The Robert F.W. Allston with Robert Adger and Co. Account Book, 1860, is a journal recording household and grocery expenses for Robert Allston. Among the lists includes items for enslaved persons such as cloth and toothbrushes. Many entries also contain records of payments to specific individuals.
The Robert F.W Allston Account Book, 1860-1861, documents payments, a recipe to help cure rabies, stocks for Nightingale Hall and Chicora Wood Plantations and the names, births and deaths of enslaved people. The book also includes diary entries for when Robert Allston visited Manassas, Virginia at the Battle of Bull Run during the Civil War, recording conversations he had about the battle, the atmosphere of the army camps and the death of General Barnard E. Bee.
A fragment of a plantation journal listing enslaved persons at Murry Hill Plantation. The pages include a list of enslaved men, women and children, notes on clothes for enslaved persons and births and deaths.
A bill of sale for twenty-one enslaved persons purchased by Langdon Cheves Jr. and his sister-in-law Isabella Cheves from Pierce Butler for $17,275. The names of the enslaved persons are Philip, Hannah, Pender, Leve, Rachel, Kate, Cuffy, Abigail, Suckey, Cuffy, Sandy, Adam, Charlotte, Lea, Sally, Maria, Lima, Clementina, Tubby, Buck, and Noble.
A document discussing the sale of two enslaved women named Flora and Mary sold to Langdon Cheves Jr. and his sister-in-law Isabella Cheves from Alexander Verdiu.
A bill of sale between Robert F.W. Allston and Joseph Allston for two enslaved persons named Wiltshire, a bricklayer, and Jimmy who has a weak bladder. The enslaved persons were bought for $1,500.
A list of enslaved persons bought and sold between Mrs. Withers and Dr. Fraser. The names of the enslaved persons are listed as Francis, Caesar, Sary, Israel, Esther, William, Dinah, Quash and William.
A bill of sale for thirty-one enslaved persons sold to Langdon Cheves Jr. and his sister-in-law Isabella Cheves from R.B. Rhett for $19,775. The names of the enslaved persons are Moses, Caesar, Sylvia, Juliet, Linda, Johnson, Katy, Carolina, Joanne, Maria, Oliver, Violet, Marley, John, Dembo, Bina, Minty, Ben, Nelly, Sampson, Betty, Sharper, Dick, Peggy, Grace, "Glasee," Tyra, Hannah, Rinah, and Hannah.
A mortgage for thirty-one enslaved persons between R.B. Rhett, Langdon Cheves Jr. and his sister-in-law Isabella Cheves for $14,200. The names of the enslaved persons are Moses, Caesar, Sylvia, Juliet, Linda, Johnson, Katy, Caroline, Joanne, Maria, Oliver, Violet, Marley, John, Dembo, Bina, Minty, Ben, Nelly, Sampson, Betty, Sharper, Dick, Peggy, Grace, "Glasee," Tyra, Hannah, Rinnah, and Hannah.
A letter sent to Robert F.W. Allston from David Risley concerning a potential foreclosure on the mortgage for Waties Point Plantation. The following page includes Robert Allston's response.
Receipt of a bond of $4,500 from Ezra and David Risley for Benjamin Allston under the will of Mrs. Elizabeth Blythe following the sale of a tract of land from Waties Point Plantation.
A letter from D.F. Jamison in which he discusses a trial over a disturbance at a religious gathering by enslaved persons. He writes about a quarrel that ensued between two enslaved men, Allen and Jim, at St. Matthew's Parish, which later involved multiple enslaved persons, including Jamison's own "slave boy Sam." The court decided that those involved would receive between twenty-five to one-hundred lashes, depending on the individual's involvement in the quarrel. Jamison makes note that even though his enslaved boy Sam was said to not have been involved due to testimony, the court still sentenced him to lashes and Jamison did not appeal it due to the encouragement of his neighbors. While not present for the lashings, he heard they were severe since a constable, known for his cruelty, was brought in from a neighboring district to perform the lashings. Due to indignation from the crowd over the cruelty performed, the enslaved man Jim, who was sentenced to one-hundred lashes, only received fifty.
A letter to Woodward Manning outlining articles shipped to him by a steamer. The writer makes a notation that he has not found an enslaved person that meets the qualifications Woodward Manning has asked for and that "very few negroes have been in market, and they are selling at high prices."
A statement made by Robert F.W. Allston concerning a bond of $2,250 for a tract of land. The letter names Robert F.W. Allston as trustee for Joseph B. Allston, William Allan Allston and Benjamin Allston under the will of Elizabeth Blythe.
The Robert F.W. Allston Account Book covers the years 1857-1859 discussing Chicora Wood and Nightingale Hall Plantations. The book includes information on acres of land, stock and cattle, payments and accounts, a purchase of forty-one enslaved persons and the number of enslaved persons at each plantation in which they are listed as dependencies. Book includes a second use with passages written from the back of the book towards the front.
A list of enslaved persons given blankets. The document also includes notations that the enslaved man James is a carpenter and had an epileptic attack, Joe is a carpenter and cooper, and Murria is half-witted.
A copy of the last will and testament of Robert Pringle, written in 1774 and copied in 1854, where he divides his estate among his remaining relatives. He gives his daughter Elizabeth Pringle an enslaved girl named Jenny.
A list of enslaved children born at Nightingale Hall Plantation recording the month of birth and name of the child. Also noted are a list of deaths at Nightingale Hall Plantation.
A letter from Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing an enslaved coachman named Richard owned by his father "who does not suit him." The letter describes Richard as "large, likely athletic fellow-about 25; naturally competent either to field or house service…" The letter also proposes an exchange of Richard for another enslaved man named Jim.
A letter to Woodward Manning from his brother Ira L. Manning discussing the death of their brother John, a "rage" of yellow fever that has killed 125 people, acquiring land, crops, construction on a railroad in Alabama, and purchasing enslaved persons.
An agreement regarding five enslaved persons bequeathed to Henry Hilliard Gooch's children. The name of the enslaved persons are Patience, Tillman, Louisa, Nancy and Amanda.
A bill of sale for six enslaved persons sold by Jacob Waldburg, administrator of the estate of John McIntosh to Langdon Cheves Sr. The enslaved persons were sold for $5,100 and their names are listed as Hamlet, Priscilla, Wallace, Cinda, Jim, and Sandy.
A bill of sale for the enslaved woman Amey and her child Zachariah sold to Langdon Cheves Jr. from James Gadsden for $800. Gadsden is the executor of the estate of B.R. Mitchell, deceased.
A bill of sale for eight enslaved persons sold from Constantia Quash to Langdon Cheves Jr. for $4,080. The names of the enslaved persons are Minos, Dinah, Scipio, Caesar, Jenny, Jack, Rosey. and Minos.
A four-page unattached letter from Langdon Cheves Sr. to Langdon Cheves Jr. discussing items received, letters during Langdon Cheves Sr.'s time in Congress, statements regarding enslaved persons and a plantation book. The other pages include an account for materials, a Dr.'s bill for enslaved persons, financial business, and remarks.
A bill of sale for twelve enslaved persons sold to Langdon Cheves Jr. from William Seabrook and William McLeod for $7,800. The names of the enslaved persons are listed as Isaac, Hercules, Israel, Jenny, Mary, Joe, Tim, Die, Walley, Cuffy, Nelly, and James.
Medical bill from Dr. Andrew Hasell to Joseph Allston at Waverly Plantation. The bill includes names of the enslaved persons treated, their illness or injury, medicine and cost of treatment.
The Robert F.W. Allston Account Book, 1853-1855, records the numerous payments, receipts, debts and purchases and yearly crop information for Chicora Wood, Waverly and Nightingale Hall Plantations. Also included in the book are sections on births, deaths and marriages for enslaved people, writing down the first name of the men and women who married.
The Baptism Book for Enslaved People at Walworth and Leamington Plantations, 1848-1853, is a record of enslaved men, women and children who were baptized under officiating ministers Rev. William Dehon and Rev. Christopher D. Gadsden. The book also makes notations regarding enslaved persons who were dead upon receiving baptism. The last two pages are entries about the enslaved persons who underwent the rite of confirmation.
A bill of sale for five enslaved persons from Debose, Palmer and Peyre to Langdon Cheves Jr. for $3,480. The names of the enslaved persons are Job, "Cotter" or "Cotta," Charles, Moses, and Robin.
