A letter from William Ball at Limerick Plantation to Mary thanking her for a package she sent, his poor health and treatment from a doctor, and reflections on a party during the Christmas season. The letter goes on to discuss the Christmas of the "good old days in slavery time, thanks to Mr. Lincoln" and that two servants remain in the household as they "never left us."
A note from John Coming Ball at Limerick Plantation on a receipt for $136 from William Ball, executor of the estate of Eliza Ball. The receipt is for shares of rent for a house on the corner of East Bay and Vernon Streets.
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.
A letter to William Ball at Limerick Plantation from his mother Elizabeth Poyas discussing the seal and signature of Ball's grandmother Jane, a release of dower to Elizabeth Smith, a renunciation of dower from Judith Ball for lands at "Wambaw," a release of 500 acres of lands in "Irishtown," information on land held by Henry Laurens, a list of marriages within the family, the death of Catherine Ball (Smith) and her infant and the Ball family's connection to Henry Laurens. The letter continues by discussing the memoirs of Henry Laurens and Eliza Ball's daughter Martha Laurens Ramsay. These memoirs details the Laurens family's "extraction" from France, being Huguenot or Protestant, compelled to leave France due to the Edict of Nantes, traveling to America in 1685, the migration of the Ball family from England, the death of Eliza Ball, Henry Laurens traveling to England to oversee his children's educations, leaving England for America because "love for his country brought him back to it's defence against the aggressions of Britain," the death of John Laurens in 1782 due to a wound from battle, Henry Lauren's imprisonment in the Tower of London for high treason, his liberation and signing of the "preliminaries of peace," and a genealogy chart of the family.
A copy of a letter from John Ball at Comingtee Plantation to Limerick Plantation overseer Stephen Herren reprimanding Herren's disappearance when Ball visited the plantation to divide the enslaved persons. The letter goes on to discuss the consequences of Herren not being present, whether he respects his duty as overseer and Herren going against the rules concerning the enslaved persons, specifically enslaved children, and Old Simon.
A letter from Catherine Edwards to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing mortification of what happened at Limerick Plantation with the enslaved persons. The letter goes on to state that the enslaved driver was busy and therefore, the cause of "the trespass." The letter ends with Edwards writing that the enslaved persons "deserve punishment."
The John Ball Plantation Account Book, 1812-1834, is an indexed account book kept by overseers at various plantations owned by the Ball family. Overseers named are John Cox, Arthur McFarland, Samuel Lynes, Alexander McKnight, Britton Bunch, John Dickson, Thomas Fincklea, James Coward, and John Page. Of particular interest are two different accounts, one with William Deas, referred to as a "Mulatto" and the other "Free Nancy," a free black woman at Limerick Plantation who was buying and trading rice and sugar.
A letter from Limerick Plantation overseer John Jacob Ischudy to John Ball at Kensington Plantation discussing his family's removal to Cordesville and the almost desolate rectory.
An account of beef divided and delivered to Jericho, Hyde Park, Quinby and Limerick Plantations. Makes notation that 331 pieces of beef were given to the enslaved persons.
A letter from overseer John Jacob Ischudy at Limerick Plantation to Mr. Finby at Comingtee Plantation discussing the enslaved girl Lucinda, her role in the fields, her future roles and John Jacob Ischudy's "use" for her.
A medical account from Isaac Ball at Limerick and Quinby Plantations to Dr. Thomas Broughton for treating and prescribing medicine to enslaved persons.
A letter from Ann Ball in Charleston to her husband John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing the arrival of a boat, hurricane type weather, her parent's poor health, Ann Ball's own suffering with an "oppression at my chest," trouble with the enslaved persons at Limerick and Midway Plantations, and the poor health of "Lewis's Little Keating."
The Memo Book, 1821-1824, is a bound volume kept by or for a member of the Ball family. The volume lists crops at Hyde Park, Limerick, Jericho and Quinby Plantations as well as specifications for a rice mill at Limerick Plantation. Dried, pressed tree leaves are compressed throughout the blank pages. Also found within the volume are a list of enslaved persons given plough lines at various plantations. The names of the enslaved persons are Hercules, Jingo, Linus, Mathias, Mill Natt/Natt, Paul, Sam, Simon, Tim, Toby, Tom and Tycho.
