Box 2

Scope and Contents

Writing from New York, Charles Sr., instructs his son to return home, surmising he has outstayed his welcome with the Swifts at Falmouth.

Scope and Contents

Regarding ill health of Charles III and Charles II; her inability to acquire items Charles has asked for; poor crop of 1833; reminding Charles when he "get[s] the house" he will need to furnish it and acquire a few slaves; chastises Charles for not reporting Halveston's (a Georgia overseer) movements to his father; greetings to the slaves.

Scope and Contents

Confirming the sale of a portions of the family's slaves; visit of James Gibbes and his friend Moffit; discovery of a new game called "Solitaire"; James' last letter lost by the carrier; reveals two of their hogs have been shot by the Grimkes prompting the outburst: "they are the most wretched and disagreeable neighbours, I wish they were a hundred miles distance from us."

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Correspondence of John Drayton, James Glen, Charles Drayton I, II and III, Mary Middleton Drayton, and many others, organized chronologically.

Scope and Contents

Fifteen year-old James discussing their duty to each other and their parents.

Scope and Contents Regarding Charles' inability to visit due to leg pain and his profitless rice (it is "small grained, red, & brittle"); removal of the ineffective Mr. Halveston as overseer; how to work the plantation, divide labor etc; rejecting the enslaved requests for tobacco; threatening to withhold land traditionally used for private slave cultivation; encourages Charles to let Hughes manage the plantation freely (despite his detailed instructions to Charles); and also to "share and share alike"...

Scope and Contents

Writing to Charles at Jefferson, Camden County, Georgia, Charles discusses the dispute with his overseer, Mr. Halveston; his decision to dispense of his services; directs Charles to plant early this year.

Scope and Contents

Regarding cold weather; James in Troy, New York; spelling; Henry Middleton has bought "Scheveling" plantation; Ralph Izard (owner of Vaucluse plantation) is travelling in Egypt; remarks that Charles II is "between two devils - the John [Grimke Drayton of Magnolia?] and the Ralph [Izard of Vaucluse]" (his neighbors on both sides); sickness; poor rice harvest despite the assurances of the overseer; hopes Charles III can make a good crop.

Scope and Contents

Regarding (7th), a letter they had sent recommended a Mr. Hughes as overseer; their fears Charles III is unwell; Charles II's leg pain; (8th), the cold weather; food preparation; keeping warm; to be vary of Mr. Milliken and Mr. Caldwell; chastising Charles for not writing.

Scope and Contents

Chastising Charles for not writing; advice on food preparation; a letter from James; lack of money to pay bills; description of an extensive fire in downtown Charleston which destroys St. Philip's Church; advises Charles to communicate with neighbors but not to show "any suddeness"; their correspondence must not be seen by others.