A letter from Ann Ball to her husband John Ball at Kensington Plantation discussing "Lewis" and "Marcus," Isaac Ball leaving town with his family, a severe cold, and the harvesting of crops.
A letter from farm manager or agent named James Hull on the enslaved man Scipio bring down ducks and butter, picking peas, working in the fields and payments.
The Account Book of John Ball Sr., 1788-1812, is an unbound book containing financial accounts for clients such as Hyde Park Plantation overseer David Franklin and the freedman Robin. The account book also makes various references to enslaved persons named Almanza, Caesar, Daniel, Hercules, Mauney, Plimoth, Sampson and Terror.
Travel expenses for the summer of 1810 for Mr. and Mrs. Ball and their enslaved woman Mary. Expenses include Mary's wages, and passage to New York, Boston, Rhode Island, Philadelphia and Charleston.
A copy of a conveyance of land from John Ball and his family to the vestry and church wardens of St. John's. The document expresses the desire of the late Elias Ball, to provide a residence for the Episcopal Church that consists of sixty-three acres of land. Included in the conveyance is the notation that the Ball family can carry away marl and lime, fish on the banks and borders and that their "servants and slaves" are able to pass and return from the area.
The Times on Monday, January 8th, 1810, discusses the sale of numerous properties, help wanted for a female cook, an overseer and a wet nurse, and regimental orders from Captain Stephen Lee. The front page of the newspaper includes an advertisement for a ten dollar reward for the runaway enslaved man named Dick. The advertisement by Rhodes and Otis states that Dick is owned by Isaac Jenkins of Hilton Head "having on a pair of handcuffs" and that "all persons are cautioned against harboring said negro, as the law will be rigidly endorsed on any one detected in so doing." Also advertised are "130 country born Negroes" and a plantation belonging to the late Joseph Fuller. The posting states that all the enslaved persons are "to be sold in families." The remainder of the newspaper includes medicine advertisements, the Charleston Theatre, a one hundred dollar reward for six deserters from Fort Johnson, an obituary for Elias Ball, "Marine intelligence," hiring advertisements for an overseer and a "strong negro girl" for washing, and a five dollar reward for the runaway enslaved man named Ben. The newspaper also includes "Sales By Auction" which advertises the auction of a "likely country born negro girl, about 18 years old" identified as a "likely African Girl," an advertisement titled "Sundry Negroes" owned by Thomas Pruly, and "house servants" and "farm negroes" on Charleston Neck.
A copy of the last will and testament of Elias Ball III in which he leaves his son John Ball his three plantations Pimlico, Kecklico and Mepshew and "all the negroes & slaves usually employed on, or belonging to the said plantations," his nephew John Ball, "the younger" Comingtee/Stoke and Strawberry Ferry Plantations and all the "negroes & slaves usually employed on, or belonging to the said plantations," a pew in St. Phillip's Church, and two enslaved families identified as Plenty (a Carpenter), his wife Clary, and their three children Nancy, Little Plenty and Cotto. The second family consists of Adonis, his wife Tamar, and their two children Scipio and August. Elias Ball III leaves his nephew Isaac Ball Limerick and Cypress Plantations, and "all the negroes & slaves usually employed on, or belonging to the said plantations." Makes notation concerning a deposit by a "free negroe man" named Nat Weaver who was employed as a driver and miller. Elias Ball III also leaves Isaac Ball the schooner called Strawberry "with all the negroes & slaves on board her." The remainder of the will leaves money and certain tracts of land, rentals and properties in Charleston to family members. Makes notation that upon Elias Ball's death, the enslaved woman Nancy "shall be emancipated from slavery" by Isaac Ball and is allowed to continue living in her current residence with provisions and money.
Statistics on the plantations owned by John Ball Sr., which are Midway, Hyde Park, Kensington, White Hall, Belle Isle, Three Mile Head, Pine Land, Pimlico, Mepshew and Kecklico Plantations. Statistics are derived from various plats and note the number of acres for each plantation or property, their values and the number of enslaved persons owned by John Ball and his daughters which amounts to a total of 460 enslaved persons. The document also includes statistics for the estate of John and Lydia Bryan which includes 111 enslaved persons.
A brief carpenters tool book for Comingtee Plantation which contains the names of enslaved persons and the tools they used. The enslaved persons are named Plenty, Marcus, Pompey/Old Pompey/Lit. Pompey, Hercules, Daniel, Fortune, Marcus/Old Marcus/Lit. Marcus, Carolina, Castor, Nat, Billy, Jack, Jackey, Joe, Sam, Drummer, Jimmy, March, Bristol, Christmas, Bacchus, Hector, and Solomon.
