Letter from Samuel Wragg Ferguson from West Point to his godmother. Ferguson inquires about friends and family and relates his daily struggles with his "poor old overcoat." 3p.
Edward Barnwell writes to father, William H. W. Barnwell, on the status of business arrangements and provisions he is attending to for his father in Charleston. November 13, 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to sisters, describing the rural nature of the parish he will minister near Columbia and inviting them to visit and assist him in setting up housekeeping in his new cottage. In addition to a servant provided by the parish, Barnwell has been given one of his father's servants, "Aleck the little". October 14, 1856.
1856 Certificate of Shares (50) of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad Company purchased by James B. Heyward. The reverse details installments James made through 1859. 2p.
Bill of sale between F.H. Wagner and James B. Heyward for $2000 for five slaves. The slaves sold were Glasgow, age 30, his wife Mary, age 27, and their three children. 2p. January 23, 1856.
Bill of sale between William Yates and James B. Heyward for $900 for "a certain negro woman named Sally with her male Infant" both "warranted sound and healthy." 1p. January 28, 1856.
Letter from Charles Heyward at Combahee to James B. Heyward concerning a monetary donation to the "Kansas Emigration Society." He writes that the "sparse white population" in the Combahee area makes it a poor place to "drum up recruits" for the effort. 1p. March 4, 1856.
Letter from Thomas M. Rhett to James B. Heyward asking him for more time to repay a loan so he can sell property to raise the necessary funds, having "lost my Crop of provisions, and made but a half crop of light Rice. 2p. December 22, 1856.
The Mulberry Plantation Journal for the years 1855-1856 was kept by overseers C.A. Ward and R. Meynardie who reported activities on the rice plantation. Entries note agricultural tasks, quantities of rice winnowed, weather conditions, sickness among slaves and individuals assinged to the nightly watch. The names of the slaves are listed throughout the journal as: Adeline/Adiline, Ben, Betty, Binah, Bristol, Charles/C. Charles/Cow Charles/Cow Charly/Young Charles, Carolina, Clarinda, Dinah, Fanny/Fany, Flora/Florah, Francis, Hanna/Hannah, Isaac, Jack/L. Jack/Little Jack, Jacob, Joe, Juba, Leah, Lewis, Lindy, Little Judy, Little Ned/Old Ned, Maryan, Myrah, Old Delia, Old Hariett, Paris/Parris, Patty, Pearce, Pierce, Sabrina, Sarah/Old Sara, Shammroc and Vinus
Letter from Henry Ravenel, President of the Union Bank of South Carolina in Charleston, SC., to Mrs. Eleanor Tobias, widow of Abraham Tobias. The letter expresses regret and sympathies in regards to the death of Abraham Tobias.
Record of David Henry Mordecai's illnesses and schooling, mostly in Heidelberg, Germany, with some notations at Ems. With sporadic notations of weather, and mentions of South Carolinians Albert Rhett, William, John & Alfred Preston, Charles Boyd, Hammond, Legare, D.C. Seixas & others. References to museums, artwork and plays seen. Mentions of health and cures, the need for an operation (p. 73); stupidity of peasants vs. slaves (18); lynching (21), political situation in Kansas (30); doomed nature of American slavery (31); inevitability of Civil War (31-2); state support of SC College (56-57); women who "paint" their faces (111). With constant references to family, and some financial jottings. Some entries in German.
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.
A note of a bill of sale for the enslaved woman Georgy and her child Francis for $800. Georgy is described as "black, about 22 years, and child mulatto about 3 years old."
A conveyance of property to James Drayton from his brothers Thomas and John Drayton following the death of their mother Mary. Included in the conveyance are the following "negroes": Beck and her infant, Dick, Tyrah, Kate, Isaac, Charlie, Isaac the house servant, Tom, Phoeby, Joe, Nelly and her infant, Dianna, William, Lizzy, Miley, Mary, Jerry, Hannah, Bess, and Moses.
This multi-page document is a slave insurance policy by the Aetna Life Insurance Company to Thomas P. Allen. Enclosed is details on the insurance policy for the enslaved women listed as "Sebina" or "Sebrina" and her occupation as a washer.
A note from a newspaper in Newburyport, Massachusetts writing about the voyage chartered by John Redpath to Haiti. This voyage includes thirteen "color'd" emigrants and abolitionist John Brown, son of old "Ossawatamie" or commonly spelled "Osawatomie."
A list of enslaved persons given blankets. The document also includes notations that the enslaved man James is a carpenter and had an epileptic attack, Joe is a carpenter and cooper, and Murria is half-witted.
Letter from Edward Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, describing a lawsuit Edward has brought against a Mr. Brown concerning his lost dog. Barnwell mentions a lecture by William Makepeace Thackeray in Charleston and the death of Mrs. James Gadsden, who has bequeathed money to his father. February 7, 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Erlangen, Germany, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, informing her of the opening of the Librarianship at South Carolina College and his desire to apply for the position. 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to father, William H. W. Barnwell thanking him for the gift of his servant "Aleck the little" and discussing possible future plans for his younger brother, William. October, 1856.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing his activities as he prepares for his job as professor at South Carolina College. Barnwell writes of purchasing the cook and maid of outgoing professor, Dr. Francis Lieber, "partly [out of] comfort" and partly to relieve Dr. Lieber from "parting with slave property in the usual way of public sale." 1856.
A list of items under the title "amount brought over" with associated figures in dollars. Items include cotton, horses, corn, stone, furniture and tools.
A document with the title "Appraisal Bill of the Personal Property, Goods and Chattles of John Smith Sr, deceased. Included are the names of enslaved men and women. The slaves are listed as Theophilius, referenced as "Negro Boy," Adam, Andrew, Silvey, Celia, Mary, Hester, Lavenia and Amanda.
A document listing the items, cattle and slaves owned by John Smith Sr. that were sold to numerous buyers upon his death. The slaves are referenced as "negroes" and are listed as Theophilius, Adam, Andy, Silvey, Celia, Mary, Lavenia, Hester and Mandy.
