Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy

Guide to Kershaw County, South Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

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.

County Courthouse
Kershaw County Courthouse 1121 Broad St. Camden, SC 29020 Phone: 803-425-7223 Kershaw County Website

County Pronunciation

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:

Cemeteries

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

Census Records

 * 1829-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images

1800
 * Kershaw County Historical Society. The Second Federal Census, 1800, South Carolina, Kershaw County. Kershaw, S.C.: Kershaw County Historical Society, 1970. 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. 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. 975.7 A1 no. 29

1820 Manufactures The original manufactures schedules for South Carolina are kept at the NARA, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: 1024517 - 1024518. Published abstract:
 * National Archives. Indexes to Manufactures Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977. 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. 975.761 X2d 1840
 * Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. 1840 Census of Kershaw County, South Carolina. Camden, S.C.: D.L. Phelps, 2001. 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. 973 X2pc 1840;  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. 975.761 X2k 1850
 * 1850 Federal Census Index, Kershaw County, courtesy USGenWeb Archives.

1870 Mortality Schedule
 * Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. 1870 Kershaw County Mortality Census. 975.761 X2p 1870

Church Records
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 ($).

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records

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.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans Kershaw County, South Carolina African Americans

Genealogies

 * [Baskin] D.A.R. Joseph Habersham Chapter (Atlanta, Ga.). Baskin, Fleming, Diggart Pioneer Families of Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Typescript, 1971. Item 1
 * [Baskin] Bell, Raymond Martin. AndrewBaskin, Esq., Kershawand Lancaster Counties, S.C. and Other Baskin Notes. Typescripts, 1965, Clayton Library, Houston, Texas. Microfilmed 1983. Items 12-13; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * [Blanton] Blanton, William Neal. Reminiscences of a Texas Frontier Heritage as Portrayed in the Lives of Ransom Gwyn Blanton, Born Kershaw District, South Carolina, 1814, Died Near Hutto, Williamson County, October 14, 1881; Benjamin Franklin Blanton Born Colorado County, Texas, February 2, 1885, Died Paris, Lamar County, September 4, 1938. Taylor, Texas: Merchants Press, 1969. ; digital version at Internet Archive.
 * [Boone] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Desc. of John Boone of Kershaw Co., S.C. 2004. Item 2
 * [Boykin] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Desc. of Alexander Hamilton Boykin of Kershaw County, S.C. (1815-1866). 2003. Item 111
 * [Cherry] Gibson, Liford Leroy and Mary Dean Magruder Gibson. Some Descendants of Jacob Cherry Revolutionary Soldier. Macon, Ga.: Mary D.M. Gibson, 1997. ; digital version at Family History Library.
 * [Clanton] Clanton, Velda E. and Lee R. Clanton. Clanton Family History and Lineage Lines. 2 vols. Hagerstown, Md.: L.R. &amp; V.E. Clanton, [1993?].
 * [Diggart] D.A.R. Joseph Habersham Chapter (Atlanta, Ga.). Baskin, Fleming, Diggart Pioneer Families of Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Typescript, 1971. Item 1
 * [Drakeford] Mosher, Merrill Hill. "Richard Drakeford and His Descendants," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1995):135-142. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * [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].
 * [Elkins] Andrea, Leonardo. Elkin-Elkins. Typescript, Polk County Historical Library, Bartow, Fla. Microfilmed 1975. 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.
 * [Fleming] D.A.R. Joseph Habersham Chapter (Atlanta, Ga.). Baskin, Fleming, Diggart Pioneer Families of Kershaw and Lancaster Counties. Typescript, 1971. Item 1
 * [Gaskins] Hanna, Muriel K. and Gale Stanley Grainger. Gaskins / Gaskin Family: Williamsburg and Kershaw County South Carolina. n.p.: M.K. Hanna &amp; G.S. Grainger, 2002. ; digital version at Family History Library.
 * [George] Bell, J.B. George Kinsmen of American Descent. Hernando, Miss.: J.B. Bell, 1991. ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * [Gillis] Metcalf, Clayton G. The Gillis Family in the South. Enterprise, Ala.: C.G. Metcalf, 1975.
 * [Gillis] Metcalf, Clayton G. Scots and Their Kin. Enterprise, Ala.: C.G. Metcalf, 1984.
 * [Goldsmith] Goldsmith, John Robert. A Goldsmith Family History. Bullard, Texas: J.R. Goldsmith, 1990.
 * [Jacobs] Jacobs, Curtis. The Jacobs Collection. MSS., Beauregard Parish Library, De Ridder, La. 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. 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.
 * [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.
 * [Jordon] Corbett, Agnes B., Jane P. Justice, and William T. Johnson. Marshall Faith and Family. Camden, S.C.: A.B. Corbett, [1990?].
 * [Jossey] Josey, J. Edward and Marion Jackson. The House of Jossey - Josey. 8 vols. Branford, Fla.: The House of Josey, 1995. Volumes 4-5 treat Jossey families of Kershaw District.
 * [Kelley] Stearns, Monyene. The Kelley Klan: Descendants of John Kelley. McGregor, Texas: M. Stearns, 1983.
 * [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. and Supplement
 * [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.
 * [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..
 * [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 ($)..
 * [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. ; 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.
 * [Marsh] Marsh, U. Bowdoin. John Marsh of South Carolina: and Research Notes on Marsh. Cullman, Ala.: Gregath, 1992.
 * [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.
 * [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.
 * [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.
 * [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.
 * [Pate] Scarborough, Eleazer Pate. Pate History and Genealogy. [Florence, S.C.]: E.P. Scarborough, [199?]. and Supplement
 * [Payne] Iverson, Patricia Garrett. The Continuing Legacy of John Payne, Blacksmith: abt 1731-1780. Roundup, Montana: P.G. Iverson, 2006. ; 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. ; digital version at Family History Library.
 * [Peebles] Saltzman, Bettie L. Peebles. Peebles, 1763-1985. [Indiana]: B.P. Saltzman, [1985]. Item 1
 * [Peebles] Saltzman, Bettie L. Peebles and Linda L. Saltzman McCall. Peebles, 1763-1988. [Indiana]: B.P. Saltzman, [1988].
 * [Richardson] Hasskarl, Eula Richardson. My Ancestors: Families of Richardson, Megginson, Parsons, Hudgins, Skelton, Lanier, Bennett. Ada, Okla.: Hasskarl, 1972.
 * [Shiver] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Descendants of John Shiver, Sr. of Kershaw County, S.C. (1740-1799). Camden, S.C.: D.L. Phelps, 2003.
 * [Shute] Shute, J. Ray. The Shute Family of Piedmont Carolina, 1778-1978. Monroe, N.C.: n.p., 1978.
 * [Sowell] Hays, Mary Sowell and Carolyn E. Sowell. A History of the John Alexander and Laura Hilton Sowell Family. 1973.
 * [Trammell] "Some Clues for the Trammell Genealogy," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 27, No. 4 (Fall 1999):211-212.
 * [Trantham] Barnhill, Floyd Raymond. Trantham Family Records. Microfilmed 1980. 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. Item 5
 * [Truesdale] Phelps, Dallas LeRoy. Descendants of Truesdale. Microfilmed 2005. 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.
 * Brunson, Charlotte Boykin Salmond. Kershaw County Cousins. Columbia, S.C.: R.L. Bryan Company, 1978. ("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. ("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. 975.761 X2k 1850

Land and Property Records

 * 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.

Online Land Indexes and Records The following chart show where you may best expect to find land records.
 * Some Camden District records are included with Kershaw County records

Local Histories
The county is named after Joseph Kershaw.


 * Kirkland, Thomas J. Historic Camden. Columbia, S.C.: State Co., 1905-1926. 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 and Other Libraries.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Migration
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

Military Records
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. 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. Book 975 B2c.
 * "Battle of Hobkirk Hill," American Monthly Magazine, January 1909, Volume 34, Issue 1. Daughters of the American Revolution: Washington, D.C. 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., images available online. Article is on image 216.

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, Kershaw County, p. 186. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images
 * 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
 * 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)

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.

University of South Carolina Library Catalog
 * Historical Newspapers of South Carolina at University of South Carolina Libraries - not complete

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

Periodicals

 * 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 Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History hasmicrofilms 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.

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.
 * 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.
 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 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
 * 1670-1980 South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
 * 1671-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
 * 1732-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
 * 1782-1866 South Carolina, Will Transcripts 1782-1866 at FindMyPast — index, ($) — $, index

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and 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.
 * 1848-1849 Draine, Tony. Kershaw District, South Carolina Tax List, 1848 &amp; 1849. Columbia, S.C.: Congaree Publications, 1986.
 * 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

 * 1816-1865 Marriage and Death Notices from Camden, South Carolina, Newspapers, 1816-1865 by Brent H. Holcomb 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 - index

Birth

 * 1766-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images
 * 1915-1917 South Carolina, U.S., Births, 1915-1917 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Marriage
Online Marriage Records and Indexes


 * 1913-1920 Kershaw, South Carolina and Surrounding Area: Abstracts from the Kershaw Era and the Camden Chronicle, 1913-1920 by Carol P. McNaughton WorldCat - index
 * 1938-1950 Kershaw County, South Carolina Marriage Licenses, Aug. 1938-Dec. 1950
 * There are several online marriage indexes containing miscellaneous marriage records found insome counties of South Carolina listed on the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Death
Online Death Records and Indexes
 * 1800-1900- CSI: Dixie collects 1583 coroners reports from six South Carolina counties for the years 1800-1900.
 * 1816-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1821-1969 South Carolina, U.S., Death Records, 1821-1969 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1915-1943 South Carolina, Deaths, 1915-1943 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * 1915-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & 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.

Family History Centers

 * Camden South Carolina Family History Center
 * Columbia South Carolina Family History Center
 * West Columbia South Carolina Family History Center


 * Fairfield County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Richland County Public Library - an affiliate library

Societies

 * Kershaw County Historical Society P.O. Box 501 Camden SC 29020 (803) 425-1123 Email: [mailto:kershawcountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com kershawcountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * The Old Camden District Genealogical Society 1314 Broad Street Camden SC 29020-3535 Website

Websites

 * Kershaw County, SCGenWeb
 * Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * South Carolina Pioneers South Carolina Pioneers


 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

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