Black History
1859 Exceptional Letter of Speculation on Buying Negroes by Arthur Middleton of the “Daisy Bank” Plantation, SC.
December 29, 1859-Dated Pre Civil War Era, Exceptional Black History Content Autograph Letter Signed, “Arthur” (Middleton) (1832-1878) of Charleston, South Carolina, to his “Pa” (father) Nathaniel Russell Middleton, regarding his Speculation on Buying Negroes for the “Daisy Bank” (Plantation), Very Fine.
Exceptional Slavery Content Letter written by Arthur Middleton (of the historic Middleton family) of Charleston, S.C. writing from the Daisy Bank Plantation, December 29th, 1859 to his “Pa” regarding such content as, “A committee of the Bulow Negroes waited on me on Christmas night to beg me to buy them…” and much more! The “Daisy Bank” was a Thriving Southern Plantation which fell into disarray and became “Haunted” (Printed Story Included with lot). This Letter is of legal size, measuring 7.5” x 12.5” on imported light blue lined wove period paper. There is staining along one edge of the letter, yet all writing is still strong and easily readable.

Arthur Middleton (1832-1878) is related to the famous Middleton family. Arthur Middleton was the son of Nathaniel Russell Middleton (1810-1890) and Margaret Emma Izard. Born in 1832 in Charleston, S.C., he attended Sachleben's School and Charleston College. He married Julia Emma Rhett in 1853. During the Civil War, Middleton volunteered in the Santee Rifles; was transferred to the Engineer Corps; and, upon the loss of an eye, worked in the Quartermaster's Department. He returned after the war to his Daisy Bank Plantation on the Santee River and later moved to Charleston. He was the namesake of Arthur Middleton (June 26, 1742 – January 1, 1787), of Charleston, South Carolina, who was a Signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence.

This superb Slavery Content Letter is dated December 29th, 1859, with Arthur writing to his father making a proposal to reopen the Daisy Bank Plantation. This Letter concerns mainly PURCHASING NEGROES TO WORK THE PLANTATION. Here are some of the great quotes within:

• “I am anxious to hear as soon as possible what you decide upon doing with regard to buying Negroes…”

• “…what your proportion of the income would be. I think it ought to be in proportion to the number of workers. For instance, ten full hands (at least five men), with one carpenter, would entitle you to one third of the income.”

• “I could get the plantation in order in the course of a short time. When that is effected, I could plant for you 100 acres, which would probably yield between four & five thousand dollars, and the expenses you can calculate at $30-$35 per head on your Negroes.”

• “A committee of the Bulow Negroes waited on me on Christmas night to beg me to buy them. They are a very good & orderly gang, some very prime, and have been very much neglected, but not over worked. They will be sold by the Master in Equity. I supposed they will sell high, but the terms will be easy, and even if they sell at $900 round, the investment will not be as heavy as buying them at $400 and rice land at $100... $2500 is the interest of over $35,000, and I calculate that you would get a prime set of 25 Negroes @ $800 round, making our investment $20,000. Our is about $40,000 and I think the crop will sell for very nearly $7,000 which is the interest of $100,000. ...”.

We are not sure if Arthur succeeded in talking his father into the restoration of Daisy Bank Plantation. We don’t see his name associated with the story entitled, “The Daisy Bank Ghosts” (located on the Internet). We have copied it to place with the original Letter for your further interest. A very historic Slavery related Letter regarding a very famous Charleston family and Plantation. Many of Arthur Middleton’s papers are found housed within the South Carolina Historical Society. We have never encountered a Slave related Letter with such an extraordinary quote as, “A committee of the Bulow Negroes waited on me on Christmas night to beg me to buy them.”
Daisy Bank Plantation – North Santee River, Georgetown County, South Carolina