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FamilySearch recently released more than 875,000 digital images of South Carolina county probate records. These new records, previously available only in county probate offices or on microfilm, may now be browsed online at FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org).

The newly released records are organized into two collections, South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977 (222,656 images) and South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 (652,415 images). Together, the collections cover many South Carolina counties over an extraordinary time span.

These collections contain important pieces of the puzzle for African American genealogy research. Pre-Civil War records may help family historians locate enslaved ancestors. Post-Civil War records span the period from Emancipation to the mid-1900s and may contain valuable information about the lives of African American ancestors during a time period that can be difficult to document.

Here, we take a first look at both collections to compile a comprehensive table of records available for each South Carolina county or district, and the total time span covered by records from both collections.

Before we compile our list, let’s look at the historical development of counties and districts in South Carolina, to help us understand and navigate the collections.

There are now 46 counties in South Carolina. In 1800, South Carolina was divided into 26 Circuit Court Districts. In 1868, districts were renamed as counties. There were 31 counties defined from 26 districts in 1868. Over time, some counties were split, resulting in the 46 counties in South Carolina today. Below is a cross-reference of present-day counties, counties in 1868 and districts in 1800.

 
County (Present-Day) County (1868) District (1800)
Abbeville (1785) Abbeville Abbeville
Aiken (1871) Barnwell Barnwell
Allendale (1919) Barnwell Barnwell
Anderson (1826) Anderson Pendleton
Bamberg (1897) Barnwell Barnwell
Barnwell (1785) Barnwell Barnwell
Beaufort (1785) Beaufort Beaufort
Berkeley (1882) Charleston Charleston
Calhoun (1908) Orangeburg Orangeburg
Charleston (1670) Charleston Charleston
Cherokee (1897) Spartanburg Spartanburg
Chester (1785) Chester Chester
Chesterfield (1785) Chesterfield Chesterfield
Clarendon (1855) Clarendon Sumter
Colleton (1798) Colleton Colleton
Darlington (1785) Darlington Darlington
Dillon (1910) Marion Marion
Dorchester (1897) Colleton Colleton
Edgefield (1785) Edgefield Edgefield
Fairfield (1785) Fairfield Fairfield
Florence (1888) Marion Marion
Georgetown (1769) Georgetown Georgetown
Greenville (1786) Greenville Greenville
Greenwood (1897) Abbeville Abbeville
Hampton (1878) Beaufort Beaufort
Horry (1801) Horry Georgetown
Jasper (1912) Beaufort Beaufort
Kershaw (1791) Kershaw Kershaw
Lancaster (1785) Lancaster Lancaster
Laurens (1785) Laurens Laurens
Lee (1902) Sumter Sumter
Lexington (1785) Lexington Orangeburg
Marion (1790) Marion Marion
Marlboro (1785) Marlboro Marlboro
McCormick (1916) Abbeville Abbeville
Newberry (1785) Newberry Newberry
Oconee (1860) Oconee Pendleton
Orangeburg (1769) Orangeburg Orangeburg
Pickens (1826) Pickens Pendleton
Richland (1785) Richland Richland
Saluda (1895) Edgefield Edgefield
Spartanburg (1785) Spartanburg Spartanburg
Sumter (1798) Sumter Sumter
Union (1785) Union Union
Williamsburg (1785) Williamsburg Williamsburg
York (1785) York York
 

Above: Cross-Reference of Present SC Counties, Counties in 1868 and Districts in 1800. Adapted from Gourdin, J. Raymond 104thInfantry Regiment – USCT, Colored Civil War Soldiers from South Carolina, Heritage Books, 1997.

 

Free South Carolina Probate Records: Counties, Districts and Time Spans Covered

Now let’s compile a breakdown for counties and districts represented in the new collections.

 

County or District Collections Total Time Span
Abbeville South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Wills, 1787-1868

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Index to probate records, 1782-1958

· Probate Court, Probate records, 1782-1958

1782-1958
Aiken South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1872-1927

1872-1927
Anderson South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Bond books, 1840-1867

· Guardian accounts, 1843-1869

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1840-1903

· Letters, 1840-1868

· Wills, 1791-1907

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Court of Common Pleas, Direct (plaintiff) index, 1827-1903

· Court of Common Pleas, Indirect (defendant) index, 1827-1903

· Court of Common Pleas, Judgments, 1828-1880

1791-1903
Barnwell South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Inventories, Appraisements, 1809-1841

· Sales books, 1808-1842

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Cases, 1787-1958

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1909-1925

· Probate Court, Index to wills and probate records, 1787-1958

1787-1958
Camden, Kershaw South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Estate record books, 1782-1823, Vol. A1

1782-1823
Charleston South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Daily minutes, 1851-1872

· Derelict estates, 1847-1853

· Index to estates, 1790-1916

· Index to wills and inventories, 1746-1800

· Index to wills, 1671-1927

· Inventories, 1753-1784

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1839-1867

· Journal, 1839-1864

· Miscellaneous cases, 1783-1812

· Miscellaneous records, 1696-1792

· Ordinary account books, 1843-1871

· Real estate books, 1835-1939

· Receipts in probate cases, 1853-1873

· Returns, 1835-1865

· Wills, 1671-1868

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Index to estate inventories, 1834-1844

· Probate Court, Estate inventories, 1732-1844

1671-1939
Chester South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Index to probate records, 1787-1950

· Inventories of estates, 1840-1855

· Probate records, 1787-1865

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Files, 1788-1866

1787-1950
Chesterfield South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Index to estate papers, 1865-1977

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1865-1927

1865-1977
Clarendon South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate files, 1899-1926

1899-1926
Columbia, Lexington, Richland South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Guardian and trustee returns, 1809-1867

1809-1867
Edgefield South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Cash book, Receipts, Returns, 1838-1852, Vol. B

· Returns, 1845-1867

1838-1867
Fairfield South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Administration and guardian bonds, 1840-1869

· Annual returns, 1840-1900

· Bonds and letters of administration, 1869-1904

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1801-1922

· Journal, 1801-1906

· Letters of administration, 1887-1921

· Letters of administration, guardianship, testamentary, 1840-1893

· Letters of guardianship, 1890-1947

· Wills, 1785-1904

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· County Court, Estate records, 1787-1815

1785-1947
Greenville South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977;

· Inventories, Appraisements, 1825-1829

· Returns book, 1817-1824

· Wills books, 1787-1867

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Probate records, 1787-1868

1787-1868
Kershaw South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Estate record books, 1791-1822

· Pleadings and judgments, 1790-1820

· Wills, 1782-1868

1782-1868
Lancaster South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977;

· Wills, 1865-1892

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1865-1950

1865-1950
Laurens South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Administration and guardian bonds, 1840-1873

· Administration bonds, 1804-1901

· Annual returns, 1840-1900

· Commissioners report of sales, 1825-1839

· Decree book, 1869-1878

· Estate records, 1818-1834

· Guardian and trustee returns, 1841-1890

· Guardian bonds, 1841-1910

· Guardian bonds, Letters of guardianship, 1836-1859

· Guardian returns, 1807-1830

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1825-1929

· Journal, 1840-1895

· Letters of administration, 1837-1839

· Letters of administration, Letters of guardianship, 1876-1909

· Letters of administration, guardianship, testamentary, 1840-1877

· Letters testamentary, 1877-1917

· Partitions of estates, 1803-1826

· Real estate receipt book, 1826-1836

· Wills, 1788-1912

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate papers, 1800-1931

· Probate Court, Index to estate papers, 1800-1931

1788-1931
Lexington South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Administration, Will annexed, Guardian bond books, 1865-1902

· Annual returns, 1865-1904

· Guardian and trustee bonds, 1809-1868

· Index to estate papers, 1865-1940

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1865-1921

· Journal, 1865-1915

· Real estate book, 1866-1898

· Wills books, 1865-1908

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate papers, 1863-1900

· Probate Court, Index to Estate papers, 1863-1900

1863-1940
Marion South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Minute book and journal, 1800-1825

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1869-1915

1800-1915
Marlboro/Marlborough South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Equity records and bills, 1805-1869

· Index to equity records and bills, 1805-1870

· Wills books, 1787-1905

· Estate record books, 1787-1840

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate papers, 1790-1906

· Probate Court, Index to Estate papers, 1700-1973

1700-1973
Newberry South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Index to estates, 1785-1949

· Wills books, 1787-1913

1785-1949
Oconee South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate files, 1897-1916

1897-1916
Orangeburg South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Index, 1865-1947, Vol. A-Z

· Wills, 1866-1957

1865-1957
Pendleton South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Minutes, 1825-1867

1825-1867
Richland South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Index to wills, 1787-1950

· Journal, 1839-1866

· Letters, 1840-1871

· Minutes, 1841-1863

· Wills, 1787-1941

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate papers, 1799-1909

· Probate Court, Index to estates, 1799-1955

1787-1955
Spartanburg South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Administration bonds, 1896-1917

· Administration, Will annexed, Guardian bond book, 1840-1918

· Administrations, 1804-1847

· Guardian account and returns, 1842-1868

· Guardian book, 1885-1912

· Index to estate papers, 1787-1971

· Index to real estate papers, 1825-1971

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1811-1904

· Journal of the Ordinary, 1816-1868

· Journal, 1800-1907

· Real estate books, 1825-1904

· Real estate cash books, 1830-1911

· Report books, 1844-1870

· Returns books, 1836-1900

· Warrants of appraisements, 1816-1827

· Wills books, 1810-1903

1787-1971
Sumter South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Devised lands, 1883-1947

· Equity decrees and reports, 1814-1858

· Index to estates, 1802-1949

· Index to executors administrations, 1800-1953

· Index to guardians, committeeship, lunacy, and industrial school, 1816-1951

· Index to wills, administrations, estates, and files book, 1800-1937

· Inventories, Appraisements, 1914-1953

· Reports of referees of estates, 1863-1875

· Sales appointments, 1840-1900

· Wills books, 1800-1963

· Wills, Record book, Manuscript, 1784-1849, Vol. M

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1784-1960

· Probate Court, Index to estate records, 1784-1960

1784-1963
Union South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Administration bonds, 1867-1887

· Administration, Will annexed, Guardian bond books, 1833-1910

· Cash book, 1836-1915

· Fee book, 1844-1850

· Guardian bonds, 1875-1912

· Guardian returns, 1869-1913

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1836-1910

· Real estate books, 1835-1928

· Returns books, 1835-1926

· Sales book, 1895-1926

· Wills books, 1792-1911

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate files, 1906-1919

· Probate Court, Index to probate records, 1777-1961

· Probate Court, Probate records, 1777-1961

1777-1961
Williamsburg South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Wills, 1806-1879

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1869-1916

1806-1916
Winton South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Wills, 1779-1950

1779-1950
York South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977:

· Administration and guardian bonds, 1840-1875

· Administration bonds, 1871-1907

· Cash book, 1841-1902

· Docket book, 1889-1926

· Estate record books, 1787-1840

· Fee book, 1889-1892

· Guardian and trustee account, 1840-1871

· Guardian bonds, 1871-1913

· Guardian returns, 1890-1922

· Index to estate records, Index to wills, 1787-1813, Vol. A-C

· Index to lands devised, 1868-1906

· Index to money decrees, 1880-1905

· Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, 1813-1910

· Journal, 1831-1874

· Letters Dismissory, Dismissed bonds, 1871-1908

· Minute book, 1814-1830

· Petitions and orders, 1889-1919, Vol. A

· Real estate books, 1825-1899

· Receipt books, 1870-1901

· Sales book, 1893-1932

· Wills book, 1800-1862

· Wills book, Estate record books, 1837-1882

· Wills, 1770-1924

South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964:

· Probate Court, Estate records, 1774-1960

· Probate Court, General Index, 1774-1960

· Probate Court, Index, 1774-1960

1770-1960
 

Above: Comprehensive Table of Records in Newly Released Records South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977 (222,656 images) and South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 (652,415 images).

 

 

We hope this comprehensive table will assist you in navigating the newly released South Carolina probate records on FamilySearch.org. Coming in a future blog post: a look at record types within these collections, why they were made, what information they contain, and which records will be most helpful in a search for enslaved ancestors.

 

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