Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogy

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

Description
The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Chesterfield County Courthouse 200 West Main Street / P.O. Box 529 Chesterfield, SC 29709 Phone: 843-623-2574 Chesterfield 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:

History Timeline
Officially, Chesterfield County is named for British statesman Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773) though some local tradition suggests that Chesterfield was named for Chesterfield County, Virginia. Learn more about the history of Chesterfield County from the South Carolina State Library or from Carolana.com.

Cemeteries

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

Census Records

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

1800
 * Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogical Services and James C. Pigg. 1790 Cheraw District &amp; 1800, 1810 Chesterfield County, S.C. Federal Census. Tega Cay, S.C.: The Services &amp; J.C. Pigg, 1997. 975.7 X2c
 * King, Walter. The Second Federal Census, South Carolina, Chesterfield County. 975.763 X2p 1800

1810
 * Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogical Services and James C. Pigg. 1790 Cheraw District &amp; 1800, 1810 Chesterfield County, S.C. Federal Census. Tega Cay, S.C.: The Services &amp; J.C. Pigg, 1997. 975.7 X2c

1820
 * Thomas, Elizabeth Wood. 1820 Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Pass Christian, Miss.: Willo Institute of Genealogy, 1967. 975.763 B4t
 * Pigg, James C. 1820 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: J.C. Pigg, 1996. 975.763 X2p 1820

1820 Manufactures The original manufactures schedules for South Carolina are kept at the NARA, Washington, D.C. FS Library copies: 1024517 - 1024518.
 * National Archives. Indexes to Manufacturers Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977..

1830
 * Pigg, James C. 1830 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: J.C. Pigg, 1995. 975.763 X2p 1830

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 Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C.: Blair and Rives, 1841. 973 X2pc 1840;  2321. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See South Carolina, Chesterfield District on page 144.

1850 Agriculture
 * Pigg, James C. 1850 Federal Agricultural Census for Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 1996. 975.763 X2p 1850

1850-1880 Mortality Schedules
 * Pigg, James C. Mortality Schedule, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Federal Census. Tega Cay, S.C.: J.C. Pigg, 1995. 975.763 X2p 1850-1880

1860
 * Pigg, James C. and Chesterfield County, South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Services. 1860 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: Chesterfield County, S.C. Geneal. Services, J.C. Pigg, 1998. 975.763 X2p 1860

1870
 * Pigg, James C. and Chesterfield County, South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Services. 1870 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: The Services &amp; J.C. Pigg, 1997. 975.763 X2f 1870

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Chesterfield County Churches identifies dozens of churches in the area, courtesy: South Carolina Genealogical Society.

Church of England (Anglican, Episcopal) See St. David's Parish.

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Dates Vary Chesterfield County, Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Public Index – index; courts include Circuit Court, Summary Court and Masters-in-Equity, records added periodically

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans Known plantations South Carolina Plantations:
 * United States African Americans [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] South Carolina African Americans
 * Enfield
 * Homestead
 * Lynchwood
 * Oakland - Cheraw
 * Red Oak Woods

Genealogies
General Surname indexes to Leonardo Andrea's Files | Folders | Resources are available online, courtesy: The Andrea Files: South Carolina Genealogical Research. Learn more.
 * Historical Society of Chesterfield County. Book Committee. The Heritage of Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Knoxville, Tenn.: Tennessee Valley Pub., 2004.

Bibliography
 * Allen - Allen--Osborn--Alley, and Connected Families, Census Records, 1850-1870. MSS., 1937..
 * Blakeney - Stringer, Mildred E. Blakeney, Stringer, Ware [and] Brinson, Heidleberg, McClammy. n.p.: M.E. Stringer, 1979..
 * Boan - Melton, E. Frank. Descendants of Daniel Boan, Born ca. 1765 Ireland. Hartsville, S.C.: Old Darlington District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society, 2003..
 * Buchanan - "Alexander Henry Riley's petition for a name change [to Alexander Henry Buchanan]," The Carolina Herald and Newsletter, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan./Mar. 2005)..
 * Bustin - Bustin, Larry. The Family History of George Washington Bustin. Laurel, Miss.: L. Bustin, 1979?..
 * Cochran - Cochran, Wayne E. T. Cochran Family. LaGrange, Ga.: T. Cochran, 199-..
 * Eddins Rivers, Minnie Lee Sanders and Sharon F. Corey. Descendants of Nehemiah and Bedie Eddins, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Mt. Croghan, S.C.: S.F. Corey, 2000. Originally published 1926.
 * Ellis Raymond, Charles E. Journey into the Past with Reverend John Ellis and Catherine McCraney: of Chesterfield District, South Carolina, Darlington District, South Carolina, Conecuh County, Alabama and Wilcox County, Alabama. Murrieta, Calif.: C.E. Raymond, 2006. ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Eubanks Jay, Ella Mae Eubanks. Eubanks, a Brief Historical and Genealogical Record. Meridian, Miss.: E.M.E. Jay, 1983..
 * Ford - Patillo, Edward. "Ford of the Low Country," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Reseach, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Spring 2004):63-72; Vol. 32, No. 3 (Summer 2004):133-142; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Winter 2005):44-52.
 * Graves Graves, Kenneth Vance. Robert Graves of Anson County, N. C. and Chesterfield County, S. C., Ancestors and Descendants (ca. 1580-1979) a Branch of the Descendants of Capt. Thomas Graves, 1608 Immigrant to Jamestown, Va.; Allied Families Include Austin, Bagley, Davis, Dunn, Guy, Pyle, Reeves, Sholars, Slater, Smith, Wallis, Ward, Weisinger and Others. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 1980.
 * Hendrick - Hendrix, GeLee Corley. "Benjamin Hendrick (1730-1818) of Virginia and Carolina and Some of His Descendants," The American Genealogist, Vol. 65, No. 1 (Jan. 1990):44-53.
 * Holifield - Daniel, Harland H. Two Hundred and One Years: This Book is Memories and History of John Holifield Family. 1972?.
 * Hough - Geren, Emmie Hough. Hough Family (a Louisiana Family). Typescript, 1939-1952. ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Hough - Hough, Granville W. Some Descendants of Needham and Rebecca Hough of SC, NC, GA &amp; AL. Laguna Hills, Calif.: G.W. Hough, 1992..
 * Jackson - Garner, Linda. Our Jackson Family: Descendants of Jesse &amp; Delilah Jackson. Box Springs, Ga.: L. Garner, 1982, 1998..
 * 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..
 * 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..
 * Knotts Knotts, Burton Ray. Knotts &amp; Walrond Families of Randolph County, Arkansas. Little Rock, Ark.: B.R. Knotts, 1991..
 * Lowry - Wiggins, Marie Gulledge. "Lowry Family of Chesterfield Co., S.C.," Wiggins Genealogical Collection, MSS. Microfilmed 1990:.
 * McFarland - McFarland Family Records, 1755-1830. MSS. Microfilmed 1972:.
 * McRae - Walker, Anne Kendrick. The Storied Kendalls; with Historical and Genealogical Records of Scottish and Allied Families. Richmond, Va.: Dietz Press, 1947..
 * Murphy - Murphy, Joseph Albert. Murphy: Genealogy. 2003..
 * Newman - Kewman, Kenneth L. Loose Ends: Some Newman Families. Jacksonville, Ala.: K.L. Newman, 1991?.
 * Pate - Scarborough, Eleazer Pate. Pate History and Genealogy. Florence, S.C.: E.P. Scarborough, [1987?]..
 * Pigg - Pigg, James C. Antecedents and Descendants of Rev. Edward Pigg. Hartsville, S.C.: South Carolina Genealogical Society. Old Darlington District Chapter, 1999..
 * Raley - Raley, William Lindsay. The Fabric of a Family: Some Ancestors and Descendants of William Charlie Raley, Julius Goodrich Hollister, John Lindsay Lowry and Michael Miller. Winter Haven, Fla.: W.L. Raley, 1995..
 * Reid - Reid, John Sharp. Family History, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Anson County, North Carolina. Typescript. Microfilmed 1971:.
 * Riley - "Alexander Henry Riley's petition for a name change [to Alexander Henry Buchanan]," The Carolina Herald and Newsletter, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan./Mar. 2005)..
 * Rivers Seymour, Geneva Bailey. Rivers - Eudy - Seymour. Lubbock, Texas: G.B. Seymour, 1981..
 * Rivers Purvis, Charles Lee and Betty Lee Johnson. Descendants of William Rivers: Born about 1718 in England; Died before 1790, Chesterfield Co., SC. Ogden, Utah: C.L. Johnson and B.L. Johnson, 1999.
 * Rivers Purvis, Charles Lee. The Descendants of Isaac Rivers 1735-1999. Thomasville, N.C.: C.L. Purvis, 1999..
 * Roberson - Derhak, Pauline McConkie, Jennis McConkie Betts and Sandra Estes Allen. John Newton Roberson, 1843-1915, and Martha Ann Davenport, 1843-1931, and Their Ancestors. 2 vols. West Valley City, Utah: Jennies Family Histories, 1998..
 * Sellers Pigg, James C. Descendants of Hardy Sellers. Hartsville, S.C.: Old Darlington District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society, 2002..
 * Shelby - Johnson, Johnnie Mullinax. Rees and Mary Shelby: Ancestors &amp; Descendants. Athens, Texas: J.M. Johnson, 1994.
 * Turnage - Turnage, Wynne Edwards. Descendants of Isaac W. Turnage [and] William George Turnage, Olean Payne Turnage, Sr. Austin, Texas: W.E. Turnage, 1999..
 * Welsh - Welch, Brian E. Welch Records in Sumter District and Other Areas of South Carolina. Columbia, S.C.: B.E. Welch, 1995..
 * Winfrey - Davidson, Grace Gillam. Dyonisius Oliver, Georgia's Pioneer Realtor. Newspaper clipping. Microfilmed 1960:.

Land and Property Records

 * For information about the State Land Grants, see State Land Grants

Online Land Indexes and Records The following chart show where you may best expect to find land records.
 * Some Chesterfield deeds may be found in Lancaster, Darlington and Marlboro counties of South Carolina, and neighboring North Carolina counites.
 * Antebellum deed books do not survive.

Conveyance Books  The earliest surviving Chesterfield County conveyance book begins in 1861 and is kept at the county courthouse. It has been microfilmed: 1449103

Local Histories

 * 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.
 * Historical Society of Chesterfield County, Book Committee. The Heritage of Chesterfield County, South Carolina(Knoxville, Tennessee Tennessee Valley Pub., c2004 ), 374 pages. Includes: county &amp; local Histories, organizations, schools, churches and many family histories. Book at and Other Libraries
 * Gregg, Alexander.History of the Old Cheraws Containing an Account of the Aborigines of the Pedee, the First White Settlements, their Subsequent Progress, Civil Changes, the Struggle of the Revolution, and the Growth of the Country Afterward, Extending from About A.D. 1730 to 1810 with Notices of Families and Sketches of Individuals (Baltimore, Maryland Genealogical Pub. Co., 1967 ), 629 pages. Book at

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Chesterfield County for European settlers included:
 * Fall Line Road about 1735

Military Records
Revolutionary War
 * "Revolutionary war pensioners, 1841," Carolinas Genealogical Society Bulletin, November 1965, Volume 2, Issue 3. Carolinas Genealogical Society Monroe, NC. Book 975 B2c.
 * Raymond, Charles E. Chesterfield District, South Carolina Genealogical Links and Revolutionary War Pension Data (1786-2855). Temecula, California C.E. Raymond, 2010. Book 975.763 D2r.

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. Online at: Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, South Carolina, Chesterfield County, p. 183. 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 Chesterfield County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were formed in Chesterfield County or from many of its men:
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Butler's) (1st Regulars), Company A (also called Company B and Beauregard Artillery)
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company D
 * - 4th Regiment, South Carolina State Troops, Company K
 * - 4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's), Company A (may have been known as Charleston Light Dragoons) and Company B (also known as the Palmetto Rangers)
 * - 5th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Brown's), Company C
 * - 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken's Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers), Company K
 * - 7th Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Nelson's) (Enfield Rifles),
 * - Company A
 * - Company E
 * - Company F
 * - Company G
 * - 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company H and Company I
 * - 8th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company B, Company C, and Company D
 * - 9th Battalion, South Carolina infantry (Smith's) (Pee Dee Legion), Company B, Company D, and Company E
 * - 9th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company F
 * - Garden's Company, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Light Battery)

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)

Historic The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Chesterfield 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.
 * Cheraw Chronicle (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-current.
 * Cheraw Gazette (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838.
 * Cheraw Gazette (Cheraw, S.C.) 1847-18??.
 * Cheraw Gazette and Pee Dee Farmer (Cheraw, S.C.) 1838-1839.
 * Cheraw Intelligencer and Southern Register (Cheraw, S.C.) 1823-1826.
 * Cheraw Republican (Cheraw S.C.) 1830-1833.
 * Chesterfield Democrat (Cheraw, S.C.) 1868-18??.
 * Farmers' Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser (Cheraw, S.C.) 1839-1847.
 * Pee Dee Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser (Cheraw, S.C.) 1820-1826.
 * Pee Dee Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser (Cheraw, S.C.) 1833-1833.
 * Pee Dee Gazette, and Cheraw Intelligencer (Cheraw, S.C.) 1826-1826.
 * South-Carolina Spectator (Cheraw, S.C.) 1826-1833.
 * The Carolina Sun (Cheraw, S.C.) 1880-1883.
 * The Cheraw Reporter (Cheraw, S.C.) 1885-1896.
 * The Chesterfield Advertiser (Chesterfield, S.C.) 1880-1978.
 * The Chesterfield Advertiser (Chesterfield, S.C.) 1980-1990.
 * The Chesterfield Advertiser-Journal (Chesterfield, S.C.) 1978-1980.
 * The Jeffersonian (Jefferson, S.C.) 1912-1920.
 * The McBee Courier (McBee, Chesterfield County, S.C.) 1912-19??.
 * The Pageland Journal (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978.
 * The Pageland Journal (Pageland, S.C.) 1980-1981.
 * The Pageland Progressive (Pageland, S.C.) 1978-1981.
 * The Pageland Progressive-Journal (Pageland, S.C.) 1981-current.
 * The Pee Dee Herald (Cheraw, S.C.) 1856-1859.
 * The Sun and Monitor (Cheraw and Bennettsville, S.C.) 1883-1885.

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

Periodicals

 * Carolinas Genealogical Society Bulletin
 * Chesterfield District Chronicle

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * Cheraws District or Chesterfield District Wills, 1750-1865 and abstracts from the court of common pleas, 1823-1869. By James C. Pigg. FamilySearch Library
 * Chesterfield County, South Carolina estate records, ca. 1865-1927. South Carolina, Probate Court. Microeproduction of original manuscripts at the South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
 * Indexed in: Chesterfield County, South Carolina index to estate papers, 1865-1977. South Carolina. Probate Court.
 * 1670-1980 South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1671-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
 * 1732-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
 * 1737-1964 South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 at Ancestry - images ($)
 * 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records Extant tax records are identified in:
 * South Carolina Department of Archives and History tax lists for Chesterfield County (the earliest are dated 1866).
 * Inventory of Local Government Records in the Old Vault, Chesterfield District Chronicle, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Winter 2006).

Vital Records

 * 1840-1920: The Diary of Aaron W. Knight: a Collection of Marriages and Deaths, 1840-1920, Chesterfield County, S.C., Indexed by Aaron W. Knight WorldCat - 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


 * 1911-1951 at FamilySearch — index; Also at Ancestry ($) ''  WorldCat - records
 * 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
 * 1816-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1821-1969 South Carolina, U.S., Death Records, 1821-1969 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1910-1950 - Death Notices from Pageland Journal of Chesterfield County, SC 1910-1935 by James C. Pigg WorldCat - index
 * 1915-1930 Chesterfield County, South Carolina Death Certificates (caucasian) by James C. Pigg - records
 * 1915-1943 South Carolina, Deaths, 1915-1943 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * 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.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Camden South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Florence South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Pembroke North Carolina FamilySearch Center


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

Libraries
Libraries Chesterfield County Library System includes the main Chesterfield County Library and four branches. Their catalog SClends is shared with the South Carolina State Library and a number of other county systems in the state. Chesterfield County Library (HQ) Address: 119 W. Main St. Chesterfield, SC 29709 Telephone: (843) 623-7489 Fax: (843) 623-3295 ) Hours:''' M-F 9:00AM-6:00PM,Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM Website
 * Matheson Memorial Library Address: 227 Huger St. Cheraw, SC 29520 Telephone: (843) 537-3571 Fax: (843) 537-1248 Hours: M-F 9:00AM-6:00PM, Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM
 * Pageland Community Library Address: 109 West Blakeney St. Pageland, SC 29728 Telephone: (843) 672-6930 Fax: (843) 672-6670 Hours: M-F 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM
 * McBee Depot Library Address: 96 W. Pine Ave. McBee, SC 29101 Telephone: (843) 335-7515 Fax: (843) 335-6219 Hours: T, Th 10:00AM-6:00PM
 * Fannie D. Lowry Memorial Library Address: 500 N. Main St. Jefferson, SC 29718 Telephone: (843) 658-3966 (843) 658-6695 Hours: M,W,F 12:00PM-6:00PM

Societies

 * Historical Society of Chesterfield County 100 East Main St. Chesterfield, SC 29709 843-623-9673 Website

Websites

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


 * – 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

 * Inventory of Local Government Records in the Old Vault, Chesterfield District Chronicle, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Winter 2006).
 * South Carolina Archives Summary Guide: Chesterfield County, available online, courtesy: South Carolina Department of Archives and History.