Spartanburg County, South Carolina Genealogy

Guide to  ancestry, family history and genealogy court records, deeds, maps, immigration, maps, military records, newspapers, obituaries, plantations, probate records, slaves, local archives, libraries, museums, churches, cemeteries, and Civil War records.

South Carolina Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for Spartanburg, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Spartanburg County Courthouse 180 Magnolia St. Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306

Clerk of Court 180 Magnolia St., 2nd floor. Suite 500 Spartanburg, SC 29306 864-596-2591 Court and land records

Probate Court 180 Magnolia St., 1st Floor, Suite 302 Spartanburg, SC 29306 Phone: 864-596-2556 Probate and marriage records

Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

History
The county is named after the Spartan Regiment. Known in history as the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens.

Parent County
1795--"Spartan District" was created in 1795 from Ninety-Six District. In 1791 at the request of the citizens the legislature renamed the same place Spartanburg District (county) in honor of the district/county seat. in 1868 all districts including Spartanburg were renamed counties. County seat: Spartanburg

County Pronunciation

 * 1) Hear it spoken

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating South Carolina county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation South Carolina County Boundary Maps" (1682-1987) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Variant Spellings

 * Spartanburgh
 * Spartenburg

Record Loss

 * 1890 Lost census

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:

Research Guides

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

African Americans
United States African Americans South Carolina African Americans


 * Eelman, Bruce W. "'An Educated and Intelligent People Cannot Be Enslaved': The Struggle for Common Schools in Antebellum Spartanburg, South Carolina," History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Summer, 2004), pp. 250-270. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * Heinegg, Paul. "'Other Free' Heads of Household in the 1790 South Carolina Census, by County," Free African Americans.com. [Includes free blacks in Spartanburgh County.]

Known plantations South Carolina Plantations:


 * Mountain Shoals - Enoree
 * Thomas Price - Moore
 * Walnut Grove - Roebuck

Biography

 * Boggs, John. The Southern Christian; Exemplified in the Memoirs of Anthony Jefferson Pearson, Who Died August 31st, 1834 in Spartanburgh, South Carolina. New York: Ezra Collier, 1835. Digital version at Internet Archive.

Cemeteries

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

Census

 * 1829-1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

See Spartanburg County, SC census assignments, including links to transcribed files The USGenWeb Census Project®

1820 Manufactures
The original manufactures schedules for South Carolina are kept at the NARA, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: 1024517 - 1024518.

Published abstract:


 * National Archives. Indexes to Manufactures Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977. 973 X2m 1820; digital version at Lineages. Includes this county.

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 Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. Washington, D.C.: Blair and Rives, 1841. 973 X2pc 1840;  2321; digital versions at Google Books. See South Carolina, Spartanburgh [Spartanburg] District on page 143.

1850

 * Gilbert, Horace Elbert and Rodney Dusterhoft. An Enhanced 1850 Census, Spartanburg District, South Carolina. Spartanburg, S.C.: Pinckney District Chapter, SCGS, 1994. 975.729 X2g 1850

1860

 * Emory, Mary Mills and Lorene Burton Ambrose. 1860 Census, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Vol. 1. 975.729 X2p 1860 v. 1

Church
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Spartanburg 1st
 * Spartanburg 2nd
 * Spartanburg 3rd (Spanish)
 * Boiling Springs Ward

Court
Spartanburg County has court records from 1785 that are held in the office of the Clerk of Court. Spartanburg County was a part of the Ninety-Six District from 1785 - 1791 and the Pinckney District from 1791 - 1800. The records of the Ninety-Six District courts are housed in Abbeville County with the Clerk of Court. The records of the Pinckney District courts are housed with the York County Clerk of Court.

The South Carolina Archives and History Center has court records available on microfilm for Spartanburg County.

The Family History Library collection includes books and microfilm regarding court records for Spartanburg County.

Racine, Philip N. "The Spartanburg District Magistrates and Freeholders Court, 1824-1865," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 87, No. 4 (Oct., 1986), pp. 197-212. Digital version at JSTOR($).

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.

Genealogy

 * [Adcock] Adcock, Deverle Carol Turner and Jimmie Wallis Adcock. Adcock Family and Allied Families. [Austin, Texas: n.p.], 1979. 929.273 Ad19ad
 * [Anderson] Anderson, Edward Lee. A History of the Anderson Family 1706-1955, Through the Descendants of James Mason Anderson and His Wife Mary "Polly" Miller. Columbia, S.C.: R.L. Bryan Co., [1955]. 896816 Item 2
 * [Barnett] Jackson, Mary Brannon. Our Barnett Family, 1700-1978. n.p.: M.B. Jackson, 1978. 929.273 A1 no. 2791
 * [Barrett] Chamlee, Lelia Anne Barrett. Recollections...Barrett-Andrews and Related Families. Milledgeville, Ga.: L.A.B. Chamlee, 1996. 929.273 B275ch
 * [Bennett] Balis, Leila Smith. More About Our Bennett Family: of Granville Co./Bute Co./Warren Co., NC; Spartanburg Co., SC; Greene Co., IN; Twin Falls Co., ID. Murray, Utah: L.S. Balis, 2001.
 * [Brice] Lacey, Howard Elton and Deborah Ruth Carter Harry. Brice Roots in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 2000.
 * [Brown] Brown, Richard L. and Robert E. Brown. A Brown Family of Spartanburg and Greenville Counties, South Carolina. Maplewood, N.J.: R.L. &amp; R.E. Brown, 1963. Item 5
 * [Bryant] Pope, Jennings Bland. The Bryants of Spartanburg: Beginning with William Briant (c.1741 VA - c.1834 SC). Austin, Texas: J.B. Pope, 1980. 929.273 B841p
 * [Byars] Franke, William Frederick. Affidavit of William Frederick Franke Sr., 1749-1960, in Re[gard to] Descendants of Nathan Byars, Revolutionary Soldier, 1749-1846. Typescript, 1960. 928041 Item 6
 * [Byars] Tucker, Marjorie Stewart. Marjorie Stewart Tucker Genealogical Collection. MSS. Microfilmed 2006. ; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Cantrell] Gabbitas, Corinne Law. The Cantrell - Cantrill Genealogy, Peter and Sarah Descendents a Record of the Descendents of Richard Cantrill, Who was a Resident of Philadelphia Prior to 1689, and of Earlier Cantrills in England and America: A Record of the Descendents of Isaac Cantrell, Who was a Resident of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Orem, Utah: C.L. Gabbitas, 1982?. 1206432 Item 16
 * [Cartee] Cartee, Bobby Gene. Cartee Family History and Related Families. Spartanburg, S.C.: B.G. Cartee, 1987. 929.273 C243c
 * [Casey] Casey, Alvin Harold and Robert Brooks Casey. Casey Family History. Stillwater, Okla.: A.H. Casey, 1980. 929.273 C268ca
 * [Chapman] Nichols, William A. Descendants of Julius Nichols. Pedigree Chart, 1992. Microfilmed. 1697786 Item 13
 * [Church] Daniels, Jeanette K.B. Church and Allied Families. Vidor, Texas: W. Hayes, 1992. 929.273 C473d
 * [Collins] "Captain John Collins," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 37, No. 3 (Summer 2009):141-142. [Reprint of "Nazareth and Cowpens," in Southern Presbyterian, Issue dated 2 June 1881, page 3.]
 * [DeLong] Baldwin, John D. "Descendants of James DeLong born 1755-1760 of Spartanburg County, South Carolina," in DeLong Genealogy. MSS., Cleveland Ohio Family History Center. Microfilmed 2005. VAULT 1542450 Item 2
 * [Earle] Clark, Agnes Nesbitt. The Earle Family of South Carolina. 929.273 A1 no. 237
 * [Embry] Nichols, Eula May Hembree. Descendants of Joel Hembree. Homewood, Ill.: E. H. Nichols, 1988. 929.273 H371n; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * [Erwin] Knisely, Mary Jane. John Armstrong Erwin and Alice Brandon of North Carolina. Orlando, Fla.: M.H. Knisely, [197-?]. 929.273 A1 no. 3450.
 * [Foster] Foster, T.D. History of the Fosters of Spartanburg County, South Carolina and Amelia Court House, Virginia. MSS., microfilmed 1973. Item 2
 * [Foster] Pennell, Ira W. Ridley - Foster: Virginia, South Carolina. Typescript. Microfilmed 1981. 1033690 Item 4
 * [Gaston] Gee, Mary Gaston. The Ancestry and Descendants of Amzi Williford Gaston II (1841-1911) of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Charlottesville, Va.: M.G. Gee, 1944.
 * [Goodlett] Goodlett, Mildred W. Links in the Goodlett Chain. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1965. 929.273 G619gm; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * [Gossett] Gossett, Jeffrey. The Gossetts of South Carolina. Rock Hill, S.C.: J.L. Gossett, 1997. 929.273 G696g
 * [Graham] Graham, Bobby Don. Descendants of John Levi Graham, Jr. Los Angeles, Calif.: B.D. Graham, 1962? 1031249 Item 11
 * [Graham] Graham, Bobby Don. Graham Family. Buena Park, Calif.: B.D. Graham, 1962? 1421647 Item 8
 * [Grant] Grant, Bishop Franklin (Mrs.). Grant Family of South Carolina. Typescript. 219477 Item 4
 * [Hanna] Hanna, Frank A. The Hanna Family of Enoree River. Durham, N.C.: Hanna, 1969. 1011935 Item 8
 * [Harris] Harris, David Golightly, Philip N. Racine, and Emily Liles Harris. Piedmont Farmer, the Journals of David Golightly Harris, 1855-1870. Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tenn. Press, 1990. 975.729 D3p
 * [Hembree] See Embry.
 * [Henderson] Henderson, Wallace Bozeman and Evelyn Kathleen Berry Henderson. Research on the Following Families: Peter Hendersen, Bunyon Henderson, William Andrew Henderson, John Henderson, Alexander "Sandy" Henderson. Spartanburg, S.C.: W.B. Henderson, 1988. 929.273 H383hb
 * [Holt] Holt, Lessie Davis. Charles Holt, American Revolutionary War Veteran - Charles Holt &amp; Descendants, 1762-1980. Blountsville, Ala.: L.D. Holt, 1981. 929.273 H742h
 * [Huey] "Some Notes on the Huey Family," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Winter 1992):22-26.
 * [Huntley] Galloway, Robert Maxton. Autobiography. Columbia, S.C.: R.M. Galloway, 1998. 921.73 G138a
 * [Jackson] Holcomb, Brent H. Jackson of North Pacolet: Descendants of Samuel Jackson, Sr. (Died 1796, Spartanburg County, South Carolina). Columbia, S.C.: B.H. Holcomb, 1991.
 * [Jones] Holcombe, William J. Our Jones-Parker Family: Keeping Up with the Joneses. [Columbia, S.C.: W.J. Holcombe, 199-?.] 929.273 J71hwj
 * [Jones] Jones, Ransom Lanier. Descendants of John Jones Born about 1750 and Died in Early 1818 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Fernandina Beach, Fla.: R.L. Jones, 2000.
 * Kilpatrick Author Unknown, "Alexander Kilpatrick of South Carolina and His Descendants". p. 124, Historical Southern Families Volume XXII
 * [Lancaster] Lancaster, Osborne Byron. Ancestors and Descendants of Edgar Bernard Lancaster and Mattie Lee Hines Lancaster, 1770-1962. n.p.: O.B. Lancaster, 1962. 929.273 L221Lo
 * [Land] Walker, Robert B. Our Family Genealogy. MSS. Microfilmed 1960. 209590 Item 4
 * [Leatherwood] Wheeler, Phillip Glenn. The Descendants of Thomas and Mary (Lanford) Leatherwood. Fontana, Calif.: P.G. Wheeler, 1995. 929.273 L484w
 * [Lee] Jay, Margaret Beheler. John Watts Lee, Sr. Family, of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Shelby, N.C.: Broad River Genealogical Society, 1999.
 * [Leslie] Leslie, Reuben Lloyd. Notes on the Ancestry of William Samuel Leslie and Margaret Gertrude Ramage. Typescript, Clayton Library, Houston, Texas. Microfilmed 1982. 1317274 Item 14
 * [McBee] McBee, Vardry. Portraiture of Vardry McBee of South Carolina Born in Spartanburg District, 19 June 1775; Died in Greenville, 23 January 1864. 1852. 6104945
 * [McElreath] McElreath, Walter. My Folks. Atlanta, Ga.: J.T. Hancock, 1941. 929.273 M154mw
 * [McMakin] McMakin, Dean. McMakin and McMeekin: Some Descendants of Alexander McMakin of Loudoun County, Virginia; Includes the Surnames: Briggs, Campbell, Hays, Henson, Hinkle, Howard, Leachman, Litsey, McMeekin, Miller, Sudduth, Wheeler. St. Charles, Ill.: D. McMakin, [199-?]. 929.273 M227mk
 * [Martin] Harvey, Judy L. and Marie R. Davis. The Family of John Martin and Margaret Faris of Spartenburg County, South Carolina. Portland, Ore.: M.R. Davis, 1982. 929.273 M364d
 * [Newman] Newman, William Alton. Newman--Hildreth Family, ca. 1780-1971. Typescript, microfilmed 1990. 1320972 Item 25
 * [Newman] Newman, William Alton and James Wilson Newman. The Newman Family: Descendants of Davis and Nancy Newman, 1780, Spartanburg County District, South Carolina. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 1992.
 * [Page] Page, Donald W. The History and Genealogy of the Robert and Rachel Page Family from Goochland County, Virginia and Spartanburg County, South Carolina. 2 vols. Franklin, N.C.: Genealogy Pub. Service, 1992-2002.
 * [Peden] Hewell, Eleanor M. The Pedens of America. Free Lookups Available!
 * [Pruitt] Prewitt, Richard A. Prewitt-Pruitt Records of South Carolina. Grimes, Iowa: R.A. Prewitt, 1981. 1033812 Item 5
 * [Rainey] Rainey, Ralph E. Wallace A. Rainey and Jessie I. Ringer, Their Ancestors, Descendants and Allied Families. Carlyle, Ill.: R.E. Rainey, 1985. 929.273 R135rr
 * [Rodgers] Andrea, Leonardo. Rodgers--Roger--Rogers. Typescript, Polk County Historical Library, Bartow, Fla. Microfilmed 1975. 978080 Item 2
 * [Rogers] Rogers, Virgil Madison. Rogers--McCravy--Lanham Family History: With Allied and Descendant Families. Strasburg, Va.: Shenandoah Publishing House, 1975. 1454581 Item 6
 * [Sloan] Jones, Phillip Barron and Eva McCranie Jones. Sloan and Related Families: Descendants of George Thomas Sloan (1756-1836) of County Cork, Ireland, and Spartanburg and Laurens Counties, South Carolina. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 2007.
 * [Smith] Smith, Josiah B., Elizabeth Smith, and D.A.R. Katharine Livingston Chapter. Genealogy of William Smith of Wrightstown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1684 [Published at] Newtown, Pa., 1883. Transcript, National Library, D.A.R. Microfilmed 1971. 875380 Item 8
 * [Stone] Willett, Jean. Twenty-three Years of Research. MSS. 198-?. 929.273 M612wj
 * [Suddath] Paget, James Suddath. Ancestors and Descendants of Hancock D. Suddath and Jemima Whaley Etheredge. Franklin, N.C.: Genealogy Pub. Service, 1996. 929.273 Su21p
 * [Templeman] Templeman, Billy Gerald. Family History of the Templemans, Mobleys &amp; Kin. Terrell, Texas: B.G. Templeman, 1976? 929.273 T248t
 * [Thomas] Bushnell, George Elmore. A Chart of the Descendants of Colonel John Thomas and Jane Black of Spartanburg, S.C. MSS., South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston. Microfilmed 1952. Item 12
 * [Thomas] Moore, Elvin M. The James Madison Thomas Story: With Sketches of the Tolleson and Webber (Weber) Families. Greenville, S.C.: E.M. Moore, Jr., 1984. 929.273 T364m
 * [Thompson] Carpenter, Terry L. Thompson Kith and Kin: A Southern Highlander Family. New York, N.Y.: T. Carpenter, 1991. 929.273 T371ctL
 * [Thornton] Crowley, Ariel L. The Ancestry of Jane Thornton of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Wife of Arthur Hutchens of Albemarle Parish, Virginia, and Ancestress of Clarence Edmund Cowley. Idaho City, Idaho: A.L. Crowley, 1969.
 * [Turner] Fitts, Ruth Turner. Turner, Georgia, South Carolina. Newnan, Ga.: R. T. Fitts, 1982? 929.273 T851f
 * [Turner] Lennon, Rachal Mills. "Jonathan Turner-More than a Name: A Carolina Case Study in Dissecting Records," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 97, No. 1 (Mar. 2009):17-28. FHL 973 B2ng v. 97
 * [Vandiver] Vandiver, Rubie. History of B.P. Vandiver and Family. Fitzgerald, Ga.: Du-Mar Binderers &amp; Printing Corporation], 1970. 1429814 Item 1
 * [Walker] Walker, Robert B. Our Family Genealogy. MSS. Microfilmed 1960. 209590 Item 4
 * [Wall] Wall, Marcus H. Your Wall Family. n.p.: M.H. Wall, 1973. 929.273 W154wmh
 * [Westmoreland] Foster, Lucia. Westmoreland Ancestry: 1980 Update. Cove, Ark.: L. Foster, 1980. 929.273 W528f
 * [Wilbanks] Rex, Joyce A. William Henry Wilbanks (1810-1902), His Ancestors, Life and Children: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Purcell, Okla.: J.A. Rex, 1996. 929.273 W641r
 * [Williams] Beam - Duckworth - Langston - Williams Families. MSS., Pinkneyville, Ill. Microfilmed 1975. 975738 Item 8
 * [Williams] Williams, Johnny Lee and Wiley Edward Williams. Descendants of Edward Williams of Spartanburg Co., S.C., 1790-1964. Typescript.
 * [Williams] Williams: Family Bible Records, 1793-1920, Together with Transcripts. MSS. Microfilmed 1984. 1206451 Item 6
 * [Williams] Williams, Johnny Lee. Descendants of Edward Williams, Sr. of Spartanburg County, South Carolina (now Cherokee County, South Carolina). Attalla, Ala.: J.L. Williams, 2000.
 * [Willis] Willis, J. Ernest. The House of Daniel Willis. Travelers Rest, S.C.: Stephen A. Loftis Printing Co., 1968. 929.273 W679wj
 * [Wofford] Wait, Jane Wofford, John W. Wofford and Carrie Wofford Floyd. History of the Wofford Family: Direct Descendants of Captain Joseph Wofford. Spartanburg, S.C.: n.p., 1928. 1993 reprint: 929.273 W822wj
 * [Wood] Wood, Christine Knox and James Moses Wood. Wood Works Documented More Than 1100 Descendants of William Wood, Whose Will in Spartanburg District, S.C. was Dated 22 January 1787: As Many As Ten Generations To Date. 3 vols. Lubbock, Texas: J.M. Hood, 1971-1978.
 * Gilbert, Horace Elbert and Rodney Dusterhoft. An Enhanced 1850 Census, Spartanburg District, South Carolina. Spartanburg, S.C.: Pinckney District Chapter, SCGS, 1994. 975.729 X2g 1850 [Enhancements (additions) where known include: full names, birth and death dates, maiden names, names of future spouses, identification of some Civil War veterans, and burial locations.]
 * Old Spartanburg District Genealogy. Spartanburg, S.C.: Gainey Research Services, 1986-1989.

Immigration

 * Howe, George. The Scotch-Irish and Their First Settlements on the Tyger River and Other Neighboring Precincts in South Carolina a Centennial Discourse, Delivered at Nazareth Church, Spartanburg District, S.C., September 14, 1861. 1861; reprint, Greenville, S.C.: A Press, 1981.

Early migration routes to and from Spartanburg County for European settlers included:


 * Old Cherokee Path pre-historic
 * Lower Cherokee Traders' Path pre-historic
 * Catawba Trail pre-historic
 * Old South Carolina State Road 1747
 * Upper Road about 1783 (overlapped Lower Cherokee Traders' Path)

Land and Property
Because of South Carolina’s history as an agricultural state many residents owned land. For more information abou types of land records see South Carolina Land and Property.

Tracing records through South Carolina county and district changes can be difficult. In general, for earliest records begin by searching the Charleston District, then your ancestor’s residential district, then neighboring districts, then the residential county, then neighboring counties. Not all districts and counties kept records. The following chart shows where you may best expect to find land records for Spartanburg County:

* Some early records may be found in North Carolina counties Anson, Mecklenburg, or Tryon

Orignial deed books are located at the Spartanburg County Courthouse.

Abstracted deeds in Spartanburg County/District, South Carolina, deed abstracts, books A-T, 1785-1827 (1752-1827), A.B. Pruitt

Plats For State Land Grants 1784-1868


 * Plats For State Land Grants 1784-1868 For information about the State Land Grants, see State Land Grants

Local Histories

 * History of Spartanburg County. Spartanburg, S.C.?: Band &amp; White, 1940. Digital version at Ancestry($).
 * Landrum, J.B.O. Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper South Carolina, Embracing for the Most Part the Primitive and Colonial History of the Territory Comprising the Original County of Spartanburg with a General Review of the Entire Military Operations in the Upper Portion of South Carolina and Portions of North Carolina. Greenville, S.C.: Shannon &amp; Co., Printers and Binders, 1897. Digital version at Google Books.
 * Landrum, J.B.O. History of Spartanburg County: Embracing an Account of Many Important Events and Biographical Sketches of Statesmen, Divines and Other Public Men, and the Names of Many Others Worthy of Record in the History of Their County. Atlanta, Ga.: Franklin Printing, 1900. ; ; digital versions at Internet Archive; World Vital Records($); another World Vital Records($) version.
 * Spartanburg City and Spartanburg County, South Carolina, 1903. 1903. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * Waldrep, G.C. Southern Workers and the Search for Community: Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2000.


 * Reviews:


 * 1) By John Hennen in The American Historical Review, Vol. 106, No. 4 (Oct. 2001):1397-1398. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * 2) By Annette C. Wright in The Journal of American History, Vol. 88, No. 4 (Mar. 2002):1580-1581. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * 3) By R. Phillip Stone II in The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 68, No. 3 (Aug. 2002):738-379. Digital version at JSTOR ($).


 * Harris, David Golightly. Piedmont Farmer, The Journals of David Golightly Harris, 1855-1870. (Knoxville, Tennessee : University of Tenn. Press, c1990. 597 pages. David Harris, the owner of 10 slaves records life on his farm, in his neighborhood, and the society of Piedmont. Book found at and Other Libraries.

Military
Over the years, many veterans have lived in Spartanburg County. The area receives a lot of attention, as being the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens. Spartanburg County, South Carolina Military identifies various military records and histories.

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 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 Spartanburg County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regimens that were formed of many men from Spartanburg County:


 * - 1st Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A
 * - 1st Battalion, South Carolina Reserves, Company A, Company C, and Company D
 * - 1st Battalion, South Carolina Sharpshooters, Company A (also known the Union Light Infantry and German Fusiliers) and Company C - (also known as the Charleston Sharpshooters and Palmetto Guards)
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company A (also known as Calhoun's Battery; Sumter Light Artillery, Sumter Battery, Preston's Battery, Blake's Battery and other name variations), Company C, and Company K
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Butler's) (1st Regulars), Company A (also called Company B and Beauregard Artillery)
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Hagood's), 2nd Company H (also known as Winsmith Guards)
 * - 1st Regiment, South Carolina State Troops Junior Reserves (State Militia), Company A
 * -2nd Battalion, South Carolina Reserves, Company C (also known as the Spartan Rangers, the Spartanburg Rangers and the Spartan Rangers Independent Cavalry Reserves)
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A (also known as the Boykin Mounted Rangers and Hampton Scouts), Company E (also known as Dean's Cavalry), and Company F (also known as the Easley's Cavalry)
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Rifles, Company L
 * - 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company C (also known as Captain Dean's Company)
 * - 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company A, Company B, Company D, Company G, and Company K
 * - 4th Regiment, South Carolina State Troop Junior Reserves, Company A, Company E, and Company I
 * - 5th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Ferguson's), Company K
 * - 7th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves (90 days 1862-63), Company A, Company H, and Company L
 * - 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company C and Company F
 * -9th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves, Company I
 * - 9th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company C
 * - 13th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company A, Company B, Company C, Company E, Company F, and Company I
 * - 16th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Greenville Regiment), Company G
 * - 16th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A, Company C, and Company E
 * - 18th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company C, Company E, Company F, Company G, and Company K

Other Resources
 * South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Confederate Pension Records, 1889,1896, 1916-1935 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954, 1971). 6 FHL Microfilms Pension applications, A-I (veterans), 1919-1920's. Pension applications, J-Z (veterans), 1919-1920's. Pension applications, A-N, (widows), 1919-1920's Pension application, O-Z (widows), 1919-1920's Pension record, 1889, 1896, 1916-1919. Pension rolls,(widows), 1920-1935 (includes some applications). Microfilm copies at
 * Harris, David Golightly. Piedmont Farmer, The Journals of David Golightly Harris, 1855-1870. (Knoxville, Tennessee : University of Tenn. Press, c1990), 597 pages. David Harris, the owner of 10 slaves records life on his farm, in his neighborhood, and the society of Piedmont. Civil War pages 171-356. Book found at and Other Libraries.
 * Gorski, Eddie L. Civil War abstracts from the Gaffney ledger: from the local newspaper. (Gaffney, South Carolina : E.L. Gorski, c1989-c1991). 2 volumes. These abstraction also contain some of those who were living in near by counties such as Union, York and Spartanburg"--Vol. 1, pref., 1st prelim. p. Names are in alphabetical order by surname. Vol. 2 includes information from the Union Times. Books found at

Newspapers
Historic

The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Spartanburg 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.


 * Black Star (Columbia, S.C.) 1977-current.
 * Chesnee Tribune (Chesnee, S.C.) 1971-current.
 * Cowpens-Pacolet Tribune (Cowpens, S.C.) 1971-current.
 * Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1989-current.
 * Spartanburg Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1982-1989.
 * Spartanburg Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1900-1906.
 * Spartanburg Tribune (Chesnee, S.C.) 1969-current.
 * Star Tribune (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1980-1992.
 * The Carolina Citizen (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1922-1924.
 * The Carolina Spartan (Spartanburg, S.C.) 185?-189?.
 * The Carolina Spartan (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1???-1913.
 * The Church Herald (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1881-1884.
 * The Clifton Chronicle (Converse, S.C.) 1908-1931.
 * The Daily Herald (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1890-1982.
 * The Evening Star (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1898-1900.
 * The Free Lance (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1899-1919.
 * The Inman Times (Inman, S.C.) 1920-current.
 * The Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1906-1913.
 * The Journal and the Carolina Spartan (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1913-1920.
 * The Landrum Leader (Landrum, S.C.) 1955-1974.
 * The News Leader (Landrum, S.C.) 1974-current.
 * The News Review (Una, S.C.) 1929-1971.
 * The Orphans' Friend (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1873-1875.
 * The Paper (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1984-current.
 * The Piedmont Headlight (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1892-1905.
 * The Spartan (Camp Croft [Spartanburg], S.C.) 1944-19??.
 * The Spartan (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-185?.
 * The Spartan (Spartanburg, S.C.) 189?-1???.
 * The Spartanburg Express (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1854-1866.
 * The Spartanburg Gazette (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1869-1870.
 * The Spartanburg Herald (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1875-1920.
 * The Spartanburg Journal and the Carolina Spartan (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1920-1982.
 * The Spartanburg Republican (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1870-1871.
 * The Sun and the Carolina Citizen (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1924-1925.
 * The Woodruff News (Woodruff, S.C.) 1916-1928.
 * The Woodruff News (Woodruff, S.C.) 1950-current.

Current


 * Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.) Online edition.
 * Spartanburg County and Spartanburg, SC Obituaries

Obituaries
Spartanburg County Public Librariy has Indexes to various newspaper obituaries as well as a miscellaneous death index. The obituaries and index covers various years ranging from 1844 to 2009 with gaps in all of the databases.


 * Spartanburg Herald and Herald-Journal: 1920, 1922, 1930-2011
 * Spartanburgh Herald + Spartanburgh Journal or the Spartanburg Weekly Herald: 1902-1919
 * Carolina Spartan / Spartanburg Herald Death Index: 1849-1893
 * Register of Deaths of Spartanburg: 1 Oct 1895-21 Oct 1897 and 3 Aug 1903-31 Dec 1915
 * Miscellaneous Death Index: 1844 - early 1900s

Periodicals
Tap into the minds of local experts. Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers new to their area may not encounter. Periodicals at various levels (county, region, and state) may carry articles useful to research in this area. For this county, see:


 * Pinckney District Chapter Quarterly
 * Upper South Carolina Genealogy and History
 * Old Spartanburg District Genealogy 

Probate
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.” Various types of records are created throughout the probate process. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. For further information see probate records in South Carolina.

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 organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Spartanburg County wills. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:


 * Spartanburg Wills Book A-D 1810-1858

Probate records for Spartanburg County are found in the court of ordinary, the probate court, and the court of equity. Some estate records and indexes also available on microfilm, including the following:


 * Index to Estate Papers, 1787-1971.


 * Index to Real Estate Papers, 1825-1971.


 * Brent H. Holcomb, comp. Spartanburg County, South Carolina will abstracts, 1787- 1840. Columbia, South Carolina: B.H. Holcomb, c1983.
 * Spartanburg Wills 1787-1816 (transcripts). See names of testators. South Carolina Pioneers
 * Index to Will Bk A, 1787-1820; Bk B, 1821-1830, Bk C, 1830-1835 South Carolina Pioneers
 * Spartanburg Wills courtesy of USGenWeb Archives.

Online Probate Records
 * 1670-1980 - South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1671-1977 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1732-1964 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1782-1866 - South Carolina, Will Transcripts 1782-1866 at findmypast — $, index

Schools

 * First Annual Catalogue of the Instructors and Pupils in the Limestone Springs Female High School, Spartanburg, S.C., August, 1846. New York: Leavitt, Trow &amp; Company, 1846. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * Catalogue of the Instructors and Pupils in the Limestone Springs Female High School, Spartanburg, S.C., 1855. Charleston, S.C.: James and Williams, 1855. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * Catalogue of the Instructors and Pupils in the Limestone Springs Female High School, Spartanburg, S.C., 1856. Columbia, S.C.: Steam Power-Press of R.W. Gibbes, 1856. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * Catalogue of the Instructors and Pupils in the Limestone Springs Female High School, Spartanburg, S.C., 1857. Columbia, S.C.: Steam-Power Press of R.W. Gibbes, 1857. Digital version at Internet Archive.

Taxation
Tax-related records are kept by the offices of the county Assessor, Auditor, Sheriff, and Treasurer. Taxes were levied on real and personal property and can help establish ages, residences, relationships, and the year an individual died or left the area. They can be used as substitutes for missing or destroyed land and census records.


 * South Carolina Department of Archives and History tax lists for Spartanburg County.

Published abstracts

 * 1788 - Iron Works of Spartanburg Sheriff's Sale 2nd Notice, July 14, 1788, Upper South Carolina Genealogy and History, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Aug. 2005).
 * 1844 - Tax Return, 1844, Spartanburg Dist., W, Pinckney District Chapter Quarterly, Vol.16, No. 1 (Spring 1992).
 * Freedmen Tax List, Pinckney District Chapter Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 3 (Sep. 2008).

Vital Records
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.

Birth
Birth records do not begin in Spartanburg until 1915. For a copy of a birth from 1915 or later, contact the South Carolina Department of Health. The Spartanburg 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.


 * 1766-1900 - at FamilySearch — images

Marriage
In South Carolina, marriage records 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 Spartanburg 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.

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

Marriages and Marriage Substitutes - Indexes


 * 1785-1911 - Spartanburg County Marriages, 1785-1911 Implied in Spartanburg County, South Carolina Probate Records by Barbara R. Langdon WorldCat - abstracts
 * 1866-1869 - Marriages from the Carolina Spartan Newspapers, 1866-1869 by Faye Berry Emory WorldCat - abstracts
 * 1911 to 1950s - Spartanburg County Marriage Records by the Spartanburg County, SC USGenweb page - index, incomplete
 * 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
The town of Spartanburg began recording deaths in 1895. These records can be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

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 Spartanburg 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


 * 1800-1900- CSI: Dixie collects 1583 coroners reports from six South Carolina counties for the years 1800-1900.
 * 1816-1990 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1849-Present - Obituary Online Index  by the Spartanburg County Public Library - index, INCOMPLETE between 1916 to1930s
 * 1895-1897; 1903-1914 - South Carolina Death Records, 1821-1955 Available at Ancestry ($) - index and records, includes Spartanburg City death records;
 * 1915-1965 - at FamilySearch — index and 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.

Archives, Libraries, and Museums
Spartanburg County Public Libraries

Digital items: The Spartanburg County Public Libraries Digitization Program creates digital collections of local history materials from the Kennedy Room of Local and South Carolina History and Cleveland Genealogical Department and makes them available online

Headquarters Library Address: 151 South Church Street Spartanburg, SC 29306 Telephone: 864-596-3500 Hours: Sunday 1:30 PM -6:00 PM; Monday Friday 9:00 AM -9:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM -6:00 PM

The Kennedy Room of Local and South Carolina History and Cleveland Genealogy Department on the top floor of the headquarters Library houses an extensive collection of source material for genealogy and history researchers. In addition to books, types of materials in our collection include microform, maps, media clippings, manuscripts, visual arts and access to several online genealogy databases. The materials’ focus is on Spartanburg County but also includes South Carolina and regional information.

The best way to access this material is through personal visits and by viewing our online information. We offer limited assistance to long-distance researchers through email, postal mail or telephone.

Boiling Springs Library Address: 871 Double Bridge Road Boiling Springs, SC29316 Telephone: 864-578-3665 Hours: Sun. 1:30 PM -6 PM; Mon., Tues. &amp; Thurs. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed., Fri. &amp; Sat. 10 AM -6 PM

Chesnee Library Address: 100 Pickens Avenue Chesnee, SC 29323 Telephone: 864-461-2423 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon., Tues. &amp; Thurs. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed. &amp; Fri. 10 AM -6 PM; Sat. 10 AM -4 PM

Cowpens Library Address:  181 School Street Cowpens, SC 29330 Telephone: 864-463-0430 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon. &amp; Tues. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed., Thurs. &amp; Fri. 10 AM -6 PM; Sat. 10 AM -4 PM

H. Carlisle Bean Law Library Address:  180 Magnolia Street, 3rd floor Spartanburg, SC 29306 Telephone: 864-596-2511 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon. - Fri. 8:30 AM -12:15 PM &amp; 1:15 PM -5 PM; Sat. CLOSED

Inman Library Address:  50 Mill Street Inman, SC 29349 Telephone: 864-472-8363 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon., Tues. &amp; Thurs. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed. &amp; Fri. 10 AM -6 PM; Sat. 10 AM -4 PM

Landrum Library Address: 111 East Asbury Drive Landrum, SC 29356 Telephone: 864-457-2218 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon., Tues. &amp; Thurs. 9 AM -8 PM; Wed. &amp; Fri. 9 AM -6 PM; Sat. 9 AM -2 PM

Middle Tyger Library Address: 170 Groce Road Lyman, SC 29365 Telephone: 864-439-4759 Hours: Sun. 1:30 PM -6 PM; Mon., Tues. &amp; Thurs. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed, Fri. &amp; Sat. 10 AM -6 PM

Pacolet Library Address: 390 West Main Street Pacolet, SC 29372 Telephone: 864-474-0421 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon. &amp; Tues. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed., Thurs. &amp; Fri. 10 AM -6 PM; Sat. 12 noon-4 PM

Cyrill Westside Library Address:  525 Oak Grove Road Spartanburg, SC 29301 Telephone: 864-574-6815 Hours: Sun. 1:30 PM -6 PM; Mon.-Thurs. 9 AM -9 PM; Fri. 9 AM -6 PM; Sat. 10 AM -6 PM

Woodruff Library Address: 270 East Hayne Street Woodruff, SC 29388 Telephone: 864-476-8770 Hours: Sun. CLOSED; Mon., Tues. &amp; Thurs. 10 AM -8 PM; Wed. 10 AM -6 PM; Fri. 12 noon-6 PM; Sat. 10 AM -4 PM

Family History Centers

 * Spartanburg South Carolina Family History Center

Spartanburg South Carolina 121 Quail Dr Spartanburg, Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States Phone: 864-585-5943 Hours: Tues 9:00-5:00; Wed 6:30-8:30; Thurs 6:30-8:30; Fri 10-2 Closed: Week of Thanksgiving, and last two (2) weeks of December Attention: Additional hours opened by appointment. Contact Tracy Terry 864-580-8731

Societies - Genealogical, Historical, Lineage
Pinckney District Chapter SCGS P.O. Box 5281 Spartanburg SC 29304-5281 Spartanburg Historical Association 501 Otis Blvd. Spartanburg SC 29306 source: Society Hill  Piedmont Historical Society P.O. Box 8096 Sparanburg SC 29305-8096 source: Society Hill

Websites

 * Spartanburg County, SC History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Genealogy Inc)
 * Spartanburg County, SCGenWeb
 * Spartanburg County, USGenWeb Archives
 * Spartanburg County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * South Carolina Pioneers
 * South Carolina Pioneers