KERSHAW COUNTY, SC HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Kershaw County, South Carolina: A Genealogical Overview

Nestled in the Midlands of South Carolina, Kershaw County is one of the state’s most historically significant areas, serving as a stage for pivotal moments in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Its county seat, Camden, is South Carolina’s oldest inland city, first established as a frontier township in the 1730s. The county’s history is a rich blend of backcountry settlement, fierce revolutionary conflict, and the development of the antebellum plantation economy. For genealogists, its records provide a deep and compelling look into the heart of South Carolina’s past, tracing families from the colonial frontier through the formation of the modern South.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Kershaw County was created after the Revolution from several older, larger districts. Understanding this parentage is essential for pre-1791 research.

  • 1791: County Formed: Kershaw County was officially established on February 19, 1791.
  • Parent Counties/Districts: The county was formed from portions of four surrounding, pre-existing counties: Claremont (now part of Sumter County), Fairfield, Lancaster, and Richland. For any research prior to 1791, records must be sought in these parent counties. Furthermore, the entire region was part of the overarching Camden Judicial District, established in 1769, where many early court records were originally filed.
  • Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained relatively stable since its creation.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Colonel Joseph Kershaw, an influential Irish immigrant who established a store, gristmill, and sawmill in the area. He was a leading citizen of Camden and a patriot officer during the American Revolution.
  • County Seat History: Camden was designated as the county seat upon the county’s formation in 1791 and has remained so ever since. The site of Camden was first settled circa 1732 as the township of Fredericksburg, part of a plan to populate the South Carolina backcountry.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was the traditional home of the Catawba and Wateree Native American tribes, who lived along the banks of the Wateree River.
  • Colonial Settlement: Organized European settlement began in the 1730s with the creation of Fredericksburg Township. The first colonists were primarily English and Welsh, followed by a significant migration of Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania and Virginia. A large group of Quakers from Ireland also established a thriving community known as Fredericksburg, which later became Camden.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • The American Revolution: Kershaw County was a critical strategic center and was occupied by British General Lord Cornwallis for nearly a year (1780-1781). It was the site of two major battles: the Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780), a disastrous defeat for American forces under General Horatio Gates, and the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill (April 25, 1781). The area saw more than a dozen smaller engagements, making it a focal point for Revolutionary War research.
    • Antebellum Era: The county developed a mixed economy. The northern section was characterized by small farms, while the area south of Camden was dominated by large cotton plantations dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans.
    • The Civil War: Kershaw County provided significant manpower to the Confederacy. In February 1865, elements of Union General William T. Sherman’s army entered Camden, burning the depot, railroad trestles, and many private homes and businesses.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Research in Kershaw County requires familiarity with South Carolina’s unique record-keeping history, particularly regarding vital records.

  • County Courthouse: The Kershaw County Courthouse, 1121 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020, is the primary repository for local records.
    • Clerk of Court: This office serves as the Register of Mesne Conveyance, holding all land records (deeds, plats, mortgages) from 1791. It also maintains judicial records from the Court of Common Pleas (civil cases) and General Sessions (criminal cases).
    • Judge of Probate: This is a vital office for genealogists, holding all wills, estate inventories and settlements, and guardianship papers from 1791 to the present. After 1911, this office also issued marriage licenses.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: South Carolina did not have a statewide requirement for recording births and deaths until 1915. For records after that date, contact the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). No comprehensive county-level records exist before 1915.
    • Marriage Records: South Carolina is unique in that it did not require marriage licenses or keep official county marriage registers until July 1, 1911. Proof of marriage before this date must be found in other sources, such as church records, family Bibles, newspaper announcements, wills, or dower rights relinquishments in land deeds.
  • Libraries and Archives:
    • Camden Archives and Museum: This is the premier research facility for Kershaw County genealogy and history. It holds an extensive collection of original county records, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, photographs, and compiled family histories. It should be the first stop for any researcher.
    • Kershaw County Historical Society: An active organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the county’s history.
    • Kershaw County Library: The main branch in Camden has a local history room with valuable published resources.
  • State-Level Resources:
    • South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH): Located in Columbia, the SCDAH holds colonial-era records, state-level documents, and microfilm copies of nearly all surviving county records, including those of Kershaw’s parent counties.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Lancaster County (north)
    • Chesterfield County (northeast)
    • Darlington County (east)
    • Lee County (southeast)
    • Sumter County (south)
    • Richland County (southwest)
    • Fairfield County (west)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks