Ballard's Valley and Berry Hill Penn Plantation records, 1766-1873

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Summary

Creator:
Ballard's Valley Plantation (St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica)
Abstract:
Ballard's Valley and Berry Hill Penn were plantations in St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica. The records prior to 1837 document plantation operations and finances, and include details on enslaved persons and apprentices at the two plantations. Later papers include letters from managers of the estate to the owners describing crop conditions, potential land sales and leases, the end of the apprenticeship system in 1838, the importation of Chinese laborers in 1846, sugar traders' reaction to the repeal of the corn laws in that year, and plans for the erection of a Church of England chapel in 1848.
Extent:
6 Linear Feet (3 boxes; 3 oversize folders; 8 volumes)
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00074

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains approximately 235 items and eight bound manuscript volumes relating to the sugar and livestock plantations, Ballard's Valley and Berry Hill Penn, in St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica. The material prior to 1837 documents plantation operations, and includes financial papers and account books which record details about the enslaved people and apprentices who labored on the plantations; they also document livestock holdings, purchases of goods, accounts payable, size of crops, and sales of sugar, rum, and cattle. Later papers include letters from managers of the estates to the owners describing crop conditions, potential land sales and leases, the end of the apprenticeship system in 1838, the importation of Chinese laborers in 1846, sugar traders' reaction to the repeal of the corn laws in that year, and plans for the erection of a Church of England chapel in 1848.

Acquisition information:
The Ballard's Valley and Berry Hill Penn Plantation Records were acquired by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library in 1957.
Processing information:

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff.

Encoded by Jane Metters, September 2011

Some paper records reprocessed and description revised, Paula Jeannet, August 2022

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ballard's Valley and Berry Hill Penn Plantation Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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