South Carolina, Charleston District, Estate inventories - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains inventory and appraisement books as well as inventories of estates from Charleston, South Carolina between 1732 and 1872. These records are a good resource for finding slave ancestors. Because slaves were treated as property at the time, when an estate was appraised for probate or tax purposes, slaves were listed and appraised along with other items belonging to the estate. In some cases, slaves did not have surnames and may need to be located using the name of the slave owner. In other cases, records may include the slave's American and African names. Additionally, there are records of free African Americans, which provides a glimpse into their lifestyles and possessions. This collection is part of a joint project with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Family Search, and the Lowcountry Africana group.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

 * Name of person who died
 * Place of residence
 * Date of sale
 * Inventory and value of estate

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of South Carolina.
 * Researching African Americans
 * South Carolina Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.