A letter from Jane Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing letter writing, his "moral & religious virtues," Sullivans Island being "flocked" by people, the cotton and rice crop, the upcoming feast hosted by Uncle Ball, and updates on family members.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts on John Ball Jr's school vacation plans and knowledge of American cities, inquiries into the lifestyle of students at Harvard, the marriage of cousin Lydia to Mr. Lucas, the cotton crops in South Carolina and at Kensington, Hyde Park and Midway Plantations. The letter concludes concerning a deed for the enslaved boy Billy, "the valet de chambre" for John Ball Sr. who wishes that upon his death for John Ball Jr. to "be kind to him for my sake & for your own advantage." He ends stating that if Billy is "ungrateful" towards John Ball Jr. or quits, "do not trouble in getting him back, but if he afterwards return then let him be disgraced..."
The Account Journal, 1774-1777, was written by an unknown author recording financial accounts, tasks performed by enslaved persons, the planting of indigo, cotton, rice and corn and numerous memorandums between Paul Villepontoux and Peter Marion. A few journal entries reference enslaved persons who ran away from the plantations as well as verses pertaining to freedom and General George Washington. Journal contains entries from a second use, which are written upside down and interspersed with the first use.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing "the sickly season," the health of the family, those suffering from the "prevailing fever" also referenced as yellow fever or "black vomit," the conditions of the rice and cotton crops, the Regiment of Artillery, and an inquiry into the parties John attends at school.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing Jane Ball's health, Isaac and William Ball, Governor Drayton's speech, the selling of cotton and rice, and visiting two print shops.
A letter from financial agent George Lockey in England to John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina on a watch that Ball ordered, William James Ball's expenses in Edinburgh, and the price of rice and cotton in England.
The Coffin Almanac is an 1808 almanac repurposed as plantation journals. The almanac includes notes relating to cotton and vegetable farming and lists the names of enslaved people on the plantation. The enslaved people are listed as: Affey, Alea, Auber, Bella, Betty, Binah, Chloe, Deborah, Edmond, Elira, George, Hercules, January, John, Leah, Little Diana, Maria, Miley, Milley, Mingo, Minty, Monday, Old Diana, Old Jenny, Old Simon, Old Tinah, Patra, Peg, Peter, Phillis, Rodwell, Long Ceasar/S. Ceasar, Sampson, Sara, Shayer, Simon, Sukey, Sury, Sylva, Tener, Tinah, Toby, Toney/ L. Toney, and Yellow Will.
The Plantation Journal (1813) contains an account of the enslaved people at Coffin Point Plantation written by multiple authors including the plantation manager E. W. Rose. The journal records the work that was completed for each month of the year on the plantation including cotton and vegetable farming. Names of the enslaved people are: Affey, Bella, Betty, Binah, Bristol, Caesar, Chloe, Cynder, Deborah, Diana, Edmund, Elsy, Frank, George, Hercules, Isaac, Ishmeal, James, January, Jenny, Jim, John, Leah, Little Debra, Long Caesar, Maria, Mariann, Miley, Mingo, Minney, Minty, Nat, Ned, Old Binah, Old Isaac, Old Jenny, Old Simon, Old Toney, Old Will, Patra, Peg, Peter, Philis, Phoebe, Rodwell, Sampson, Sara, Simon, Sukey, Susy, Sylva, Tenah, Tinah, Toby, Toney, Will. Names of the enslaved children are listed as: Abraham, Beck, Billy, Bristol, Butcher, Butler, Caesar, Celia, Charlotte, Daphne, Davy, Dinah, Doll, Grace, Hagar, Hetty, Ishmeal, Jacob, James, Joe, Juliet, Kate, Kembo, Lara, Lot, Lydia, Mary, Moses, Nancy, Nanny, Nelly, Patra, Prince, Robert, Romeo, Sambo, Smart, Sukey, Tinah, Toney, William.
A letter from Thomas Slater in Frenchay to Isaac Ball at Limerick Plantation discussing European magazines, the death of Mr. Ball, Thomas Slater's son residing on a family estate, and information on the cotton and rice crops in South Carolina.
A letter to Charlotte Allston from the overseer at Chicora Wood Plantation discussing tasks performed by enslaved persons, an enslaved woman named Lavenia who wishes to work in a different area on the plantation to avoid working with Bob and notes on cotton.
