Black-and-white photograph, on card, of a bride and groom. Writing on back of card reads, "Bride and Groom. Dr. and Mrs. W.D. Ellis about 1840. Parents of: Judge W.D. Ellis, Atlanta; Mrs. W.W. McLeod; Miss Rose M. Ellis; Mrs. John P. Fort; Dr. D.W. Ellis."
Color image depicting north facade of McLeod Plantation. Writing on back of image reads, "1991 McLeod Plantation (James Is.) North facade. Taken from Country Club Road."
Black-and-white photograph of Willie McLeod, looking away from the camera. Writing on back of image reads, "October, 1985. Margaret Moore, Margaret Welsh, Anne Hay, Lyn, Garnes."
Black-and-white photograph of table and chairs with hutch in the background. Writing on back of image reads, "McLeod Plantation James Island, S.C. The Dining Room. Fall of 1954."
This is the first page of a letter written to "William" from Elias L. Rivers on April 29, 1895, in order to "preserve" a memory. In the letter, Rivers recalls the meeting of 14 men who were from James Island and that had served in the Civil War at "William's" home on March 27, 1895. Rivers lists the men's names and where they were living at the time. The men at the meeting included: Constant H. Rivers, E.L. Rivers, Jenkins Holmes, J.F. Lawton, J.H. Freer, W.G. Hinson, Dr. Robert Lebby, Dr. W.B. Seabrook, Dr. b.M. Lebby, W.A. Clark, W.B. Minott, Edward T. Legare, R.E. Mellichamp, Chas. H. Rivers. Mr. Rivers recalls that one man had not been to James Island since 1854 and was shocked at all of the changes he encountered upon arrival in 1895. The bottom of this page states that the group had a dinner and were joined by Mr. J.T. Dill, Robert Bee, and S.L. Hinson.
Black-and-white photograph, mounted on card, of the portrait of a group of men standing in front of a building. Writing under image reads, "House of Representatives."
Color photograph of Willie McLeod seated with birthday cake on table. Four other people standing around him. Writing on back of image reads, "Mr. Pope. Al Foy. Vivian Foy. John Haizlop. Mr William McLeod 100 years! Febr 4, 1985."
List of 118 slaves, (location and exact date unknown), numbered in pen and an additional 12 duplicate names listed at the end in pencil. The list was perhaps compiled as an inventory of property after the death of Nathaniel Heyward (1766-1851). 3p.
Memorandum for purchase of Fife Plantation by Nathaniel Heyward (III), James B. Heyward, and William Henry Heyward from Daniel Heyward Hamilton. The memorandum declares the property will be jointly held by the three and all monies made will either go back into the plantation for operating costs or to pay back the principal and interest of the loan. In addition to the property and slaves of Fife Plantation the Heywards purchased an additional forty slaves from the estate of "Mrs. Hamilton." 3p. January 7, 1852.
Color photograph of a portrait of a young woman. Writing on back of image reads, "Laura Fisher. 11th Grade High School. School Picture. 1972 Fall. North Augusta, S.C."
Short list of the number of slaves at Rotterdam and Hamburgh Plantations in 1852 delineated by trade, i.e. field hand, carpenter, waterminder and waggoner. 2p.
Small booklet with the names of slaves and the carpenter's tools assigned to them on a yearly basis from 1853-1858 (cover of booklet lists 1852). There is no mention of the plantation but the slave names match several on the list of Fife Plantation slaves (no. 117). 16p.
Letter from C.R. Hains to James B. Heyward concerning the accidental? shooting of one of James' slaves, Sam, at a Mr. Perkins' house some months earlier. 3p. January 21, 1855.
Ledger for Vernizobre Bank construction (bank termed as a repair to a river) ca. 1860, including entries dated 1859. Ledger itemizes expenses associated with the building of Vernizobre bank and includes payments to various landowners for use of their slave hands and carts. 4p.
Letter from Edward Barnwell Heyward to James B. Heyward telling James that he is moving all his father's slaves from Combahee and Pocotaligo to Wateree, SC, for safety. He offers James some land nearby to move his slaves to and "rough it out" a while with him. His plan includes putting all his father's slaves in a camp in the woods "out of the wind, and driving rain, plenty of firewood, and dry ground." 8p.
Agreement between Frank Myers and James B. Heyward for $4000 for the tenancy of his slaves and the use of 500 acres. 2p. September 25, 1863. (oversized)
Letter from Frank Myers to James B. Heyward informing him that Myers' medical exemptions for service have been revoked and he "will soon leave for the army of Tennessee." He offers James the service of his overseer, Pagett, writing that the slaves "will be much better pleased with him I think than they at present are" claiming their current overseer, Rawlinson, "has endeavored to predjudice (sic) them to him." 2p. November 28, 1863.
Itemized account of Gerhard Muller, MD, from May to December, 1862, outlining the specific medical care, with costs, of the slaves of James B. Heyward and William Henry Heyward. 2p. Issued June 6, 1863.
Bond detailing the purchase of a slave from Susan S. Keith to William Henry Heyward and James B. Heyward. The slave, "Joe", was purchased for $2315. 2p. June 1863.
Christmas day letter from James B. Heyward back at Combahee to Maria Heyward in Columbia. In his letter, James is reflecting on the dire situation and the bleakness of their future believing soon "it will all be over and we shall be reduced to a poverty irretrievable." He struggles with what to do with his slaves given the eventual "scarcity of food" and "depreciated currency." He intends to leave the majority at his plantation but expects to bring up to Columbia "John's wife so as to take from him that temptation to running off." He writes that he will also bring "Mary if she will leave her daughter Molly...I don't value Mary so much as to saddle myself with the support of Molly." 10p.
Letter from William Henry Heyward to John P. Meau concerning the assessment for the Confederate Tax of 1864. Letter includes an exhaustive inventory of slaves, acreage, types of crops, etc., for several Heyward plantations including Fife, Myrtle Grove, Rotterdam and Hamburgh. On one unnamed Heyward plantation in St. Peter's Parish, William Henry Heyward writes, "in consequence of the proximity of the enemy the greater portion of this land has been abandoned." 4p. September 24, 1864.
Letter from James B. Heyward in Columbia to Dr. D.W. Ray, trustee for the late owner whose land James had verbally agreed to rent. James is anxious to move his slaves there for safekeeping but is worried the trustee had no knowledge of the agreement between James and the recently departed owner. James also mentions that he must hasten back to the low country "as my property there is in peril from the proximity of the enemy." 2p. December 19, 1864.
Letter from Frank Myers to James B. Heyward inquiring if he intends to rent for next year "the place now occupied by your negroes." 1p. August 21, 1864.
Letter from Frank Myers to James B. Heyward reminding him that only he should receive the rent for the properties Heyward is leasing. 1p. September 7, 1864.
Letter from Frank Myers to James B. Heyward informing Heyward that he cannot accept a clause Heyward wants inserted in their rental agreement. 1p. October 3, 1864.
Letter from James B. Heyward to Mrs. Frank E. Myers concerning rent for Myers' plantation. James is anxious to have an agreement in place because "the time to plant our fall crops is now at hand." James alludes to the ongoing problem concerning the payment of rent in currency. 2p. October 31, 1864.
Written agreement between Dr. S. H. Sanders and James B. Heyward for Sanders to hire Heyward's "prime negro labourers" for "thirty bushels of corn per head." The agreement further stipulates that it will be voided if Sanders "should be disturbed by the enemy." 2p. April 29, 1865.
Letter from Fannie Heyward to her father (father-in-law?) asking him to send a recipe for "putting up butter for winter use." Fannie comments on aftershocks of the 1886 Charleston earthquake and writes that she is happy to hear "the Legare St. house pronounced safe." 4p. September 27, 1886.
Black-and-white photograph, mounted on card, of a portrait of a large group of men, each one with a number written on or near them. Text under the image reads, "Members of the Constitutional Convention of South Carolina, 1895." The numbers near each man coordinate with a list of names below the title of the photograph.
Black-and-white image depicting view of McLeod Plantation residence and part of lawn. Inscription on back of image reads, " Willie McLeod's home on James Island, Charleston SC, Aug. 1950."
This is the second page of a letter written to "William" from Elias Rivers on April 29, 1895. On this page, Mr. Rivers details the second part of the meeting of 14 men from James Island who had served in the Civil War. After eating dinner, the letters and excuses of those unable to come were read. Those who were absent included: Dr. J.L. Girardeau, Stiles Mellichamp, Capt. H.S. Lebby, W.W. Lawton, Dr. J.H. Mellichamp, E.M. Freer, W.A. Mellichamp, and William Rivers. The names of those who had died during the war were also read and included: Edward H. Mellichamp, Stiles M. Hinson, Joseph M. Mellichamp, J. Peronneau Royall, W.S. Mellichamp, J.C. Seabrook, Campbell Holmes, and Rawlins H. Rivers. In the afternoon, the photographs of those present were taken and the evening was spent talking. The men left after breakfast the next day. It is noted that the only alcohol consumed was a bottle of wine from 1835 that had survived the war by being buried when Sherman passed through South Carolina in 1865.
Black-and-white photograph of a section of the line of slave cabins at McLeod Plantation. Writing on back of image reads, "McLeod Plantation Part of 'The Street' Fall of 1954."
