A letter from Catherine Hort at Middleburg Plantation to her uncles John and Elias Ball on her gratitude for their attention on "our joint estate." Also included is John Ball's reply on her father's estate, and Catherine's "dissatisfaction to both the division of negroes and land."
A letter from Jane Ball in Charleston to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College discussing John's arrival at school, a spread of fever in the country, the burial of "Mrs. Crips," the poor health of "Neighbor Latham" and sending the enslaved woman Polly to help Latham.
A list of ninety-one enslaved persons owned by John Ball. The reverse side of the document contains lists of enslaved persons above fifty years old and under the age of twelve.
A letter from John Ball Sr. in Charleston, South Carolina to his son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts on suffering from the "autumnal fever of the country," the city of Charleston suffering greatly from the disease, a visit from the Englishman William Charles Thomas to settle the concerns of the exiled Elias Ball in Bristol, a request for a miniature of John Ball Jr., the essays of the Pope, how John should behave while at college and the differences between English and American education. Makes the notation, 'carry in your mind that whenever a general emancipation takes place in South Carolina & Georgia you are a ruined man and all your family [connexions] made beggars."
A letter from Jane Ball in Charleston, South Carolina to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing John's studies, his "moral & religious virtue," the behavior of his brothers, the fever outbreak in the city, updates on family members and neighbors including the death of Mrs. Crafts, notations concerning various enslaved persons working as servants and coachmen, and the readiness" of the Frigate to sail "the ministers to the Hague."
A letter from Jane Ball at Kensington Plantation to her son John Ball Jr. at Harvard College in Massachusetts discussing letters, John Ball Sr. suffering from a fever, family matters, the state of Jane Ball's horses, the enslaved man Peter her footman, an oration by Doctor William Reid at St. Michaels and a shipment of "hyacinth roots" and "darksupur suds."
A letter from Langdon Cheves Jr. at Delta Plantation to Charles Haskell discussing Cheves' removal of his 250 enslaved persons, his fears of losing his enslaved persons to "the enemy getting a footing in our immediate neighborhood," the area in which the plantation resides being "open to occupation," and his home being used as General Drayton's headquarters.
A letter from Langdon Cheves Jr. to Charles Haskell discussing Cheves' removal of his 250 enslaved persons using a steamer and his anticipation of fighting occurring on Cheves' "plantation and settlements."
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.
