Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy

United States

South Carolina

Kershaw County

Guide to Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy ancestry, family history and genealogy court records, deeds, maps, immigration, maps, military records, newspapers, obituaries, plantations, probate records, slaves, local archives, libraries, museums, churches, cemeteries, and Civil War records.

Kershaw County, South Carolina
Map
Location in the state of South Carolina
Location of South Carolina in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	1798
County Seat	Camden
Courthouse

County Information

Description

The County was named for Col. Joseph Kershaw (1727-1791), an early settler and American Revolutionary War patriot. The County is located in the north central location of the state.

Kershaw County, South Carolina Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1915	1911	1915	1783	1787	1782	1790
Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1915. General compliance by 1918.

County Courthouse

Kershaw County Courthouse

Kershaw County Courthouse
1121 Broad St.
Camden, SC 29020

Clerk of Court
1121 Broad St., Room 313
Camden, SC 29020
Phone: 803-425-1500

Register of Deeds
515 Walnut Street, Room 180
Camden, SC 29020
Phone: 803-425-1500
Land records

Probate Judge
1121 Broad St., Room 225
Camden, SC 29020-3635
Phone: 803-425-1503
Probate and marriage records

Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday

History

The county is named after Joseph Kershaw.

Parent County

1798--Kershaw County was created in 1798 from Camden District.
County seat:  Camden

County Pronunciation

1. Hear it spoken

Boundary Changes

For animated maps illustrating South Carolina county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation South Carolina County Boundary Maps" (1682-1987) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss

Major loss of equity records resulted from the negligence of Thomas P. Evans, commissioner in equity from 1822-1829.

Places/Localities

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Camden
Towns
Bethune	Elgin
Unincorporated communities
Antioch Cassatt	DeKalb Liberty Hill	Westville
Census-designated places
Boykin	Lugoff

Resources

Research Guides

• South Carolina Archives Summary Guide: Kershaw County, available online, courtesy: South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

African Americans

Kershaw County, South Carolina African Americans

Cemeteries

Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Tombstone Transcriptions in Print	List of Cemeteries in the county
Findagrave.com	Family History Library	Findagrave.com
SCGenWeb Archives	WorldCat	Billion Graves
Tombstone Project
EPodunk
Billion Graves
See South Carolina Cemeteries for more information.

• To view a cemetery list, see Kershaw County, South Carolina Cemeteries.
• National Cemetery Administration

Census

• 1829-1920 - South Carolina, State and Territorial Censuses, 1829-1920 at FamilySearch — index and images

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	7,340	—
1810	9,867	34.4%
1820	12,432	26.0%
1830	13,545	9.0%
1840	12,281	−9.3%
1850	14,473	17.8%
1860	13,086	−9.6%
1870	11,754	−10.2%
1880	21,538	83.2%
1890	22,361	3.8%
1900	24,696	10.4%
1910	27,094	9.7%
1920	29,398	8.5%
1930	32,070	9.1%
1940	32,913	2.6%
1950	32,287	−1.9%
1960	33,585	4.0%
1970	34,727	3.4%
1980	39,015	12.3%
1990	43,599	11.7%
2000	52,647	20.8%
Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau.

1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Kershaw County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see South Carolina Census. If you're having trouble finding your ancestors in online indexes, try checking printed indexes. Created by local experts familiar with the area's families, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than online nationwide indexes.

See South Carolina Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book for more information about statewide printed indexes.

See Kershaw County, SC census assignments, including links to transcribed files The USGenWeb Census Project^®

1800

• Kershaw County Historical Society. The Second Federal Census, 1800, South Carolina, Kershaw County. Kershaw, S.C.: Kershaw County Historical Society, 1970. FHL Collection 975.761 X2p 1800
• 1800 Federal Census, Surname Index, Kershaw District, courtesy USGenWeb Archives.

1810

• Kershaw County Historical Society. The Third Federal Census, 1810, South Carolina, Kershaw County. Kershaw, S.C.: Kershaw County Historical Society, 1972. FHL Collection 975.761 X2t 1810

1820

• Kershaw County Historical Society. The Fourth Federal Census, 1820, South Carolina, Kershaw County. Kershaw, S.C.: Kershaw County Historical Society, 1973. FHL Collection 975.7 A1 no. 29

1820 Manufactures

The original manufactures schedules for South Carolina are kept at the NARA, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: FHL Collection 1024517 - 1024518.

Published abstract:

• National Archives. Indexes to Manufactures Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977. FHL Collection 973 X2m 1820; digital version at Lineages. Includes this county.

1840

• Draine, Tony. Kershaw District, South Carolina Census, 1840. Columbia, S.C.: Congaree Publicatoins, 1986. FHL Collection 975.761 X2d 1840
• Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. 1840 Census of Kershaw County, South Carolina. Camden, S.C.: D.L. Phelps, 2001. FHL Collection 975.761 X2p 1840

1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners

• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C.: Blair and Rives, 1841. FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840; FHL Collection 2321; digital version at Google Books. See South Carolina, Kershaw District on pages 142-143.

1850

• South Carolina Genealogical Society. Catawba-Wateree Chapter. 1850 Kershaw County, South Carolina Census Expanded with Genealogy. Camden, S.C.: South Carolina Genealogical Society. Catawba-Wateree Chapter, 1997. FHL Collection 975.761 X2k 1850
• 1850 Federal Census Index, Kershaw County, courtesy USGenWeb Archives.

1870 Mortality Schedule

• Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. 1870 Kershaw County Mortality Census. FHL Collection 975.761 X2p 1870

Church

Quaker

• Carroll, Kenneth L. "The Irish Quaker Community at Camden," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 77, No. 2 (Apr., 1976), pp. 69-83. Digital version at JSTOR ($).

Court

Kershaw County has court records from 1783 that are held in the office of the Clerk of Court. Kershaw County was a part of the Camden District from 1785 - 1800 and the records of Camden District courts are housed in Kershaw County with the Clerk of Court.

The South Carolina Archives and History Center has court records available on microfilm for Kershaw County.

The Family History Library collection includes books and microfilm regarding court records for Kershaw County.

DNA

DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Kershaw County residents. FamilySearch has not independently verified the lineages of those tested.

Genealogy

• [Baskin] D.A.R. Joseph Habersham Chapter (Atlanta, Ga.). Baskin, Fleming, Diggart Pioneer Families of Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Typescript, 1971. FHL 893701 Item 1
• [Baskin] Bell, Raymond Martin. Andrew  Baskin, Esq., Kershaw  and Lancaster Counties, S.C. and Other Baskin Notes. Typescripts, 1965, Clayton Library, Houston, Texas. Microfilmed 1983. FHL 1318370 Items 12-13; digital version at Ancestry ($). 
• [Blanton] Blanton, William Neal. Reminiscences of a Texas Frontier Heritage as Portrayed in the Lives of Ransom Gwyn Blanton, Born Kershaw District, South Carolina, 1814, Died Near Hutto, Williamson County, October 14, 1881; Benjamin Franklin Blanton Born Colorado County, Texas, February 2, 1885, Died Paris, Lamar County, September 4, 1938. Taylor, Texas: Merchants Press, 1969. FHL 929.273 B611ba; digital version at Internet Archive. 
• [Boone] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Desc. of John Boone of Kershaw Co., S.C. 2004. FHL 1542455 Item 2
• [Boykin] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Desc. of Alexander Hamilton Boykin of Kershaw County, S.C. (1815-1866). 2003. FHL 1573699 Item 111
• [Cherry] Gibson, Liford Leroy and Mary Dean Magruder Gibson. Some Descendants of Jacob Cherry Revolutionary Soldier. Macon, Ga.: Mary D.M. Gibson, 1997. FHL 929.273 C424gi; digital version at Family History Library.
• [Clanton] Clanton, Velda E. and Lee R. Clanton. Clanton Family History and Lineage Lines. 2 vols. Hagerstown, Md.: L.R. & V.E. Clanton, [1993?]. FHL 929.273 C529c
• [Diggart] D.A.R. Joseph Habersham Chapter (Atlanta, Ga.). Baskin, Fleming, Diggart Pioneer Families of Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Typescript, 1971. FHL 893701 Item 1
• [Drakeford] Mosher, Merrill Hill. "Richard Drakeford and His Descendants," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1995):135-142. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 39 (1995).
• [Duke] Duke, Columbus Welcome and Gladys Mae Williams Duke. Sentimental Journeys: to Duke--Shackelford--Crockett and More than Four Hundred Allied Families. [Texas: C.W. Duke, 1974]. FHL 929.273 D885dw
• [Elkins] Andrea, Leonardo. Elkin-Elkins. Typescript, Polk County Historical Library, Bartow, Fla. Microfilmed 1975. FHL 978080 Item 2
• [Flake] Dorroh, John. "Elizabeth Milhouse, Wife of Thomas Flake of Kershaw District," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Spring 2009):69-75. FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 38
• [Fleming] D.A.R. Joseph Habersham Chapter (Atlanta, Ga.). Baskin, Fleming, Diggart Pioneer Families of Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Typescript, 1971. FHL 893701 Item 1
• [Gaskins] Hanna, Muriel K. and Gale Stanley Grainger. Gaskins / Gaskin Family: Williamsburg and Kershaw County South Carolina. n.p.: M.K. Hanna & G.S. Grainger, 2002. FHL 929.273 G212h; digital version at Family History Library.
• [George] Bell, J.B. George Kinsmen of American Descent. Hernando, Miss.: J.B. Bell, 1991. FHL 929.273 G293bj; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library .
• [Gillis] Metcalf, Clayton G. The Gillis Family in the South. Enterprise, Ala.: C.G. Metcalf, 1975. FHL 929.273 G416m
• [Gillis] Metcalf, Clayton G. Scots and Their Kin. Enterprise, Ala.: C.G. Metcalf, 1984. FHL 929.273 G416mc
• [Goldsmith] Goldsmith, John Robert. A Goldsmith Family History. Bullard, Texas: J.R. Goldsmith, 1990. FHL 929.273 G574g
• [Jacobs] Jacobs, Curtis. The Jacobs Collection. MSS., Beauregard Parish Library, De Ridder, La. FHL 1653823 Item 3
• [Jones] Jones, Hazel Parker. The History of the Samuel Jones Family, Kershaw County, S.C. 1756-1960, Including Allied Families. Kershaw, S.C.: H.P. Jones, 1961. FHL 1697619 Item 5
• [Jones] Jones, Hazel Parker. Book Two of the Samuel Jones Family, Kershaw County, S.C., 1756-1979: Including Allied Families. Kershaw, S.C.: H.P. Jones, 1979. FHL 929.273 J725j 1979
• [Jones] Jones, Hazel Parker. Book Three of the Samuel Jones Family, Kershaw County, South Carolina, 1750-1990: Including Allied Families. Kershaw, S.C.: H.P. Jones, 1991. FHL 929.273 J725j 1991
• [Jordon] Corbett, Agnes B., Jane P. Justice, and William T. Johnson. Marshall Faith and Family. Camden, S.C.: A.B. Corbett, [1990?]. FHL 929.273 M355cj
• [Jossey] Josey, J. Edward and Marion Jackson. The House of Jossey - Josey. 8 vols. Branford, Fla.: The House of Josey, 1995. FHL 929.273 J78jj Volumes 4-5 treat Jossey families of Kershaw District.
• [Kelley] Stearns, Monyene. The Kelley Klan: Descendants of John Kelley. McGregor, Texas: M. Stearns, 1983. FHL 929.273 K287s
• [Kirkland] Slaymaker, Susan Clark. Southern Born and Southern Bred: Family Group Sheets of the Anderson Altman/Aultman, Beatty, Bellote, Blout, Breland/Brealer, Bryant, Carruth, Clark, Cocke, Earnest, Floyd, Franklin, Gulley/Gully, Harris, Hart, Hinnant, Hodges, Hooks, Houston, Johnson, Kirkland, Kittrell, Odom, Osborne, Ousley/Owsley, Perry, Sanders/Saunders, Savell, Slocumb, Steen, Tully, Waller, West, Willis/Willix, Wilson: Ancestors of Susan Clark Slaymaker. Gold River, Calif.: S.C. Slaymaker, 1990. FHL 6334341 and Supplement FHL 6334444
• [Kirkpatrick] Kirkpatrick, Melvin E. A Kirkpatrick Genealogy: Being an Account of the Descendants of the Family of James Kirkpatrick of South Carolina, ca. 1715-1786. Microfilmed 1990. FHL 6050100
• [Kirkpatrick] Kirkpatrick, Melvin E. and David Hudson. A Kirkpatrick Genealogy: Being an Account of the Descendants of the Family of James Kirkpatrick of South Carolina, ca. 1715-1786. Coalville, Iowa: D. Hudson, 1996. FHL 929.273 K363k.
• [Long] Buchanan, Paul C. and Susie M. Owens. "Henry Long and Some Descendants of Colonial Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1994):115-126; Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1994):190-200; Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1994):263-273; Vol. 39, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1995):27-31. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 38 (1994)-v. 39 (1995).
• [Lyle] Cawley, Joseph Douglas and Jacqueline Boss-Cawley. From Mounthill to Georgia, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lyle, 1748-1831: Loyalist, Militiaman. Centennial, Colo.: J and J Publishers, 2004. FHL 921.73 L988c; digital version at Family History Library.
• [Marsh] Marsh, U. Bowdoin. John Marsh of Craven and Kershaw Counties, South Carolina, and His Descendants: and Research Notes on Marsh. [Tallahassee, Fla.]: U.B. Marsh, 1987. FHL 929.273 M353m
• [Marsh] Marsh, U. Bowdoin. John Marsh of South Carolina: and Research Notes on Marsh. Cullman, Ala.: Gregath, 1992. FHL 929.273 M353mu
• [Massey] Smith, Carmae Massey. Descendants of Arthur Massey, Cheraws District, South Carolina, 1769: With Allied Lines of Thurman and Tucker. Houston, Texas: C.M. Smith, 1980. FHL 929.273 M385d
• [Milhouse] Dorroh, John. "Elizabeth Milhouse, Wife of Thomas Flake of Kershaw District," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Spring 2009):69-75. FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 38
• [O'Quinn] Foster, Patricia O'Quinn and Frederick T. Foster. Descendants of Allen and Mary Ann Brown O'Quinn. San Diego, Calif.: P.O. Foster, 1990. FHL 929.273 Oq5f
• [O'Quinn] Foster, Patricia O'Quinn and Frederick T. Foster. Descendants of Allen and Mary Ann Brown O'Quinn. San Diego, Calif.: P.O. Foster, 1992. FHL 929.273 Oq5fp
• [Pate] Scarborough, Eleazer Pate. Pate History and Genealogy. [Florence, S.C.]: E.P. Scarborough, [199?]. FHL 929.273 P271se and Supplement FHL 929.273 P271se supp.
• [Payne] Iverson, Patricia Garrett. The Continuing Legacy of John Payne, Blacksmith: abt 1731-1780. Roundup, Montana: P.G. Iverson, 2006. FHL 929.273 P293ip; digital version at Family History Library.
• [Payne] Iverson, Patricia Garrett. Lure and Legacy: The Descendants of Elizabeth, Banyan, and Wylie Payne. Roundup, Montana: P.G. Iverson, 2007. FHL 929.273 P293i; digital version at Family History Library.
• [Peebles] Saltzman, Bettie L. Peebles. Peebles, 1763-1985. [Indiana]: B.P. Saltzman, [1985]. FHL 1481380 Item 1
• [Peebles] Saltzman, Bettie L. Peebles and Linda L. Saltzman McCall. Peebles, 1763-1988. [Indiana]: B.P. Saltzman, [1988]. FHL 929,273 P343s
• [Richardson] Hasskarl, Eula Richardson. My Ancestors: Families of Richardson, Megginson, Parsons, Hudgins, Skelton, Lanier, Bennett. Ada, Okla.: Hasskarl, 1972. FHL 929.273 R393h
• [Shiver] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Descendants of John Shiver, Sr. of Kershaw County, S.C. (1740-1799). Camden, S.C.: D.L. Phelps, 2003. FHL 6006054
• [Shute] Shute, J. Ray. The Shute Family of Piedmont Carolina, 1778-1978. Monroe, N.C.: n.p., 1978. FHL 929.273 Sh94sj
• [Sowell] Hays, Mary Sowell and Carolyn E. Sowell. A History of the John Alexander and Laura Hilton Sowell Family. 1973. FHL 929.273 So92sc
• [Trammell] "Some Clues for the Trammell Genealogy," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 27, No. 4 (Fall 1999):211-212. FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 27
• [Trantham] Barnhill, Floyd Raymond. Trantham Family Records. Microfilmed 1980. FHL 1293983 Item 9
• [Truesdale] Truesdell, Karl. Descendants of John Truesdel of South Carolina and of James Truesdale of Rochester, New York. Chevy Chase, Md.: K. Truesdell, 1952. FHL 875408 Item 5
• [Truesdale] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Descendants of Truesdale. Microfilmed 2005. FHL 1573699 Item 108
• [Watkins] Watkins, Sue Clark and Betty Sue Watkins Wilkie. Our Watkins Family: from John in Isle of Wight County, Virginia to James in Johnston County, North Carolina to Amos in Kershaw County, South Carolina. n.p.: S.C. Watkins, 2001. FHL 929.273 W325w

• Brunson, Charlotte Boykin Salmond. Kershaw County Cousins. Columbia, S.C.: R.L. Bryan Company, 1978. FHL 975.761 D2b ("A record of the early families of Boykin, S.C., Camden, S.C. and Liberty Hill, S.C., including descendants of James Kennedy Douglas, Dr. Lynch Horry Deas, Burwell Boykin, Charles John Shannon, Teige and George Cantey, General Richard Richardson, the McWillies, Cunninghams, Brisbanes, Ancrums, deSaussures, Hay family and many others.")
• Hartness, George Bowman. By Ship, Wagon, and Foot to York County, S.C. Columbia, S.C.: G.B. Hartness, 1966. FHL 975.743 D2h ("A compilation of historical information on the following families who were among the earliest white settlers of York, Chester, Winnsboro, and Kershaw Counties, South Carolina: Hartness, Ash, Burris, Bowen, Whitley, Mitchell, Carson, Thomas, Neil, Irvin, Chesnut, Curley, Sutton, McClain, Waggoner, Eakins, Johnsey, and including a chapter on the Hartness family who settled in New York State.")
• South Carolina Genealogical Society. Catawba-Wateree Chapter. 1850 Kershaw County, South Carolina Census Expanded with Genealogy. Camden, S.C.: South Carolina Genealogical Society. Catawba-Wateree Chapter, 1997. FHL Collection 975.761 X2k 1850

Land

Because of South Carolina’s history as an agricultural state many residents owned land. For more information about types of land records see South Carolina Land and Property.

Tracing records through South Carolina county and district changes can be difficult. In general, for earliest records begin by searching the Charleston District, then your ancestor’s residential district, then neighboring districts, then the residential county, then neighboring counties. Not all districts and counties kept records. The following chart shows where you may best expect to find land records for Kershaw County:

Tracing Land Currently in Kershaw County with Parent Counties and Districts

Date	Government Office
1869-present	Kershaw County (new)
1800-1868	Kershaw District
1791-1800	Kershaw County (old)
1785-1791	Richland County
1785-1791	Lancaster County
1785-1791	Fairfield County
1769-1785	Camden District *
1719-1769	Charleston District
1710-1719	Proprietary Land Grants

* Some Camden District records are included with Kershaw County records

Plats For State Land Grants 1784-1868

This series consists of recorded copies of plats for state land grants for the Charleston and the Columbia Series with their certificates of admeasurement or certification.  All personal names and geographic features on these plats are included in the repository's On-line Index to Plats for State Land Grants

The South Carolina Constitution of 1790 required the surveyor general to maintain offices in both the new capital at Columbia and in Charleston. The surveyor general began to use separate volumes for recording plats in his Columbia office in 1796. Before that, all plats were recorded in the set of volumes begun in Charleston in 1784. After 1796, most plats for land grants in the Upper Division of the state were recorded and filed in Columbia. The surveyor general chose to make the Columbia volumes a continuation of the state plat volumes begun in Charleston and gave the initial Columbia volume the number thirty-six to correspond with the number of the volume that had then been reached in the Charleston series. As a result, there are volumes numbered thirty-six through forty-three from each office, but the records in them are not duplicative.

Also included are the Plan Books containing Plats and Plans.

Local Histories

• Kirkland, Thomas J. Historic Camden. Columbia, S.C.: State Co., 1905-1926. FHL 1036403 Items 1 - 2; digital version at Ancestry ($).

• Gardner, Miles. Further Tales of Murder and Mayhem : in Lancaster, Kershaw, and Chesterfield Counties  (Spartanburg, South Carolina: Reprint Company Publishers, c2006), 296 pages. Book at FHL 975.7 H2gm and Other Libraries.[1]

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Church

Early migration routes to and from Kershaw County for European settlers included:

• Occaneechi Path pre-historic
• Camden-Charleston Path 1732
• Fall Line Road about 1735
• Great Valley Road (south fork) 1740s

Overland migration routes in and around early South Carolina.

Military

Revolutionary War

• "Henry Felder Rev. War petition excerpt, 1785," Catawba-Wateree Messenger, June 2007, Volume 20, Issue 6. Catawba Wateree Genealogical Society c/o Camden Archives and Museum: Camden, SC
• "Patriot defeat at Camden, 1780," SAR Magazine, Summer 2005, Volume 100, Issue 1. National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution: Louisville, KY. FHL Collection Book 973 B2sa.
• "Battle of Camden and preservation of the field, 1780," Periodical:Journal of America's Military Past, Winter 2004, Volume 30, Issue 3. Council on America's Military Past: Ft. Myer, VA.
• "SC Royalists, 1781, Camden," Dutch Fork Digest, June 2002, Volume 17, Issue 1. Dutch Fork Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society: Chapin, SC.
• "Rugeley's Clermont, 1776-80," Update, February 2002, Issue 3. Kershaw County Historical Society: Camden, SC.
• "Colonel Rudgely surrenders to William Washington, 1780, SC," St. Lucie River Whig, Spring 2001, Volume 9, Issue 2. St. Lucie River Chapter: St. Lucie, FL.
• "Battle of Camden," Update, February 2001, Issue 3. Kershaw County Historical Society:Camden, SC.
• "Capt. Martin Livingston's Royalists," Dutch Fork Digest, January 2001, Volume 16, Issue 1. Dutch Fork Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society: Chapin, SC.
• "Muster, SC Royalists, 1781," Dutch Fork Digest, July 2000, Volume 15, Issue 3. Dutch Fork Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society: Chapin, SC.
• "Revolutionary war pensioners, 1841," Carolinas Genealogical Society Bulletin, November 1965, Volume 2, Issue 3. Carolinas Genealogical Society: Monroe, NC. FHL Collection Book 975 B2c.
• "Battle of Hobkirk Hill," American Monthly Magazine, January 1909, Volume 34, Issue 1. Daughters of the American Revolution: Washington, D.C. FHL Collection Book 973 B2dar.
• "Battle of Camden losses, 1780," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, October 1873, Volume 27, Issue 4. New England Historical and Genealogical Society: Boston, MA. FHL Collection

War of 1812

• List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FHL Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, South Carolina, Kershaw County, p. 186. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War

Online Records

• 1861-1865 - South Carolina Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)

Regiments. Civil War service men from Kershaw County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies and regiments that were specifically formed of men from Kershaw County:

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company A (also known as Calhoun's Battery; Sumter Light Artillery, Sumter Battery, Preston's Battery, Blake's Battery and other name variations.)

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (2nd Palmetto Regiment), Company E (also known as Camden Volunteers and Camden Light Infantry) and Company G - (also known as Flat Rock Guards)

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A (also known as Boykin Mounted Rangers)

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (2nd Palmetto Regiment), DeKalb Rife Guards

- 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion), Company E (also known as the Yeadon Light Artillery), Company G (also known as the DeSaussure Light Artillery and the DePass Light Battery), and Company K (also known as Richardson's Company)

- 3rd Regiment, South Carolina State Troops Junior Reserves (State Militia)

- 4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's), Company A

- 4th Regiment, South Carolina State Troops, Company C

- 5th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Brown's), Company D

- 5th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry , Company A

- 7th Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Nelson's) (Enfield Rifles), Company A, Company D, Company E, Company F, and Company G

- 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry , Company H and Company K

- 8th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves

- 9th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company E

- 15th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry , Company D

- Jeter's Company, South Carolina Light Artillery

- South Carolina State Troop Regiments Seed Corn Units, Junior Reserves

- 3rd Regiment, South Carolina State Troops Junior Reserves (State Militia)

Newspapers

Camden Archives and Museum Obituary Index

Historic

The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Kershaw County, South Carolina on their Chronicling America website. For publication details, including dates of publication, frequency, preceding and succeeding titles, and to find out which libraries have holdings, click on the newspaper title.

• Camden Commercial Courier (Camden, S.C.) 1837-1838.
• Camden Gazette (Camden, S.C.) 1816-1818. Search online at GeneaolgyBank.com ($)
• Camden Gazette and Mercantile Advertiser (Camden, S.C.) 1818-1822. Search online at GeneaolgyBank.com ($)
• Camden Independent (Camden, S.C.) 1978-1981.
• Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1852-1852.
• Camden Republican, and Lancaster Beacon (Camden, S.C.) 1832-1833.
• Chronicle-Independent (Camden, S.C.) 1981-current.
• Journal and Confederate (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1865.
• Semiweekly Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1851-1852
• South Carolina Temperance Advocate and Register of Agriculture and General Literature (Columbia, S.C.) 1841-1854.
• Southern Republic (Camden, S.C.) 1851-1851.
• The Bethune Enterprise (Bethune, S.C.) 1900-1902.
• The Bethune Observer (Bethune, S.C.) 1913-1923.
• The Camden and Lancaster Beacon (Camden [S.C.]) 1831-1832.
• The Camden Bulletin (Camden, S.C.) 19??-19??.
• The Camden Chronicle (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981.
• The Camden Citizen (Camden, S.C.) 1953-1955.
• The Camden Confederate (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865.
• The Camden Daily Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864.
• The Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1826-1834.
• The Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851.
• The Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864.
• The Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891.
• The Camden Journal and Southern Whig (Camden, S.C.) 1834-1835.
• The Camden Morning Call (Camden, S.C.) 1887-1887.
• The Camden News (Camden, S.C.) 1909-1913.
• The Camden News (Camden, S.C.) 1956-1962.
• The Camden Weekly Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1853-1861.
• The Camden Weekly Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1871.
• The Daily Bulletin (Camden, S.C.) 1864-1864.
• The Kershaw Gazette (Camden, Kershaw Co., S.C.) 1873-1887.
• The People (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911.
• The Southern Chronicle (Camden, S.C.) 1822-1824. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
• The Southern Chronicle and Camden Aegis (Camden, S.C.) 1824-1825.
• The Southern Chronicle and Camden Gazette (Camden, S.C.) 1822-1822.
• The Southern Chronicle, and Camden Literary and Political Register (Camden, S.C.) 1825-1825.
• The Tri-Weekly Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1865.
• The Wateree Messenger (Camden, S.C.) 1884-1942.
• The Weekly Camden Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1851-1852.
• The Weekly Journal (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1865.

Current

• Chronicle-Independent (Camden, S.C.) Online edition.

Periodicals

Tap into the minds of local experts. Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers new to their area may not encounter. Periodicals at various levels (county, region, and state) may carry articles useful to research in this area. For this county, see:

• Carolina Genealogist
• Carolinas Genealogical Society Bulletin
• Catawba-Wateree Messenger  (Family History Library book 975.761 D25c .)
• Dutch Fork Digest  (Family History Library book 975.7 D25d. )
• The South Carolina Historical Magazine
• Sumter Black River Watchman

Probate

Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.” Various types of records are created throughout the probate process. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. For further information see probate records in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has  microfilms or typescripts of wills, inventories, bills of sale, power of attorneys, bonds, notes, administrations, judgments, and sales records. They have placed Will Transcriptions for 1782 to 1855 online. Index searchable by name and the image is available. The Wills from Camden County were transcribed as Kershaw County.

A general index to estates and probate records of Kershaw County, South Carolina, exists that covers the time period 1780 to 1960. It includes the name of the estate [the decedent], the name of the executor, administrator or guardian, the numbers for each apartment and package, and a remarks column that often includes dates. FHL Film 361678

Other collections of probate records in Kershaw County include:

• Wills, 1782-1868, Court of Ordinary, Kershaw District, South Carolina, 1782-1868. Salt Lake City, Ut.: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1951. FHL Film 24052

• Estate record books, Court of Ordinary, Kershaw District, South Carolina, 1782-1822. Columbia, S.C.: Filmed by the South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History, 1975. FHL Film 1029441

• Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. FHL 942 P27c 2007 Includes wills of residents of Camden proved in London; see place-name index. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.
• Wills, Book AI, 1781-1820 (transcripts). See names of testators. South Carolina Pioneers
• Will Book D, 1803. See names of testators. South Carolina Pioneers
• Index to Will Book A (1770-1826); Will Book N (1776-1833); Unrecorded Wills (1789-1816); Will Book A (1781-1820); Will Book C; Will Book D (1803) South Carolina Pioneers

Online Probate Records

• 1670-1980 - South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
• 1671-1977 - South Carolina Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes 1671-1977 at FamilySearch — images
• 1732-1964 - South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers 1732-1964 at FamilySearch — images
• 1782-1866 - South Carolina, Will Transcripts 1782-1866 at findmypast — $, index

Taxation

Tax-related records are kept by the offices of the county Assessor, Auditor, Sheriff, and Treasurer. Taxes were levied on real and personal property and can help establish ages, residences, relationships, and the year an individual died or left the area. They can be used as substitutes for missing or destroyed land and census records.

• South Carolina Department of Archives and History tax lists for Kershaw County.
  

Published abstracts

• 1784 - Tax List, 1784, Sumter Black River Watchman, Vol. 16, No. 5 (May 1991).
• 1784 - Tax List, 1784, Catawba-Wateree Messenger. (March 1991).
• 1784 - Tax List, 1784, Carolina Genealogist, No. 13 (Winter 1973).
• 1832 - Ochenkowski, J.P. "1832 Tax List for the Town of Camden," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Winter 1980):27-28.  FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 8
• 1848-1849 - Draine, Tony. Kershaw District, South Carolina Tax List, 1848 & 1849. Columbia, S.C.: Congaree Publications, 1986. FHL Book 975.761 R48d
• 1864, 1876, 1900 - County Auditor's Locations for Polling and Tax Collection, 1876, 1864, 1900, Update (Camden, S.C.), Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jun. 2004).
• 1915 - County Auditor Book, Apr. 1915, Camden (sel.), Catawba-Wateree Messenger, Vol. 14, No. 7 (Aug. 2001).

Vital Records

Birth, marriage, and death records were not recorded by South Carolina until the 1900s, thus leaving a lack of vital records. Substitute records, when available, are used to obtain this information. These substitute records including newspapers, court records have been added to this section, when applicable.

Birth

State-wide birth registration began in 1915.  For a copy of a birth from 1915 or later, contact the South Carolina Department of Health.  The Kershaw County Health Department also has copies but they provide only an abbreviated form with limited information.  For more information, see the South Carolina Vital Records page.

• 1766-1900 - South Carolina, Delayed Birth Certificates, 1766-1900 at FamilySearch — images

Marriage

In South Carolina, marriage licenses were not required by local governments until 1 July 1911. However, in the 1700s, the Church of England parish churches were required to record all marriages - even if the couple were not members of the denomination. Not all churches recorded these marriages and some have not survived. See South Carolina Vital Records for more information.

The Kershaw County probate court holds marriage licenses issued from 1 July 1911 to the present. Statewide registration of marriages began in July 1950 and the South Carolina Division of Vital Records has copies of licenses issued after 1 July 1950 through November 2009.

Newspapers are used as a substitute to locate marriage information.  See South Carolina Newspapers.

Marriages and Marriage Substitutes - Indexes and Records

• 1816-1865 - Marriage and Death Notices from Camden, South Carolina, Newspapers, 1816-1865 by Brent H. Holcomb FHL Collection WorldCat - index
  
• 1822-1842 -Digital view at FamilySearch Digital Library of Marriages and Death Notices Abstracted From Newspapers Published in Camden, South Carolina, 1822-1842 by Janie Revill FHL Collection - index
• 1913-1920 - Kershaw, South Carolina and Surrounding Area: Abstracts from the Kershaw Era and the Camden Chronicle, 1913-1920 by Carol P. McNaughton FHL Collection WorldCat - index
  
• 1938-1950 - Kershaw County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, Aug. 1938-Dec. 1950 FHL Collection
  
• There are several online marriage indexes containing miscellaneous marriage records found in  some counties of South Carolina listed on the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Death

State-wide death registration began in 1915.  For a copy of the death certificates from 1915 or later, contact the South Carolina Department of Health. The Kershaw County Health Department only has copies for deaths occurring in the last 5 years.  For more information, see the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Deaths and Death Substitutes - Indexes and Records

• 1800-1900- CSI: Dixie collects 1583 coroners reports from six South Carolina counties for the years 1800-1900.
• 1816-1990 - South Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1816-1990 at FamilySearch — index
• 1816-1865 - Marriage and Death Notices from Camden, South Carolina, Newspapers, 1816-1865 by Brent H. Holcomb FHL Collection WorldCat - index
  
• 1822-1842 - Digital view at FamilySearch Digital Library of Marriages and Death Notices Abstracted From Newspapers Published in Camden, South Carolina, 1822-1842 by Janie Revill FHL Collection - index
• 1913-1920 - Kershaw, South Carolina and Surrounding Area: Abstracts from the Kershaw Era and the Camden Chronicle, 1913-1920 by Carol P. McNaughton FHL Collection WorldCat - index
  
• 1915-1965 - South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1965 at FamilySearch — index and images
• State-wide South Carolina Death Indexes. There are several online death indexes covering all of South Carolina listed on the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Archives, Libraries, and Museums

Camden Archives & Museum

Family History Centers

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.

• For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
• Camden South Carolina Family History Center
  

Societies - Genealogical, Historical, Lineage

The Old Camden District Genealogical Society
1314 Broad Street
Camden SC 29020-3535

Kershaw County Historical Society
811 Fair Street, Box 501
Camden SC 29020
Facebook Page
source: Society Hill 

Websites

• Kershaw County, SC History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
• Kershaw County, SCGenWeb 
• FamilySearch Catalog
• Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• South Carolina Pioneers South Carolina Pioneers

References

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Family History Library