A letter from Col. R. McKelvey to John Ball on General Washington "accepting his appointment under Congress" and John Ball's promotion to Major of the 2nd Battalion of the 30th Regiment. Also included is a letter from John Ball discussing his promotion and an election for an ensign.
A document with the title "Negroes, The Estate of Peter Villepontoux Deceased" in which the writer lists the names of enslaved men, women and children. Makes notation "Abby-mulatto wench" as well as the relationships between slaves.
This document is a court case discussing a law suit to recover wages brought by Lydia Witten, a midwife who delivered the child of a slave women (referenced as "negro woman") without the consent of her master.
A list of ninety-one enslaved persons owned by John Ball. The reverse side of the document contains lists of enslaved persons above fifty years old and under the age of twelve.
A letter from Keating Simons to his daughter Ann Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing the arrival of General Lafayette in Charleston, how the crowds were "completely united" in honoring General Lafayette, how Keating Simons and General Pinckney used two private carriages to attend the procession, Colonel Drayton delivering an address to General Lafayette at St. Andrews Hall, a business meeting, eggs, and turkeys sold by Mary Franklin and a memorandum on bonds.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer John Paye to John Ball in Charleston discussing work done with the rice in "Thomas field," the "negroes" allowances, the number of bushels the enslaved adults and children have, and a visit from Dr. Edwards for "Cloey's" child. The last page of the letter discusses a situation with the enslaved man and cooper Gibby who, after being spoken to, told the overseer he would go into the woods and wait for John Ball to come home. The overseer writes that Gibby said, "he could take a thousand lashes from his master but nobody else."
A letter from Henry L. Barker at South Mulberry Plantation to William Ball in Cordesville expressing his sympathies for the death of their friend Bill.
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the recovering enslaved persons, and two enslaved persons sick with dropsy or consumption.