Orangeburg County, South Carolina Genealogy

Guide to  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.


 * From 1800 to 1868 this Orangeburg County was also known by the alias of Orangeburg District.
 * Not to be confused with the overarching court district called Orangeburgh District 1768-1800.

Description
The Orangeburg Judicial District was chartered by European Americans in 1769 from a mostly unorganized upland area between the Congaree and Savannah rivers. A county, initially of the same name but later called Orange, was organized within the district but de-organized in 1791, after the American Revolutionary War. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Orangeburg County Courthouse 190 Gibson Street Orangeburg, SC 29115

Clerk of Court 190 Gibson Street Orangeburg, SC 29115 Phone: 803-533-6260 Court records

Register of Deeds 190 Gibson St. Orangeburg, SC 29116 Phone: 803-533-6235 Land records On-line Research

Probate Court 190 Gibson St. Orangeburg, SC 29116 Phone: 803-533-6280

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

Historical Facts
The county is named after William V, Prince of Orange (1748-1806). Orangeburg County was the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Eutaw Springs.

Parent County
1769--Modern Orangeburg County was created in 1800 from the northeast half of the old overarching Orangeburgh District abolished in 1800.

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.

Variant Spellings

 * Orangeburgh officially dropped the h in 1783 and is since known as Orangeburg.

Record Loss

 * Public records were removed to Columbia early in 1865; on 17 February 1865, they were burned there during Sherman's occupation. Deed books suffered heavy record loss.

Neighboring Counties

 * Aiken
 * Bamberg
 * Barnwell
 * Berkeley
 * Calhoun
 * Clarendon
 * Colleton
 * Dorchester
 * Lexington

Research Guides

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

African Americans
Orangeburg County, South Carolina African Americans

Cemeteries

 * To view a list, see Orangeburg County, South Carolina Cemeteries.
 * National Cemetery Administration

Census
1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County, SC census assignments, including links to transcribed files The USGenWeb Census Project®

1820

 * Jarrell, Lawrence E. 1820 Orangeburgh, South Carolina Census. High Point, N.C.: Alligator Creek Genealogy Publications, 1998. 975.779 X2j 1820

1850

 * Black, James M. 1850 Census of Orangeburg County, S.C.: Transcribed from the Original Records from the National Archives as Contained on the Microfilm Copy in the Genealogical Library. 1956. 975.779 X2p 1850
 * Buff, L.H. The Orangeburg District (SC) 1850 Census. Lexington, S.C.: Lexington Genealogical Association, 1997. 975.779 X2b 1850

Church Records
Protestant Episcopal
 * Clute, Robert F. The Annals and Parish Register of St. Thomas and St. Denis Parish in South Carolina from 1680 to 1884. Charleston, S.C.: Evans &amp; Cogswell, 1884. ; digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books; another Google Books version; Internet Archive; World Vital Records ($).

After 1785, residents of Orangeburg County were also served by this parish. Click the link to see a description of the parish records held by the South Carolina Historical Society:


 * Church of the Redeemer, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Presbyterian


 * Estes, Frank B. History of Orangeburg Presbyterian Church 1835-1935. 1935. Digital version at Internet Archive.

Lutheran
 * St. Matthew's Parish was created in 1768 in historic Orangeburgh District. See the St. Matthew's Parish, South Carolina page for a history of the church as well as record availability.

Court
Orangeburg County has court records from 1824 that are held in the office of the Clerk of Court. Orangeburg County was formed from Lewisburg, Lexington and Orange Counties which were a part of the Orangeburgh District from 1785 - 1800.

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

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

Genealogy

 * [Barton] Barton, W. Baynard and Fannie May Dooley Barton. A Genealogy Study of the Descendants of Anthony Barton: The First American Barton of This Record, an Emigrant from England to America, 1825. Stonega, Va.: W.B. Barton, 1956. 1465997 Item 9
 * [Barton] Barton, W. Baynard and Fannie May Dooley Barton. Bartons of Charleston, South Carolina and Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Kingsport, Tenn.: Collier's Printing, 1983.
 * [Bauknecht] Bauknight, Ivan M. The Genealogy of the Bauknight--Bouknight Family in the United States of America. Miami, Fla.: I.M. Bauknight, 1989. 929.273 B326bi
 * [Bottner] Felder, Paula S. Ludwig Bottner and His Sons, the Beginning of the Boatner Family in America. Fredericksburg, Va.: Historic Publications of Fredericksburg, 1985. 929.273 B63fp
 * [Britt] Cameron, Sheila Britt. Britt, Miller, Mason, Flowers and Related Families. Sanford, Fla.: S.B. Cameron, 1989. 1697299 Item 5
 * [Connor] Gilmore, Leroy H. Two Great-grands: A Factual Story of Two Remarkable People. Charleston, S.C.: Walker, Evans, and Cogswell, 1955. 929.273 C762g
 * [Cooper] Andrea, Leonardo. Cooper. National Library, D.A.R., 1950. 873024 Item 10
 * [Culler] Culler, Hugh Clayton. A History of the Culler Family. Orangeburg, S.C.: H.C. Culler, 1929. 929.273 C897ch
 * [Culler] Fordham, Virgil C. Culler and Related Families History. Corona, Calif.: Fordham Pub., 2001. 929.273 C897fv
 * [Crum] Crum Family Bible Records, 1738-1878. Alabama Genealogical Records, Leaves 8-10. Microfilmed 1970. 835114 Item 4
 * [Dantzler] Dantzler, D.D. A Genealogical Record of the Dantzler Family: From 1739 to the Present Time. Orangeburg, S.C.: R.L. Berry, 1899. 929.273 D236d; digital version at.
 * [Dukes] Creel, George Edison, Theo Lula Creel Manning, and Daniel Thomas Creel. Creel Family History -- April 2003. Hernando Beach, Fla.: G.E. Creel, 2003. 929.273 C861cg
 * [Fannin] D.A.R. Baron DeKalb Chapter (Decatur, Ga.). Miscellaneous Genealogical Records. Typescript, 1965. 863971 Item 1
 * [Felder] Thomas, Ruby Felder Ray. Felder Family of Americus, Sumter County, Georgia, and Sumter County History. MSS. Microfilmed 1959. 203221 [Includes pamphlet "The Felder Family of South Carolina."]
 * [Felder] Felder, Rice A. and Felder Publishing Fund. Descendants of James Addison Felder and Flavilla Shuler of Orangeburgh County, South Carolina. Columbia, S.C.: Felder Publishing Fund, 1980.
 * [Funchess] Linder, Billy Royce. The German Ancestry of the Orangeburg, South Carolina, Funchess Family. Arlington, Va.: B.R. Linder, 1997.
 * [Gleaton] Branch, Grace N. and A. Lorraine Gleaton. Genealogical Record of Joe (Isaac) Gleaton, Our Immigrant Ancestor of London, England, and Orangeburg County, South Carolina with Allied Families. Fla.: Gleaton, 1941. Item 5
 * [Gleaton] Branch, Grace N. and Gleaton Family Association. Gleaton Memorial Book of Remembrance: A Genealogical Record of Joseph Isaac Gleaton, Our Immigrant Ancestor of Orangeburg, South Carolina, with Allied Families. Lutz, Fla.: G.N.G. Branch, 1975.
 * [Gleaton] Brewer, Ranny Elizabeth. Our Gleaton Connection. Whitewater, Fla.: R.E.G. Brewer, 1986. 929.273 G477b
 * [Golsan] Golsan, Page E. and James M. Black. The Golsan Genealogy. Typescript. Microfilmed 1982. 6017846
 * [Goodwyn] "Dinwiddie Co., Va., Richland and Orangeburg Districts, S. C., Goodwyns," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 2, Supplement (Oct. 1899):26-37. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [Gramling] Gramling, Kenneth Earl. The Adam Gramling Family, ca. 1750-1985. Typescript. Microfilmed 1987. 1320635 Item 52
 * [Heldebrand] Harrell, Helen Odum. The Heldebrand Heritage. New Braunfels, Texas: H.O. Harrell, 1980. 929.273 H366hh
 * [Heller] Heller, J. Roderick. An Upcountry Chronicle: The Heller Family of South Carolina. Washington, D.C.: Carnton Press, 1998. 929.273 H367hjr
 * [Holley] Day, William H. and Sammie Jean Holley. A Genealogical History of the Holley Family and Waters Family. Danville, Ind.: W.H. &amp; S.J.H. Day, 1988. 929.273 H724dw
 * [Holman] Holman, Olive B. German-Swiss and Scotch-Irish Settlements in South Carolina: Brownlee--Holman and Collaterals. Anderson, S.C.: O.B. Holman, 1937. 1429791 Item 1
 * [Houser] Black, James M. A Record of the Houser Family of Orangeburg Dist., S.C. Typescript. Microfilmed 1972. Item 1
 * [Howell] Clark, Betty Lane. Joseph Howell, Revolutionary Soldier of Old Barnwell District, S.C.: and Allied Families. Typescript, 1971. 907986 Item 1
 * [Inabnit] Lefvendahl, Georgie Inabinet Adams. The Inabnit Family of South Carolina Volume III. Some of the Inabnit, Inabnet, Inabinett Families of Colleton, Charleston, and Lower Orangeburgh Districts and Counties. Orangeburg, S.C.: n.p., 1970.
 * [Jennings] Lemmon, Lawrence Clifton. The Golden Years: A Biographical Narrative Depicting the Life of Ruth Jennings Lemmon, Beloved Wife of the Author. 921.73 L543LL
 * [Jones] Salley, A.S. "Lewis Jones, of Roxbury and Watertown, Massachusetts, 1640-1684, and Some of His Descendants in the South," The Southern History Association, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Mar. 1904):147-156; Vol. 8, No. 3 (May 1904):219-232. Digitized by Internet Archive - free.
 * [Jones] Jones--Sams--Scott Family Bible Records, 1833-1960, and Jones--Scott and Allied Families Records, ca. 1615-1959. MSS. Microfilmed 1960. 219477 Item 14
 * [Linder] Linder, Myrtle Kinard and Billy Royce Linder. Southern Linders: Jacob Simon Linder of Colleton County, South Carolina. Smoaks, S.C.: M.K. Linder, 1988-. 929.273 L643Li v. 2
 * [Livingston] Livingston, Lucius Wilmot. Historical and Genealogical Record of John Livingston the First of Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Orangeburg, S.C.: L.W. Livingston, 1940.
 * [Mackay] Albergotti, William Greer. Abigail's Story, Tides at the Doorstep: The Mackays, LaRoches, Jenkinses, and Chisolms of Low Country, South Carolina 1671-1897. 929.273 M192aL
 * [McElmurray] Rouse, Norma Uldine Smith. The Descendants of James McElmurray, Through Son, Patrick, 1745-1818. Albany, Ga.: N.U.S. Rouse, 1995. 929.273 M152r
 * [McGrew] McGrew, Clinton Jackson and Gilbert Eugene McGrew. Alexander McGrew Genealogy of Amelia Township, South Carolina. Spring Hill, Fla.: C.J. McGrew Jr., 1989. 929.273 M178mc; digital version at ; 1995 update:  929.273 M178mc supp. 1-2
 * [McMichael] Simpson, Leah Beth Houeye and Pauline Connolly Wayne. Descendants of William Cephas McMichael and Elizabeth Baxter Jennings: First McMichaels in the Florida Parishes. Amite, La.: L.B. Simpson, 1988. 929.273 M228s
 * [McMichael] Application papers of Mrs. Willie Tomlinson Durham and Olga Faye Durham Hargrove for Georgia Society, D.A.R. MSS. Microfilmed 1992. 1697698 Item 24
 * [McMichael] McMichael, Lois. Trailing Our Ancestors : McMichael - Maddux, Maddox - Lindsey and Allied Families. Athens, Ga.: N.R. Leathers, 1994. 929.273 M228mL
 * [Meckler] Lytton, Eugene R. Jacob Mickler III, 1803-1857, a Florida Pioneer, and His Wife, Manuela Hilary de Mier: the Minorcan Connection: A Genealogy. Copperhill, Tenn.: E. R. Lytton, [199_]. 929.273 M583L
 * [Metts] Waites, Thomas Abner, Virginia Draffin Waites, and Theresa M. Hicks. Meetze, Metze, Mutze, Metz, Muetze, Metts, Mutz, Meetz. Columbia, S.C.: T.A. Waites, 1982. 929.273 M472w
 * [Metts] Metts, Richard W. Descendants of Christopher Metts of South Carolina, 1761 to Present. Moncks Corner, S.C.: Metts Genealogy Services, 1989. 929.273 M568me
 * [Mickler] Wellons, Grace C. Hartley and William B. Wellons. Frederick Hartley: Florida Pioneer and His Descendants, 1783-1998. Lake Placid, Fla.: Big Lake Press, 1998. 929.273 H255w
 * [Mintz] Moore, A. and Bob J. Vogels. Mintz Families of the Old South: A History and Genealogy of Those Mintz Who Trace Their Ancestry to the Southern States of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Wilmington, N.C.: A.G. Moore, 1992. 929.273 M781mi
 * [Moore] Moore, Earl. The Moores of Madison County, Illinois and Related Families: A History and Genealogy. [Wooddale, Ill.]: E. Moore, 1982. 929.273 M781mea
 * [Murray] Black, G. Monroe. Echoes in Time: The Murray, Connor and Moorer Families of South Carolina. Salem, Mass.: Higginson, 1997. 929.273 M961bg
 * [O'Bannon] DeHuff, Elizabeth Willis. The Family of Thomas O'Bannon of Fauquier County, Virginia, and Barnwell County, South Carolina. Augusta, Ga.: E.W. DeHuff, 1969. 929.273 Ob1d
 * [Oliver] Lefvendahl, Georgie Inabinet Adams. Oliver - Sistrunk Families, Orangeburg Area, South Carolina. Typescript, 1964. Item 1
 * [Ott] Miller, Peggy Ann Easterling. "The Ott Family" of Orangeburg District. 1986.
 * [Phillips] Hughes, Nancy Caroline Phillips. Hugh Phillips: Some of His Descendants Including Allied Families of Bolin, Blewer (Bluer), Reidheimer, Salley, Schuler (Shuler) and Winningham. Columbia, S.C.: N.C.P. Hughes, 1995. 929.273 P541h
 * [Pou] Black, James M. The Pou Family of South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Typescript. Microfilmed 1986. 1321350 Item 3
 * [Ratcliff] Debenport, Jane Clancy. The Descendants of Joseph Ratcliff of Bienville Parish Louisiana: Including the Families of Jeter, Wimberly, Davis, Dubberly, Wood, Hardy, Carmichael, Mathews, Norris and McKinney. Midland, Texas: J.C. Debenport, 1988. 929.273 R186d
 * [Roberts] Roberts, Harry D. and Mrs. Leonard W. Stevens. Roberts Family Research. Malibu, Calif.: H.J. Roberts, 1974. 929.273 R542a; digital version at.
 * [Salley] Salley, Olin J. and Salley Family Historical Committee. A History of the Salley Family, 1690-1965. Aiken, S.C.: Salley Family Historical Committee, 1977. 929.273 Sa34b. 1982 supplement:
 * [Sandel] Sandel, Mary E. and Elias Wesley Sandel. The Descendants of John Peter Sandel and Cullen Conerly and Their Allied Families of Tynes, Warren, Tabor, Bullock, Perkins, Wilkinson (7 Royal: Lineages), Nobles, Lee, Lea, Ball, Felder Including 10 Revolutionary Soldiers. [Florien? La.]: M.E. Sandel and E.W. Sandel, 1985. 929.273 Sa56sm
 * [Segrest] Segrest, Freddie Hart and Phala Jordan Tatem. The Segrest Saga the Descendants of Henry and Margaret Segrest of Orangeburg, North [South] Carolina. n.p.: Hartline Publishing Co., 1994.
 * [Simmons] Hendrix, Ge Lee Corley. Ancestor Chart of George W. Addison. 1985. 929.273 Ad25h
 * [Sistrunk] Lefvendahl, Georgie Inabinet Adams. Oliver - Sistrunk Families, Orangeburg Area, South Carolina. Typescript, 1964. Item 1
 * [Slappey] Hargrett, Felix. The Slappeys of South Carolina and Georgia: A Sketch: With a Glance at the Allied Family Hatfield. Athens, Ga.: F. Hargrett, 1984. 929.273 A1 no. 4430
 * [Snelgrove] Snelgrove, Price Charles. Freeman Snelgrove and Some of His Descendants. Alford, Fla.: P.C. Snelgrove, 1993. 929.273 Sn27sp
 * [Snell] Moffitt, Johnnie Lea. Our Snell / Fergeson Family Tree. Arlington, Texas: J.L. Moffitt, 1988. 929.273 Sn27mj
 * [Spicer] Spicer, David Michael. Heritage &amp; Kinfolk. Santa Rosa County, Fla.: D.M. Spicer, 2004. 929.273 Sp41sd; digital version at.
 * [Suther] Scott, Carol S. The Reverend Samuel Suther V.D.M. 1722-1788 German Reformed Minister of the Two Carolinas: and Some of His Descendants to the Fifth and Sixth Generations. Hanover, Conn.: C.S. Scott, 1993. 929.273 Su84sc
 * [Syfrett] Syfrett, Harold W. The Book of Syfretts-Syphretts from Orangeburg, South Carolina 1752-1994. Charleston, S.C.: H.W. Syfrett, 1994.
 * [Tatum] Linder, Billy Royce. Christopher Tatum of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina; and Perry, Greene, and Jasper Counties in Mississippi, 1795-1870. Vienna, Va.: B.R. Linder, 1975.
 * [Theus] Middleton, Margaret Simons. Jeremiah Theus: Colonial Artist of Charles Town. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1991. 921.73 T44m
 * [Ulmer] Daniel, H.H. Ulmer. Bay Springs, Miss.: Daniel, Harlan H., [1974?]. 929.273 UL5d
 * [Valentine] Greer, Richard Dale. Valentine Family History. MSS., Larkin Edwards Room of the Shreveport Memorial Library. 2243264 Item 1
 * [Varnado] Simmons, William W. Data Pertaining to Richard Simmons Family (1770-1814) and Other Families of Pike County, Mississippi. Cleveland, Miss.: William W. Simmons, 1955. 929.273 Si47sw
 * [Vernadeau] Varnedoe, William W., R. Frank Varnado, Harrell D. Varnado, and Doris Varnado Green. The Family of Leonard Vernadeau and Sarah Hutto, Three Generations being a History of the Origin and First Three Generations of the Descendants of Leonard Vernadeau and Sarah Hutto of Orangeburg District, South Carolina. n.p.: The Descendants of Leonard Vernadeau, 1971.
 * [Whetstone] Vaughan, Opal Frances. Elizabeth Whetstone Armstrong (1840-1888): Ancestors and Descendants. Arlington, Texas: O.A. Vaughan, 1986. 929.273 Ar57v
 * [Wingard] Martin, Joann. The Wingard Family History. Livermore, Calif.: J. Martin, 1986. 929.273 W726m
 * [Wise] Bauer, William Rudolph. Reconstruction of the Genealogy of the Wise Family of the Congarees. Columbia, S.C.: W.R. Bauer, 2001. 929.273 W754b
 * [Wolfe] Bryan, David M. "Tracing a Family Line through a Burned County: The Wolfe Family of the Forks Section of Orangeburg County," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Spring 2002):75-89.
 * [Yonce] Yonce, Luther V. "Yonce" Families in the United States of America: Nationality, German: Pennsylvania in 1738, Virginia about 1765, North Carolina about 1768, South Carolina before 1772, Ohio late 1788, Kentucky in 1807, Tennessee early 1800, Missouri in 1838, Mississippi mid 1800, Arkansas mid 1800, and More. Knoxville, Tenn.: Tennessee Valley Pub., 1993. 929.273 Y8yL
 * [Young] Jenkins, Frank Duane. Ahnentafel (Table of Ancestors). Typescript. Microfilmed 1973. 924107 Item 3
 * [Young] Jenkins, Frank Duane. Genealogy William Young, Sr., Holland to Orangeburg, 1735. Ballinger, Texas: F.D. Jenkins, 1975.
 * [Youngblood] Lant, Kay Freels and Kathryn Libbert Freels. Southern Indiana Youngbloods: Their Ancestors and Descendants. Evansville, Ind.: K.F. Lant, 1968. 929.273 Y88L; digital version at.
 * Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society. Orangeburgh Immigrants and First Families. Orangeburg, S.C.: Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society, 1990. 975.779 D2o

Land
Because of South Carolina’s history as an agricultural state many residents owned land. For more information abou 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 Orangeburg County:

(1) Some Orangeburg District deeds were recorded in Charleston District and were not destroyed (2) Orangeburg District, Orangeburg County, 1791 Lexington County (only deeds 1839-1865 remain) and Lewisburg County records destroyed by fire

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

 * Salley, A.S. The History of Orangeburg County, South Carolina: From Its First Settlement to the Close of the Revolutionary War. Orangeburg, S.C.: R.L. Berry, 1898. ; 1969 reprint: ; ; digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive; World Vital Records ($); another World Vital Records ($) version.

Migration

 * Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society. Orangeburgh German Swiss Newsletter. 1981-.  Item 5
 * Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society. Orangeburgh Immigrants and First Families. Orangeburg, S.C.: Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society, 1990.
 * Ravenel, Daniel. Liste des François et Suisses: From an Old Manuscript of French and Swiss Protestants Settled in Charleston, on the Santee and at the Orange Quarter in Carolina, Who Desired Naturalization, Prepared Probably about 1695-6. 1822; reprint, New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1888. ; digital version at World Vital Records ($).

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


 * Camden-Charleston Path 1732
 * Old South Carolina State Road 1747
 * Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail about 1765

Military
The Battle of Eutaw Springs was fought in Orangeburg County, South Carolina.

Revolutionary War

 * "Foot Rovers aka Raccoon Co., 1775," Rice Planter, Summer 2003, Volume 11, Issue 2. Rice Planter / Old St. Bartholomew Chapter: Columbia, SC.
 * "Wm. Paulling pension, 1832," Orangeburg German-Swiss Newsletter, Fall 2000, Volume 8, Issue 4. Orangeburg German Swiss Genealogical Society: Orangeburg, SC.
 * "Captain Jacob Rumph's Company, 1783," Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, March 1964, Volume 98, Issue 3. Daughters of the American Revolution: Washington D.C.
 * "Casualty list, Eutaw, 1781," Carolina Genealogist, Fall 1971, Issue 5. Heritage Paper: Danielsville, GA 30633.
 * Ruple, Jack D. Orangeburg documents. Little Rock, Arkansas: J.D. Ruple, c1987. Book 975.77 R28r Fiche 6010949

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. 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. See Vol. 5, South Carolina, Orangeburgh County [sic], p. 187. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

Civil War
Online Records
 * 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 Orangeburg 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 formed with many men from Orangeburg County.


 * - 1st Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company E
 * - 1st Battalion, South Carolina Sharpshooters, Company A - (also known the Union Light Infantry and German Fusiliers) and Company C - (also known as the Charleston Sharpshooters and Palmetto Guards)
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company E - (also known as James D. Trezevant's Cavalry and Fort Motte Rangers)
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Hagood's), 1st Company A ( also know as Bamburg Guards or Glover Guards), Company B (also known as the Jamison Guards), Company C ( also know as Bamburg Guards or Glover Guards), 1st Company D ( also known as the St. Matthews Rifles and the Keitt Guards), and 2nd Company K
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company I (also known as the Edgefield Hussars or formerly known as Company A, Cavalry Battalion, Hampton Legion, and the Edgefield Dragoons)
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina State Troops Junior Reserves (State Militia), Company F
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina State Troops (6 months 1863-64), Company A, Company C, and Company G
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company C, Company F, Company I
 * - 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company D (also known as the Wassamassaw Cavalry or Wassa Massaw Rangers)
 * - 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion), Company F (also known as the Chestnut Light Artillery)
 * - 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company I (also known as the Rebel Troops), a few from Orangeburg
 * - 4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's), Company G
 * - 5th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Ferguson's), Company A and Company I
 * - 5th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company I (also known as Jasper Light Infantry)
 * Before Reorganization Roster, After Reorganization Roster
 * - 6th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Meriwether's), Company A
 * - 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken's Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers), Company C and Company H
 * - 6th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Meriwether's), Company A, Roster
 * - 7th Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Nelson's) (Enfield Rifles), Company E
 * - 10th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company C
 * - 11th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves(90 days 1862-63), Company G and Company H
 * - 14th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company B and Company D
 * - 14th Regiment, South Carolina Militia, Company C and Company E
 * - 15th Regiment, South Carolina Militia, Company G
 * - 16th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company C
 * - 20th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company E, Company F, Reorganized Company B, Reorganized Company D, Reorganized Company H, and Reorganized Company I
 * - 25th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Eutaw Regiment), Company G

Other Resources
 * Culler, Daniel Marchant. Orangeburgh District, 1768-1868: History and Records. (Spartanburg, South Carolina: Reprint Co., c1995), 737 pages. Scope of the work was the story "between the American Revolution and the Civil War, and before it became Orangeburg County. Book found in and Other Libraries.
 * Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society. Orangeburg CSA enrollment roster, 1864. (Orangeburg, South Carolina: Orangeburg German-Swiss Geneal. Society, 1991), 29 pages. List of persons reporting for enrollment in Orangeburg for possible military service in the Confederate Army. Book found in

Newspapers
Historic

The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Orangeburg 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.


 * Black Voice (Columbia, S.C.) 1977-current.
 * Branchville Journal (Branchville, S.C.) 1907-1913.
 * North Trade Journal (North, S.C.) 1957-current.
 * Orangeburg Evening News (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1904-1917.
 * Orangeburg News and Times (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877.
 * Orangeburg Times (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875.
 * Orangeburg Times (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881.
 * The Branchville Enterprise (Branchville, S.C.) 1927-1935.
 * The Carolina Times (Orangeburg Court-House, S.C.) 1865-1867.
 * The Citizen (Orangeburg, S.C.) 187?-187?.
 * The Edisto Clarion (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1854-1855.
 * The Edisto Clarion (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1878-1878.
 * The Edisto Messenger (Springfield, S.C.) 1961-1961.
 * The Enterprise (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1892-1895.
 * The Enterprise and Alliance Monitor (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1890-1892.
 * The Free Citizen (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876.
 * The Holly Hill Observer (Holly Hill, S.C.) 1972-current.
 * The Methodist Messenger (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-1888.
 * The Orangeburg Democrat (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881.
 * The Orangeburg News (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875.
 * The Orangeburg Observer and Orangeburg News (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1934-1949.
 * The Orangeburg Sun (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1908-????.
 * The Patriot (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1894-1908.
 * The People's Recorder (Columbia, S.C.) 1893-1925.
 * The Santee News (Elloree-Holly Hill, S.C.) 1930-1930.
 * The Santee Striper (Santee, S.C.) 1987-current.
 * The Southron (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1855-1860.
 * The Spectator (Branchville, Orangeburg Co., S.C.) 1887-1891.
 * The Tax-Payer (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1877-1878.
 * The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current.
 * View South News (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1979-current.
 * Weekly Dispatch (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1894-1896.

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:


 * Huxford Genealogical Society Quarterly
 * Orangeburgh German-Swiss Newsletter
 * South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research (Family History Library book 975.7 B2sc .)

Periodicals to Search (esp for early colonial period)


 * (1971) Carolina Genealogist us/can 975 B2cg (no. 1-15...several books). Inside there is a list for: The Giessendanner Register, John Giessesndanner, V.D.M. all marriages and baptisms done by him about 1739-1760 and records for REV RICHARD BRYAN  Methodist episcopal church 1784(1799 marriage)-1825. These records and MUCH more are in the periodical with references for source. This is a much needed article for somebody searching in early Orangeburg. See also PERSI in Find my past and the FHL Catalog.

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. Archival records include estate papers from 1790-1893 from the court of ordinary and probate court records, along with other corollary papers. Statewide Will Transcriptions, 1782 to 1855, database is available online with a searchable index by name. Images are available.

Microfilm indexes of Orangeburg County probate estate papers, 1865-1947, are available at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and at the Family History Library. Original will records available at the county probate court and on microfilm for 1866-1957 at the Department of Archives and History and the FH Library.


 * Index to Orangeburg District Intestate Records 1819 South Carolina Pioneers

Online Probate Records
 * 1670-1980 - South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1671-1977 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 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 Orangeburg County.
 * Federal Excise Tax Records Add Dimension to Family History, 1789-1817, 1861-1864, Orangeburgh German-Swiss Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Summer 2008).
 * 1818 Tax List for St. Matthews Parish South Carolina Pioneers

Published abstracts

 * 1818 - St. Matthews Tax List, 1818, South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Summer 1973); Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall 1973).
 * 1851 - Tax Records, 1851, Huxford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Summer 1974); Vol. 1, No. 3 (Fall 1974); Vol. 1, No. 4 (Winter 1974).
 * 1851- Tax List, 1851, South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Winter 1979); Vol. 7, No. 2 (Spring 1979).

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 Orangeburg 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 - 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 Orangeburg 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 - Indexes and Records


 * Marriages of Lexington, Newberry, and Orangeburgh [sic] Counties, South Carolina by Martha H. Spivey WorldCat - index
 * 1911-1951 - Marriage Licenses (Orangeburg County, South Carolina), 1911-1951 - reocords
 * 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 Orangeburg 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 - Indexes and Records
 * 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
Orangeburg County Library System The Orangeburg County Library has six branches and a bookmobile, with the main branch in Orangeburg. An extensive collection of local history and genealogy materials is available at the Orangeburg County Library. The library system has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Library Catalog

Main Branch Address: 510 Louis Street Orangeburg, SC 29115 Driving Directions via Google Maps Telehone: (803) 531-4636 Fax: (803) 533-5860 Hours of Operation: Monday &amp; Tuesday: 9 AM - 8 PM, Wednesday - Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM, Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM, closed holidays

Holly Hill Branch Address: 8441 Old State RD Holly Hill, SC 29059 Telephone:: (803) 496-7177 Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday: 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Friday: 9 AM - 1:00 PM, Saturday: Closed

Mentor (Elloree) Branch Library Address: 2626 Cleveland ST Elloree, SC 29047 Telephone: (803) 897-2162 Hours of Operation: Monday 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Tuesday 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Wednesday 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Friday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Thursday &amp; Saturday Closed

North Branch Library  Address: 9316 North RD North, SC 29112 Telephone: (803) 247-5880 Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday &amp; Friday: 2 PM - 5:30 PM, Wednesday: 9 AM - 1:30 PM, Thursday &amp; Saturday: Closed

Santee Branch Library Address: 119 Dazzy CR Santee, SC 29142 Telephone: (803) 854-5300 Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday &amp; Thursday: 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Wednesday: 10 AM - 1 PM, Friday &amp; Saturday: Closed

Springfield Branch Library Address: 210 Brodie ST Springfield, SC 29146 Telephone: (803) 258-1100 b Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday &amp; Thursday: 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Wednesday: Closed, Friday: 10 AM - 1 PM, Saturday: Closed

The  Salley Archives  of the Orangeburg County Historical Society maintains a collection of genealogical materials including original source documents from 1735-present, family genealogies, general genealogical reference and other materials concentrating on South Carolina and Orangeburg County. It also houses the genealogical library of the Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society.

Salley Archives Orangeburg County Historical Society Address: 1421 MIddleton St, PO Box 1881 Orangeburg, SC ;29116-1881 Telephone: (803) 535-0022 Email: ochs@orangeburgh.org Hours of Operation: Tuesdays 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Wednesdays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and 1st Saturday of each month 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Other days/times by Appointment.

The Elloree Heritage Museum &amp; Cultural Center exhibits an educational view of South Carolina's rural past, portraying rural life when the Town of Elloree was founded by William J. Snider.

Elloree Heritage Museum &amp; Cultural Center Address: 2714 Cleveland Street PO Box 54 Elloree, SC 29047 Phone: 803-897-2225 Fax: 803-897-2252 Hours of Operation: Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; closed holidays

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Orangeburg South Carolina Family History Center

2740 Broughton St Orangeburg, Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States Phone: 803-531-5531 Hours: By appointment only. Closed: Call listed telephone number for an appointment.

Societies - Genealogical, Historical, Lineage
Orangeburg County Historical Society 1421 MIddleton St, PO Box 1881 Orangeburg, SC 29116-1881 Telepho ne: (803) 535-0022 Email: ochs@orangeburgh.org Website: www.orangeburgh.org

Orangeburg German-Swiss Genealogical Society P.O. Box 974 Orangeburg SC 29116-0974 source: Society HillWebsite: ogsgs.org

Websites


 * Orangeburg County, SC History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * Orangeburg County, SCGenWeb
 * Orangeburg County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * South Carolina Pioneers South Carolina Pioneers
 * Orangeburg German-Swiss Genealogical Society
 * Orangeburg County Historical Society
 * SCIway - South Carolina's Information Highway - Orangeburg County
 * SCIway - South Carolina's Information Highway - Orangeburg County