226. James B. Heyward to Maria Heyward -- December 25, 1864

Title:

226. James B. Heyward to Maria Heyward -- December 25, 1864

Date:

1864

Creator (Personal):

Heyward and Ferguson families

Description:

Christmas day letter from James B. Heyward back at Combahee to Maria Heyward in Columbia. In his letter, James is reflecting on the dire situation and the bleakness of their future believing soon "it will all be over and we shall be reduced to a poverty irretrievable." He struggles with what to do with his slaves given the eventual "scarcity of food" and "depreciated currency." He intends to leave the majority at his plantation but expects to bring up to Columbia "John's wife so as to take from him that temptation to running off." He writes that he will also bring "Mary if she will leave her daughter Molly...I don't value Mary so much as to saddle myself with the support of Molly." 10p.

Collection Title:

Heyward and Ferguson Family Papers, 1806-1923

Contributing Institution:

College of Charleston Libraries

Media Type:

Manuscripts

Personal or Corporate Subject:

Heyward family

Topical Subject:

Slavery--South Carolina and Plantation life--South Carolina

Geographic Subject:

United States--History--Civil War and 1861-1865

S.C. County:

Charleston County (S.C.)

Shelving Locator:

Mss 0092

Date Digital:

2009-09

Digitization Specifications:

700 ppi, 24-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL scanner, Archival Master is a tiff.

Copyright Status Statement:

Public domain.

Access Information:

For more information, contact Special Collections, College of Charleston Libraries, 66 George Street, Charleston SC 29424.

Admin ID:

23986