A notebook (ca. 1920) containing reminiscences by Rose P. Ravenel, who writes about her girlhood, her relationship with her "mammy" and her French nurse. She describes life at Farmfield Plantation during the Civil War, knitting socks for Confederate soldiers, making paper and envelopes, salt production, molasses candy, flower dolls, and the family's hardships after the Civil War.
Pattie Ann Bird's application for membership for The North Carolina Society of Colonial Dames of America. On the last page, makes notation that her ancestor Col. William Eaton "brought eleven white and twenty-three black persons into the colony of N.C."
Mulberry Plantation Journal Volume Four was kept and written by John Boyle Milliken between 1860-1889. The journal includes accounts with plantation owners, tax returns, enslaved men, women and children, entries related to the planting of rice, various garden crops and other tasks performed by freedmen and women, visits to and from friends, church services and political views. Specific entries include discussions surrounding the shooting of President Andrew Garfield, the 1884 presidential election, earthquakes and hurricanes.
The John Ravenel Estate Book contains an inventory and appraisement of the estate of John Ravenel, deceased. Found in the volume are the accounts of John Ravenel with Alfred F. Ravenel, executor, accounts of St. Julien Ravenel, Alfred Ford Ravenel, born 1822, Alfred Ford Ravenel, born 1857, R.N. Gourdin, M.A. Pringle, Mrs. Frances E.H. Frost, Miss E.P. Huger, and Francis G. Ravenel. Other entries refer to stocks and bonds, a store on East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina, a house and lot on the Battery in Charleston as well as slaves mentioned by name. The names of the slaves are listed as: Alick, David and William.
A receipt of $60 from Cedar Hill for bushels of rice from William Ball. The receipt includes a mark, most likely in place of a signature from an enslaved or freed person.
Volume Two in the Cote Bas and Mepkin Plantations Collection is a Miller's Interleaved Almanac for 1886 repurposed as a journal by Peter Gourdin. Entries pertain to rice planting, livestock and social activities. Other information includes newspaper clippings on various topics such as General Order No. 1, January 1, 1866, issued by Federal authorities to govern the employment of freedmen as plantation laborers as well as other rights and liberties given to freedmen.
A handwritten, eight-page letter from Harriott Ravenel to Susan Alston in which she discusses the difficulties of life after the Civil War. In particular, she writes about the difficulty of keeping newly freed people working for their family and the status of various relatives.
A handwritten, two-page letter from Charles Alston to General Gilmore in which he petitions to regain possession of his house on East Battery in Charleston, South Carolina, which had been assigned to General Rufus Saxton following the Civil War. Alston argues that the house was never abandoned during the war because enslaved people remained in the outbuildings. On the back, the request is denied by Union officials such as Rufus Saxton and W. L. Burger.
A letter from William Ball at Limerick Plantation to his mother Eliza C. Ball discussing the birth of William Ball's daughter and Eliza Ball's first granddaughter and the timeline of Faith Ball giving birth. Makes notation on the presence of the enslaved women Masylla and Flora but not Harriet who was sick, and the baby having fingers made to learn how to play the piano "if war ends in time enough for her to learn." The rest of the letter goes on to discuss friends and family visiting the baby, the "negroes" in Charleston, the poor health of Frank, the myrtle berry pickers, and the weather.
Letter from Corp H.B. Harberson to Col. I.E. Casew. They discuss conversations amongst Confederate soldiers written from Cattle Creek by H.B. Harberson Corp. Co. "E" 18th Regiment of the South Carolina Militia reporting four companies were patrolling to prevent enslaved people from moving or escaping. The report informs that "order and quiet [were] prevailing in the community."
Willis writes from Camp Gregg asking about news from home. He writes that Paris is well again, but he still feels Paris will not last the war and wishes for a replacement slave.
Willis writes from Camp Gregg thanking his mother for the food she sent; his fear Paris will die and his eagerness to get a replacement slave; his delight that an ironclad has been sunk in Charleston harbor
A handwritten, four-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she advises him on the sale and purchase of mules and enslaved people from Beneventum plantation. She also fears that Charleston will soon fall and describes the scarcity and rising cost of food and other necessities in Greenville amid the Civil War. In addition, she mentions the work done by two enslaved women, Zilpah and Venus, at their farm in Greenville.
A handwritten, three-page letter from Emma Alston to her husband, Charles, in which she discusses the management of enslaved people at Beneventum plantation. She also briefly mentions reports of the military efforts of their sons, John Julius and Joseph, in the Civil War.
An estate inventory of Robert Pringle's plantations from October 19th, 1863, listing 128 names of enslaved people worth a total of $155,850. These names were divided into lots which were drawn by Charles Alston, William Bull Pringle, John Julius Pringle, and Elizabeth Pringle Smith.
