Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy

United States  South Carolina  Kershaw County

Quick Dates
Kershaw County's civil records start the following years:

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

Boundary Changes
"Rotating Formation South Carolina County Boundary Maps" (1682-1987) may be viewed for free at the My South Carolina Genealogy website. They rely on AniMap 3.0 software.

Neighboring Counties

 * Chesterfield
 * Darlington
 * Fairfield
 * Lancaster
 * Lee
 * Richland
 * Sumter

Research Guides

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

Census
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.

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.

Family Histories
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]

General

As of August 2010, a query for persons born in Kershaw, South Carolina at World Connect, produces more than 10,000 results.

Surname indexes to Leonardo Andrea's Files | Folders | Resources are available online, courtesy: The Andrea Files: South Carolina Genealogical Research. Learn more.

The following publications discuss many Kershaw County families:


 * 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.

Message Boards


 * Kershaw County, SC Family History and Genealogy Message Board (Ancestry)
 * Kershaw County, SC Genealogy Forum (GenForum)

Bibliography


 * [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. Andrew Baskin, Esq., Kershaw  and 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 BYU Family History Archives.
 * [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
 * [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
 * [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 BYU Family History Archives.
 * [George] Bell, J.B. George Kinsmen of American Descent. Hernando, Miss.: J.B. Bell, 1991. ; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [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.
 * [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 BYU Family History Archives.
 * [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.
 * [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 BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Payne] Iverson, Patricia Garrett. Lure and Legacy: The Descendants of Elizabeth, Banyan, and Wylie Payne. Roundup, Montana: P.G. Iverson, 2007. ; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [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.
 * [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.

Land
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. Items 1 - 2; digital version at Ancestry ($).

Newspapers
Camden Archives and Museum Obituary Index

Probate
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.


 * 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.]

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog
 * Kershaw County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)