I find the political geography of South Carolina almost unbearably confusing, and I have to keep a set of maps on hand at all times, so I know where I am.
In the very early days, there were four counties, extending northwesterly from the coast. From north to south, they were: Craven, Berkeley, Colleton and Granville. All (I think) legal business was done in Charleston (hence the complaints of the Regulators), and records were kept there.
Phil Norfleet has a website devoted to South Carolina, with a wonderful series of maps. Here is his map of these early counties. County Boundaries Map
Settlement occurred first on the coast and then proceeded up the rivers, so knowing where the rivers are is extremely helpful. Here is the clearest map I can find online of SC rivers, although it unfortunately superimposes the Interstate system on the map. SC Rivers map
South Carolina was divided into parishes, and although I am not sure if they were/became administrative areas, people were identified as belonging to such-and-such a parish. They did not become the basis for eventual counties or districts, but overlap them madly. In 1770, starting from the Savannah River (border with Georgia) and working north, they were:
St Peter’s 1747
St Luke’s 1767
Prince William 1745
St Helena’s 1712 (islands)
This next batch of Parishes (from St Bartholomew’s to St James Santee) belonged to Charleston District in 1790
St Bartholomew’s 1706
St Paul’s 1706
St John’s Colleton 1730 (islands)
St George 1717 - just n of Edisto R
St James Goose Creek 1706
St Johns Berkeley
those three are a bit inland - on the coast bordering them are
St Andrews 1706, St Philip’s 1706 & St Michael’s 1751, St Thomas & St Denis 1706, Christ Church 1706
St Stephen’s 1754 inland - St James Santee 1706 coast, just s of Santee R
These next three belonged to Georgetown District in 1790
Prince Frederick 1754 - Prince George 1721 - All Saints 1767 coast
And, in the back-country, from north to south
St David’s 1768, St Marks 1757, St Matthew’s 1768
I’m sure I’ve made that perfectly clear. In case I haven’t, here is my all-time favorite SC map. SC Parish map
In 1735 or thereabouts, the back-country was divided into townships, although not all flourished. These seem not to have been much more than convenient names to call places.
The Districts are circuit court districts, formed first in 1769, in direct response to the Regulator complaints. There were more districts added later, and sometimes they conform to counties and sometimes they contain several counties, and sometimes counties are taken from one district and added to another. Here is a map of the original 1769 Districts. SC Court Districts in 1769 map
In addition to the official divisions, there were areas known by a general name - the Pee Dee region (the back-country, drained by the Pee Dee River), the Cheraws (the northern bit of the Pee Dee region), the Waxhaws (the area even further west of the Cheraws). This is a map of the geographic regions of SC on the eve of the revolution
And here is another of Phil Norfleet’s maps; this one is SC county boundaries post-revolution.
Abbeville formed 1785 from 96 District
1790 - Jno (476) 1 2 2 - -
Peter (456)
Thos (380)
1800 John Abb 6 22010-31010-00
1810 - George, James, Leroy, Thomas, William
Rev War Pension Abstracts
Peter, Nc & SC Line, S21451, sol was b in 1759 in Halifax Co VA & he moved into NC where he lived at enl, he appl 21 Mar 1835 Abbeville Dist SC
(There is a Peter in Laurens County in 1800 & 1810)
Barnwell - formed 1798 from Orangeburg (southern part)
About Barnwell County
Barnwell County was settled in the early 1700's by pioneers wishing to adventure into the "back country". By the 1740's, Palatine settlers entered the picture spreading throughout Orangeburg District. By the end of the Revolutionary War, many settlers obtained grants in Barnwell County. Most were from North Carolina and Virginia. Barnwell was actually a district within Orangeburg until the late 1780's. At this time, Winton District was created and the Barnwell name wasn't used again until 1798. Many of the Palatine, Virginian and North Carolinian surnames are still evident in Barnwell today. Some of them being, Hutto, Hartzog, Matheny, Hair, Delk,Dyches, Harley, Rountree and many more. [http://www.rootsweb.com/~scbarnwe/Barnw.htm - Barnwell County GenWeb site]
1790 Orangeburg, south part
John sr 4 2 1 - 3
John jr (266) 1 - 4 - 1
Bartholemew (267) 1 1 2
William (267) 4 1 2 - 3
Stephen (268) 1 2 5 - -
Roland (253)
1800
Irrin Barnwell 52 10100-01100-00
James Barnwell 52 00001-00001-05
Raymon Barnwell 65 10010-00100-00
Richard Barnwell 55 20200-00101-01
Roland Barnwell 52 01010-00100-06
John 64 21010-11110-01
John sr 64 00101-00001-07
Luke 64 20100-00100-01
Stephen Bar 54 (53) 20101-01100-01
Stephen Bar (63) 12010-23010-01
1810
1810 - Barnwell - Stephen (131) - 32020 - 10010
Stephen jr (135) - 11301 - 11320
1820
Stephen Barnwell 010) 010201-01101
Stephen Barnwell 020) 300201-01100
Beaufort - formed 1769 (Original District) - the southernmost county
1790 Isaac Robards
Elias, James, Jno, Petr Robert
p. 492 Hezeh Roberts 2000 1
Robert, George 1120 11
Arthur 1130 0
Grimball 1120 2
Peter 2000
1800 - Prince Williams p. 8 - Wm H Robert 00010 00001
Arthur 10001 01001
Zach 10010 2401
St Peters - James, Peter (2) Robert / Gerehiah, John, Joseph, Reuben, Thomas Roberts
1810 - Bat, F (Prince William’s) / Isaac (St Luke’s) / Reuben (St Peter’s)
Camden Dist- north central
In 1785, it contained York, Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Richland, Claremont and Clarendon counties
In 1790-99, it contained Fairfield, Lancaster, Richland, Kershaw, Claremont, Clarendon and Salem counties (York and Chester had been made part of Pinckney District)
In 1800 it was replaced by Fairfield, Lancaster, Richland, Kershaw and Sumter Districts (Sumter District contained Salem, Claremont, Clarendon counties of 1790-99)
By 1868, the following counties occupied the area once known as Camden District: York and Chester (from 1785), Fairfield, Lancaster, Richland, Kershaw, Lee, Sumter and Clarendon.
1790 - Philip, Aaron, Nicholas, Reubn, Richard (2) Robert / Roger sr Roberts
Charleston District - the central part of the coast of SC
In 1785, it contained Marion, Washington, Charleston, Berkeley, Bartholomew, Colleton and Granville counties
By 1800 the southern half of the Charleston District had become Colleton District - and as far as I can tell, Colleton contained at least part Berkeley and all of Bartholomew counties
It was still more or less the same size in 1868, but later Berkeley and Dorchester counties were formed from the northern and western bits. (Berkeley migrated from the center of the Charleston to the north.)
The Parishes in Charleston District in 1790 were: Berkeley County, St. Johns / Berkeley County, St. Stephens Santee / Colleton County, St. John's / Dorchester County, St. Georges / Christ Church / St. Andrew's / St. Bartholomew / St. James Goose Creek / St. James Santee / St. Pauls / St. Phillips and St. Michael's / St. Thomas
Charleston
1800 George 150 - 00100 10100
William 141 10110 00100
John 125 10010 01010 1sl?
Ann 126 00000 00030 24sl
Adam 86 10020 21010
1810 Catherine, Francis, OP, William
Charleston District - St Bartholomew’s
1790 Capt (562) / Francis (566)
Charleston District - Dorchester, St George’s
1790 Frances (632) 1 2 1 - -
Charleston District - Berkeley St John’s
1790 Lewis (594) 1 1 2 - -
John (596) 1 1 2 - -
Charleston District - St Philips & St Michaels
1790 Alexander (281)
Ann (286)
Thomas (332, 347) 2 3 - - -
Thomas
William (330a, 334) 1 - 1 - -
William (330a, 334) 2 1 1 - 2
Charleston District - St Stephen’s
1790 - Peter Robert
Charleston - St Thomas and Christ Church
1800 - Turner Robert Roberts 41 01100 00001 4sl
Charleston - St Thomas and St Dennis
1810 - Robt Roberts
Rev War Pension Abstracts
William, SC Line, S21953, appl 21 Aug 1832 at Charleston SC aged 70, sol was b at “St James” in Santee SC, sol m Elizabeth ( - - ) no date given & she d prior to sol who d 3 Oct 1836, a daughter Mary Naomi m Charles W. Kirk in 1821 & their son S. D. Kirk was of Charleston
Cheraws District - just east of Camden District
In 1785, it contained Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Darlington counties
Much later, Florence county was formed out of a bit of Darlington.
1790 - St Thomas - Sarah (361) 00200
Philip (361) 12300
William (365) 1 1 2 - - (12200) - first from book at library, 2nd online
(p. 366) Daniel Davis 12300
Sarah Davis 10300
Joshua Davis 13200
Chester - formed 1785 from Camden District
1790 - Archbd (202) , Lewis (202), Wm (202)
1800 - Archelas W, Isaac, Luis, Thomas, Wm (2)
1810 - Archd, Isaac, John (2), Lewis, Moses, Wm
Chesterfield- formed 1785 from Cheraws District
1800 - William
Claremont - formed 1785 from Camden District
1790 Isaac (220) / Robt (219)
Clarendon - formed 1785 from Camden District
1790 Richard (216) / Roger sr (208)
Colleton - formed 1798 from Charleston District
1790 Charleston Dist, Colleton St Barts - Capt (562) / Francis (566)
1800 - Francis (St Barts)
Craven - original proprietary county (1682)
Rev War Pension Abstracts
John, SC Line, S18188, sol was b 19 Sep 1752 in Horry Dist SC & he lived there at enl & he appl there 5 Nov 1834, sol d 27 Jan 1837 leaving 6 children but only ones named were Joseph A. Roberts & Ann Smith, in 1752 All Saints Parish in Horry Dist was then in Craven Co SC
Darlington- formed 1785 from Cheraws District
Rev War Pension Abstracts
Philip, Sarah, SC Line, W2170, BLW #38566-160-55, sol was b 24 Jan 1763 in Cumberland Co NC & at age of 14 he moved to Darlington Dist SC & lived there at enl, sol m Sarah “Sally” (Hall or Holly or Daniels, wid gave all e names) on 1 Dec 1838 in Harrison Co KY & sol appl there 8 Oct 1832 & sol d there 24 Nov 1854 & wid appl there 16 Jun 1855 aged 52 & she was there in 1870, in 1855 wid stated she had no living children by sol, in 1833 John & Mary Roberts were of Harrison Co KY & in 1854 a Wm. G. or J. Roberts lived there but their relationship was not given
Edgefield - formed 1785 from 96 District
1790 Jeremiah (509a) 1 - 1 - -
Mary (509a) - 1 5 - 4
John (509a, 513a) 3 2 5 - -
Elizth (512a)
Reubin (512a)
Absalom 3 2 5 - -
John (509a, 513a) 1 5 5 - -
1800 Abraham, Asahel, Jeremiah, John (3)
1810 Absolem, Asa, Charly, Daniel, Dudly, Jeremiah, John, Moses, Reuben, Wm
Fairfield - formed 1785 from Camden District
1790 Aaron (200) / Nicholas (163) / Richard (152, 174, 175)
1800 Alexander, Nichs
1810 Aaron, Benjamin, John, Lewis, Nicholas, William
Georgetown District - the northern part of the coast of SC
In 1785, Georgetown District contained Liberty, Kingston, Williamsburg and Winyah counties
In 1800, Liberty County became Marion District (and eventually Marion county)
By 1868, the area once occupied by the Georgetown District contained Marion, Horry, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties. Later Dillon county was formed from the northern part of Marion Co.
Georgetown District - All Saints
1790 All Saints John 1 3 3 - 1
1800 - from a rootsweb ftp file (ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/sc/horry/census/1800horry.txt
p. 4 All Saints - Margaret Roberts 00000 00001 0 2
p. 1 All Saints - John Roberts 02201 31002 03
? = Georgetown - Waccamaw - Hargaritt, John Robert
Georgetown District - Prince Frederick’s
1790 George (500a) / Peter
1800 Margaret - Geo 378 (or 318)
Georgetown District - Prince George’s
1790 Abraham (570a) 2 3 3 - -
John jr (570a) 1 - 1 - 1
John (570a) 2 3 2 - -
Georgetown - Winyaw
1800 - David Robert (2)
Greenville - formed from Indian land (west of 96 Dist) in 1786
1790 Patience 85
1800 Samuel, William
1810 Hord, Jas, NB, Saml, Sherod
1820 Jesse Greenville 085
Rev War Pension Abstracts
Samuel, VA Line, S21454, appl in Oct 1834 in Greenville Dist SC aged 76, sol lived in Henry Co VA at enl & also srv as a sub for his bro Gabriel Roberts, sol was b 10 May 1758 in VA, sol had moved to NC when he enl for his 2nd tour & after the Rev he lived in NC & SC, on 31 Oct 1845 the exc’r of sol’s estate rec’d final payment & was paid to 28 Oct 1843
Horry - formed 1802 from Georgetown District
1810 Isaac, Jas, John (2), Wm
Rev War Pension Abstracts
John, SC Line, S18188, sol was b 19 Sep 1752 in Horry Dist SC & he lived there at enl & he appl there 5 Nov 1834, sol d 27 Jan 1837 leaving 6 children but only ones named were Joseph A. Roberts & Ann Smith, in 1752 All Saints Parish in Horry Dist was then in Craven Co SC
Kershaw - formed from Camden District
1800 - Reuben, Solomon
1810 Jos, Joseph, P, Philip
Rev War Pension Abstracts
Reuben, SC Line, S31934, sol was b in 1752 near Port Royal VA, sol lived in Kershaw Dist SC at enl & after the Rev he moved to Jones Co GA where he appl 19 Oct 1832
Lancaster - formed 1785 from Camden District
1790 Reubn (241)
Laurens - formed 1785 from 96 District
1790 Joshua (437) 2 - 2 - 2 // Jacob (445)
1800 Jacob Laurens 19 03101-10001-00
Edmund Laurens 20 20220-02101-04
Evan Laurens 24 00010-40010-00
Edmund Laurens 29 21110-00210-03
Absalom Laurens 30 11101-00001-00
James Laurens 30 00011-00001-03
Joshua Laurens 30 00101-00101-00
George Laurens 32 10100-00100-00
James sr Laurens 32 00001-01110-07
James jr Laurens 32 00100-20100-00
Peter Laurens 32 10010-42010-01
1810 Robbard Oba Laur 034 (254) 20010 11100 07
Oldiah (index) Obdiah (actual) (263/274) 01110 00100
Robard, James (226) 10012 20100
Robards, Peter (230) 11001 22210
Robbard, Geo (315) 51010 20101
Roberd, Mary (291) 00000 00001 02
Roberds, Isaac (286) 00100 00000
Jacob (291) 00100 00100
James (192) 00010 00010
Jno (289) 20010 20010
Thos (288) 00100 00100
1820 Geo (9) 310111 01100 1ms ->45
James (14) 100001 01210 1ms ->16
John (16) 510011 12010 1ms 45+
James (crossed out) 0 - - 0 - - - - 0 - - 1ms ->26
Obediah (24) 000020 00020
Obediah (31) 000020 00020
Peter (25) 310001 22010
Thos (30) 200010 30010 1ms 45+
Lexington - formed 1804 from Orangeburg District
1810 Absolom
Marion - formed 1798 from Georgetown District
1800 Abraham (Liberty)
1810 Heniah, Reden
Newberry - formed 1785 from 96 District
1790 Bordy (52) 1 - 1 - - / William (52) 3 1 4 - 1
1800 Bendylle
Ninety-Six District - the very westernmost area (except for the Indian Lands in the northwest)
In 1785, it contained Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Abbeville and Edgefield counties
From 1790-99, it contained Laurens, Newberry, Abbeville and Edgefield counties (Union and Spartan joined York and Chester to form the Pinckney District)
By 1800, 96 District no longer existed - it had been divided into Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Abbeville and Edgefield Districts (which districts were all counties in 1868).
Today, the same counties are still there, with the addition of Saluda, McCormick and Greenwood.
Orangeburg - formed 1769
In 1785, Orangeburgh District contained Lexington, Lewisburg, Orange, and Winton counties
In 1798, the southern bit of the District became Barnwell county; in 1868, the northwestern bit was Lexington county.
Today the area once occupied by Orangeburgh District contains Aiken, Lexington, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Allendale counties
South Part (became Barnwell County)
1790 John sr 4 2 1 - 3
John jr (266) 1 - 4 - 1
Bartholemew (267) 1 1 2
William (267) 4 1 2 - 3
Stephen (268) 1 2 5 - -
Roland (253)
Orangeburg, north
1790 Absalom (390) / Solomon (387)
1800 Absalom, Solomon (Lexington)
Pendleton - formed 1789 from Indian land (west of 96 Dist) - extinct now, never functioned ?
1790 James (4) 2 4 4 - -
John (6) 1 - 2 - -
William 1 1 3 - 1
Zachariah (10)
Amos (9)
Isaac (9)
John (13) 1 3 4 - -
Zepheniah (13) 1 1 6 - -
Elias (13) 1 2 2 - -
1800 Stephen 132a (544) 20010 20100
John, Leph
1810 Bery, Mary, Thomas, Wiley, Wm
Richland - formed 1785 from Camden District
1810 Wm
Spartanburg - formed 1785 from 96 District
1790 William (31) 1 4 4 - -
Michal Brown (36)
1810 Richard
Sumter - formed 1798 from Camden District
1800 Isaac, Robert, William (Salem)
1810 Jno M (Claremont) / Benj (Clarendon) / Aram, John, Robert, Willey (Salem)
Rev War Pension Abstracts
Robert, SC Line, S9468, appl 30 Oct 1832 Sumter Dist SC & sol was b there 19 Mar 1762
Union - formed 1785 from 96 Dist
1790 Freeman 39 / Joseph 39 / Thos (2) 127 / William (Waller?) 47
1800 - Freemen Robert / John, Jonathan, Joseph, Thomas, Walter Roberds
York - formed 1785 from Camden District
1790 Jesse (200) 1 2 5 - 4
1800 Jesse
1810 Jess (264) - also Jean, Macy
No specific location given
Rev War Pension Abstracts
Owen or Owen M., SC Line, BLW #2359-500, sol srv as a Col & was killed at the battle of Stono on 20 Jun 1779 & he left a wid (not named), a son Richard Brook Roberts was a Capt in the SC Arty & was at the battle his was killed in & he later srv as a Maj & d while in srv on 19 Jan 1797, the BLW was issued to sol’s grandchildren & only heirs; Owen N. Roberts, Frances Maria wife of Gen’l N.H. Hurd of Albany NY, Lucius Q. C. Roberts who was a son of Richard Brook Roberts & in 1844 he was living at Northumberland in Saratoga Co NY
Richard Brook, Everada Catherine Sophia, SC Line & srv in the US Army, R8666, BLW #1869-300-20 Apr 1790, sol srv as a Capt during the Rev & he d while serving in the US Army at Burlington NJ on 19 Jan 1797, so had m Everada Catherine Sophia Van Buren in 1786 at Charleston SC & she d 3 Feb 1816 at Stillwater NY & was buried at Burlington NY, a son Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Roberts appl 23 May 1850 in NY for himself & his sis Frances Maria Hurd of Albany NY, sol’s father Col Owen Roberts was killed at the battle of Stone SC on 20 Jun 1779 & the son was in the same battle
Zaccheus, Nancy, SC Line, R8873, sol m Nancy ( - - ) 11 Dec 1788 near the mouth of George’s Creek on the Saluda River in SC, so d 29 Dec 1826, wid appl 22 Sep 1848 in Roane Co TN aged 75, in 1853 sons Brashears & Robert Z. Roberts were of Roane Co TN, in 1855 a James Roberts was of Wayne Co TN & was referred to as a son but it was stated he was possibly the son of Ezra & Patsey Roberts (see their claim R8874), in 1848 a Robert S. Roberts was a JP for Roane Co TN & in 1848 a Rebekah Roberts the wid of Elias Roberts was of Roane Co TN & stated she had been at sol’s wedding, the name Thomas Roberts appears in the claim, relationship to these 4 people to sol’s family not given
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Page last updated 9 Apr 2007