Diary of J.B. Grimball

Typescript copies (1937-1938) of 17 diaries (1832-1884) kept by John Berkeley Grimball of Pinebury and Old Fort Plantations, transcribed from the original by Frederica B. Keller during a 1935-1938 W.P.A. project.

Entries include references to family matters, including the division of Grimball's mother's [Eliza Flinn] estate, social events, religion, a hot air balloon ascension (1834), a duel (1856), and Grimball's trips to Sulphur Srings, Virginia and elsewhere.

The entries contain information about politics including Grimball's election to the state Senate, Lincoln's election, and the call for Secession. Grimball notes events during the Civil War at Ft. Sumter, Ft. Moultrie, Ft. Johnson, and elsewhere, as well as the difficulties of Reconstruction.

Entries contain agricultural references and the names of plantation owners and the number of river swamp acres cultivated in 1846 on Pon Pon and Dawho rivers.

Entries include plantation accounts (1833-1836) and lists of slaves at Pinebury, Old Fort, Antwerp (1833), Slann's Island (1833, 1834, 1840, 1845), Dawho (1836), St. John's Island (1836), and Grove (1863) plantations. Other entries include a plan for a house and offices, the names of Negroes mortgaged 1845, a list of slaves at the Grimballs' Charleston property (1862), a list of Grimball's sister's [Eliza Wilkins] slaves (1862), a list (1862) of negroes on the plantation and those who have gone away, a list of Negroes gone to the Yankees at Edisto, a list of Negroes delivered to I. DuBose Porcher's plantation in Monck's Corner (1862), and Negroes sold to Mr. Trenholm (1863?).