South Carolina Law and Legislation

Petitions to the state legislature and state law books mention many people by name. A person did not necessarily have to be prominent to appear in these records. Many ordinary people appear. Digital editions enable genealogists to keyword search unindexed resources for personal names of ancestors. For information about lawyers in South Carolina, see South Carolina Occupations.

Legislative Petitions
Legislative petitions often include lengthy lists of signatures of local residents. Legislative Papers 1786-1866 are partially indexed on the website of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Archivists indexed the first 20 names in each petition.

Statute Books
The complete 10 volume printed set of South Carolina statute laws has been digitized (1682-1838).


 * [1682-1838] McCord, David J., ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 10. Containing the General Index: Also a List of All the Acts of Assembly. (1682-1838). Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1841. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1682-1716] Cooper, Thomas, ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 2 (1682-1716). Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1837. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1716-1752] Cooper, Thomas, ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 3 (1716-1752). Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1838. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1752-1786] Cooper, Thomas, ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 4 (1752-1786). Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1838. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1786-1814] Cooper, Thomas, ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 5 (1786-1814). Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1839. Digital version at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1814-1838] McCord, David J., ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 6 (1814-1838). Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1839. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1850-1861] The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 12. Containing the Acts from December, 1850, to January, 1861. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1874. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * [1861-1866] The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 13. Containing the Acts from December, 1861, to December, 1866. Columbia, S.C.: Reprinted by Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1875. Digital version at Internet Archive.

Special topics

 * Cooper, Thomas, ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 1. Containing Acts, Records, and Documents of a Constitutional Character. Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1836. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * Elliott, Benjamin and Martin Strobel. The Military System of South-Carolina, Being a Digest of the Acts of Congress Concerning the Militia, Likewise of the Militia Laws of this State. (1799-1834) Charleston: Printed by A.E. Miller, 1835. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * McCord, David J., ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 7. Containing the Acts Relating to Charleston, Courts, Slaves, and Rivers. Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1840. Digital version at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * McCord, David J., ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 8. Containing the Acts Relating to Corporations and the Militia. Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1840. Digital version at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * McCord, David J., ed. The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Vol. 9. Containing the Acts Relating to Roads, Bridges and Ferries, with an Appendix: Containing the Militia Acts Prior to 1794. Columbia, S.C.: Printed by A.S. Johnston, 1841. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.

Digests


In 1736, Trott published South Carolina's provincial laws:


 * Trott, Nicholas. The Laws of the Province of South Carolina, in Two Parts. 2 vols. Charles Town: Lewis Timothy, 1736.

In 1790, Grimke published South Carolina's public laws:


 * Grimke, John Fauchereaud, ed. The Public Laws of the State of South Carolina, From Its First Establishment as a British Province Down to the Year 1790, Inclusive. 2 vols. Philadelphia: R. Aitken &amp; Son, 1790. Digital version at Internet Archive; 1981 reprint:

In 1814, Brevard summarized South Carolina's statute laws:


 * Brevard, Joseph. Alphabetical Digest of the Public Statute Law of South Carolina. 3 vols. Charleston, S.C.: John Huff, 1814. Digital versions at Internet Archive: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3.

Acts of the General Assembly
Helsley explains how records of the South Carolina General Assembly can help genealogists:


 * Helsley, Alexia J. "Records of the General Assembly: A Neglected Genealogical Source," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Winter 1986):3-5.

Many of these records are available online:


 * [1791-1794] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South-Carolina, from February, 1791 to December, 1794, Both Inclusive. Vol. 1. Columbia, S.C.: Printed by D. &amp; J.J. Faust, State Printers, 1808. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1839] Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1839. Columbia, S.C.: A.H. Pemberton, State Printer, 1839. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1844] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South-Carolina, Passed in December, 1843. Columbia, S.C.: A.H. Pemberton, State Printer, 1844. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1845] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South-Carolina, Passed in December, 1844. Columbia, S.C.: A.H. Pemberton, State Printer, 1845. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1846] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South-Carolina, Passed in December, 1846. Columbia: A.G. Summer, State Printer, 1846. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1848] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Passed in December, 1847. Columbia, S.C.: A.G. Summer, State Printer, 1848. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1849] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1849. Columbia, S.C.: L.C. Morgan, State Printer, 1849. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1854] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1853. Columbia, S.C.: R.W. Gibbs &amp; Co., State Printers, 1854. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1854] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1854. Columbia, S.C., 1854. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1855] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1855. Columbia, S.C.: E.H. Britton &amp; Co., State Printers, 1855. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1861-1862] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1861. Columbia, S.C.: Charles P. Pelham, State Printers, 1862. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * [1862-1863] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in December, 1862, and February and April, 1863. Columbia, S.C.: Charles P. Pelham, State Printer, 1863. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * [1863-1864] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed in September and December, 1863. Columbia, S.C.: Charles P. Pelham, State Printer, 1864. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * [1866] Acts of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Sessions of 1864-65. Columbia, S.C.: Julian A. Selby, Printer to the State, 1866. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1869-1870] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1869-'70, Part I. Columbia, S.C.: John W. Denny, Printer to the State, 1870. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1869-1870] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1869-'70, Part II, Containing the Code. Columbia, S.C.: John W. Denny, Printer to the State, 1870. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1870-1871] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1870-'71. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, 1871. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1871-1872] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1871-'72. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1872. Digital version at Internet Archive. Another copy: Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1873-1874] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Special Session of 1873 and Regular Session of 1873-74. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1874. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1874-1875] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1874-75. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1875. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1875-1876] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1875-76. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1876. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1877] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Extra Session of 1877. Columbia, S.C.: Calvo &amp; Patton, State Printers, 1877. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1877-1878] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1877-78. Columbia, S.C.: Calvo &amp; Patton, State Printers, 1878. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1878] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1878. Columbia, S.C.: Calvo &amp; Patton, State Printers, 1878. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1879-1880] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1879 and Extra Session of 1880. Columbia, S.C.: Calvo &amp; Patton, State Printers, 1880. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1881-1882] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1881-82. Columbia, S.C.: James Woodrow, State Printer, 1882. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1883] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1882. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1883. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1884] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1883. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1884. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1885] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1884. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1885. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1886] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1885. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1886. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1887] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1886. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1887. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1889] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1888. Columbia, S.C.: James H. Woodrow, State Printer, 1889. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1890] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1889. Columbia, S.C.: James H. Woodrow, State Printer, 1890. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1891] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1890. Columbia, S.C.: James H. Woodrow, State Printer, 1891. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1892] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1891. Columbia, S.C.: James H. Woodrow, State Printer, 1892. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1892] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1892. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1892. Digital versions at Google Books;
 * [1893] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, passed at the Regular Session of 1893. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1893. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1896] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1896. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1896. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1898] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1898. Columbia, S.C.: The Columbia Register Print, for State Printer, 1898. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1899] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1899. Columbia, S.C.: The Bryan Printing Company, State Printers, 1899. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1900] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1900. Columbia, S.C.: The Bryan Printing Company, State Printers, 1900. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1901] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1901. Columbia, S.C.: The State Company, State Printers, 1901. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1902] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1902. Columbia, S.C.: The State Company, State Printers, 1902. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1904] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1904. Columbia, S.C.: The State Company, State Printers, 1904. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1906] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1906. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and Bryan, State Printers, 1906. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1908] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1903. Columbia, S.C.: The State Company, State Printers, 1903. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1910] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina Passed at the Regular Session of 1910. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and Bryan, State Printers, 1910. Digital versions at Google Books;
 * [1911] Acts and Joint Resolutions Also Certain Concurrent Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina Passed at the Regular Session of 1911. Columbia, S.C.: The R.L. Bryan Company, 1911. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1912] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1912. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and Bryan, State Printers, 1912. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1913] General Acts Relating to Education Passed at the 1913 Session of the General Assembly. Issued by the State Department of Education, 1913. Digital version at Internet Archive.
 * [1914] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1914. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and ..., State Printers, 1914. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1914] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Extraordinary Session of 1914. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and Bryan, State Printers, 1914. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1916] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina...Internet Archive.
 * [1917] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1917. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and Bryan, State Printers, 1917. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1917] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1918. Columbia, S.C.: The R.L. Bryan Company, 1917. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive. Another copy (?): Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1919] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1919. Columbia, S.C.: The R.L. Bevan Company, 1919. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1920] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1920. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and ... State Printers, 1920. Digital versions at Google Books
 * [1921] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1921. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and .. State Printers, 1920-1921. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1922] Acts and Joint Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Passed at the Regular Session of 1922. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales and ..., State Printers, 1921-1922. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.

Senate journals

 * [1871-1872] Journal of the Senate of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Being the Regular Session of 1871-'72. Columbia, S.C.: Republican Printing Company, State Printers, 1872. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1899] Journal of the Sentate of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Being the Regular Session Commencing Jan. 10, 1899. Columbia, S.C.: The Bryan Printing Co., State Printers, 1899. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1990-2011] Senate Journals, available online at Welcome to the South Carolina Legislature Online Archives

House of Representatives journals and rules

 * The Rules of the House of Representatives, of the General Assembly of South Carolina. Various Acts and Resolutions, Containing Standing Orders of the House. The Constitution of the State of South Carolina: and the Constitution of the United States. Columbia, S.C.: A.G. Summer, State Printer, 1847. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.
 * [1783-1794] Thompson, Theodora F., Rosa S. Lumpkin, Lark Emerson Adams, Michael E. Stevens, and Christine M. Allen. Journals of the House of Representatives. 6 vols. (1783-1794). Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1977-1988.
 * [1894-1895] Journals of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Being the Regular Session Commencing November 27, 1894. Columbia, S.C.: Charles A. Calvo, Jr., State Printer, 1895. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1917] Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Being the Regular Session, Beginning Tuesday, January 9, 1917. Columbia, S.C.: Gonzales &amp; Bryan, State Printers, 1917. Digital version at Google Books.
 * [1986-2011] House Journals, available online at Welcome to the South Carolina Legislature Online Archives

Websites

 * South Carolina Legislature Online