Charleston County, South Carolina Vital Records

United States  South Carolina  Charleston County  Charleston County Vital Records

Birth, marriage, and death records were not recorded by South Carolina until the 1900s, thus leaving a lack of vital records. Substitute records, when available, are used to obtain this information. These substitute records including newspapers, court records have been added to this page, when applicable.

Birth
See also Charleston County, South Carolina Cemeteries

Charleston began recording birth records in 1877. Copies can be obtained from the Charleston County Public Library. Requests can be made through email or mail. The only cost is for copies. Copies can also be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for a fee.

State-wide birth registration began in 1915. For a copy of a birth from 1915 or later, contact the South Carolina Department of Health. The Charleston County Health Department also has copies but they provide only an abbreviated form with limited information. For more information, see the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Births - Indexes and Records

 * 1877-1901 - South Carolina Delayed Births, 1766-1900 and City of Charleston, South Carolina Births, 1877-1901. - Available at Ancestry ($) - index and records
 * 1877-1901 - Births, 1877-1901, by Charleston, South Carolina Board of Health. Microfilm,  - index and records

Marriage
In South Carolina, marriage licenses were not required by local governments until 1 July 1911. However, in the 1700s, the Church of England parish churches were required to record all marriages - even if the couple were not members of the denomination. Not all churches recorded these marriages and some have not survived. See South Carolina Vital Records for more information.

The Charleston County probate court holds marriage licenses issued from 1 July 1911 to the present. Statewide registration of marriages began in July 1950 and the South Carolina Division of Vital Records has copies of licenses issued after 1 July 1950 through November 2009.

The city of Charleston recorded marriage records for a short time from 1877 to 1887. Copies can be obtained from the Charleston County Public Library. Requests can be made through email or mail. The only cost is for copies. Copies can also be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for a fee.

Newspapers are used as a substitute to locate marriage information. See South Carolina Newspapers.

Marriages and Marriage Substitutes - Indexes and Records

 * 1777-1788 - Jervey, Elizabeth Heyward. "Marriage and Death Notices from The State Gazette of South-Carolina, of Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 50, No. 3 (Jul. 1949):127-130; Vol. 50, No. 4 (Oct. 1949):204-208; Vol. 51, No. 1 (Jan. 1950):24-28; Vol. 51, No. 2 (Apr. 1950):97-102; Vol. 51, No. 3 (Jul. 1950):164-170. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1786-1790 - Webber, Mabel L. "Marriage and Death Notices from the Charleston Morning Post and Daily Advertiser, and Its Successor The City Gazette," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan. 1919):52-56; Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr. 1919):142-146; Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul. 1919):213-219; Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct. 1919):260-263; Vol. 21, No. 1 (Jan. 1920):24-29. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1790 - Jervey, Elizabeth Heyward. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 4 (Oct. 1950):243-246. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1806 - "Marriage and Death Notices from Charleston Courier for 1806" in The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. Digital version at JSTOR ($) - abstracts from the newspaper
 * 1807 - "The French Refugee Newspapers of Charleston" [1790s-1810s] in The South Carolina Historical Magazine.; Digital version at JSTOR ($) - abstracts from newspapers
 * 1811 - Jervey, Elizabeth H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the Carolina Gazette, A Weekly Paper Printed in Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 37, No. 1 (Jan. 1936):33-37; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * 1813-1824 - Jervey, Elizabeth H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette (and Daily Advertiser) of Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 38, No. 1 (Jan. 1937):43-48; Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr. 1937):66-71; Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul. 1937):95-98; Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct. 1937):137-141; Vol. 39, No. 1 (Jan. 1938):42-45; Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr. 1938):91-95; Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jul. 1938):130-133; Vol. 39, No. 4 (Oct. 1938):168-172; Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan. 1939):28-32; Vol. 40, No. 2 (Apr. 1939):65-69; Vol. 40, No. 3 (Jul. 1939):100-104; Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct. 1939):151-155; Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan. 1940):19-22; Vol. 41, No. 2 (Apr. 1940):69-73; Vol. 41, No. 3 (Jul. 1940):130-134; Vol. 41, No. 4 (Oct. 1940):157-161; Vol. 42, No. 2 (Apr. 1941):76-80; Vol. 42, No. 3 (Jul. 1941):141-145; Vol. 42, No. 4 (Oct. 1941):199-202; Vol. 43, No. 1 (Jan. 1942):47-49; Vol. 43, No. 3 (Jul. 1942):156-160; Vol. 43, No. 2 (Apr. 1942):98-102; Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct. 1942):213-218; Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan. 1943):11-16; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr. 1943):81-86; Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul. 1943):148-154; Vol. 44, No. 4 (Oct. 1943):220-227; Vol. 45, No. 1 (Jan. 1944):23-29; Vol. 45, No. 2 (Apr. 1944):71-79; Vol. 45, No. 3 (Jul. 1944):137-145; Vol. 45, No. 4 (Oct. 1944):193-199; Vol. 46, No. 1 (Jan. 1945):15-24; Vol. 46, No. 2 (Apr. 1945):70-77; Vol. 46, No. 3 (Jul. 1945):132-139; Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct. 1945):190-197; Vol. 47, No. 1 (Jan. 1946):21-28; Vol. 47, No. 2 (Apr. 1946):76-82; Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul. 1946):143-149; Vol. 47, No. 4 (Oct. 1946):205-213; Vol. 48, No. 1 (Jan. 1947):12-19; Vol. 48, No. 2 (Apr. 1947):76-83; Vol. 48, No. 3 (Jul. 1947):134-140; Vol. 48, No. 4 (Oct. 1947):198-205; Vol. 49, No. 1 (Jan. 1948):15-22; Vol. 49, No. 2 (Apr. 1948):76-87; Vol. 49, No. 3 (Jul. 1948):155-162; Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct. 1948):208-215; Vol. 50, No. 2 (Apr. 1949):71-76; Vol. 51, No. 1 (Jan. 1949):14-18; Vol. 52, No. 1 (Jan. 1951):48-51; Vol. 52, No. 2 (Apr. 1951):107-111; Vol. 52, No. 3 (Jul. 1951):180-182; Vol. 52, No. 4 (Oct. 1951):233-236; Vol. 53, No. 1 (Jan. 1952):48-50; Vol. 53, No. 2 (Apr. 1952):113-116; Vol. 53, No. 3 (Jul. 1952):172-175; Vol. 53, No. 4 (Oct. 1952):241-243; Vol. 54, No. 1 (Jan. 1953):54-56; Vol. 54, No. 2 (Apr. 1953):97-100; Vol. 54, No. 3 (Jul. 1953):159-163; Vol. 54, No. 4 (Oct. 1953):211-214; Vol. 55, No. 1 (Jan. 1954):48-51; Vol. 55, No. 2 (Apr. 1954):123-126; Vol. 55, No. 3 (Jul. 1954):170-173; Vol. 55, No. 4 (Oct. 1954):221-224; Vol. 56, No. 1 (Jan. 1955):50-52; Vol. 56, No. 2 (Apr. 1955):120-122; Vol. 56, No. 3 (Jul. 1955):178-180; Vol. 56, No. 4 (Oct. 1955):229-231; Vol. 57, No. 1 (Jan. 1956):54-56; Vol. 57, No. 2 (Apr. 1956):107-108; Vol. 57, No. 3 (Jul. 1956):182-184; Vol. 57, No. 4 (Oct. 1956):223-225; Vol. 58, No. 1 (Jan. 1957):48-50; Vol. 58, No. 2 (Apr. 1957):114-116; Vol. 58, No. 3 (Jul. 1957):183-185; Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct. 1957):266-270; . Digital version at JSTOR ($).


 * 1825 - Griffin, Inez H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston 1825," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan. 1959):43-47; Vol. 60, No. 2 (Apr. 1959):107-110; Vol. 60, No. 3 (Jul. 1959):170-172; Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct. 1959):229-232; Vol. 61, No. 1 (Jan. 1960):51-54; Vol. 61, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):114-116. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1826 - Griffin, Inez H. "Marriages and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston 1826," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):55-57; Vol. 63, No. 1 (Jan. 1962):52-54; Vol. 63, No. 2 (Apr. 1962):112-114; Vol. 63, No. 3 (Jul. 1962):182-184. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1827 - Griffin, Inez H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston 1827," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 64, No. 2 (Apr. 1963):114-116; Vol. 64, No. 4 (Oct. 1963):227-229. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1827-1845 - Marriage and Death Notices from the Charleston Observer 1827-1845 by Brent Holcomb. Book ; digital version at Ancestry ($) - abstracts from the newspaper
 * 1828 - "Marriages and Death Notices from the Charleston Gazette, 1828," in The South Carolina Historical Magazine. Digital version at JSTOR ($) - abstracts from the newspaper
 * 1877-1887 - Charleston, South Carolina, Marriage Records, 1877-1887. Available at Ancestry ($) - index and records
 * 1879 to Present - Charleston County Marriage License Search, 1879-Present - index and abstract
 * There are several online marriage indexes containing miscellaneous marriage records found in some counties of South Carolina listed on the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Death
See also Charleston County, South Carolina Cemeteries

The city of Charleston began keeping death records in 1821. Copies can be obtained from the Charleston County Public Library. Requests can be made through email or mail. The only cost is for copies. Copies can also be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History for a fee.

State-wide death registration began in 1915. For a copy of the death certificates from 1915 or later, contact the South Carolina Department of Health. The Charleston County Health Department only has copies for deaths occurring in the last 5 years. For more information, see the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Deaths and Death Substitutes - Indexes and Records

 * 1777-1788 - Jervey, Elizabeth Heyward. "Marriage and Death Notices from The State Gazette of South-Carolina, of Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 50, No. 3 (Jul. 1949):127-130; Vol. 50, No. 4 (Oct. 1949):204-208; Vol. 51, No. 1 (Jan. 1950):24-28; Vol. 51, No. 2 (Apr. 1950):97-102; Vol. 51, No. 3 (Jul. 1950):164-170. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1786-1790 - Webber, Mabel L. "Marriage and Death Notices from the Charleston Morning Post and Daily Advertiser, and Its Successor The City Gazette," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan. 1919):52-56; Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr. 1919):142-146; Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul. 1919):213-219; Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct. 1919):260-263; Vol. 21, No. 1 (Jan. 1920):24-29. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1790 - Jervey, Elizabeth Heyward. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 4 (Oct. 1950):243-246. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1806 - "Marriage and Death Notices from Charleston Courier for 1806" in The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. Digital version at JSTOR ($) - abstracts from the newspaper
 * 1807 - "The French Refugee Newspapers of Charleston," [1790s-1810s] in The South Carolina Historical Magazine. Digital version at JSTOR ($) - abstracts from these newspapers
 * 1813-1824 - Jervey, Elizabeth H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette (and Daily Advertiser) of Charleston, S.C.," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 38, No. 1 (Jan. 1937):43-48; Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr. 1937):66-71; Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul. 1937):95-98; Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct. 1937):137-141; Vol. 39, No. 1 (Jan. 1938):42-45; Vol. 39, No. 2 (Apr. 1938):91-95; Vol. 39, No. 3 (Jul. 1938):130-133; Vol. 39, No. 4 (Oct. 1938):168-172; Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan. 1939):28-32; Vol. 40, No. 2 (Apr. 1939):65-69; Vol. 40, No. 3 (Jul. 1939):100-104; Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct. 1939):151-155; Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan. 1940):19-22; Vol. 41, No. 2 (Apr. 1940):69-73; Vol. 41, No. 3 (Jul. 1940):130-134; Vol. 41, No. 4 (Oct. 1940):157-161; Vol. 42, No. 2 (Apr. 1941):76-80; Vol. 42, No. 3 (Jul. 1941):141-145; Vol. 42, No. 4 (Oct. 1941):199-202; Vol. 43, No. 1 (Jan. 1942):47-49; Vol. 43, No. 3 (Jul. 1942):156-160; Vol. 43, No. 2 (Apr. 1942):98-102; Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct. 1942):213-218; Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan. 1943):11-16; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr. 1943):81-86; Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul. 1943):148-154; Vol. 44, No. 4 (Oct. 1943):220-227; Vol. 45, No. 1 (Jan. 1944):23-29; Vol. 45, No. 2 (Apr. 1944):71-79; Vol. 45, No. 3 (Jul. 1944):137-145; Vol. 45, No. 4 (Oct. 1944):193-199; Vol. 46, No. 1 (Jan. 1945):15-24; Vol. 46, No. 2 (Apr. 1945):70-77; Vol. 46, No. 3 (Jul. 1945):132-139; Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct. 1945):190-197; Vol. 47, No. 1 (Jan. 1946):21-28; Vol. 47, No. 2 (Apr. 1946):76-82; Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul. 1946):143-149; Vol. 47, No. 4 (Oct. 1946):205-213; Vol. 48, No. 1 (Jan. 1947):12-19; Vol. 48, No. 2 (Apr. 1947):76-83; Vol. 48, No. 3 (Jul. 1947):134-140; Vol. 48, No. 4 (Oct. 1947):198-205; Vol. 49, No. 1 (Jan. 1948):15-22; Vol. 49, No. 2 (Apr. 1948):76-87; Vol. 49, No. 3 (Jul. 1948):155-162; Vol. 49, No. 4 (Oct. 1948):208-215; Vol. 50, No. 2 (Apr. 1949):71-76; Vol. 51, No. 1 (Jan. 1949):14-18; Vol. 52, No. 1 (Jan. 1951):48-51; Vol. 52, No. 2 (Apr. 1951):107-111; Vol. 52, No. 3 (Jul. 1951):180-182; Vol. 52, No. 4 (Oct. 1951):233-236; Vol. 53, No. 1 (Jan. 1952):48-50; Vol. 53, No. 2 (Apr. 1952):113-116; Vol. 53, No. 3 (Jul. 1952):172-175; Vol. 53, No. 4 (Oct. 1952):241-243; Vol. 54, No. 1 (Jan. 1953):54-56; Vol. 54, No. 2 (Apr. 1953):97-100; Vol. 54, No. 3 (Jul. 1953):159-163; Vol. 54, No. 4 (Oct. 1953):211-214; Vol. 55, No. 1 (Jan. 1954):48-51; Vol. 55, No. 2 (Apr. 1954):123-126; Vol. 55, No. 3 (Jul. 1954):170-173; Vol. 55, No. 4 (Oct. 1954):221-224; Vol. 56, No. 1 (Jan. 1955):50-52; Vol. 56, No. 2 (Apr. 1955):120-122; Vol. 56, No. 3 (Jul. 1955):178-180; Vol. 56, No. 4 (Oct. 1955):229-231; Vol. 57, No. 1 (Jan. 1956):54-56; Vol. 57, No. 2 (Apr. 1956):107-108; Vol. 57, No. 3 (Jul. 1956):182-184; Vol. 57, No. 4 (Oct. 1956):223-225; Vol. 58, No. 1 (Jan. 1957):48-50; Vol. 58, No. 2 (Apr. 1957):114-116; Vol. 58, No. 3 (Jul. 1957):183-185; Vol. 58, No. 4 (Oct. 1957):266-270; . Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * 1821-1914 - South Carolina Death Records, 1821-1955, Available at Ancestry ($) - includes Charleston City death records, 1821-1914; index and records
 * 1825 - Griffin, Inez H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston 1825," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan. 1959):43-47; Vol. 60, No. 2 (Apr. 1959):107-110; Vol. 60, No. 3 (Jul. 1959):170-172; Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct. 1959):229-232; Vol. 61, No. 1 (Jan. 1960):51-54; Vol. 61, No. 2 (Apr. 1960):114-116. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1826 - Griffin, Inez H. "Marriages and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston 1826," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 1 (Jan. 1961):55-57; Vol. 63, No. 1 (Jan. 1962):52-54; Vol. 63, No. 2 (Apr. 1962):112-114; Vol. 63, No. 3 (Jul. 1962):182-184. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1827 - Griffin, Inez H. "Marriage and Death Notices from the City Gazette of Charleston 1827," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 64, No. 2 (Apr. 1963):114-116; Vol. 64, No. 4 (Oct. 1963):227-229. Digital versions at JSTOR ($).
 * 1827-1845 - Marriage and Death Notices from the Charleston Observer 1827-1845 by Brent Holcomb. ; digital version at Ancestry ($) - index
 * 1828 - "Marriages and Death Notices from the Charleston Gazette, 1828," in The South Carolina Historical Magazine. Digital version at JSTOR ($) - Abstracts from the newspaper
 * 1871-1889 - Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina Black Deaths 1871-1889 Available at Ancestry ($) - Index
 * 1914-1960 - 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.

For an estimate of mortality rates in Colonial Charleston, see:


 * Coclanis, Peter A. "Death in Early Charleston: An Estimate of the Crude Death Rate for the White Population of Charleston, 1722-1732," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 85, No. 4 (Oct. 1984):280-291. Digital version at JSTOR ($).

A study of Charleston's early death records was written by Professor James Hagy:


 * Hagy, James W. "The Death Records of Charleston," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 91, No. 1 (Jan., 1990), pp. 32-44. Digital version at JSTOR ($).