South Carolina, Charleston County, Charleston Poorhouse and Correctional House Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Registers of outdoor pensioners at the Charleston City poorhouse and registers of inmates at the Charleston City correctional house many of which were free African Americans and former slaves for years 1803-1916. These records include birth, residence and occupation information and sometimes include family groups.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Admission Record
 * Name
 * Date of admission
 * By whose order
 * Nativity place
 * Age
 * Occupation
 * Time of Residence in Charleston
 * Date of discharge
 * Date of death, if applicable
 * Length of stay
 * Remarks

House of Correction
 * Date
 * Name of prisoner
 * Place of Nativity
 * Last residence
 * How long in Charleston
 * Occupation
 * When discharged and Remarks

Outdoor Pensioners
 * Name
 * Date
 * Residence, time there an rent payed per month
 * Age
 * Sex
 * Color
 * Number of children
 * Nativity
 * Trade
 * Other support
 * Recommended by whom
 * Remarks

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add the new information to your records
 * Use the information to find the person in other records
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. View the image for addition information
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of South Carolina.
 * South Carolina Guided Research
 * South Carolina Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Charleston County, Charleston, correctional records, 1868-1885
 * Charleston County, Charleston, poor law records, 1832-1916
 * Charleston County, Charleston, orphan's records, 1795-1810
 * Charleston County, Charleston, probate records : indentures, 1790-1904

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.