A letter from William Ball in London, England to his father John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina on suffering from a fever and cough, plans to travel to Madeira for warmer climate, his friend Micah Bryan, and the Mr. Lockey's loss from a fire.
A letter from William Ball in Edinburgh, Scotland to his brother John Ball Jr. at Comingtee Plantation discussing the birth of a baby in John's family, other family matters, and the observation that many inhabitants in Edinburgh have a wooden leg due to sickness.
The Edinburgh Evening Courant on Thursday, September 15, 1808, where the graduation of William James Ball, Doctor in Medicine, is mentioned on page three, classes opened at the University of Edinburgh, the speech of William Adam, a list of publications, job openings for a farm overseer and a "man servant" for a small family, and a list of men who obtained "Game Certificates." The remainder of the newspaper posts various lands and properties for sale, excerpts from foreign newspapers, and private correspondences.
A letter from William Ball in Edinburgh, Scotland to his father John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina discussing a letter of credit, the severe winter in Edinburgh, deciding not to travel to Paris for medical school, plans to return to Charleston to work as a doctor, and William's opinions on the study of medicine.
The Coffin Almanac is an 1808 almanac repurposed as plantation journals. The almanac includes notes relating to cotton and vegetable farming and lists the names of enslaved people on the plantation. The enslaved people are listed as: Affey, Alea, Auber, Bella, Betty, Binah, Chloe, Deborah, Edmond, Elira, George, Hercules, January, John, Leah, Little Diana, Maria, Miley, Milley, Mingo, Minty, Monday, Old Diana, Old Jenny, Old Simon, Old Tinah, Patra, Peg, Peter, Phillis, Rodwell, Long Ceasar/S. Ceasar, Sampson, Sara, Shayer, Simon, Sukey, Sury, Sylva, Tener, Tinah, Toby, Toney/ L. Toney, and Yellow Will.
A letter from William Ball in Edinburgh, Scotland to his father John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina discussing his impending graduation, plans to travel to London to attend medical school, his friend John Wilson getting a job in the engineering department in America, the cost of provisions and taxes, and that oatmeal is the "chief support" for laborers in Scotland.
A letter from William Ball in Edinburgh, Scotland to his brother John Ball Jr. in Charleston, South Carolina discussing the cold weather, the upcoming birth of a baby for John, attending a performance of the actress Sarah Siddons, issues with selling the crops in South Carolina, William's opinions on the medical field including his "little faith" in the London Hospitals.
