Letter from A. E. Niles of the Freedmen's Bureau to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation affirming the dismissal of a freedmen laborer from Ferguson's employ. 1p. November 7, 1866.
Letter from Edward Barnwell Heyward to James B. Heyward concerning the valuation of certain mutual properties including Lewisburg Plantation, "Calf-pen" and "Pine-lands." 2p. March 29, 1867.
Letter from James B. Heyward to William Henry Heyward about their business agreement with John Chadwick at Fife Plantation. James dislikes the terms of the agreement and doesn't want it extended beyond the one year. He would rather sell Fife "than go into these extortionate bargains for cultivating it." 2p. March 16, 1866.
Article of agreement between James B. Heyward, William Henry Heyward and John Chadwick to replant Fife Plantation. John Chadwick, from New York, agrees to provide $15,500 in capital for two-thirds share in the resulting rice crop. 4p. March 14, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney relates that he has been approached to provide lumber for building houses in town and asks Ferguson if the mill can provide it. 2p. April 26, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes about a mix up in an order for a saw blade and mentions that he visited a laborer in the hospital who had been injured at Dean Hall. 2p. May 2, 1866.
Letter from Freedmen's Bureau agent F.M. Montell to Lt. James Hann concerning the former slaves still residing at Dean Hall Plantation. Montell writes that Thomas Ferguson wants the freedmen removed "as they have no rights to reside on the plantation after the division of their crops" and that he doesn't want "to have the bad example of idle men" influencing his future hires. Montell also writes of several cases of small pox on the plantation and asks the lieutenant for military help to resolve the situation and provide the "care and attention which the Freedmens Bureau have not the means of affording them." 2p. November 21, 1865.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson informing him that he is sending "8 Irishmen" to Dean Hall Plantation "with six spades and three long handled shovels." 4p. November 19, 1865.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning a shipment of supplies that arrived without an invoice. McBurney wants Ferguson to inventory the contents of the shipment to compare later to the invoice. 2p. March 7, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson. McBurney acknowledges Ferguson's letter regarding the theft of a mule from Dean Hall and sends Ferguson supplies and laborers. 2p. June 12, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson repeating the contractual terms for the hired hands McBurney is sending to Dean Hall Plantation. 4p. December 13, 1865.
Letter from T. Linard (?) of the Freedmen's Bureau to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation. Linard is responding to a complaint from Dennis Cash, a freedman in Ferguson's employ, about the destruction of his private crops by Ferguson's hogs and mules. 2p. September 5, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning supplies for Dean Hall Plantation including zinc, cement, a hammer and 6 mules. 2p. February 26, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney in Charleston to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation concerning the hiring of freedmen. McBurney writes that after a survey of other Cooper River plantation owners he finds that most are offering a share of the crop instead of monthly pay "whether from a want of ability to pay wages or because they believed an interest in the crop would secure a more steady course of labor and prevent stealage." McBurney informs Ferguson that he has written up a contract and submitted it to General Scott at the Freedmen's Bureau for acceptance. He fears the general will alter his submitted contract in favor of the former slaves and writes that officials in the bureau think the "freedman and the white northern laborer" are the same. 2p. February 1, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning supplies for Dean Hall Plantation and a mix up with an order for a mill through Cameron Barkley & Co. He also writes about the labor contract created with the freedmen at Dean Hall and tells Ferguson he should be the first to sign the contract kept at the Freedmen's Bureau and that "the one to be retained should be signed by the Darkies first." 4p. February 21, 1866.
Letter from Capt. H. S. Hawkins to the Asst. Adjutant General of the Military District of Charleston regarding the freedmen at Thomas B. Ferguson's Dockon Plantation. Capt. Hawkins writes that Ferguson had come to Dockon to inquire if the freedmen living there would contract to work the plantation and the freedmen replied, according to Hawkins, that they "would not work for any rebel son-of-a-bitch." Since the time for the freedmen to legally reside there has elapsed and the Freedmen's Bureau has sanctioned their removal, Ferguson wants them evicted and Capt. Hawkins, in his letter, is requesting explicit authority to "put off the objectionable negroes by force." 2p. January 5, 1866.
Update from F.M. Montell of the Freedmen's Bureau to Capt. Hodges concerning the removal of former slaves still residing at Dean Hall Plantation. 2p. December 19, 1865.
Lengthy contractual agreement between Thomas B. Ferguson and the freedmen and women workers at Dean Hall Plantation. The contract, approved by the Freedmen's Bureau, outlines the conditions of employment for the freedmen including, "comfortable quarters" and one acre of land, monetary penalties for unexcused absences, ten hour work days, and rules concerning tools, work animals and plantation upkeep. One term in the contract, crossed out, specified that the freedmen were to receive one-half of the entire crop though it was amended later to one-third. 4p. February 20, 1866. (oversized)
Second letter of May 5, 1866, from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson. McBurney asks Ferguson to finish the tax returns on Dean Hall and sends him a mill worker. The laborer has agreed to the $15 per month salary with rations "consisting of one peck corn, or ten quarts of meal and three lbs of bacon pr week and one quart of Salt and one quart of molasses pr month." 2p.
Third letter of May 5, 1866, from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson. McBurney discusses the ongoing struggle to obtain a saw blade of the correct dimensions claiming the company he ordered it from cannot forge one because the proper sized plate "is on board the colera (sic) ship and cannot be had until she is permitted to discharge cargo." 2p.
Notice of a bill sent to James B. Heyward from C.W. [Enecks?] at Wolfe Hill. Enecks mentions threshing wheat for Heyward and asks him where he should send it. 1p. June 11, 1868.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning supplies sent to Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes that this is an unplanned trip up the river to Dean Hall for "Cap Christian" and he might expect Ferguson to have something to ship back to town to make it worth his while. 1p. July 2, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning supplies sent to Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney apologizes for sending articles on the sloop "Bird" instead of the "R E Lee" and returns a butter tin sent to him by Ferguson. He writes, "I think your dairy maid needs instruction,..., Mrs. McB thanks you for the butter but thinks there is room for improvement." 1p. July 21, 1866.
Notice affirming the charges made by Thomas B. Ferguson against freedmen at Dean Hall Plantation. The military command in Charleston agrees that the freedmen have forfeited their contract with Ferguson and gives them ten days to leave the plantation. 1p. July 13, 1866
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson informing him that he is sending payroll money to Dean Hall Plantation. The payment of the wages has left McBurney without any money and he fears that the saw mill on the plantation will not generate any profit. 1p. July 5, 1866.
Third certified statement from the former overseer concerning rice taken from James Ferguson's Dockon Plantation. The note was apparently used in defense of Thomas Ferguson's petition to reclaim or be remunerated for the confiscated rice. 1p. June 26, 1865.
Second letter of June 12, 1866, from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson. McBurney writes that Ferguson's brother thinks the mule thief will cross the river at "Bacon Bridge" and head towards Adams Run and suggests that Ferguson go to "the neighborhood of the 18-mile" house to offer "John Donnelly" a reward if he can capture the thief. 1p.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning Dean Hall Plantation, including news that one of Ferguson's newly purchased mules has lost its tongue. 2p. March 14, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning supplies and carpenters for Dean Hall and a load of lumber received from the plantation. 2p. April 11, 1866.
Record of transactions at Bennett's Mill, Charleston, concerning the sale of 1185 bushels of rice. The miller's receipt was apparently used in support of Thomas Ferguson's petition to be remunerated for the seizure of his father's rice. 5p. May 30, 1865.
Letter from Gabriel Edward Manigault to James B. Heyward describing the enormous changes that have occurred in Charleston "since the new regime" took over. He laments the loss of his servants and writes that, given the economic stagnation of the times, "I see nothing but starvation staring the negroes in the face." 4p. May 22, 1865.
1865 Petition of Thomas B. Ferguson to General John Hatch, commander of the Northern District, Department of the South, for the return of a large quantity of rice which was confiscated from his father, James. Of an approximate 7000 bushels of rice, Ferguson has been able to locate only 1185 bushels which were transported by the sloop "Julia" to Bennett's rice mill in Charleston. Ferguson's petition makes the plea that the rice "is the only means his father has for supporting and subsisting a large family. 3p.
1865 Petition of Thomas B. Ferguson to General John Hatch, commander of the Northern District, Department of the South, for the return of goods confiscated at the plantations of his father, James. 3p.
Letter from E. Barnwell Heyward to his cousin James B. Heyward informing him of the death of E. Barnwell Heyward's father. E. Heyward also comments briefly on the state of affairs in South Carolina since the end of the war. 2p. March 27, 1866.
Memorandum between Thomas B. Ferguson, William McBurney, John J. Darcy, Michael Darcy, and John O'Mara to repair the engine and boiler of the rice mill at Dean Hall Plantation. 5p. August 23, 1865.
Printed circular from the War Department, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned lands, concerning the confiscation of property in the "insurrectionary States" with detailed instructions on how said lands can be restored to the previous owner. 3p. September 28, 1865.
Letter to James Heyward from J.H. Trapier concerning ideas about crops and livestock for their various properties. Trapier suggests giving the newly freed laborers a stake in the crops grown, noting that he got the idea from a book on "European Agriculture" and that the practice had worked well in Germany. He mentions the difference in labor required for field crops versus the "special cultivation" skills needed for rice propagation. Finally, he asks James for a copy of a blank "Petition for pardon" claiming the hand crafted one he had sent earlier might be rejected because of his refusal "to surrender my ideas in reference to State Sovereignty." 4p. August 18, 1865.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning supplies for Dean Hall Plantation. Included among the supplies is a barrel of whiskey that is to be mixed with quinine and taken as a prophylactic and McBurney hopes this "judicious use of the preventatives will aid in keeping off sickness." 1p. June 21, 1866.
Letter from James B. Heyward to William C. Bee seeking a partner in planting Myrtle Grove Plantation. Heyward alludes to an 1854 hurricane that has damaged the long term rice yield at Myrtle Grove but hopes with sufficient capital and his one year of "experience in management under the present system" that a profitable crop of rice could be realized. 4p. November 11, 1866.
Letter from William Whaley to William McBurney instructing him that "the negroes planting at Dean Hall" should repair a broken floodgate and permitting the manager (Thomas Ferguson) to use his former slaves, "such of mine as are [still] on the plantation," to assist. 2p. October 25, 1865.
Written request to T.B. Ferguson from John J. Darcy for payment to James Soughen, with confirmation from Soughen of payment received. 2p. September 18, 1865.
Letter from William Henry Heyward at Savannah to James B. Heyward at Combahee. William Heyward has come to the conclusion that the destruction of slave labor will prevent them from ever turning a profit again on the scale seen in the past. He claims that the bargaining power exercised by the freedmen "makes the Planter a slave, far worse than his slave used to be." Because of the scarcity and high price of labor he believes that he and James should sell most of their properties and concentrate all their efforts on a few. 4p. April 17, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes about supplies for Dean Hall and the best strategy of repairing a dam on one of the mill ponds. He claims that they will be able to get enough labor to keep the mill running but reports difficulty in securing "rice hands." He comments that someone has offered to buy Dean Hall or takeover management after Ferguson's agreement to do so expires. 3p. April 20, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson acknowledging that he is granted authority to act in the stead of McBurney and William Whaley on all matters pertaining to Dean Hall Plantation and mentions a controversy over logging that was occurring there. He also mentions that Whaley has had his Edisto property restored to him and wants all his "people to be ready to move." 2p. October 21, 1865.
Letter from William McBurney affirming Thomas B. Ferguson's authority to manage Dean Hall Plantation. He encourages Ferguson to show patience "in dealing with the negroes" and fears that any other treatment "may cause the buildings to be laid in ashes, as was the case in my late brothers place." He informs Ferguson that "Mr. Whaleys negroes have the right to remain on the place until January if he does not remove them before, or they do not remove of their own accord." 2p. October 23, 1865.
William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney describes two different kinds of rice he is sending to Dean Hall and suggests that Ferguson plant the better rice "in a field by itself" for next year's seed crop. He is sending more laborers and supplies to Ferguson, remarking that "Bacon is up in price today." 4p. May 28, 1866.
Letter from Thomas B. Ferguson to William Smitts, miller at the Dean Hall Plantation saw mill. Ferguson outlines the rules of employment for the saw hands, their pay (more money for firemen and white hands) and the work whistle system he would like Smitts to use. 3p. June 21, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes that he is sending more mill hands that he contracted in a similar condition as previous laborers. He suggests to Ferguson, however, that instead of charging 75¢ for absences he could take some rations away as punishment and, conversely, up the rations for particularly good service. 2p. May 5, 1866.
Certified statement from a miller at Bennett's Mill concerning the purchase of rice taken from James Ferguson's Dockon Plantation. The note was apparently used in defense of Thomas Ferguson's petition to reclaim or be remunerated for the confiscated rice. 2p. June 26, 1865.
Certified statement from the former overseer concerning rice taken from James Ferguson's Dockon Plantation. The note was apparently used in defense of Thomas Ferguson's petition to reclaim or be remunerated for the confiscated rice. 2p. June 20, 1865.
Second certified statement from the former overseer concerning rice taken from James Ferguson's Dockon Plantation. The note was apparently used in defense of Thomas Ferguson's petition to reclaim or be remunerated for the confiscated rice. 2p. June 23, 1865.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney discusses the recurring problem of obtaining a steady supply of labor for Dean Hall and sends Ferguson several bushels of "Fripp" cotton seed. 6p.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall. McBurney alludes to problems Ferguson is having with the lack of good labor and discusses cotton and rice options for the next planting seasons. 6p.
