A list of 152 enslaved persons. Notations include the first names of each enslaved person, their role on the plantation and the name of their parent(s).
A letter from Lydia Simons to her brother John Ball discussing John Ball's inability to use his fingers, and the crops at "Limeric" (Limerick) Plantation.
A list of 157 enslaved persons at Friendfield and the Point Plantations. The list is divided into adults and children, and includes notations such as "carpenter," "cripple," "old," "driver" and "nurse."
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.
A diagram of the "Plain Scale." The horizontal axis is labeled "inclinations of meridians" and vertical axis is labeled hours. Various geometric shapes and lines such as chord, rhombus, tangents, secants, semi tangents, longitudes, and latitudes are drawn within the "plain."
A list of lands and enslaved persons owned by John Ball which includes Back River Plantation, it's swamps, lands for cultivation, pine land, a carriage house, smoke house, overseer's house, store house, corn house, a cooper shop and twelve "negro" houses. The document also lists that there are four enslaved men above fifty years of age, eighteen enslaved men under fifty and above twelve, ten enslaved boys under the age of twelve, seven enslaved women above fifty years old, nineteen enslaved women under fifty and above twelve and twenty enslaved girls under twelve.
A list of enslaved women confined at Midway Plantation and tools left out by the enslaved person Marcus. The bottom of the document is a balance of tools at Kensington Plantation.
The Edisto Island Presbyterian Church Register is an unbound book recorded between 1837-1901. The register contains minutes from church sessions, baptism and marriage records, church memberships and church controversies with references to enslaved men and women by name and the accusations against them. Also included is the constitution of the Edisto Union Church, which was formed by Africans Americans, formerly enslaved, who took over the Edisto Island Presbyterian Church following the Civil War.
A bond from Elias Ball to executors of William Carson's estate Alexander Robertson and John Blacklock for $8,000. The document includes records of paid installments.
An agreement regarding six enslaved persons bequeathed to Henry Hilliard Gooch's children. The names of the enslaved persons are Melisy, William, Amelia, Miles, Dave and John.
A receipt for thirteen bushels of rice from William Ball. The receipt includes a mark, most likely in place of a signature from an enslaved or freed person.
List of names of South Carolina Militia members. McKewn notes particular aspects of their ability to perform duty including age or other distinguishing features.
A torn letter from Elias Ball II at Kensington Plantation to his son John Ball in "Charles Town" on spending a night at Comingtee Plantation, and the health of Elias Ball III and Isaac Ball.
A letter from A. Waring to her cousin John Ball in Charleston thanking him for a present, the crops at Backriver Plantation, and a potential visit in the spring.
This loose page is a record of deaths and births in the Benseman family. The reverse side of the document includes the notation "my negro woman had a boy child" and "my servant Patty had a boy child."
A document under the title "500 White Registered Citizens" with notes from a meeting such as "to preserve order and to protect the property and lives of the citizens white & black."
A list of enslaved people owned by Benjamin Allston Jr. divided by family units. Notations include specific jobs of enslaved persons such as driver, nurse, cook, washer, carpenter, blacksmith, cooper, poultry woman, hunter and gardener.
An account of the enslaved persons and lands belonging to Elias Ball I that includes tracts of land at Comingtee Plantation, acres to plant and harvest crops, and sixty-eight enslaved persons.
Extract from Nicholas Trott's Law, "An Act for Establishing a Ferry Over the Western Branch of Cooper River." The extract pertains to the appointing of a "master or manager" of the ferry and his duties.
This newspaper clipping titled "The Penitentiary is the Place" discusses the arrest of eleven men, now freed slaves, referenced as "negroes," for murdering another black man.
This torn newspaper clipping is written by William M. Bird, Jr. describing how if the arrested men, referenced as "negroes" are hung, "it will be an outrage on humanity."
A list of enslaved persons at Wavery Plantation, referenced as "Waverly Negroes." Included are the names of the enslaved persons, ages and notations on family and labor. Enslaved persons and their tasks include nurse Beck, house servant Guy, miller Wallace, ploughman Major, cook Linette, washer Lydia, driver Cudjoe and stockman Bob. Makes notation that Sibba "does nothing" due to old age.
An agreement between Charles Alston Sr. and former enslaved persons, now freedmen and women, at Fairfield Plantation. The agreement outlines the duties that Charles Alston and the freed persons must follow. The signatures of the freed persons, which includes children, are marked with an "x."
Final notice of auction for Nightingale Hall Plantation by auctioneer Alonzo White. The notice gives information concerning the location and fields of the plantation, the property's condition, cattle and the names of enslaved persons living there. The reverse side of the document is a statement concerning a fight between two enslaved men in which one drew a knife when ordered to stop. This enslaved man had been taken off the plantation.
Final notice of auction for Nightingale Hall Plantation by auctioneer Alonzo White. The notice gives information concerning the location and fields of the plantation, the property's condition, cattle and the names of enslaved persons living there.
Final notice of auction for Nightingale Hall Plantation by auctioneer Alonzo White. The notice gives information concerning the location and fields of the plantation, the property's condition, cattle and the names of enslaved persons living there.
Anecdotes and memorandum of a watchman named Patrick who was whitewashing his cousin's floor and fell through a window, an "alligator committee," an Uncle Maurice crossing Strawberry Ferry and Bonneau's Ferry, and a story of Bishop Bowen finding a replacement for himself for patrol duty.
A list of enslaved men, women and children belonging to Ann Ball purchased from the estate of John Ball. Persons are priced as family units and includes valuations.
A list of enslaved persons and other property that have not been appraised. The names of the enslaved persons are listed as Dolly, Jenny, Scipio, Lucy and eight children, "Clarender" and six children, Amos, Robert, Rosa (a girl about twenty-two) and a young boy named Scipio. The names include valuations above them.
The division and appraisement of Judith Boisseau Ball's estate according to her last will and testament which leaves her daughter Eleanor 6000 in currency and the rest of the estate to be equally divided. The division includes currency, enslaved persons and cattle.
A letter to a man named "John" from Dr. Arthur B. Flagg discussing a medical account. The other side includes an account for medical visits with associated figures in dollars.
Program for the Election of Attorney George Payton to the South Carolina State Senate including a handwritten note from Septima P. Clark to Josephine Rider dated January 12.
List of all the conveyancers of rural estate to the late John Ball Esquire. The list is divided into fourteen lots, conveyancers and numbers of acres each property contains.
A letter from Caroline Simons to her brother John Ball in "Charles Town" discussing a shipment of a keg with eggs sent by the enslaved man Ben, the health of their father, the price of "mirtle wax," and a request for oysters.
A list of Ball family members who had their portraits painted. The document also includes the name of the portrait painter, and dates of their birth and death.
A portion of the last will and testament of Elias Ball II in which he settles all debts, gives his son Elias Ball III Comingtee and Limerick Plantations, tracts of land to Samuel Eveleigh, tracts of land and Kensington and Hyde Park Plantations to his son John Ball, and a lot of land situated "on the Bay of Charleston" to his daughter Lydia Bryan. Makes various notations regarding "negro slaves and their issue and increase" as well as statements that his sons Elias and John Ball are given the enslaved persons living at each plantation they inherited.
Memorandums on Elias Ball II discussing Comingtee Plantation given to him in the will of his father Elias Ball I, and the probability that Elias Ball Sr. was buried at St. Philip's Church in Charleston.
Fragments of a letter from Elias Ball III to his brother John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina. Fragments reveal statements regarding the health of family members.
A torn letter from John Ball to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing how John should interact with his peers, especially women, while at school.
A torn letter from Isaac Ball to his brother John Ball in "Charles Town" discussing John Ball's physique, the death of Mr. Quash's wife, a shipment of rice and their fathering purchasing a horse.
A torn letter from Elias Ball II to his son John Ball in "Charles Town" offering advice to be " a good boy and you shall want for nothing," and the poor health of John Longstaff.
A letter to Eleanor Ball from Thomas Smith discussing the division of his father's estate, Eleanor Ball's demands against the state, and a statement from a bond to Eleanor Ball.
A torn letter to John Ball by Elias Ball III at Kensington Plantation discussing Mr. Simon's Caty being ill, the safe arrival of Mr. E. Simons and guns.
