The Weston Family Ledger (1764-1769) contains accounts of credit and estates with numerous individuals and businesses. The ledger was also used by an unidentified author as a plantation journal and contains entries and accounts (1830-1847, 1851, 1855) pertaining to Weston family plantations. Many of the 19th century notes list food, clothing and fabric rations distributed to slaves on the plantations.
1850-1859, 1870-1879, 1860-1869, 1840-1849, 1830-1839, and 1820-1829
Description:
This is the plantation register by Mathurin Guerin Gibbs (1788-1849) for Rice Hope Plantation (January 1, 1824 to December 1844) and Jericho Plantation (December 1844 to 1875). Gibbs, a lawyer before becoming a planter, used the first several pages of the manuscript dating January 1824 to May 1829 for summarizing legal cases. The plantation register primarily documents daily labor activities on the plantation including cultivation and harvesting of staple crops such as corn, cotton (Sea Island Cotton and Santee black seed cotton), rice and potatoes, livestock, and building fences. Gibbes also writes about the use and management of slave labor, the movement of enslaved people between the plantation and Charleston, and selling and purchasing of enslaved people. Slave names are included in portions of the register. Gibbs notes throughout the register the struggles he encounters as a planter including being unable to pay the mortgage of Rice Hope Plantation and the property going into foreclosure. Most of the entries at the end of the register are regarding slave births, slave deaths and distribution of blankets. Gibbs died in 1849 and the management of the plantation was carried out by his son.
The Mulberry Plantation Journal for the years 1853-1857 was kept by Thomas Milliken who reported activities on the rice plantation. Entries note agricultural tasks, quantities of rice winnowed and shipped, number of stock, weather conditions, sickness and deaths among slaves, "allowances" of food given out, and individuals assinged to the nightly watch. The names of the slaves are listed throughout the journal as: Adeline, Alysa, April/Child April, Bella, Ben, Betty, Bristol, Charly/C. Charles/Cow Charly/Young Charles/Young Charly, Carolina, Celia, Clarinda, Daphne, David, Dinah, Fanny, Flora, Francis, Hannah, Isaac, Jack/Carp Jack/Little Jack, Jacob, Jaffey, Jenny, Job, Joe, Joseph, Judy/Little Judy/Young Judy, Lame Harriet/Old Harriet, Lewy, Linda, Mary Ann, Minda, Moses, Myra, Ned/Little Ned, Paris, Patty, Pierce, Prince/Child Prince, Rolla, Rose, Sabrina, Sarah, Shammrock and Venus.
Fragments and narratives describing cities visited, often with notations re principal industries, amusements, transportation, etc. Cities visited include Paris, Ghent, Frankfurt, London, Liverpool, Sheffield, & Birmingham.
Meeting minutes volume kept by the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Board of Trustees, 1857-1866. The entries in this volume concern all synagogue business, finances, membership, alterations regarding seating within the synagogue, the organ, and the choir. This volume also covers discussions regarding the amalgamation of the KKBE and Shearith Israel congregations in Charleston, S.C.
Meeting minutes volume kept by the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Board of Trustees, 1846-1852. The entries in this volume concern all discussions regarding synagogue business, finances, memberships, the search for a new minister, and the beginnings of Reform Judaism within the congregation. The entries also include notes on Reverend Gustavus Poznanski and his thoughts on the Reform.
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.
From 1850 to 1851, Thomas Small captained the English merchant ship "Robert Small" on his 11th voyage to China and the East. In this private diary, Captain Small reveals the intense loneliness of command and details the longing he feels for the wife and newborn son he left behind. He comments on marriage, child-rearing, and religion, and frequently expresses his desire to find employment "ashore" to better provide for his family. In addition to these personal entries, he provides rich details of a mid-nineteenth century life at sea. Daily nautical annotations are augmented with comments about the crew, rations, frequent communications with passing ships, and his waning hope in obtaining a profitable cargo of tea in China. 126 pages. Full text.
Letter from William Henry Heyward to James Heyward about his travels in Rome. He describes the coliseum and St. Peter's Basilica in detail, writes about attending Christmas mass held by the Pope and comments on what news he has heard about secession talk in America. 8p.
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 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 discussing a shipment of corn, peas, sugar, coffee and bacon, a "dry spell" burning the crops, working with the "negro fellow Carl," and requesting the enslaved men Toney and Robin.
A letter to Harold Cranston on Capers Island from James Vidal discussing a shipment of coffee, sugar, bolts and iron. He goes on to discuss leaving the "frenchman" to manage Capers Island while Cranston is away.
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.
