York County, South Carolina Genealogy

United States  South Carolina  York County

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

Parent County
1785--York County was created in 1785 from Pickney District. County seat: York 

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
Cherokee | Chester | Cleveland County, North Carolina | Gaston County, North Carolina | Lancaster | Mecklenburg County, North Carolina | Union

Research Guides

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

Census
1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of York 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.

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Catawba
 * Rock Hill

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 York, South Carolina at World Connect, produces more than 30,000 results.

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


 * 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."]

Message Boards


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

Bibliography


 * [Allison] Van Valin, Minnie D. William Henry, Senior (1715-1819) and Hugh Allison, Senior (1714-1799) of York County, South Carolina and Some of Their Descendants. Typescript, 1933. Item 9
 * [Borders] Wamick, Mona Allison. Borders, Logan, Rippy, Crawford, Runyan and Connections Including Margaret and Hugh Quin, Sr. of York County, South Carolina and Their Children, Peter, Mary, Daniel, Hugh II, John. Decatur, Ga.: M.A. Wamick, 1997.
 * [Brandon] Betts, Arlie Brandon and Robert Louis Underhill. The Brandons of Halifax County, Virginia, Gaston County, North Carolina, and York County, South Carolina. Deerfield, Mass.: R.L. Underhill, 1987.
 * [Byers] Byers, Thurlo V. Capt. William Byers of Augusta Co. VA &amp; York Co. SC &amp; Descendants. St. Louis, Mo.: T.V. Byers, 199-?.
 * [Campbell] White, William Boyce and Inez Campbell Bouton. A Brief Genealogy of Alexander and Elizabeth Campbell of Neely's Creek, York County, S.C. Typescript, 1972. Item 9
 * [Chambers] Rowland, Arthur Ray. Chambers Family of York County, South Carolina and Fayette and Spalding Counties, Georgia and Beyond. Augusta, Ga.: RR Books, 2000. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Crawford] Veach, Mary Frances Thomas. Sorting the Waxhaw Crawfords a Compendium of Research on the Crawfords &amp; Related Families Starting Out in the Counties of York, Chester, &amp; Lancaster, South Carolina Before the Revolution. Elverta, Calif.: M. Veach, 1993. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Cureton] Perry, Max. Descendants of the Cureton Families of York and Chester Counties of South Carolina: Including Genealogical Briefs of the Stewart, Webb and Heath Families. Midland, Texas: M. Perry, 2001. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Enloe] McElwee, Pinckney G. Genealogy of Mary McElwee Enloe Wife of Benjamin Enloe and Daughter of William McElwee of Clarks Fork of Bullock's Creek of York County, South Carolina. Washington, D.C.: P.G. McElwee, 1964.
 * [Faris] Faris, David. The Faris Family of Washington County, Indiana: A Genealogy of the Descendants of William Farrie; Born in County Antrim, Ireland about the Year 1745; Settled on Rocky Creek, Chester County, South Carolina in 1772; Died as William Faries on Turkey Creek, York County, South Carolina in 1805: Including the Principal Families of Baird, Devinney, Ervin, Faries, Faris, Finley, Loudon, McIntyre, Martin, Steuart, Taggart, Tippin &amp; Woods. Philadelphia, Pa.: D. Faris, 1984.
 * [Garrison] Perry, Max. Descendants of Garrison Families of Mecklenburg Co., N.C. and York Co., S.C. Midland, Texas: M. Perry, 2001. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Glass] Young, Mary Ellen Hemphill. Reflections from the House of Glass James Glass and Hannah Barnhill of York District, South Carolina, Livingston County, Kentucky, and Pope County, Illinois, 1761-1900. Marissa, Ill.: M.E.H. Young, [1978?].
 * [Hanna] Perry, Max. Descendants of John Workman, Capt. James Hanna and Capt. John E. McConnell of York County, South Carolina. Midland, Texas: M. Perry, 1995.
 * [Henry] Van Valin, Minnie D. William Henry, Senior (1715-1819) and Hugh Allison, Senior (1714-1799) of York County, South Carolina and Some of Their Descendants. Typescript, 1933. Item 9
 * [Howe] Whitley, Olga M. Colonel Joseph Howe, York County, South Carolina. His Descendants and His Brothers. 1960. Digital version at World Vital Records ($).
 * [Kolb] Kolb, Avery E. Kolb Families and Their Relatives of Mississippi and Arkansas: The Descendants of James Kolb Sr. of York Co., S.C. and His Son Silas Kolb of Lowndes Co., Mississippi. Springfield, Va.: Kolb, 1973. Item 4
 * [Leslie] Murphy, Marion F. Early Leslies in York County, South Carolina: Their Migrations to Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas, Their Ancestry and Descendants. San Diego, Calif.: M.F. Murphy, 1976.
 * [McConnell] Perry, Max. Descendants of John Workman, Capt. James Hanna and Capt. John E. McConnell of York County, South Carolina. Midland, Texas: M. Perry, 1995.
 * [McElwee] McElwee, Pinckney G. Genealogy of William McElwee II, of Clarks Fork of York County, South Carolina. Typescript, 1959. Item 2
 * [McElwee] McElwee, Pinckney G. Genealogy of Mary McElwee Enloe Wife of Benjamin Enloe and Daughter of William McElwee of Clarks Fork of Bullock's Creek of York County, South Carolina. Washington, D.C.: P.G. McElwee, 1964.
 * [McElwee] McElwee, Pinckney G. Genealogy of William McElwee II, of Clarks Fork of York County, South Carolina. Waxahachie, Texas: G.W. Oates, 1978.
 * [McKnight] Murray, Sonia J. John McKnight and His Family, County Antrim, Ireland to Charleston, S.C. 1772, York Co., S.C. with Ties to Freeman, Hoggue, McCleave, Lindsey, and Sterling Descendants in Blount Co., Alabama and Texas. Biloxi, Miss.: S. Murray, 1991.
 * [Meek] Allison, J.B. The Descendants of James Meek and Susannah Byers, 1758-1942 of York County, South Carolina. Typescript, Clayton Library, Houston, Texas. Item 3
 * [Mullinax] Mullinax, Jack D. The Mullinax Family of Northern South Carolina (York, Union and Cherokee Counties) and Southern North Carolina (Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln Counties). Chesnee, S.C.: Chesnee Hardware, 1983.
 * [Murphy] Murphy, James L. The Family of John Murphy, Sr. York County, South Carolina and Lowndes County, Mississippi. Henderson, Tenn.: Hester, 1996.
 * [Murphy] Murphy, James L. The Family of John Murphy Sr. York County, South Carolina and Lowndes County, Mississippi. Caledonia, Miss.: J.L. Murphy, 1996.
 * [Patton] White, William Boyce. Genealogy of Two Early Patton Families of York, Chester, and Lancaster Counties, South Carolina. Roanoke, Va.: W.B. White, 1996.
 * [Plaxco] Mendenhall, Samuel Brooks and William Boyce White. Plaxco-Robinson Being an Account of Two of the Ancient Presbyterian Families of Upper South Carolina (Particularly Situated in York and Chester Counties). Richmond, Va.: Whittet &amp; Shepperson, 1958.
 * [Quin] Wamick, Mona Allison. Borders, Logan, Rippy, Crawford, Runyan and Connections Including Margaret and Hugh Quin, Sr. of York County, South Carolina and Their Children, Peter, Mary, Daniel, Hugh II, John. Decatur, Ga.: M.A. Wamick, 1997.
 * [Reeves] Rowland, Arthur Ray. Descendants of Wiley Reeves of York County, South Carolina and Fayette and Spalding Counties, Georgia. Augusta, Ga.: R R Books, 2001. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Roach] Perry, Max. The Descendants of the Roach Family of York County, South Carolina Including Allied Families and Genealogical Briefs of Drennan, Springs, Workman, Hanna, Harriss, Thomasson, McConnell, Sturgis, Reid, Edwards, Dodds, Polk, Latham. Midland, Texas: M. Perry, 1983.
 * [Robinson] Mendenhall, Samuel Brooks and William Boyce White. Plaxco-Robinson Being an Account of Two of the Ancient Presbyterian Families of Upper South Carolina (Particularly Situated in York and Chester Counties). Richmond, Va.: Whittet &amp; Shepperson, 1958.
 * [Sturgis] Perry, Max. Descendants of Daniel Sturgis and Jean Bratton of York County, South Carolina. 1999.
 * [Sturgis] Collins, Gerald Edward. John Sturgis (1757-1825) of York County, South Carolina and Morgan County, Illinois: Some of His Ancestors, Siblings and Descendants Who Lived in Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia and Illinois and Other Points. Silver Spring, Md.: G.E. Collins, [2000?].
 * [Tippin] Tippin, Ernest Elwood. A Brief History of George Manton Tippin Sr., of Ireland, York County, South Carolina, and Washington County, Indiana, and His Descendants. Wichita, Kansas: E.E. Tippin, 1952. ; digital version at World Vital Records ($).
 * [Workman] Perry, Max. Descendants of John Workman, Capt. James Hanna and Capt. John E. McConnell of York County, South Carolina. Midland, Texas: M. Perry, 1995.

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.

Revolutionary War

 * Historical Sketch of the Battle of King's Mountain: Fought Between the American and British Troops, at King's Mountain, York Co., S.C. October 7, 1780. Yorkville, S.C.: Office of the Enquirer, 1880. Digital version at Internet Archive.

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.

Vital Records
Marriage


 * Holcomb, Brent H., comp. York, South Carolina, Newspapers Marriage and Death Notices, 1823-1865. Spartanburg, SC, USA: Reprint Co., 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

Death


 * Holcomb, Brent H., comp. York, South Carolina, Newspapers Marriage and Death Notices, 1823-1865. Spartanburg, SC, USA: Reprint Co., 1989. Digital version at Ancestry ($).

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