Letter from J. Harleston Read, in Charleston, to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In his letter, Read asks James to inquire about several outstanding bills he owes in Boston. The bills were apparently to be paid by a friend who died enroute when the steam-packet "Pulaski" sank off North Carolina. Read also writes that the "City is very sickly, people dying like rotten sheep - nothing keeps me here, but a desire to be admitted to the bar." 4p.
Letter from J. Keith Heyward to his uncle James B. Heyward. Enclosed in the letter from J. Keith Heyward is a note signed by several individuals claiming that they found and reburied the body of James' son, Nathaniel, per James' instructions. 4p.
Letter from J.M. Perneau to Charles Heyward enclosing a release outlining the final disposition of the will and testament of James Heyward (1764-1798) upon the recent death of his remarried wife, Susan, on September 7th. 1845. 5p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Combahee to his wife Maria Heyward. James has traveled back down to his Combahee plantation from Columbia with the hope of being able to check on the condition of his Fife Plantation near Savannah, if the news of the enemy is favorable. He apparently enjoys being back on his own plantation writing "it is delightful here." 3p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Combahee to his wife Maria Heyward. James was unable to travel to Savannah as planned due to skirmishes at "Coosahatchie." He mentions the death of an "Edward" at the "Church Creek encampment" and bemoans his inability to get news on local troop movements and battles writing "Sunday night the enemy made a raid on the other side of Combahee and I never heard of it until Tuesday. I fear sometimes they may capture me in bed." 6p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Hamburgh plantation to Charles Baring at Bee Hive plantation, Pon Pon, in reply to Baring's letter concerning a delinquent tax bill. James refuses to pay, claiming his grandfather paid the bill in Charleston instead of Walterborough, but will "give immediate attention" to the mix up. 2p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Hamburgh Plantation to his wife Maria Heyward. James writes Maria about a battle at Port Royal Ferry "full of danger to our property" and his anxiety over the dangers of the war. 4p.
Letter from James B. Heyward at Hamburgh Plantation to his wife Maria Heyward in Columbia. James writes Maria about troubles in Savannah and fears the city will fall soon depending "upon the time it will take to reduce the Fort." He continues to mull over the fate of Fife Plantation and its slaves but speaks optimistically about plans for next summer. 8p.
Letter from James B. Heyward in Columbia to Dr. D.W. Ray, trustee for the late owner whose land James had verbally agreed to rent. James is anxious to move his slaves there for safekeeping but is worried the trustee had no knowledge of the agreement between James and the recently departed owner. James also mentions that he must hasten back to the low country "as my property there is in peril from the proximity of the enemy." 2p.
Letter from James B. Heyward on behalf of his infirm grandfather, Nathaniel Heyward, to Francis D. Quash about an offer to invest his property in some unspecified manner. 2p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to an unknown recipient carried by one of his overseers, C. R. Hains, who is reporting for duty. In his letter, James protests the conscription of plantation overseers into the Confederate army claiming they "have large numbers of negroes under their charge" and that "in his absence the timid become panic struck and the bold mischievous." He also argues that the overseers "by means of espionage know every thing that is going on" and that well run plantations can better provide supplies to the war cause. 4p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to cousin Marie (last name?) containing extensive Heyward genealogical information and family anecdotes. Heyward also gives his opinion on marriage between Heyward cousins and its effect on the children's intelligence. 8p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to Dr. James H. Boatwright concerning rent for the house occupied by James. James accepts the offer of $8000 to rent the house owned by Boatwright, but asks him to put in writing that it is okay to pay in Confederate currency adding, "difficulties with other parties must be offered in excuse for requesting what may otherwise seem to you to be so unnecessary a stipulation." 2p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to Frank Myers informing him that he most likely will rent his property again but wants time to look for another place "where I may have greater hopes of health and profit." 2p.
Letter from James B. Heyward to Joseph Daniel Pope concerning a recent monetary judgment against him. Heyward asks Pope to look into the matter and thinks it may have something to do with an ongoing dispute with Frank Myers concerning property Heyward rented during the war. 4p.
