionary War, numerous ghost stories and an account of the first settlers of Charlestown.
A letter from Comingtee Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball discussing the crowded houses on the plantation, placing the enslaved women and children in the sick houses, Coward's disappointment in his work, the cooper "Midway Marcus," a burnt child, the work of the enslaved persons Phyllis, Caesar, Benjamin, young Stephen, the health of "Monemah's" child at Kensington Plantation and the enslaved persons Boris, Driver Jack, and Cate.
A letter from Catherine Edwards to John Ball at Kensington Plantation requesting an explanation over the "ill will" directed towards her from the Balls upon her attempt at visiting.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the death of John who suffered from severe head pain, the death of Beck's child and a shipment of eggs.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing a situation concerning "Cupit's" conduct on the plantation.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston on receiving supplies, the dry weather, the rice crops, and a request for supplies.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing the doctor visiting the plantation, the midwifery, sick enslaved persons from various plantations suffering from fevers or pox, and the rice crops.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing a steamboat, the health of James Coward, the rice and pea crops, and Old Mary sick with fever.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice, pea and corn crops, the death of Mr. Simmons, and the death of young children due to sickness.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing work done on the Santee road, and the construction of a fence at Turkey Hill.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the health of John Ball, the weather, planting slips, the death of Celia at Midway Plantation, and details on when the enslaved persons "strip themselves" when it rained due to the warm weather.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball discussing the poor health of John Ball, the planting of slips, the pea and rice crops, the weather, sick children, and the confinement of Eliza.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball discussing the recovery of John Ball, the death of the enslaved woman Sarah, the confinement of Eliza, sick children, and the rice crops.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to Ann Ball in Charleston discussing the poor health of John Ball, the weather, the corn crop and a shipment of supplies.
A copy of a letter from John Ball at Kensington Plantation to Catherine Edwards discussing an incident when Edwards attempted to visit John Ball and his wife.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice and pea crops, Turkey Hill's swamp, a visit from the Doctor, a suspected typhus case, two sick children and James Coward's child taken with the fever in which he suspects worms as the cause.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston on discharging Daniel, sending Pompy off with an allowance, the potato and rice crops, the recovering health of sick children, and construction of a bank fence at Midway Plantation.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the death of the enslaved woman Die and her child, Affy's child being sick, and a case of typhus at Limerick Plantation.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the inability to send the foals and ducks, the rice crops, sick enslaved persons at Midway Plantation, and a visit from Mr. Lynes and Mr. Turner.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing two sick children, baskets of eggs and potatoes, and the rice crops.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the cold weather, giving out shoes to the enslaved persons, and the rice crop.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing the work of Scipio, a shipment of supplies, the rice crops, and a request for a bundle of baby clothes.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing the status of the mill, Old Bristol and "Catoe's" work at the mill, the overseer Mr. Finklea, and sick children.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rainy weather, the rice crops, a shipment of butter, and a request for items.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the slips, the rainy weather, newspapers, and the Baptist press.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing the health of the family, the corn, potatoes and rice crops at Kensington and Midway Plantations, and the health of Beck's child.
The John Ball Plantation Account Book, 1812-1834, is an indexed account book kept by overseers at various plantations owned by the Ball family. Overseers named are John Cox, Arthur McFarland, Samuel Lynes, Alexander McKnight, Britton Bunch, John Dickson, Thomas Fincklea, James Coward, and John Page. Of particular interest are two different accounts, one with William Deas, referred to as a "Mulatto" and the other "Free Nancy," a free black woman at Limerick Plantation who was buying and trading rice and sugar.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing a medical visit from a doctor for an enslaved woman, a possible case of typhus, a situation with Old Marcus and a shipment of supplies.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing the corn, rice and potato crops at Midway Plantation, the floodgate, assigning enslaved persons to the field, and a shipment of supplies.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice crops, the enslaved persons Elick, Paul, Pompy and Jimmy.
A copy of a letter from John Ball at Kensington Plantation to Quinby Plantation overseer Tyson Pipkin discussing an attempt to visit Pipkin but since he was not present, information was given to "Linus." The letter goes on to mention that "all the grown negroes" will receive rice and salt and that the "young negroes" are to receive potatoes.
Articles of agreement between John Ball Jr., executor of the estate of John Ball Sr., and Midway and Kensington Plantations overseer Britton Bunch. The agreement outlines John Ball Jr.'s agreement to pay Britton Bunch $200, to have the authority to discharge him, Britton Bunch's share of plantation cattle and crops, an agreement that John Ball Jr. will "let Britton Bunch have a boy to wait & a woman to cook & wash for him," Bunch's agreement to take care of the enslaved persons, especially when sick and with "moderation and humanity and on no occasion to beat them with sticks nor at any one time to inflict more than twenty stripes when necessary to correct them & then with switches.
A letter from Ann Ball to her husband John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing John Ball's crop at Kensington Plantation, the improving health of their aunt, Ann Ball's father receiving an "unpleasant account" from his plantation and a visit from Ann Ball's mother.
A tax return of John Ball's taxable property made out and paid to Theodore L. Gourdin. The tax returns include tide swamps, pine land, 459 enslaved persons in St. John's Parish, fifteen enslaved persons in the parish of St. Philip's, 260 enslaved persons at Comingtee/Stoke Plantation, 102 enslaved persons at Kensington Plantation and ninety-seven enslaved persons at Midway Plantation.
A list of plates delivered to M.C. Ball belonging to the estate of John Ball Sr. from the Kensington house, Marshland farm, and a house on East Bay Street in Charleston.
A letter from B. Slade to Isaac Ball in Charleston, South Carolina discussing John Ball Sr.'s will, the sale of Kensington and Hyde Park Plantations along with the enslaved persons living there, other family matters, a trip to England, Slade's unemployment, and the current situation for the trade business.
A letter from Ann Ball to her husband John Ball at Kensington Plantation discussing "Lewis" and "Marcus," Isaac Ball leaving town with his family, a severe cold, and the harvesting of crops.
The division and valuations of Jane Ball's enslaved persons among her sons John Ball Jr. and Isaac Ball upon the death of their father John Ball Sr. The enslaved persons live at Kensington Plantation and are divided into lots for each brother.
