This is a Sandy Island plantation journal written inside of The South Carolina and Georgia Almanac for the year 1792. The plantation journal documents the planting of crops (rice, corns, and potatoes), the maintenance of ditches and drains, slave records, complications with the hiring of an overseer, livestock, and business relations with Laurel Hill Plantation.
A letter from a member of the Simons family in Charleston to Isaac Ball at Quinby Plantation discussing the enslaved person Scipio and a horse cargo traveling with items, militia duty, the rice market, business, and the "happy days of our boyhood."
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing shoes for the plantation, threshing the crops, the weather, the rice crops, and Jesse Coward's health.
A letter from Elias Ball IV at Limerick Plantation to Elias "Wambaw" Ball III exiled in Bristol, England on James Gordon receiving rice, charters send to Comingtee Plantation to receive rice, a frost ruining a supply of rice, a request for "negro" clothing and plantation tools and Elias Ball IV's feelings on laboring.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the work of Elsey, Thomas, Sena, Rachel and Jack, the rice and pea harvest, the poor health of numerous enslaved persons, and having to "switch" Stoke Abram, Stoke Rose, and Silvey's Hannah for stealing.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice and slip crops, the carpenters not working and a list of measurements.
A letter to Charlotte Allston from the overseer at Nightingale Hall Plantation discussing tasks performed by enslaved persons as well as those who are sick, crop farming and rice.
A letter from financial agent George Lockey in Charleston, South Carolina to John Ball Sr. discussing William James Ball in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the rice crop.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing two sick children, baskets of eggs and potatoes, and the rice crops.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing John's poor health, travel and Jane Ball's poor health. The letter ends with a notation that "the news of peace has put a stop to the selling of rice."
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 Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rainy weather, the rice crops, a shipment of butter, and a request for items.
A letter from the accommodation wharf Cart, Kopff & Jervey to William Ball discussing the quality and value of rice from John Harleston's plantation. Makes notation, "how are you getting on with the freedmen?"
A letter from Elias Ball III in Charleston, South Carolina to John Ball at Kensington Plantation discussing that week's paper, word from Mr. Lauren's on how the army is helping drive General Washington over the mountains, the belief that General John Burgoyne's army was taken, the fleet of Commodore Biddle, the price of rice, and various notations regarding the Commons House of Assembly.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing travel, john Ball Jr.'s health and John leaving school due to sickness.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing that he sent Elsie and Thomas down with butter, the birth of an enslaved child, the rice crops and fields, a list of sick enslaved persons, the work of Scipio and Bristol, Billey and Tom each having a sore hand and an inventory of cattle.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston on receiving supplies, the dry weather, the rice crops, and a request for supplies.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer William Turner to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice crops and fields, a request for more mules and a saddle, and a statement on Peggy.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the death of Marcia due to "inflammation of the womb," the death of Elsey's child, the poor health of other enslaved persons, work on the rice crop, and a list of items sent by Bob and Sena.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the rice crops, the enslaved persons Elick, Paul, Pompy and Jimmy.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball at Comingtee Plantation discussing the health of the family, the corn, potatoes and rice crops at Kensington and Midway Plantations, and the health of Beck's child.
A letter from Hyde Park Plantation overseer Jesse Coward to John Ball in Charleston discussing the corn and rice crops, harvesting the oats, and castrating a colt.
A letter from Kensington Plantation overseer James Coward to John Ball discussing a steamboat, the health of James Coward, the rice and pea crops, and Old Mary sick with fever.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing the death of "Folly" who died of consumption, the poor health of various enslaved children, the start of the rice harvest, Old Pompey and Scipio's work with the cattle, Bristol's work with the floodgate, and an inventory of cattle. Makes notation that a fifty dollar reward was offered for the capture of the enslaved man Morris.
A letter from Elias Ball II at Kensington Plantation to his son John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina discussing the health of the family, opportunities for John and Elias Ball, and needing the enslaved man Ben to pick up rice.
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 written by Elias Ball III at Limerick Plantation discussing Mr. Gaillard, a "great disturbance with mobbs," "the division of the estate's negroes," advice given by attorney general "Alix Moultrie," the legislation, crop at Comingtee Plantation, trouble with newly purchased enslaved persons and their work methods, rice at Backriver Plantation and "negro carpenters."
Copy of a letter between Elias "Wambaw" Ball and Elias Ball III at Limerick Plantation discussing a recovery from a fever, the death of a child from fever, struggles with the rice field, attempts at selling lumber, the Wambaw swamp and lands and the sale and purchase of "confiscated property" by various men. Makes notation that the "negroes have not been sold" as well as a notation regarding the enslaved persons owned by Elias "Wambaw" Ball following the division of his estate.
Copy of a letter between Elias "Wambaw" Ball and Elias Ball III at Limerick Plantation discussing Thomas Gaillard and payments, apprehension of purchasing bills using credit, a rampant fever that has affected family at Kensington Plantation, the overseer named Comings, the sale and purchase of "Fishpond by the Harlestons," a notation regarding fifteen enslaved persons, rice crops and the belief of another revolution or war within the United States.
Copy of a letter between Elias "Wambaw" Ball and Elias Ball III at Limerick Plantation discussing the departure of his friend "Moultrie" to England, the death of Elias Ball II from a "disorder in the bowels," the will of Elias Ball II, the corn, rice and indigo crop, wind and rain storms, "negro cloth," and a "great disturbance in the country."
Copy of a letter between Elias Wambaw" Ball and Elias Ball III at Limerick Plantation discussing invoices from Mr. Vanderhorst for goods, paper money, shipping rice to Bristol and aid in finding an overseer and driver.
A torn letter from Elias Ball IV to Elias "Wambaw" Ball III exiled in Bristol, England discussing a shipment of corn and rice sent to Bristol, an impending visit from William Moultrie Jr., a referral from General Marion, and notations on the House of Assembly.
Copy of a letter between Elias "Wambaw" Ball and Elias Ball III in Charleston discussing trouble with the rice business, orders of "negro cloth, blankets, & plantation tools," confiscated property, the sale of fifty enslaved persons at Georgetown, asking to own the enslaved man Pino and his family where Pino can work as a driver, the overseer named Comings and unpaid taxes.
Copy of a letter between Elias "Wambaw" Ball and Elias Ball III at Limerick Plantation discussing political magazines, the government, chartering a ship, debts between the Elias's, the arrival of rice, a comparison of a personal saddle "to those used by Fulton's Dragoons," a list of goods shipped from Elias Ball in Bristol to Elias Ball in South Carolina.
A letter from Elias Ball IV in Charleston to Elias "Wambaw" Ball III exiled in Bristol, England discussing a charter, Comingtee Plantation, a shortage of rice in the country, and a recommendation from "Moultrie" to hire James Gordon.
A letter from Elias Ball IV at Limerick Plantation to Elias "Wambaw" Ball III exiled in Bristol, England on an account between the Balls and James Gordon, Elias Ball IV's tiredness, the rice and corn crops, planting 225 acres of rice at Comingtee Plantation, and debt.
A copy of an advertisement for selling Back River Plantation belonging to the late John Coming Ball. The advertisement states that the plantation is supposed to offer rice to market for several years.
A letter from John Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts on John Ball Sr.'s fever, medicine, the health of the family, wanting watermelons, John Ball Jr.'s writing skills, an inquiry for John Ball Jr.'s miniature or a portrait of him in his school uniform, and the rice crop in South Carolina.
A letter from John Ball to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing a shipment of rice and meat, the poor health of Jane Ball and John Ball Jr. submitting to "the arbitrary laws" of Harvard.
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 Jane Ball at Kensington Plantation to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing letters, the Charleston races, the rice business, a ball at the St. Thomas Club House, and the weather in South Carolina and Massachusetts.
A letter from Stoke Plantation overseer Thomas Finklea to John Ball in Charleston discussing tasks completed, the rice crops, Bristol's work with the floodgate and Scipio's with the cattle, a list of sick enslaved persons, an inventory of cattle and the birth of an enslaved male child.
A letter from Quinby Plantation overseer John Paye to John Ball in Charleston discussing work done with the rice in "Thomas field," the "negroes" allowances, the number of bushels the enslaved adults and children have, and a visit from Dr. Edwards for "Cloey's" child. The last page of the letter discusses a situation with the enslaved man and cooper Gibby who, after being spoken to, told the overseer he would go into the woods and wait for John Ball to come home. The overseer writes that Gibby said, "he could take a thousand lashes from his master but nobody else."
