COLLETON COUNTY, SC HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
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Colleton County, South Carolina: A Genealogical Overview
As one of South Carolina’s original colonial land divisions, Colleton County is a quintessential Lowcountry region, defined by its tidal rivers, cypress swamps, and a history deeply rooted in the plantation economy. Situated between the great ports of Charleston and Savannah, its story was shaped by the immense wealth generated from rice and indigo, the labor of enslaved African Americans who formed the majority of its population for centuries, and the profound social and political changes that followed the Civil War. For genealogists, Colleton’s records offer a complex but rewarding journey into the heart of the old South Carolina coast.
I. County Formation and Evolution
South Carolina’s system of counties, parishes, and judicial districts can be complex. Colleton has existed in several forms since the colonial era.
- 1682: Original County Formed: Colleton was created as one of the three original, massive proprietary counties by the Lords Proprietors. This was primarily a land division and did not function as a modern county for judicial or record-keeping purposes.
- Parent Entities: The original proprietary county was formed directly from the Province of Carolina grant. For practical governance, the area was administered through the Anglican parish system, with St. Bartholomew’s Parish (created 1706) covering most of what is now Colleton County. The modern, functional county (initially a judicial district) was established in 1800 from the old Charleston District.
- Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries were significantly reduced in 1897 when a large portion of its northern and eastern territory was used to form Dorchester County.
- Name Origin: The county was named for Sir John Colleton, one of the eight original Lords Proprietors of the Carolina colony.
- County Seat History: An early courthouse for the district was located at Jacksonboro on the Edisto River. In 1817, citing the “unhealthy” summer environment of the river lowlands, the state legislature authorized the selection of a more central and healthier location. A new courthouse was built at Walterboro, which was incorporated in 1826 and has remained the county seat ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The land was originally home to the Kusso and other Cusaboan tribes. The powerful Yamassee nation also had a significant presence in the region prior to 1715.
- Colonial Settlement and Economy: The first English settlers, many migrating from Barbados, established frontier plantations in the late 17th century. This early settlement was nearly wiped out during the devastating Yamassee War (1715-1717), which depopulated much of the South Carolina coast south of the Edisto River. After the war, the area was resettled, and a powerful plantation economy developed, based on the labor of thousands of enslaved Africans who cultivated rice in the fertile river deltas and indigo on higher ground.
- Key Historical Events:
- American Revolution: The region saw significant partisan warfare. The town of Jacksonboro briefly served as the state capital in 1782, where the pivotal Jacksonboro Assembly met to re-establish civil government.
- Antebellum Period: This era marked the height of the “rice kingdom” in Colleton County. The immense wealth of the planter class and the entire social structure rested on the institution of slavery.
- Civil War and Reconstruction: A staunchly secessionist district, Colleton County provided men and resources to the Confederacy. In early 1865, elements of General William T. Sherman’s army marched through the county on their way to Charleston, destroying plantations and infrastructure. The subsequent Reconstruction era brought profound and often violent social and political change.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
Research in Colleton County requires understanding that statewide record-keeping began much later than in other states.
- County Courthouse: The Colleton County Courthouse, 101 Hampton St, Walterboro, SC 29488, is the central repository for local records.
- Clerk of Court: Holds judicial records and land plats.
- Probate Court: Maintains all wills, estate inventories (including slave schedules), administrations, and guardianship papers. These are a critical resource, especially for African American genealogy.
- Register of Deeds (formerly Mesne Conveyance): This office holds all land records, including deeds and mortgages, from the county’s formation.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in South Carolina did not begin until January 1, 1915. For records after this date, contact the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
- Marriage Records: South Carolina did not require marriage licenses by law until July 1, 1911. Finding proof of marriage before this date requires searching church records, Bible records, newspaper announcements, wills, and deeds (which often mention a spouse’s name).
- Libraries and Societies:
- Colleton County Memorial Library: The main library in Walterboro has a dedicated local history and genealogy room.
- Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society: Operates a local museum and archives, offering historical context and resources.
- State-Level Repositories:
- South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH): Located in Columbia, this is the most important repository for South Carolina research. It holds original colonial records, state-level records, and microfilm copies of most surviving county records, including colonial land grants and parish registers.
- South Caroliniana Library: Located at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, it has extensive manuscript collections, including plantation records, family papers, and diaries from Colleton County families.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Dorchester County (northeast)
- Charleston County (east)
- Beaufort County (south)
- Hampton County (west)
- Allendale County (northwest)
- Bamberg County (north)
- Orangeburg County (north)