Georgetown County, South Carolina, Genealogy

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

Description
Georgetown County is named for George III of the United Kingdom. The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Georgetown County Courthouse 401 Cleland Street Georgetown, SC 29440 Phone: 843-545-3215 Georgetown 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:

Biographies

 * Porter, A. Toomer. Led On!: Step by Step; Scenes from Clerical, Military Educational, and Plantation Life in the South, 1828-1898; an Autobiography. New York, N.Y.: The Knickerbocker Press, 1898. FamilySearch Digital Library, 1033568 Item 2.

Cemeteries

 * To view a cemetery list, see Georgetown.
 * National Cemetery Administration

Census Records

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

1790
 * Grant, Marvin A. 1790 Census Georgetown District South Carolina: A Full Transcription of the 1790 Census of the Georgetown District, South Carolina. Kinston, N.C.: M.A. Grant, 2004. 975.789 X2g 1790

1810
 * Teel, Dorothy Owens and Three Rivers Historical Society (Hemingway, S.C.). The 1810 Census of Georgetown District and the 1810 Census of Horry District, South Carolina. 199-?. 975.78 X2t 1810

1850
 * Three Rivers Historical Society. Georgetown County [South Carolina] 1850 Census. Hemingway, S.C.: Three Rivers Historical Society, 1985. 975.789 X2g 1850

1860
 * Wyndham, Melissa J. The 1860 Census of Georgetown County, South Carolina. n.p.: n.p., n.d. 975.789 X2w

1880
 * Tell, Dorothy Owens. 1880 Census, Georgetown County, South Carolina. Hemingway, S.C.: Three Rivers Historical Society (South Carolina), 1985. 975.789 X2t 1880

Church Records
Baptist
 * Mitchell, Thomas R. An Oration Delivered in the Baptist Church in Georgetown, S.C. on Wednesday, the 24th of June, 1818: In Commemoration of St. John the Baptist: By Appointment of the Members of Winyaw Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free Masons. Georgetown, S.C.: Winyaw Intelligence Press, 1818. Digital version at Internet Archive.

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

Methodist The following Georgetown County church records have been indexed on the International Genealogical Index:

Episcopal Church Before 1785, residents of what is now Georgetown County were served by these colonial parishes.


 * Prince George 1721
 * Prince Frederick 1734
 * All Saints 1767

After 1785, residents of Georgetown County were also served by this parish. Click the link to see a description of the parish records held by the South Carolina Historical Society:
 * Church of the Messiah, Georgetown County, South Carolina

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * Bridwell, Ronald E. "... That We Should Have a Port..." A History of the Port of Georgetown, South Carolina, 1732-1865. 2 vols. Georgetown, S.C.: The Georgetown Times, 1982. Volume I reviewed by Arthur P. Wade, The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 84, No. 3 (Jul., 1983), p. 182; digital version at JSTOR ($). Volume II reviewed in The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 92, No. 3 (Jul., 1991), p. 224; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * 1904-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans Georgetown (includes a detailed list of plantations)
 * 271 slaves in the Estate of Wm. Mathewes of Georgetown, 1848 -- hosted for free at Fold3.com

Genealogies
General Surname indexes to Leonardo Andrea's Files | Folders | Resources are available online, courtesy: The Andrea Files: South Carolina Genealogical Research. Learn more.
 * Fairbourn, Joann Carroll. Georgetown Families Containing Families Living in Georgetown, South Carolina, 1750-1850. Austin, Texas: J.C. Fairbourn, n.d.

Family Histories
 * Andress Andress, Gerald McCormack, Guy Andress, and Mary F. Andress. The Andress Family. Welland, Ontario: G. Andress, (1985?). 929.271 An25a
 * Baxter - Baxter, Lionel Francis and John William Baxter. A Baxter Family from South Carolina: Scotch-Irish Pioneers from Ulster. Los Altos, Calif.: J.W. Baxter, 1989. 929.273 B335b
 * Bingham - Marsh, Mary Bingham. Bingham or Bigham - Ancestry and De[s]cendants of James Bingham or Bigham Sr. of Marion District, S.C. Hemingway, S.C.: Three Rivers Historical Society, 1995. 929.273 B513ma
 * Bird - Haidek, Martha Da Lee. The Descendants of Stephen, Jeptha, and Moses Byrd: From South Carolina and Alabama to Texas. Oklahoma City, Okla.: M. Haidek, 1994. 929.273 B996hm
 * Bossard - Riggs, Lucie Donalson and Earl M. Richards. Genealogical Data on Bossard, Bosart, Buzzard, Halsey, Henshaw and Shackleford Families, ca. 1574-ca. 1941. MSS. Microfilmed 1967. 483562 Item 3
 * Coggeshall - Coggeshall, Robert Walden. Ancestors and Kin: Coggeshall (Throckmorton, Billings, Collin, Cahoone), Pawley (Shorey, Alston, Temple, Neville), Wilds (Lide, Kolb, Terrel, Pledger), Walden (Caldwell), Hanson (Hage, Lupient, Crely, Benter), Thomas (Wailes, Howard, Fullwood, Gray), Pennington (McDade), Chaplin (Ladson, Stanyarne, Fripp, Toomer), Palmer (Bellinger, Sams, Brewton, Barnwell), Ebbett (Barnes, Frye, Putnam, Rogers). Spartanburg, S.C.: R.W. Coggeshall, 1988. 929.273 C656cr
 * Dubose - Wells, Laurence K. "A Note on the Dubose Family," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Spring 1987):111-112.
 * Durant Andrea, Leonardo. Durant. Typescript, 1961, Polk County Historical Library, Bartow, Fla. 978080 Item 2
 * Edwards Hargrett, Felix. The Edwards Family of Tattnall County and Bryan County, Georgia: A Sketch: With Notices of Allied Families, Mikell, O'Neill, Sands, Archer. Athens, Ga.: Georgian Press, 1984. 929.273 A1 no. 4429
 * 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.
 * Gibbons Hersperger, Laura Gibbons. Michael Gibbons of South Carolina and His Descendants: History and Genealogy of the Gibbons Family and Related Families. Ann Arbor, Mich.: McNaughton-Gunn, Inc., 1988. 929.273 G352h
 * Gourdin - Gourdin, John Raymond. Gourdin the History and Genealogy of a French-African-American Family from Georgetown County, South Carolina (1830-1994). Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 1995. 929.273 G742gj
 * Green - Green, W. Hughson. The Green Family of South Carolina: An Account of Some of the Ancestors and Descendants of Major John Thompson Green of the American Revolution and, in Particular, an Account of the Descendants of William Green (Second Son of Major John Thompson Green), Who Married Eliza McDonald: Together with an Account of Some of the Ancestors of Eliza McDonald and Some of the Ancestors of Her Mother, Elizabeth English. [Spartanburg, S.C.]: W.H. Green, 1958. 929.273 G823a
 * Hamil - Hamil, Betty. From Ireland to Texas (History of the Hamil Family). Abilene, Texas: B. Hamil, 1984. 929.273 H18hb
 * Jones The Jones, Skipper and Davis Family of England, Wales and America. Reprint, Salem, Mass.: Higginson Genealogical Books, 199_? 929.273 A1 no. 7120
 * Lewis Lewis, J.D. My Neck of the Woods: The Lewis Families of Southeastern North Carolina and Northeastern South Carolina. Little River, S.C.: J.D. Lewis, 2002.
 * Marion - Salley, A.S. Belle Island Plantation. Typescript. Microfilmed 1974. 954251 Item 6
 * Potts Revised Pedigree, Potts of Georgetown, S.C. MSS., South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston, S.C. Microfilmed 1952. Item 28
 * Rigdon - Gillett, Jean Thomson. Descendants of Ephraim Rigdon and the Southern Migration. 1998. 929.273 R448g
 * Rogers Brown, William Morgan. Rogers--Rodgers Family Newsletter. Archbold, Ohio: W.M. Brown, 1997-. 929.27305 R631rr
 * Stanley - Guttery, Florence and Mrs. John McQueen Guttery. Stanley and Kindred Families. Jasper, Ala.: F. &amp; J.M. Guttery, 1960. 929.273 St25g
 * Swan - Pearce, Helen Thomas. Swan Family Record. Typescript, National Library, D.A.R. Microfilmed 1971. 875395 Item 8
 * White - Strawn, Anne White. The Ancestors and Descendants of John White and Sarah Elizabeth Green: With Allied Lines. Spartanburg, S.C.: A.W. Strawn, 1984. 929.273 W584s

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Plats For State Land Grants 1784-1868 This series consists of recorded copies of plats for state land grants for the Charleston and the Columbia Series with their certificates of admeasurement or certification.All personal names and geographic features on these plats are included in the repository's On-line Index to Plats for State Land Grants The South Carolina Constitution of 1790 required the surveyor general to maintain offices in both the new capital at Columbia and in Charleston. The surveyor general began to use separate volumes for recording plats in his Columbia office in 1796. Before that, all plats were recorded in the set of volumes begun in Charleston in 1784. After 1796, most plats for land grants in the Upper Division of the state were recorded and filed in Columbia. The surveyor general chose to make the Columbia volumes a continuation of the state plat volumes begun in Charleston and gave the initial Columbia volume the number thirty-six to correspond with the number of the volume that had then been reached in the Charleston series. As a result, there are volumes numbered thirty-six through forty-three from each office, but the records in them are not duplicative. Also included are the Plan Books containing Plats and Plans.

Local Histories

 * Bull, Henry DeSaussure. The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of South Carolina. 1935. Digital version at Internet Archive. [Address about the history of Colonial Georgetown.]
 * Rogers, George C. The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1970.
 * 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
 * Rogers, George C. The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina University of South Carolina Press, c1970 ), 565 pages. Book found at and Other Libraries

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 Georgetown County for European settlers included:
 * Atlantic Ocean 1670
 * King's Highway about 1704
 * Secondary Coast Road late 1730s

Military Records
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, Georgetown County, p. 185. 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 Georgetown County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Georgetown County:
 * - 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company D
 * - 4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's), Company D, Company E, Company F, and Company I
 * - 5th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Ferguson's), Company E
 * - 7th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Ward's), Company F Roster
 * - 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A and Company F
 * - 9th Battalion, South Carolina infantry (Smith's) (Pee Dee Legion), Company G
 * - 10th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company A (also known as Georgetown Rifle Guards) Roster, Roster
 * - 10th Regiment South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. Internet site. Gives a brief history of the regiment and a roster for Company A.
 * - Company A, 10th South Carolina Infantry Regiment Marker. Historical Marker Database. Internet site. Gives information about the marker and shows pictures.
 * - 15th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company G and Wm. Mcagne Company (also known as Carvers Bay Palmetto Rifle Guards)
 * - South Carolina State Troop Regiments Seed Corn Units, Junior Reserves, 3rd Regiment, South Carolina State Troops Junior Reserves (State Militia)

Other Resources
 * Rogers, George C. The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina, (Columbia, South Carolina University of South Carolina Press, c1970 ), 565 pages. Civil War pages 387-415. Book found at and Other Libraries

Newspapers

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

Historic The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Georgetown 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.
 * Carolina American, and Georgetown Gazette (Georgetown, S.C.) 1813-181?.
 * Coastal Observer (Pawleys Island, S.C.) 1982-current.
 * Comet and News (Georgetown, S.C.) 1877-1878.
 * Daily American (Georgetown, S.C.) 1973-1973.
 * Georgetown Advocate (Georgetown, S.C.) 1902-1905.
 * Georgetown American (Georgetown, S.C.) 1839-1841.
 * Georgetown Gazette (Georgetown, S.C.) 1801-1810. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($); search 1801-1810 online at Google News - free.
 * Georgetown Gazette (Georgetown, [S.C.]) 1823-1826. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
 * Georgetown Gazette, and Commercial Advertiser (Georgetown, S.C.) 1806-1812. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
 * Georgetown Times-Index (Georgetown, S.C.) 1920-1921.
 * Georgetown Union (Georgetown, S.C.) 1830-18??.
 * Journal American (Georgetown, S.C.) 1973-1975.
 * The Andrews News (Andrews, S.C.) 1918-1924.
 * The Andrews News (Andrews, S.C.) 1949-1950.
 * The Andrews Star (Andrews, S.C.) 1954-1958.
 * The Carolina Field (Georgetown, S.C.) 1905-1906.
 * The Coastal Chronicle (Andrews, S.C.) 1922-1927.
 * The Georgetown Chronicle, and South-Carolina Advertiser (Georgetown, S.C.) 1797-179?.
 * The Georgetown Chronicle: and South-Carolina Weekly Advertiser (Georgetown, S.C.) 179?-1797.
 * The Georgetown Comet (Georgetown, S.C.) 1874-1877.
 * The Georgetown Daily Item (Georgetown, S.C.) 1907-1913.
 * The Georgetown Enquirer (Georgetown, S.C.) 1880-1889.
 * The Georgetown Gazette (Georgetown [S.C.]) 1798-1806. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
 * The Georgetown Gazette, and Mercantile Advertiser (Georgetown, S.C.) 1815-1817.
 * The Georgetown Herald (Georgetown, S.C.) 1918-1918.
 * The Georgetown Index (Georgetown, S.C.) 1920-1920.
 * The Georgetown Planet (Georgetown, S.C.) 1873-1875. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
 * The Georgetown Times  (Georgetown, S.C.) 1866-1878.
 * The Georgetown Times (Georgetown, S.C.) 1880-1920.
 * The Georgetown Times (Georgetown, S.C.) 1921-current.
 * The Grand Strand Journal American (Georgetown, S.C.) 1973-1973.
 * The Harvest (Georgetown, [S.C.]) 1827-18??.
 * The Harvest (Georgetown, S.C.) 1828-18??.
 * The Outlook (Georgetown, S.C.) 1901-1901.
 * The Pee Dee Times (Georgetown, S.C.) 1853-1861.
 * The Progressive Democrat (Georgetown, S.C.) 1913-1916.
 * The South-Carolina Independent Gazette; and Georgetown Chronicle (Georgetown, S.C.) 1791-179?. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
 * The Sunday Outlook (Georgetown, S.C.) 1901-1913.
 * The Times and Comet (Georgetown, S.C.) 1878-1880.
 * The True Republican (Georgetown, S.C.) 1849-1852.
 * Winyaw Intelligencer (Georgetown, S.C.) 1817-1835. Search online at GenealogyBank.com ($)
 * Winyah Observer (Georgetown, S.C.) 1841-1852.

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

Periodicals

 * South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records Abstracts of wills, Georgetown County, South Carolina: will books A and B [ca. 1838-1929] By Elizabeth J. Ashford ; transcribed by Dorothy O. Teel.
 * 1670-1980 South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * 1671-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
 * 1732-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
 * 1782-1866 South Carolina, Will Transcripts 1782-1866 at Findmypast — index ($) — $, index
 * 1980s-Current South Carolina Probate Index, Georgetown County at SouthCarolinaProbate.net - index; records added periodically
 * Georgetown County Probate Records, 1789-1864, courtesy SCGenWeb.
 * Yauhannah Wills, 1789-1826, courtesy SCGenWeb.

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

Published abstracts 
 * 1786 "1786 Tax Returns," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Winter 1983):33-39.
 * 1787 1787 Georgetown District Tax List, available online, courtesy: Georgetown South Carolina Genealogy website. (Yauhannah, Prince George Parish)
 * 1825- 1825 Georgetown District Tax List, available online, courtesy: Georgetown South Carolina Genealogy website. (Prince George Parish)
 * 1825 1825 Georgetown District Tax List, available online, courtesy: Georgetown South Carolina Genealogy website. (All Saints Parish)
 * 1905 Andrea, Leonardo. Tax Payers (Commutation Tax) in Georgetown County for 1905. Typescript, microfilmed 1974.

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
Marriages - Indexes
 * 1791-1861 Marriage, Death, and Estate Notices from Georgetown, South Carolina Newspapers, 1791-1861 by Brent H. Holcomb WorldCat
 * 1910s-Current South Carolina Marriage Index, Georgetown County at SouthCarolinaProbate.net - index; records added periodically
 * 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
Deaths - Indexes and Records
 * 1816-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1821-1969 South Carolina, U.S., Death Records, 1821-1969 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1915-1943 South Carolina, Deaths, 1915-1943 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * 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

 * Charleston South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Georgetown South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Moncks Corner South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Myrtle Beach South Carolina FamilySearch Center
 * Sumter South Carolina FamilySearch Center


 * Georgetown County Library - an affiliate library
 * International African American Museum - an affiliate library

Libraries
The Georgetown County Public Library System has four branches which are listed below. To view their catalog online Click Here. Their Digital Library contains collections of digitized photographs. They offer their patrons access to a Digital Media Library through the Palmetto Library Consortium where they can download audio and e-books. Georgetown County Library - Main Branch Address: 405 Cleland Street, Georgetown, South Carolina 29440 Telephone: (843)545-3300 Fax: (843)545-3392 Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday (Sept. - May) 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Patricia Doyle Local History Room of the Georgetown County Public Library provides access to information regarding the history of Georgetown County and the genealogy of its citizens. It has county, state, and federal censuses, cemetery and burial records, obituaries, and a variety of newspapers on microfilm. There are also vertical files on a variety of topics, enlarged photographs from their Digital Library, area high school yearbooks, and city directories. Waccamae Neck Branch Address: 24 Commerce Lane Pawley's Island, South Carolina 29585 Telephone: (843)545-3623 Fax: (843)545-3624 Hours: Monday to Wednesday 9:00 am to 6:00 p.m., Thursday 9:00 a. m. to 7:00.pm., Friday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Andrews Branch Address: 105 North Morgan, Andrews, South Carolina 29510 Telephone: (843)545-3621 FAX: (843)545-3622 Hours: Monday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m., to- 6:00 p.m, Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. Carcers Bay Branch Address: 13048 Choppee Road Hemingway, South Carolina 29554-3318 Telephone: (843)545-3515 FAX: (843)558-6680 Hours: Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday toFriday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Museums
See information about the Georgetown County Museum below in connection with the Georgetown Historical Society.

Societies

 * Georgetown County Historical Society and Museum 120 Broad St Georgetown, SC 29440 843-545-7020 Email: [mailto:info@GeorgetownCountyMuseum.com info@GeorgetownCountyMuseum.com] Website

Websites

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


 * – 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

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