Black-and-white engraving of the Tomb of Absalom in Jerusalem. After a drawying by Luigi Mayer. From A series of twenty-four views illustrative of the Holy Scriptures, published London: R. Bowyer & M. Parkes.
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.
The Henry Ravenel Medical Book, 1816-1834 records medical visits and prescriptions for families and their slaves by physician Henry Ravenel. Families seeking medical treatment include Porcher, Dubois, Gaillard, Foxworth, Marion, Moore, Ravenel, Broughton and many others. Some of the diseases and injuries being treated are rheumatic diseases, fevers, fractures, kidney disease, a miscarriage, and an amputation on a child slave.
Rounded cardboard box with lid containing remnants of antimony, a substance used for medicinal purposes. Discovered during 2017-2018 investigations of an enslaved quarter in the Nathaniel Russell House kitchen house
A fragment of a 1930's waistcoat that was discovered during 2017-2018 investigations of the Russell House kitchen house. Made of black worsted wool with a black silk lining and brass buttons, this waistcoat was likely the uniform of an enslaved butler or body-servant. The absence of any gold on the buttons may imply a waistcoat that belonged to an enslaved footmen or butler.
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 William Jones to Langdon Cheves Sr. discussing the enslaved man Harry and his wife Betty. The letter describes the couple as thoroughly attached and asks if Betty could be purchased by Cheves, sold to Jones in 1830, for the couple to be together. The reverse side of the letter is a copy of Cheves' response in which he agrees to purchase Betty.
An indenture between carpenter Thomas C. Brown, a "free man of colour," and Benjamin Moncrieff, " a free black boy aged about fourteen years" whose guardian is John Ball. The indenture is for Moncrieff to learn carpentry for seven years under Brown.
