CAMDEN COUNTY, GA HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of Camden County, Georgia by James Thomas Vocelle (1967) – 156 Pages
Source: Family Search
Book ID: CH.2025.06.24.2256.FS

Camden County, Georgia: A Genealogical Overview

Located on the Atlantic coast in the extreme southeastern corner of Georgia, Camden County is an area rich in Colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil War history. For genealogists, its past is defined by its origins as one of Georgia’s original counties formed from colonial parishes, its long history of shifting county seats, and its strategic importance as a coastal frontier.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Camden County’s relationship with its colonial parishes and its history of boundary changes is a critical piece of information for researchers tracing family lines in the region.

  • Year of Creation: 1777. It was one of the eight original counties created by the first state constitution of Georgia.
  • Parent Parishes: It was formed from the colonial parishes of St. Thomas and St. Mary. Researchers seeking records that pre-date 1777 must consult the records of these parishes.
  • Original Territory & Daughter Counties: Camden County’s original territory was significantly larger than its present-day boundaries. Its lands were later used to help form Wayne County (1803) and Charlton County (1854). Researchers with ancestors in these counties must consult Camden records for the period before their formation.
  • Boundary Changes: Aside from the creation of daughter counties, the county’s boundaries have remained largely stable since the mid-19th century.
  • Bordering Counties:
    • Glynn County (north)
    • Brantley County (northwest)
    • Charlton County (west)
    • Nassau County, Florida (south)

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Before European colonization, the area was the territory of the Mocama, a Timucua-speaking chiefdom who lived on the coast and sea islands. The Guale people were also present in the broader region.
  • First Pioneers and Settlement: The area was contested territory between Spanish Florida and British South Carolina for decades before the founding of Georgia in 1733. Settlement by English colonists grew through the mid-18th century, focusing on rice and indigo cultivation. The county was named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl of Camden, a British Whig politician who was a vocal supporter of the American colonists’ rights.
  • Civil War Significance: Due to its coastal location, Camden County was strategically important for the Union naval blockade. Federal forces occupied the county seat of St. Marys and Cumberland Island for periods during the war, disrupting the plantation economy and causing residents to flee inland. While not the site of major land battles, fortifications were built along the coast, and the county was a scene of Union raids and Confederate defensive actions.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides the practical information needed to locate ancestral records.

  • County Seat: Woodbine, Georgia. Note: The county seat has changed multiple times, a crucial fact for researchers. Past seats include St. Patrick, St. Marys, and Jeffersonton. Records may be found associated with these former locations.
  • Record Loss & Preservation: Camden County is a “burned” county, which presents a significant challenge for genealogists. The courthouse at Jeffersonton was burned in 1872, destroying a majority of county records from 1794 to that year. Some earlier records created when St. Marys was the county seat have survived.
  • Location of Records:
    • Camden County Courthouse: Located at 200 E 4th St, Woodbine, GA 31569. This is the repository for surviving historical records, primarily those created after the 1872 fire.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Georgia began in 1919. The Camden County Health Department holds these certificates.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records are held by the Camden County Probate Court in Woodbine. The surviving pre-1872 marriage records are sparse.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Bryan-Lang Historical Archives: Located in Woodbine, this is the primary local repository for Camden County history and genealogy and is an essential resource for researchers.
    • Georgia Archives: Located in Morrow, this is the primary state archive and an indispensable resource for any Georgia researcher, especially for a burned county like Camden. It holds state copies of records, tax lists, land grants, and military records.

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