“Stories Collected from Slaves” by Leonarda J. Aimar is a bound volume of formerly enslaved people's stories. In her transcription, she attempted to capture the storytellers’ colloquial speech, now recognized as the Gullah language. The volume includes a list of addresses, occupations, and diseases of African Americans during their enslavement; an eye-witness account of the Battle of Secessionville on James Island during the Civil War in 1862; how enslaved people were returned to their slaveholders following the Revolutionary War; and an account of Sherman's march from Savannah, Georgia to Charleston, South Carolina during the Civil War. A formerly enslaved man, Sam, provides a detailed account of being a butler, coachman, and horse jockey. He also recounts how Union Army Major Robert Anderson took control of Fort Sumter and the events that transpired there on April 12, 1861. Other accounts include an enslaved man’s recollections of his time as a servant to a plantation overseer who sympathized with the Union during the Civil War and formerly enslaved man Jim Alston’s detailed eye-witness account of the 1876 Cainhoy Riot.
The Horlbeck Daybook, 1835-1837, was kept by members of the Horlbeck building and architectural business. Included in the daybook are lists of work done for clients such as remodeling, repair, or construction. Buildings worked on include the jail, St. Stephen's Chapel, the Fire Master's Department, and the Poor House. The descriptions include types of materials used and the number of Black and White employees working. Black employees consist of enslaved and freed persons.
The Stoney Account Book, 1837-1838, and Plantation Daybook, 1852 is a bound volume kept by the Stoney family, possibly John Stafford Stoney, in which the first half of the book documents payments for shipping, freights, wharfage and commissions from GM Thompson, Wade Hampton II, William Cunningham, Robert E. Russell, Mary Hampton, Horace Osborne & Co., John Preston, and Nesbit Manufacturing Co. The second half of the book was written by a plantation overseer at Medway Plantation in which he documents the tasks performed by enslaved people and the slaves who missed work due to sickness. The names of the slaves are listed as: Abraham, Andrew, Beck, Bella, Bess, Binah, Bob, Brooke, Celia, Cesar, Charlot, Cily, Dido, Dinah/Old Dinah, Dolly, Edward, Elsey, Grace, Hector, Hercules, Jack, Jackey, Kate, Maully, Moses, Old Elley, Old Felix, Old Jerry, Peter, Philaskey, Philis, Pussy, Quash, Robert, Robin, Rosannah, Sam, and Samey.
The Horlbeck Ledger, 1839-1847, is a bound volume by members of the Horlbeck building and architectural business. The book records work done for clients White and Black employees and specifies the type of repair, remodeling or construction jobs and supplies. Black employees are comprised of enslaved persons and freed men and women.
The Paul De St. Julien Ravenel Estate Book, 1829-1841 is an estate account book kept by Henry Ravenel for the estate of Paul D. Ravenel with pages on money received, spent or payments paid, including payments for the hiring of enslaved people. The last few pages of the book are lists of slaves, referenced by first name, and the number of sheets given out.
A torn letter to William Clarkson from Reverend Napoleon B. Screven with a message of Christian exhortation that Screven requests Clarkson to convey to his enslaved persons. The letter also mentions the inability to sell the wife of an enslaved man.
Two separate torn letters to William Clarkson from Reverend Richard Johnson and M. Johnson which mentions making better accommodations for the "coloured people" of the parish.
A letter from John Cheeseborough to his aunt Elizabeth Frances Blyth discussing the hiring of the enslaved man York. Makes notation that he would be "very unwilling to sell him where he could not be with his family."
A letter from John Cheeseborough to his aunt Elizabeth Frances Blyth discussing the purchase of the enslaved man York. Makes notation that he is "unwilling to sell him to any one so that he cannot occasionally see his family."
A statement by attorneys Lockwood and Ramsey concerning an unsatisfied mortgage on two enslaved persons sold by Francis Simons to John R. Matthewes. The names of the enslaved persons are Malsey or Molsey and Julia.
Agreement between Elizabeth Frances Blyth and overseer William Thompson outlining Thompson's duties at Friendfield and the Point Plantations which include overseeing the "negroes" with "moderation and humanity."
Receipt for impressment for six enslaved persons owned by Robert F.W. Allston sent to perform labor for the Confederacy's military. The enslaved persons are listed as "Ravelny," Albert, June, Sandy, Janus and Jonas. The document also notes the valuation for each enslaved person and their term of service.
Receipt for impressment for two enslaved persons owned by Robert F.W. Allston sent to perform labor for the Confederacy's military. The enslaved persons are listed as Toby and Quash. The document also notes the valuation for each enslaved person and their term of service.
A message signed by J. McCrady confirming that enslaved persons owned by Robert F.W. Allston arrived for work at South Island Plantation. The names of the enslaved are Salone, Sammy, Jacob, Mary, Sancho, June and Abraham.
A message signed by J. McCrady confirming that enslaved persons owned by Robert F.W. Allston arrived for work at South Island Plantation. The names of the enslaved are Page, Handy, Charles, Joe, Jim, Snow, Sandy, Dick, Hardtimes and Prince.
A message signed by J. McCrady confirming that enslaved persons owned by Robert F.W. Allston arrived for work at South Island Plantation. The names of the enslaved are Tom, Ackamore and Richard.
The Estate General J.W. Allston in Account with A.W. Campbell, 1834-1857, is an account book kept for the estate of Joseph Waties Allston. The first half of the book records payments and bonds paid on behalf of J.W. Allston's estate by executor A.W. Campbell. The second half of the book records payments and bonds paid on behalf of the estate by executor Robert F.W. Allston. Payments include those for the hiring and purchasing of enslaved persons.
This is a Sandy Island plantation journal written inside of The South Carolina and Georgia Almanac for the year 1792. The plantation journal documents the planting of crops (rice, corns, and potatoes), the maintenance of ditches and drains, slave records, complications with the hiring of an overseer, livestock, and business relations with Laurel Hill Plantation.
The Direleton Plantation Memorandum Book was kept by James Ritchie Sparkman beginning in the 1850s; changes in handwriting indicate additional authors and additional uses into the 1900s. The book contains slave records. Records includes slave births, slave deaths, purchases of slaves, sales of slaves, family seperation, measurements for clothing, distribution of blankets, and labor tasks. The book also contains lists of first and last names of agricultural workers after the American Civil War and figures, likely wages paid. There are account records kept for purposes of the Internal Revenue Services, Confederate taxes and bonds, personal and agricultural work purchases, and financial transactions with B.M. Grier, Eliza S. Heriot, Dr. R.S. Heriot, A.G. Heriot (with signed receipts), M.E. Heriot (with signed receipts), and G.A. Thorne. There are transactions with other plantations recorded including Cornhill Plantation, Northampton Plantation, and Birdfield Plantation. There is information on livestock, wines removed from the plantation, and rice sales.
A cash book for Robert F.W. Allston for the years 1823-1843. The book includes account transactions conducted by Allston including payment of overseer wages, the hiring out of enslaved people, transportation, taxes, governesses, nurses, crops, sundries, and cloth distributed to slaves. This book also includes accounts between Allston and other individuals including the Estate of Charlotte A. Allston (primarily for the purchases of blankets, shoes, and cloth for enslaved people) and an account with Mary P. Jones. The last several pages of the book contain cash ledgers. Allston explicitly notes accounting related to Matanza Plantation, later known as Chicora Wood. Other account records do not explicitly state plantation sites.
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 list of offenses resulting in exclusion from the clergy which includes murder, "robbing church," "robbing any persons in their dwelling house," "buggery," piracy, accessories in "petty treason," stealing, rape, burglary, "consulting with evil spirits, taking up dead bodies for purposes of witchcraft," "persons connected with slaves in actual insurrection guilty of treason," and "carrying away a slave."
The Baptism Book for Enslaved People at Walworth and Leamington Plantations, 1848-1853, is a record of enslaved men, women and children who were baptized under officiating ministers Rev. William Dehon and Rev. Christopher D. Gadsden. The book also makes notations regarding enslaved persons who were dead upon receiving baptism. The last two pages are entries about the enslaved persons who underwent the rite of confirmation.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing a shipment of corn, oakum, coffee, sugar, the plantation crop, construction of the flat, and needing enslaved persons for work.
A bill of sale for three enslaved men between Jenkins MiKell and Harold Cranston for $1,500. The names of the enslaved men are listed as Kit, April and Carlos.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing his brother traveling to Hunting Island for palmettos, the enslaved persons Noble and Eugene repairing the plantation boat, requesting for the use of the enslaved man Dedfort in exchange for an enslaved boy, and Vidal suffering from a sickness.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing the enslaved "noble Dedfort," assistance of Captain William in carting timber, that the enslaved workers are "there to obey your order," and a shipment of tobacco, whiskey and molasses.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal primarily discussing the enslaved man Dedfort, a delivery of sugar, coffee and an anchor and chain.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal requesting the use of the enslaved person Dedfort for Vidal's brother who is in need of assistance in piloting a raft.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing enslaved persons delivering a jug of whiskey, his inability to get shoes, and Vidal expressing to Cranston that "white or black were under your control." Vidal further writes about talks among his enslaved persons but that he does not believe them. He ends by discussing a man named Tony getting drunk in the village.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing an enslaved person named Dedfort, selling wood, the hiring of workmen, delivering wood to Sullivan's Island, boat captain Sinclair and purchasing tar.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing Vidal's questioning of the enslaved persons. Concerning the enslaved persons, Vidal writes, "if you have too much familiarity, it will spoil them." He continues by discussing a boat and the unknown location of his rafts.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing a vessel ready to transport items and Vidal's haste to Summerville. Vidal makes the notation he would put the "black hand" to work unloading items if Cranston transports them on the vessel.
The James Simons Account Book, 1838-1854, contains financial information for Mrs. Harleston Simons in account with James Simons. Accounts include payments made for shoes, clothing, slave badges, and wages for enslaved persons. The names of the enslaved persons are written as Martha, Billy, John, Sammy, Annette, Lydia, Charlotte, and Richard.
A fragment of a plantation journal listing enslaved persons at Murry Hill Plantation. The pages include a list of enslaved men, women and children, notes on clothes for enslaved persons and births and deaths.
A letter from John Jacob Ischudy to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing a delayed visit due to rain, and the departure of the enslaved woman Phyllis from the rectory (believed to have gone to Comingtee Plantation) with the hope that "she might be at liberty to idle away." The letter goes on to discuss an earlier situation with Phyllis breaking the Ischudy's rules regarding "servants" eating breakfast and dinner. Due to her behavior, Ischudy writes that Phyllis was whipped with a "chincopen switch" and gave her "five or six cuts upon the shoulders." He ends his letter stating that Phyllis "has not been ill treated" and wishes for John Ball to punish her if she arrives at Comingtee Plantation.
A tax return for Elias Ball III that includes acres of swamp, pineland and 246 enslaved persons at Comingtee, Strawberry Ferry and Limerick Plantation.
A tax return for Elias Ball III for acres, pine land, two carriage wheels, 246 enslaved persons, four enslaved persons at the property of Miss Ball and eighty enslaved persons under the account for John Moultrie Jr.
Release for Hope Plantation, Charleston District, owned by William Elliot Morris and Anna E. Morris, with the names of eighty-five enslaved persons. The two enslaved men Isaac and John are described as "these are in town."
A reply letter from Robert Heriot to Mary Heriot in which he thanks God for their "miraculous escape" as well as concerns over Heriot's status as a prisoner of war on parole, his plea that the British require no "test of allegiance" for the inhabitants of Waccamaw (Georgetown County, S.C.), family and financial matters, and the fate of enslaved persons who ran away from the Heriot plantation.
A letter from Mary Heriot to Robert Heriot concerning a "narrow escape" which she and her family experienced during fighting near their home. Makes note that Gentry was shot and that there is an order to apprehend runaway enslaved persons from the plantation.
Letter from Eliza Lucas Pinckney to her daughter Hariott Horry concerning family matters, a female enslaved person (referenced as "my little maid"), wallpaper, seeds, and clothes.
A typewritten transcription from Barnwell District of a deed of gift of young enslaved persons from Wilson Cook to his children. The names of the enslaved children are Abram, Henry, Nell and Sal.
A bill of sale for the enslaved woman Sary and her two children June and Salina for $850. The enslaved family was bought by John P. Berry from Joseph W. Larry.
A bill of sale for the enslaved woman Mary and her two "mollatto" children Lucy, aged three, and Sam, an infant. The enslaved family were sold from James L. Ross to R.A. Bowman for $600.
A tripartite indenture between Eliza Means, James Moore Rhett, and James Smith, part of which is a "schedule" of personal property including a list of twenty-five named enslaved persons.
A letter from C.B. Jones to Burr Ragsdale discussing a sheriff's sale of enslaved persons. Makes note that the number of enslaved persons sold will range between 82 to 102.
An agreement between Charles Alston Sr. and former enslaved persons, now freedmen and women, at Fairfield Plantation. The agreement outlines the duties that Charles Alston and the freed persons must follow. The signatures of the freed persons, which includes children, are marked with an "x."
A copy of the last will and testament of Benjamin Garden in which he divides his estate among his remaining relatives. States that the enslaved men Radcliff and Tom be "shipped off and sold to the Spaniards or at the Bay of Honduras..." Garden also frees the enslaved man named Taunton from "all further servitude" and the house "wench" Alley stating it is "my wish to liberate her from all future slavery." Makes notation that the enslaved persons Abram, Sarah, "Statyrah" and Moses are to be sold, and names enslaved persons to be moved to other family plantations.
A copy of the last will and testament of Robert Pringle, written in 1774 and copied in 1854, where he divides his estate among his remaining relatives. He gives his daughter Elizabeth Pringle an enslaved girl named Jenny.
An inventory of the enslaved persons belonging to the estate of Col. Benjamin Garden at Chessey Plantation. The document lists the names of the enslaved persons with notes on stock and those capable of field work or those not "fit for service."
An inventory of the enslaved persons belonging to the estate of Col. Benjamin Garden at Richfield Plantation. The front of the document is a list of enslaved men, women, and children with their ages. The back side of the document lists enslaved women at Bluefield Plantation.
A deed of gift from Lewis Coward Sr. to his son Lewis Coward Jr. consisting of a plantation, cattle and one enslaved woman named Dina and her child Peter.
A letter to Woodward Manning from his brother Ira L. Manning discussing the death of their brother John, a "rage" of yellow fever that has killed 125 people, acquiring land, crops, construction on a railroad in Alabama, and purchasing enslaved persons.
A letter to Woodward Manning from his brother Ira L. Manning discussing the weather, the building of a mill, the sale of the enslaved man named Sam and the mortgage taken out on him, and a deal for purchasing Sam's wife in exchange for "old negroes."
A letter to Woodward Manning outlining articles shipped to him by a steamer. The writer makes a notation that he has not found an enslaved person that meets the qualifications Woodward Manning has asked for and that "very few negroes have been in market, and they are selling at high prices."
A list of enslaved persons sold to Henry Hilliard Gooch from James Madison Richardson for $2,012. The names of the enslaved persons are July, Alik, Rinda, Guy, Amy, Poly, and Adaline.
A mortgage for enslaved persons sold to Henry Hilliard Gooch, executor for the estate of John Gooch, from Leroy Hammond for $2,012. The names of the enslaved are George, Alfred, "Parslund," Charlott and Sarah.
A list of enslaved persons and a mortgage sold to Henry Gooch from William Davidson for $3,206. The names of the enslaved persons are Nancy, George, "Gus," Mary, David, Phebe, and Edmond.
A note on enslaved persons received by Louisiana (full name is Jane Amanda Louisiana Gooch) Ingram and Tillman Ingram from the last will and testament of Louisiana's father John Gooch.
A list of five enslaved persons received by John Gooch's children according to his last will and testament. The names of the enslaved persons are "Norbun," Minerva, Lucinda, "Winna" and Sealy.
An agreement regarding five enslaved persons bequeathed to Henry Hilliard Gooch's children. The name of the enslaved persons are Patience, Tillman, Louisa, Nancy and Amanda.
A note on the hiring of enslaved persons owned by Charlotte and Eliza Gooch. The names of the enslaved persons are Polly, Fanny, Liza, Isaac, Emily, Minor, Milly, Dave, Sillar, Sally and Reuben.
Terms for the hiring of enslaved persons owned by the children of John Gooch. Terms include enslaved persons "not to be taken out of the state," "required to furnish two suits of cloths, one of cotton and the other mixed with wool," and to hire a physician if an enslaved person becomes sick.
