Abbeville County, South Carolina Genealogy

United States

South Carolina

Abbeville County

Guide to Abbeville County, South Carolina ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

South Carolina Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Abbeville Organized: March 12, 1785 Parent County(s): Ninety-Six District; Non-County Area 2 Neighboring Counties Anderson  • Elbert (GA)  • Greenville  • Greenwood  • Laurens  • McCormick See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

The County was named for the town of Abbeville, France. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse

Abbeville County Courthouse
102 Court Square, Rm 103
Abbeville, SC 29620
Phone: 864-366-5312
Abbeville County Website

County Pronunciation
Hear it spoken

Abbeville County, South Carolina Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1916	1911	1911	1791	1873	1772	1790
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1915. General compliance by 1918.

Record Loss

Fires in January and November of 1872 and January 1873 destroyed virtually all records except those of the probate and equity courts. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Boundary Changes

Parent Counties: Created within Ninety-Six District; Non-County Area 2, March 12, 1785. County seat: Abbeville Interactive Map of South Carolina County Formation History (1790-1897) - animated maps illustrating South Carolina county boundary changes Abbeville County, South Carolina Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Cities
Abbeville
Towns
Calhoun Falls Donalds	Due West Honea Path	Lowndesville Ware Shoals
Census-designated places
Antreville	Lake Secession

History Timeline

Abbeville County takes its name from the town of Abbeville, which was named by Huguenot settler Dr. John de la Howe in honor of his home, Abbeville, France. Abbeville County was settled heavily by Scots-Irish settlers who migrated from Pennsylvania along the Great Wagon Road. Learn more about the history of Abbeville County from the South Carolina State Library or from Carolana.com. When Abbeville was created from the old Ninety-Six District in 1785, it inherited the former district's record collection.

Resources

Biographies

• First Settlers of South Carolina, 1670-1680, pub. 1969, FHL Film 2055168 Item 11
• First settlers of South Carolina, 1670-1700, pub. 1985, FHL Book 975.7 W2b
• Aiken, Virginia Carolina Smith, 1831-1900. Diary, 1872-1898.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Abbeville County, South Carolina online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find A Grave USGenWeb Archives SC Tombstone Transcription Project BillionGraves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	Family History Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find A Grave FamilySearch Places
See South Carolina Cemeteries for more information.

 

• There are more than 120 burial grounds in the county.
• To view a list, see Abbeville County, South Carolina Cemeteries.
• National Cemetery Administration
• Cemetery GPS Mapping

Census Records

For all existing and online Federal population schedules of South Carolina, see South Carolina Census. See also USGenWeb Census Project, South Carolina, including links to transcribed files.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	9,197	—
1800	13,553	47.4%
1810	21,156	56.1%
1820	23,167	9.5%
1830	28,149	21.5%
1840	29,351	4.3%
1850	32,318	10.1%
1860	32,385	0.2%
1870	31,129	−3.9%
1880	40,815	31.1%
1890	46,854	14.8%
1900	33,400	−28.7%
1910	34,804	4.2%
1920	27,139	−22.0%
1930	23,323	−14.1%
1940	22,931	−1.7%
1950	22,456	−2.1%
1960	21,417	−4.6%
1970	21,112	−1.4%
1980	22,627	7.2%
1990	23,862	5.5%
2000	26,167	9.7%
2010	25,417	−2.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1779

• 1779 Census-96th District (online)

1800

• Ware, Lowry P. The Second Census of the United States, 1800, Abbeville District, South Carolina. 1972. FHL 975.735 X2w 1800

1810

• Pursley, Larry E. Federal Census of Abbeville County, South Carolina, 1810-1840. pub. 2006. FHL Book 975.735 X22p

1820

• Pursley, Larry E. Federal Census of Abbeville County, South Carolina, 1810-1840. pub. 2006. FHL Book 975.735 X22p

1820 Manufactures
The original manufactures schedules for South Carolina are kept at the NARA, Washington, D.C. FHL copies: FHL microfilms 1024517 - 1024518.

• National Archives. Indexes to Manufacturers Census of 1820. 1920; reprint, Knightstown, Ind.: Bookmark, 1977. FHL US/CAN Book 973 X2m 1820.

• 1829-1920 South Carolina, State and Territorial Censuses, 1829-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images

1830

• Pursley, Larry E. Federal Census of Abbeville County, South Carolina, 1810-1840. pub. 2006. FHL Book 975.735 X22p

1840

• Pursley, Larry E. Federal Census of Abbeville County, South Carolina, 1810-1840. pub. 2006. FHL Book 975.735 X22p

• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. pub. 1841. FHL Book 973 X2pc 1840 and film 2321; digital version at Google Books. See South Carolina, Abbeville District on page 142.

1850

• Lawrence, Harold. The 1850 Census of Abbeville District, South Carolina. pub. 1981. FHL 975.735 X28L 1850

1860

• McKinney, Margaret Vaughan. Abbeville County, South Carolina, 1860 Census. pub. 1991. FHL Book 975.735 X2m 1860

1890
For 1890, see: United States Census 1890.

Church Records

Baptist
South Carolina Baptist Historical Collection
James B. Duke Library
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SouthCarolina 29613-0600
Phone: (864) 294-2194
Fax: (864) 294-2194

Methodist
United Methodist Archives and History Center of the United Methodist Church
Located on the campus of Drew Universtiy, Madison, New Jersey. The Inventory of (SC) Church Archives 1937-1939 is available for free online, courtesy: South Caroliniana Library. Abbeville County's W.P.A. reports are included. Abbeville County Churches identifies dozens of churches in the area, courtesy: South Carolina Genealogical Society.

Presbyterian

• The Constitution and Bye Laws, of the Upper Long-Cane Society of Abbeville District. Abbeville, S.C.: John Taggart, 1832. Digital version at Internet Archive.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Emigration and Immigration

• Moragne, W.C. An Address, Delivered at New Bordeaux, Abbeville District, S.C., November 15, 1854, on the 90th Anniversary of the Arrival of the French Protestants at that Place. James Phynney, 1857. Digital version at Google Books.
• Porter, H. Leonard. Destiny of the Scotch-Irish: An Account of a Migration from Ballybay, Ireland to Washington County, New York; Abbeville District, South Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Preble County, Ohio; Randolph County, Illinois and the Central Illinois Prairie, 1720-1853. 1985. FHL Book 973 W2po

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans
United States African Americans African American Resources for South Carolina

• 150 Years Later, Collier, Melvin J., pub. 2011. Available here: 150 Years Later. This resource will be very useful for identifying research techniques and historical documentation available for discovering ancestors who were former slaves and former slaveholders. Specific resources often overlooked are cited and are useful for research in Abbeville County, SC. Methods for identifying ancestors migrating to Mississippi prior to 1865 have also been cited.
• Fair, Robert A. Our Slaves Should Have the Bible: An Address Delivered Before the Abbeville Bible Society, At Its Anniversary, July, 1854 by Robert A. Fair, Esq., Abbeville, S.C. , pub. 1854. Digital version at Internet Archive.
• Heinegg, Paul. "'Other Free' Heads of Household in the 1790 South Carolina Census, by County," Free African Americans.com. Includes free blacks in Abbeville County.
• Will of George Galphin. Typescript, 2002. FHL fiche 6004787 Chiefly the will of George Galphin of Abbeville, South Carolina. He gave all the legatees listed in his will their freedom and discharged them from all manner of slavery and bondage. He also left items to family members living in Ireland.
• In Those Days is an oral history from elderly African Americans in Elbert County, Georgia, and Abbeville County, South Carolina.

Known plantations, South Carolina Plantations:

• Broadway
• Cedar Hill
• Cherry Hill
• Clinckscales - Antreville
• Clover Hill
• Cotton Hill
• Cotton Level
• Ellington
• Lochaber (at Long Cane)
• Millwood (at Calhoun Falls)
• Orange Hill
• Rocky Grove
• Vienna (at Mount Carmel)

Genealogies

• [Adams] Brothers, Mary A. The History and Genealogy of the Families of Mary Catherine Adams (1920- ) and Lionel Raymon Brothers (1904-1991). DeLand, Fla.: M.A. Brothers, 1994. FHL 929.273 B795bm; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• [Andrea] Descendants of Auguste Andrea and Mary Jane Wyatt, 1857-1970. 1970? FHL 929.273 An25d
• [Baker] Fowler Family Bible Records, 1788-1873. FHL 855039 Item 4
• [Barmore] Barmore, N. Jane. History of the Barmore Family. Typescript, 1960. FHL 896607 Item 1
• [Baskin] Bell, Raymond Martin. The Baskins-Baskin Family: Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina. FHL 288405 Includes supplement
• [Baskin] Beck, William Henry. A Family Genealogy: Harkness, Carmichael, Lester, Greene, Andrews, Brown, White, Polhill, Beck Families. Griffin, Ga.: W.H. Beck, 1958. FHL 929.273 H225bw
• [Baskin] Bell, Raymond Martin. The Baskin(s) Family: South Carolina--Pennsylvania: With Stephens and Martin Notes. Washington, Pa.: R.M. Bell, 1975. FHL 929.273 B292brm; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• [Bickley] Bell, John C. "Bickleys of the Pamunkey River Watershed of Virginia in the 18th Century," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1983):32-49; Vol. 27, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1983):90-104; Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1983):179-189; Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1983):259-264; Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984):19-32; Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1984):88-98; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):169-186; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):261-274. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 27 (1983)-v. 28 (1984).
• [Blain] Shackleton, Bernice Close. The Blain Family, 1794-1980, from Kentucky to Kansas. FHL 929.273 B573s
• [Blackwell] Preston, Peter. The Children of John Blackwell: An American Odyssey. Mathews, Va.: P. Preston, 2009. FHL CD-ROM no. 5702; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• [Boshell] Boshell, Muris R. Boshell Family History. [Haleyville, Ala.]: M.R. Boshell, 1987. FHL 929.273 B651b
• [Boyce] Boyce, Earnest. The Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Boyce Family in America. [Ann Arbor, Mich.: E. Boyce], 1972. FHL 929.273 B713b
• [Breckenridge] Breckenridge, Roger Carroll. The Breckenridge Papers. Apple Valley, Minn.: R.C. Breckenridge, 1994. FHL 929.273 B742brc
• [Brown] Brown, Kenneth B. Le Brun: A Compilation of the Descendants of Julius "Jules" Brown Jr., an Immigrant from Ireland to America: and the Following Related Families: Calhoun, Hair, Jackson, Lassater, Ledbetter, Mc Kenzie, Mc Neely, Pruitt, Summerlin, Thornhill. Rancho Cordova, Calif.: K.B. Brown & Assoc., 1998. FHL 929.273 B813bk
• [Calhoun] Salley, A.S. "The Calhoun Family of South Carolina," The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr. 1906):81-98; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul. 1906):153-169. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
• [Calhoun] Calhoun, Alan T. Genealogical Tree of Calhoun family of America, 1733-1912 from Donegal County, Ireland to America, 1733: James Calhoun and Catherine Montgomery, His Wife, were the First Calhouns to Emigrate from Donegal County, Ireland to America, 1735: Members of This Family Moved to Abbeville District, South Carolina, Known as "the Calhoun Settlement". Typescript, 1956. FHL 362675 Item 2
• [Calhoun] Dundas, Francis de Sales. The Calhoun Settlement, District of Abbeville, South Carolina. Staunton, Va.: F.S. Dundes, 1950. FHL 6018562
• [Calhoun] Calhoun, Robert Dabney. The Calhouns of Ninety Six, South Carolina, & Their Descendants. MSS., William King Hunt Collection, Salt Lake City. Microfilmed 1958. {{FHL|16201615651} Item 7
• [Calhoun] Coldiron, Kara Lee. Our Calhoun and Hamilton Families: A Partial Genealogy. Lincoln, Nebraska: K.L. Coldiron, 1993. FHL 929.273 C128ck
• [Calhoun] Johnson, Ellen R. History of the Colquhoun/Calhoun Families and Their Ancestral Homeland. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1993. FHL 929.273 C719j
• [Calhoun] Brown, Kenneth B. Le Brun: A Compilation of the Descendants of Julius "Jules" Brown Jr., an Immigrant from Ireland to America: and the Following Related Families: Calhoun, Hair, Jackson, Lassater, Ledbetter, Mc Kenzie, Mc Neely, Pruitt, Summerlin, Thornhill. Rancho Cordova, Calif.: K.B. Brown & Assoc., 1998. FHL 929.273 B813bk
• [Callaham] Callahan, Anna Deihls. A History of the Callaham and Carwile Families. Charlotte, N.C.: Delmar Publishers and Printers, 1976. FHL 929.273 C13cd
• [Carwile] Callahan, Anna Deihls. A History of the Callaham and Carwile Families. Charlotte, N.C.: Delmar Publishers and Printers, 1976. FHL 929.273 C13cd.
• [Cheatham] Dennstedt, Alberta Marjorie. "The Cheatham Family of Colonial Virginia," in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1983):163-173; Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1983):273-279; Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1984):38-43; Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1984):102-112; Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1984):209-216; Vol. 28, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1984):293-297; Vol. 29, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1985):32-40; Vol. 29, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1985):123-127; Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1985):179-185; Vol. 29, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1985):262-265; Vol. 30, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1986):17-23; Vol. 30, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1986):99-104. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 27 (1983)-v. 30 (1986).
• [Clark] Clark, Eva Turner. Jacob Clark of Abbeville, South Carolina and Some of His Descendants: Notes on Allied Families and Letters of Reverend Jacob Clark; a Family Memorial. New York, New York: Downs Printing, 1926. FHL 929.273 C547ce
• [Clearman] Baker, Ola Grace. Flowers of the Field: A Genealogy of These Family Names: Clearman, Cotton, Gilmore, Holladay, Henderson, Hollingsworth, Phillips, Rush, Swift and Others. Montgomery, Ala.: Paragon Press, 1974. FHL 1466004 Item 3
• [Cooper] Andrea, Leonardo. Cooper. Typescript, National Library, DAR. Microfilmed 1971. FHL 873024 Item 10
• [Cosby] Cosby, Karen. Sweet Remembrance: Carney Valley Childhood Memories of Flora Adella Adams Cosby. Sims, Ark.: Noah Cosby Printing, 1984. FHL 929.273 C82c
• [Cothran] Cothran, William Benjamin and Samuel Alexander Cothran. Cothran-Chiles Notes: and an Update After More Than a Half-century. Aiken, S.C.: S.A. Cothran, 1992. FHL 929.273 C826c
• [Craig] Craig, Marion Stark. The American Ancestry of Marion Stark Craig, M.D. (Born 1920) and Brother, Robert Andrew Craig, D.D.S. (Born 1922). Little Rock, Ark.: M.S. Craig, 1985. FHL 929.273 C844cm and three supplements
• [Craig] Craig, Marion Stark. James Craig (RW Soldier) of (Now) Abbeville County, SC (Killed 1 February 1781) and Son, John Craig: A Genealogical Compilation. Little Rock, Ark.: M.S. Craig, 1991. FHL 929.273 A1 no. 6072
• [Devlin] Soulé, Hiram Ellsworth. Genealogy of Hiram (10) Ellsworth Soulé, Jr.: Starting with George (1) Soulé, Who Came from England on the Mayflower and Landed at Plymouth in the Year 1620; to Hiram (9) Ellsworth Soulé, Sr., Then to All of His Descendants as of June 1st. 1983. Memphis, Tenn.: H.E. Soulé, 1984-1985. FHL 1421636 Item 3
• [Dodson] Lucas, Silas Emmett. The Dodsons (Dotsons) of Southwest Virginia. [Birmingham, Ala.: Lucas, 1959]. FHL 929.273 D668L
• [Drake] Drake, Charles E. "The Drake Family of Ninety Six District and Abbeville County, South Carolina," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Fall 2001):183-195. FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 29
• [Elgin] Darrell, Genille. Elgin Family Records, ca. 1748-1975. Typescript, microfilmed 1987. FHL 1502576 Item 4
• [Finley] Finley, Carmen J. "John and Mary Finley of Montgomery (Wythe) County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1990):243-255; Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1991):18-33; Vol. 35, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1991):122-135; Vol. 35, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1991):173-185; Vol. 35, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1991):251-262. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg v. 34 (1990)-v. 35 (1991).
• [Fooshe] Geer, Samuel Taylor and James Dudley Fooshe. Soldier, Planter, Philosopher: The Life of J.D. Fooshe. [Dallas, Texas?]: S.T. Geer, 1999. FHL 929.273 F739g
• [Gilmer] Walker, Robert B. Our Family Genealogy. Typescript. Microfilmed 1960. FHL 209590 Item 4
• [Green] Russell, Lauretta Snodgrass. John Green, Pioneer Alabama Legislator and His Descendants. [San Antonio, Texas]: Russell, 1963-1966. FHL 929.273 G82r
• [Griffin] Sharp, Eron M. The Griffin Family. Memphis, Tenn.: E. Sharp, 197-? FHL 1685765 Item 6
• [Hackleman] Hackleman, Phyllis Ann Clem and Burr Keith Hackleman. Hacklemans in America, 1749-1988. Rochester, N.Y.: P.A. Hackleman, 1988. FHL 929.273 H116hh
• [Hagood] Hagood, Melvin A. Hagood Looking: Genealogy of the Hagood Family and Allied Families of Melvin A. Hagood. Corvallis, Oregon: M. Hagood, [1993]. FHL 929.273 H123hm
• [Harkness] Beck, William Henry. A Family Genealogy: Harkness, Carmichael, Lester, Greene, Andrews, Brown, White, Polhill, Beck Families. Griffin, Ga.: W.H. Beck, 1958. FHL 929.273 H225bw
• [Harrison] Hatchett, Bessie M. Descendants of Daniel R. Harrison and Margaret Susannah (Rucker) Harrison, 1780-1952. Microfilmed 1974. FHL 288186
• [Hawthorn] McBryde, Sara Chappell. Genealogy: Means--Hawthorn--Cook. 1935. FHL 929.273 M462ms
• [Hawthorn] Bowie, C. Newell. Hawthornes of Long Cane Headwaters. Due West, S.C.: C.N. Bowie, [1987?]. FHL 2055226 Item 8
• [Heard] Zarnowitz, Elsie L. The Heard Journal: & Herd, Hird, Hurd, Too. Bellingham, Washington: Family Tree Helpers, 1984-1995. FHL 929.27305 H351z
• [Heard] Fontenot, Eunice Fox. Heards, Logans, Wardlaws: of Old '96/Abbeville District, South Carolina. Greenville, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 2002. FHL 929.273 H351fe
• [Hodges] Griffen, William J. and Charles Dochterman. Hodges Family. Typescript, 197-. FHL 1017411234 Item 6
• [Hodges] Meier, Grace. Hodges Family Genealogical Data, 1713-1976. Typescript, Ripley County Historical Museum, Versailles, Ind., 1981. FHL 1312800 Item 42
• [Johnson] Block, Frank E. Johnson, Dalton, Staton of Western North Carolina: Working Paper: with Some Account of Arledge, Blackwell, Boone, Capps, Corn, Henderson, Holbert, Lankford, Stover, Walker and Other Families of Western North Carolina. Atlanta, Ga.: F.E. Block, 1989. FHL 929.273 J63bL
• [Jones] Jones, Frank Merlin. Jones of S.C. and Allied Families. Decatur, Ala.: Budget Print Center, 1981. FHL 929.273 J715j
• [Kay] Kay, William D. The Descendants of John Kay, 1777-1855: Abbeville County, South Carolina. [Mt. Pleasant, S.C.]: W. Kay, [1985?]. FHL 929.273 K18kw; digital version at BYU Family History Archives.
• [Lewis] Craig, Marion Stark. John Lewis Craig (1801-1864) and wife Margaret Ann Harding (1817-1910): Ancestors, Descendants and Allied Families. Little Rock, Ark.: M. Craig, 1989. FHL 929.273 C844cma
• [Lockridge] Walters, Robert B. and Harriet H. Walters. Descendants of James and William Lockridge: Pioneer Brothers of Early Augusta County, Virginia. 1997. FHL 929.273 L813w
• [Logan] Logan, Richard K. Logan: A Directory of the Descendants of Andrew and Lydia Logan of Albany, New York and Abbeville, South Carolina. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1994. FHL 929.273 L828Lo
• [Logan] Fontenot, Eunice Fox. Heards, Logans, Wardlaws: of Old '96/Abbeville District, South Carolina. Greenville, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 2002. FHL 929.273 H351fe
• [McAdams] Edgar, Kelly and Ina May Ogletree McAdams. The McAdams Family of Walker County, Texas: A Texas Sesquicentennial History Written to Honor the Memory of John McAdams, Jr., Who Fought in the Texas Revolution and His Father, John McAdams, Sr., a Methodist Circuit Rider Minister, Who in 1829 Rode into Texas from Alabama, to Preach the Protestant Gospel in Catholic ... Austin, Texas: K. Edgar, 1985. FHL 929.273 M115e
• [McAdams] McAdams, William H. A History of the Thomas McCadam Family: of County Down, Northern Ireland; Abbeville District, South Carolina; Fayette, Lamar & Pickens Counties, Alabama and Other States, 1757-1900 and Beyond. Rockland, Maine: Penobscot Press, 2006. FHL 929.273 M115mw
• [McBryde] MacBryde, David Caldwell. MacBryde (McBryde--Macbride) of Auchinnie, Parish of Port Montgomerie (Portpatrick) Co. of Wigton, Galloway, Scotland. Richmond, Va.: Genealogical Bureau of Virginia, 1921. FHL 1703657
• [McCleskey] McCleskey, Charles S. Descendants of James and Joseph McCleskey, Soldiers of the Revolution, the Texas Group. Baton Rouge, La.: C.S. McCleskey, 1978. FHL 1318147 Item 2
• [McClinton] McClinton, Arthur T. McClinton Families of Old Ninety-six and Abbeville Districts, South Carolina: and Their Westward Movement in the Colonial and Early Years of America. Stephens City, Va.: C.M. McClinton and A.T. McClinton, 1993. FHL 929.273 M132mat
• [McCurdy] Zook, B. Jesse. McCurdys of Long Canes, South Carolina to Upshur County, Texas. Camden, Ind.: B. Zook, 1988. FHL 929.273 M139z
• [McCurdy] McCurdy, John C. The McCurdys of Long Canes: "A Settlement of Ulster Scots." [Atlanta, Ga.]: J.C. McCurdy, 1989. FHL 929.273 M139mjc
• [McDill] Myer, Lois C. Descendants of John McDill and Jane Bell, Belfast, Ireland, Died in Illinois. MSS., microfilmed 1969. FHL 599201 Item 1
• [McGaw] Folan, Ruth Magaw. McGaw - Mcgaw Family History, 1563-1978. Typescript, 1979. FHL 1307618 Item 29
• [McMurtrey] "Group Sheets and Support Data Pertaining to Samuel McMurtrey (1745-1796) of Augusta County, Virginia and Abbeville County South Carolina," in Richard K. McMurtry, MacMurtrie Clan Family Records, 2005 Publication. FHL 1783650 Item 4
• [McMurtrey] "Support Data Pertaining to Samuel McMurtrey (1745-1796) of Augusta County, Virginia and Abbeville County, South Carolina," in Richard K. McMurtry, MacMurtrie Clan Family Records, 2005 Publication. FHL 1783651 Item 1
• [McWhorter] Hinrichs, Mabel Woods. McWhorter Family. Typescript, National Library, DAR, 1965. FHL 874717 Items 2-7
• [McWhorter] Wright, Shirley McWhorter, E.R. McWhorter and Lottie Wherry McWhorter. Some Descendants of David McWhorter (McWhirtir) (c. 1741-1789) and His Wife, Mary Poston (Posten) McWhorter (1750-1846). Typescript, 1978. FHL 1036220 Item 2
• [Martin] Bagwell, William. A History: The Martin Family of Abbeville District, South Carolina. Donalds, S.C.: W.F. Bagwell, c1981, 1988. FHL 929.273 M363ba
• [Mattison] Gadbury, Ruth and Mary Hood. A Branch of the Madison Tree: With Supplements: Ware, Barley, Sample [and] Rusler. [Austin, Texas: Shelby Print], 1974. FHL 929.273 M265a
• [Morris] Morris, S.L. The Records of the Morris Family. Atlanta, Ga.: Hubbard Bros., 1922. FHL 1033635 Item 10
• [Moseley] Andrea, Leonardo. Moseley Family Records, 1415-1888. Typescript, 1948. FHL 929.273 A1 no. 4832
• [Norris] Young, Pauline. The Norris Family of Abbeville, South Carolina (Old Ninety Six District). Typescript, Iowa State Historical Society, Des Moines, Iowa, 1948. Microfilmed 1977. FHL 1018875 Item 10
• [Parnell] Dowdey, H. Grady. Parnell -- Camp: Genealogy and Records. Fort Worth, Texas: Miran Publishers, [1975?]. FHL 6005682; 1989 reprint: FHL 6005609
• [Patterson] Egger, Marjory Ann Baldy. Reining in the Family Lines. Mesa, Ariz.: n.p., 1997. FHL 929.273 P277eg
• [Perrin] Harrison, Thomas Perrin. The Honorable Thomas Chiles Perrin of Abbeville, South Carolina: Forebears and Descendants. Greenville, S.C.: N.M. Perrin, 1983. FHL 929.273 P428h
• [Pettigrew] Robberson, Richard Wilkerson and Verna Lerdall. Descendants of Abednego Robberson and Elizabeth Jane Pettigrew Robberson: with Allied Families Croak, Franssens, McClure, and Pettigrew. Oklahoma City, Okla.: V.R.W. Lerdall, 1991. FHL 929.273 R533r
• [Prewitt] Gephart, Reba, Ruth Pruitt, and Chelsea Orem Dinn. Moses and William Pruitt, Indiana Pioneers. Franklin, Ind.: C. & R. Dinn, 1973. FHL 929.273 P952g
• [Pyles] Lucas, Silas Emmett. The Dodsons (Dotsons) of Southwest Virginia. [Birmingham, Ala.: Lucas, 1959]. FHL 929.273 D668L
• [Rasor] Pattie, Grace Huffman. The Rasor Family in Indiana, 1808-1958. FHL 1502914
• [Reid] Reid, Wayne Alexander. The 1860 Diary of Lemuel Reid, an Abbeville District, South Carolina Planter: with His Genealogy and Descendants. Melbourne, Fla.: W.A. Reid, 1994. FHL 921.73 R272rw
• [Richey] Richey, Frank Miller. Descendants of Andrew W. 'Andy' & Mariah Park Sims Richey. Lilburn, Ga.: F.M. Richey, 1997. FHL 929.273 R399rf
• [Sample] Franklin, Frances Sample. The Ancestry of Frances Sample Franklin. Wolfe City, Texas: Henington Pub., 1972. FHL 929.273 Sa47f
• [Shirley] Moore, Augusta Letitia Shirley. A Brief History and Genealogy of the Shirley Family. Oklahoma City: A.L.S. Moore, 1911. FHL 1454557 Item 11
• [Shoemaker] Shoemaker, Clara and Virdie Hodnett Egger. Shoemaker, Russum, Dean, Hall, Smith, Winiford, Robertson, Norvel. Colorado City, Texas: C. Shoemaker, 1983. FHL 929.273 Sh73s
• [Sims] Sharp, Eron M. Nathan Sims of Granville Co., N.C. and Abbeville Co. S.C.: His Ancestors and Descendants. Memphis: E. Sharp, 1973. FHL 1685765 Item 6
• [Smith] Smith, Carl Barnard. My Ancestors and Descendants. Tampa, Fla.: Rinaldi Printing, 1972. FHL 1429853 Item 11
• [Smith] Glenn, Nell McCullough and Inez McCullough Lawson. Family Data, Records, Incidents, Traditions, and Obituary Notices Concerning: the Smiths, Fullers, Cooks, McDavids, Shumates, McCulloughs. Typescript. Microfilmed 1974. FHL 954251 Item 18
• [Spruill] Cox, Clarice S. Gabriel Spruill of Carroll County, Georgia - Descendants and Allied Families. Carrollton, Ga.: C.S. Cox, 1984. FHL 929.273 Sp88c
• [Stallworth] Stallworth, Hugh Wagner. Stallworths and Related Families with Their Descendants and Connections: Compiled from Original Records, Letters and Other Material. [Nashville, Tenn.]: H.W. Stallworth, 1966. FHL 1429812 Item 11
• [Stone] Brunson, Lavorne.Derry Stones: The Family of William and Jane Stone, of Londonderry, Ireland. Wyandotte, Okla.: Gregath, 1998. FHL 929.273 St72br
• [Stone] Stone, Ilona Hinrichs. A Collection of Stones and Most of Them -- Gems: The Descendants of William and Jane Stone, Immigrants from Londonderry, Ireland; Including Information about the Allied Families of Graham, Gilkeyson/Gilkerson and Richey. Tucson, Ariz.: I.H. Stone, 2002. FHL 929.273 St72si
• [Towles] Andrea, Leonardo. Towles in S.C.Typescript, 1962. FHL 978080 Item 1
• [Uldrick] Bratcher, R. Wayne. The Uldrick Book. n.p.: R.W. Bratcher, 1993. FHL 929.273 UL2b
• [Wadlington] Metzger, Donna Humphrey. That Wadlington Family and Others. Chico, Calif.: D.H. Metzger, 2007. FHL 929.273 W119m; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• [Wardlaw] Wardlaw, Diane. Wardlaw Chronicle: A History of the Wardlaws in America from Their Coming to America in the Early 1700's. [San Luis, Colo.: D. Wardlaw, 199?]. FHL 929.273 W219wa
• [Wardlaw] Fontenot, Eunice Fox. Heards, Logans, Wardlaws: of Old '96/Abbeville District, South Carolina. Greenville, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 2002. FHL 929.273 H351fe
• [Whitten] Alexander, Virginia Wood. Whitten and Allied Families. [Columbia, Tenn.]: V.W. Alexander & W.C. Whitten, 1984. FHL 929.273 W618a
• [Wilson] Wilson, Barnett. The Wilson, Hallmark, Hendricks, Hewitt Families. [Fort Payne, Ala.]: B.F. Wilson, [19--]. FHL 929.273 W691wbf
• [Wright] Kay, William D. Robert Norris Wright, Esquire: 1812-1885, His Life and Four Generations of His Family, Anderson County South Carolina. Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: W.D. Kay, 2005. FHL 929.273 W935k
• [Youngblood] Lant, Kay Freels and Kathryn Libbert Freels. Southern Indiana Youngbloods: Their Ancestors and Descendants. Evansville, Ind.: K.F. Lant, 1968. {{FHL|929.273 Y88L}; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• [Youngblood] Youngblood, Delois Kelley. Research and Remembrances of Youngblood, Martin, Perry, Mann, Kelley, McKinney, McWhorter. Charlotte, N.C.: Dekey Publisher, [1987?]. FHL 929.273 Y88yk

Land and Property Records

Because South Carolina was an agricultural state, many residents owned land. For earliest records, search 1) Charleston District, 2) your ancestor’s residential district, 3) neighboring districts, 4) the residential county, 5) neighboring counties. Not all districts and counties kept records. See also South Carolina Land and Property.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Plats For State Land Grants 1784-1868 For information about the State Land Grants, see State Land Grants

The following chart shows where you may best expect to find land records.

Tracing Land Currently in Abbeville County with Parent Counties and Districts

Date	Government Office
1710-1719	Proprietary Land Grants
1719-1769	Charleston District
1769-1800	Abbeville County (old) Records Lost *
1800-1865	Abbeville District Records Lost *
1868-1873	Abbeville County Records Lost*
1873-present	Abbeville County

• Deeds burned in 1873 while in storage

** Records of Pendleton/Anderson County should also be checked

Local Histories

• Davis, Mary Katherine. "The Feather Bed Aristocracy: Abbeville District in the 1790s," The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Vol. 80, No. 2 (Apr. 1979):136-155. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
• Carlisle, H. Arnett. The History of Lowndesville, S.C. (Danielsville, Georgia: Heritage Papers, c1987), 414 pages. Includes biographies, military history, cemeteries and the following census information: 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910. Book found at WorldCat 18557351, FHL Book 975.735/L1 H2c

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Maps for Abbeville County at Library of Congress

Migration

Early migration routes to and from Abbeville County for European settlers included:

• Savannah River pre-historic
• Middle Creek Trading Path pre-historic
• Augusta and Cherokee Trail in Georgia 1740s
• Charleston-Ft. Charlotte Trail about 1765
• Fort Charlotte and Cherokee Old Path about 1765-1777

Military Records

• Abbeville County, South Carolina Military Index (South Carolina Genealogy Trails)

Revolutionary War

• "Battle of Cedar Springs," Upper South Carolina Genealogy and History,Feb 2006 Volume 20, Issue 1. Piedmont Historical Society: Spartansburg, SC. Revolutionary war history.
• "Revolutionary war pensions, B", Genealogical Roots and Branches, August 1989, Volume 10, Issue 7. Old Ninety-Six Chapter, SCGS: Greenwood, SC.
• "Pension records, Revolutionary War," Genealogical Roots and Branches, November 1987, Volume 8, Issue 9. Old Ninety-Six Chapter, SCGS Greenwood, SC.
• "Revolutionary pension records," Genealogical Roots and Branches, October 1987, Volume 8, Issue 8. Old Ninety-Six Chapter, SCGS: Greenwood, SC.
• "Soldiers killed, 1788," Carolina Genealogist, Winter 1977, Issue 29. Heritage Papers: Danielsville, Georgia. FHL Book 975 B2cg no. 19-32. Indexed in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) under CRGN.

War of 1812

• List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FHL Book 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, South Carolina, Abbeville County, p. 181. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War

• 1861-1865 South Carolina Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images
• 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)

Regiments. Civil War service men from Abbeville County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regimens that were formed of many men from Abbeville County.

- 1st Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company B and Company G

- 1st Battalion, South Carolina Rifles, Company A

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company A (also known as Calhoun's Battery; Sumter Light Artillery, Sumter Battery, Preston's Battery, Blake's Battery and other name variations)

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A (also known as M. T. Owens Cavalry and Albemarle, South Carolina Cavalry, and Abbeville Troop) - many men from Abbeville District (County) and Company G (also known as L. J. Johnson's Cavalry)

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (6 months, 1861), Company D (also known as the Abbeville Volunteers)

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (Butler's) (1st Regulars), Company A (also called Company B and Beauregard Artillery)

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (McCreary's) (1st Provisional Army), Company H (also known as Haskell's Rifle Corps)

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina State Troops Junior Reserves (State Militia), Company F and Company G

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Rifles (Orr's), Company B (also known as Abbeville Minutemen or McDuffie Guards and Company E (also known as Oconee Riflemen or Oconee Rifles) and Company G (also known as Marshall Riflemen)

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina State Troops, Company F and Company I

- 1st Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry , Company A (also known as M. T. Owens Cavalry and Albemarle, South Carolina Cavalry and Company G (also known as L. J. Johnson's Cavalry)

- 2nd Battalion, South Carolina Reserves, Company G

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry, Company G (also known as Bonham's Light Dragoons and Lipscomb's Troop) and Company I (also known as the Edgefield Hussars or formerly known as Company A, Cavalry Battalion, Hampton Legion, and the Edgefield Dragoons)

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (2nd Palmetto Regiment), Company F (also known as Secession Guard)

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Rifles, Company A, Company F, and Company K

- 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Lauren's) (James'), Company A and Company D

- 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion), Company F (also known as the Chestnut Light Artillery)

- 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company F

- 4th Battalion, South Carolina Reserve, Company B and Company F

- 5th Battalion, South Carolina Rifles, Company A and Company F

- 5th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves (90 days 1862-63), Company A, Company G, and Company H

- 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken's Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers), Company A, Company B, Company C, Company G, and Company H

- 6th Regiment, South Carolina Militia

- 7th Battalion, South Carolina Infantry (Nelson's) (Enfield Rifles), Company H

- 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry , Company G

- 14th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company G and Company I

- 15th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry , Company K

- 16th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company A, Company B, Company C, and Company G

- 19th Battalion, South Carolina Cavalry, Company B

- 19th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry , Company G, Company H, and Company I

- 20th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry (reorganized), E Company

- 22nd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company G

- 24th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company F

Other Resources

• Ingram, Virginia. Confederate Veterans of Abbeville County [S.C.] from the Enrollment Books Taken About 1902. All Civil War veterans of Abbeville County are listed first by township & then Alphabetically by veteran's surname. WorldCat 43499609, FHL 975.735 M22i
• Carlisle, H. Arnett, The History of Lowndesville, S.C. Includes biographies, military history, cemeteries and the following census information: 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910. Civil War pages 2, 14, 121 & 136. WorldCat 18557351, FHL 975.735/L1 H2c
• South Carolina. County Court. County Enrollment Book [of] Confederate Veterans; List of Widows, 1929. Arranged by surname in alphabetical order. FHL Film 181613
• Abbeville County Courthouse. Distribution of the State Pension Fund in Abbeville County, South Carolina for 1916-1956.. FHL microfilm 181614

Newspapers

• 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)

Historic
The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Abbeville County, South Carolina on their Chronicling America website. For publication details, including dates of publication, frequency, preceding and succeeding titles, and to find out which libraries have holdings, click on the newspaper title.

• Abbeville Press (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869.
• Abbeville Wig and Southern Nullifier (Abbeville, S.C.) 1831-1833.
• Due West Telescope (Due West, S.C.) 1851-1867.
• Erskine Miscellany (Due West, S.C.) 1850-1851.
• Lowndesville Advertiser (Lowndesville, S.C.) 1888-1889.
• The Abbeville Bulletin (Abbeville, S.C.) 1865-1865.
• The Abbeville Medium (Abbeville, S.C) 1871-1923.
• The Abbeville Messenger (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1888.
• The Abbeville Press and Banner (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1925.
• The Banner (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847.
• The Calhoun Falls News (Calhoun Falls, S.C.) 1961-current.
• The Calhoun Falls Times (Calhoun Falls, S.C.)1946-1959.
• The Donalds Progress (Donalds, S.C.) 1906-1906.
• The Due West Weekly (Due West, S.C.) 1949-1958.
• The Independent Press (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860.
• The Evening Medium (Abbeville, S.C.) 1923-1925.
• The Press and Banner and Abbeville Medium (Abbeville, S.C.) 1925-current.
• The Scimitar (Abbeville, S.C.) 1914-1918.
• The Village Observer (Due West, S.C.) 1976-current.

University of South Carolina Library Catalog

• Historical Newspapers of South Carolina at University of South Carolina Libraries - not complete

Periodicals

Tap into the minds of local experts. Editors of genealogical periodicals publish unique sources that researchers new to their area may not encounter. Periodicals at various levels (county, region, and state) may carry articles useful to research in this area. For more information and links, see South Carolina Periodicals.

See: Periodicals for description.

• The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research
• The South Carolina historical and genealogical magazine (1900) Internet Archive (F)

Probate Records

Various types of records are created throughout the probate process of settling estates and property, usually after death. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. For further information see probate records in South Carolina Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has holdings of microfilms or typescripts of wills, inventories, bills of sale, power of attorneys, bonds, notes, administrations, judgments, and sales records. They have placed Will Transcriptions for 1782 to 1855 online. Index searchable by name and the image is available.

The organization Strictly By Name provides free online indexes to early Abbeville wills and probate records. They offer a record retrieval service to photocopy and transcribe microfilm copies of the original documents for a small fee. Available indexes:

• 1737-1964 South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 at Ancestry - images ($)
• 1787-1837 Abbeville Will Books 1-2:
  • Available at South Carolina Pioneers:
• 1787-1815 Abbeville Wills (Transcripts) South Carolina Pioneers ($)
• 1776-1783 Index to Abbeville County Minutes of Court of Ordinary, Book B, South Carolina Pioneers ($)
• 1782-1868 Index to Abbeville County Will Book A South Carolina Pioneers ($)
• 1815-1839 Index to Abbeville County Will Book B South Carolina Pioneers ($)
• 1839-1855 Index to Abbeville County Will Book C South Carolina Pioneers ($)

Additional Abbeville County probate records include:

• Young, Willie Pauline. South Carolina Historical Records: Records of Will Books of County of Abbeville (Ninety-six District) South Carolina. Multi-volume, 1947. FHL Book 975.735 S2yw (Library has Vol 1 and 4 only; digital version at Ancestry ($).
• 1670-1980 South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
• 1671-1977 South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
• 1732-1964 South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
• 1782-1866 South Carolina, Will Transcripts 1782-1866 at Findmypast — index, ($) — $, index
• 1783-1868 Abbeville County South Carolina list of will book testators SAMPUBCO - Browsable index of testators of wills. - free
• 1782-2006 Archived Abbeville County Probate Court Wills

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Tax Records

Tax-related records are kept by the offices of the county Assessor, Auditor, Sheriff, and Treasurer. Taxes were levied on real and personal property and can help establish ages, residences, and relationships. See South Carolina Taxation for online resources and suggestions.

Published abstracts

• 1784 Sarrett, Paul R. "1784 Tax Records - Abbeville County," available online, courtesy: The USGenWeb Archives - South Carolina.
• 1787 Holcomb, Brent H. Two 1787 Tax Lists from Ninety Six District, S.C., 1974. FHL Book 975.7 A1 no. 44 1787 tax lists from Ninety Six District, S. C. Covers the area of Edgefield and Abbeville Counties in the 1790 census
• 1794 1794 Tax Records Abbeville County USGenWeb Archives

Vital Records

Birth, marriage, and death records were not recorded by South Carolina until the 1900s, thus leaving a lack of vital records created by Civil authorities. See South Carolina Vital Records for online resources and suggestions.

Birth

State-wide birth registration did not begin until 1915. For records after 1915, see the South Carolina Vital Records page.

• 1766-1900 South Carolina, Delayed Birth Certificates, 1766-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images
• 1915-1917 South Carolina, U.S., Births, 1915-1917 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Marriage

In South Carolina, Probate Courts issued and still keep marriage licenses from 1 July 1911 to the present. Licenses were not required before 1911. In the 1700s, the Church of England parish churches were required to record all marriages - even if the couple were not members of the denomination. Statewide registration of marriages started in July, 1950. See South Carolina Vital Records for indexes and more information.

Online Marriage Records and Indexes

• 1774-1890 7500 Marriages from Ninety-Six and Abbeville District, S.C., 1774-1890, by Larry E. Pursley WorldCat 46423221,FHL Collection - index
• 1777-1852 - Abbeville District, South Carolina, 1777-1852 by Silas Emmett Lucas FHL Collection, WorldCat 5800325 - index
• 1777-1852 - Abbeville District, South Carolina Marriages, 1777-1852 by Pauline Young. FHL Collection - index; these marriages are taken from old wills, equity records, etc.
• 1780-1879 Abbeville County Marriages, 1780-1879, Implied in Abbeville County, South Carolina Equity Records by Barbara R. Langdon WorldCat 30758674, FHL Collection - index
• 1846-1860 Marriage and Death Notices from the Abbeville Banner, 1846-1860 by E. Don Herd WorldCat 6867370, FHL Collection - index
• 1911-1951 Abbeville County, South Carolina Marriage Registers and Licenses,1911-1951 FHL Collection - index and records
• There are several online marriage indexes containing miscellaneous marriage records found in some counties of South Carolina listed on the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Death

State-wide death registration began in 1915. For information and online records, see the South Carolina Vital Records page.

Online Death Records and Indexes

• 1816-1990 South Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1816-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1821-1969 South Carolina, U.S., Death Records, 1821-1969 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• 1846-1860 Marriage and Death Notices from the Abbeville Banner, 1846-1860 WorldCat 6867370, FHL Collection - index
• 1915-1943 South Carolina, Deaths, 1915-1943 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
• 1915-1965 South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images
• State-wide South Carolina Death Indexes. There are several online death indexes covering all of South Carolina listed on the South Carolina Vital Records page.
• 1681-1935 South Carolina Births and Christenings, 1681-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1709-1913 South Carolina Marriages, 1709-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
• 1915-1965 South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index & Images
• 1816-1990 South Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1816-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Abbeville County. For state-wide library facilities, see South Carolina Archives and Libraries.

Family History Centers

Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Anderson South Carolina Family History Center
• Elberton Georgia Family History Center
• Greenwood South Carolina Family History Center

• High Point Public Library - an affiliate library
• York County Libraries - Clover - an affiliate library

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Abbeville County. For state-wide library facilities, see South Carolina Archives and Libraries.

Abbeville County Library
203 South Main Street
Abbeville, SC
Telephone: 864-459-4009
Hours: Monday, Wednesday. Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Website

The Abbeville County Library system has a main county library and two branches. The county library has the largest collection of genealogical material, though the branches also have helpful material. The County Library has books, name files, old newspapers, and microfilm. The library system has an online catalog which is shared by three other counties. You can search for specific items in the search box at the top of the screen. Or you can brows the collection by clicking the starred Search tab, then limiting your search results to the genealogy collection. At the Reference tab there are a number of genealogy resources you can search. The Abbeville County Library system is on Facebook For Genealogy Requests - please email genealogy@abbevillecounty.org including some background and specific information you are seeking. Genealogy volunteers will search for your information and respond directly to you. Erskine CollegeWebsite

The McCain Library at Erskine College has records helpful to genealogists. The Archive and Special Collections located in Ried Hall serves as a central location for preserving and accessing records relating to the intertwined histories of Erskine College, Erskine Theological Seminary, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Abbeville County, South Carolina. The genealogical collection contains information on persons having connections to any or all of these institutions and locations, as well as general resources for those doing family history research. There are census records, diaries and family histories, local newspapers, and more.It includes the Miller-Henry Family History Center and the Woffard E. Baldwin Reading Room. The Library also has a Government documents section. The archival research and photocopying policies are available online. Erskine College maintains a searchable database of periodical subscriptions owned by Piedmont Technical College, Lander University, Erskine College, Greenwood County Library, and the libraries at the Greenwood Genetics Center and Self Regional Healthcare. You will be able to search for periodical holdings by title and limit your search by location. The Archivist is available Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon, or by special appointment. To Contact the Archivist:
Phone: 864-379-8763 or 864-379-6576
Fax: 864.379.2900
E-mail: ebrawley@erskine.edu
Mailing Address:
Edith Brawley, McCain Library,
Erskine College and Seminary
P.O. Box 188
One Depot Street (for FedEx and UPS)
Due West, SC 29639

South Carolina Digital Library - scroll down for Abbeville's online collections . The South Carolina Digital Library (SCDL) is a collaborative effort that includes South Carolina’s schools, libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions. It includes resources for ageds kindergarten through adult. Its mission is to create, maintain, and promote digital collections that represent South Carolina's historical and cultural resources. It also seeks to enhance the overall education and scholarship of South Carolina's citizens by coordinating free and unlicensed access to these digital collections through a central web presence.

Museums

Abbeville County Museum
Address:
Popular and Cherry Streets
Abbeville, SC 29620
Telephone: 864 366 6525 or 864-459-4600
The Abbeville County Museum is part of a collection of historic sites in the Old 96 District that includes Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, and McCormick counties.Website

• For a list of Abbeville and other South Carolina museums, Click here.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Abbeville County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see South Carolina Societies.

• Abbeville County Historical Society
  PO BOX 12
  Abbeville, SC, 29620
  (864) 366-8193
  E-mail: abvcohs@gmail.com
  Website Facebook
• Boonesborough Historical Society
  Abbeville and Anderson counties, disbanded in late 2000s
  Website

Websites

• Abbeville County SCGenWeb project
• Abbeville County, USGenWeb Archives
• Abbeville County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• South Carolina Pioneers
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

• South Carolina Archives Summary Guide: Abbeville County, available online, courtesy: South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
• Inventory of county archives of South Carolina no. 1, Abbeville County (Abbeville), WPA, pub. 1938. FHL Fiche 6048337 (3 fiche), FamilySearch Digital Library
• Research Materials in South Carolina, by John H. Moore; pub. Columbia, South Carolina, 1967
• Bibliography of South Carolina, 1563-1950, 6 vol., Robert C. Turnbull; pub. Charlottesville, Virgina 1956-1960

Family History Library

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.

FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a family history center.