Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogy

United States

South Carolina

Chesterfield County

Guide to Chesterfield 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: Chesterfield Organized: 12 Mar 1785 Parent County(s): Cheraw District Neighboring Counties Anson (NC)  • Darlington  • Kershaw  • Lancaster  • Lee  • Marlboro  • Union (NC) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773)

The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Chesterfield County Courthouse
200 West Main Street / P.O. Box 529
Chesterfield, SC 29709
Phone: 843-623-2574
Chesterfield County Website

County Pronunciation
Hear it spoken.

Chesterfield 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
1915	1911	1915	1823	1861	1865	1790
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1915. General compliance by 1918.

Record Loss

During the Civil War, Chesterfield's courthouse records were evacuated to Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina Genealogy where they were destroyed by fire during Sherman's Union army occupation of that city in February 1865. Deed books have suffered heavy losses. 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. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

Parent County: created from Cheraw District, 12 Mar 1785 County Seat Chesterfield Interactive Map of South Carolina County Formation History (1790-1897) - animated maps illustrating South Carolina county boundary changes Chesterfield 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:

Towns
Cheraw Chesterfield Jefferson	McBee Mount Croghan Pageland	Patrick Ruby
Unincorporated communities
Angelus Cash	Middendorf	Minden

History Timeline

Officially, Chesterfield County is named for British statesman Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773) though some local tradition suggests that Chesterfield was named for Chesterfield County, Virginia Genealogy. Learn more about the history of Chesterfield County from the South Carolina State Library or from Carolana.com.

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Chesterfield 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 CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SC Cemetery GPS Mapping Project
See South Carolina Cemeteries for more information.

• To view a cemetery list, see Chesterfield County, South Carolina Cemeteries.
• National Cemetery Administration

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.	%±
1800	5,216	—
1810	5,564	6.7%
1820	6,645	19.4%
1830	8,472	27.5%
1840	8,574	1.2%
1850	10,790	25.8%
1860	11,834	9.7%
1870	10,584	−10.6%
1880	16,345	54.4%
1890	18,468	13.0%
1900	20,401	10.5%
1910	26,301	28.9%
1920	31,969	21.6%
1930	34,334	7.4%
1940	35,963	4.7%
1950	36,236	0.8%
1960	33,717	−7.0%
1970	33,667	−0.1%
1980	38,161	13.3%
1990	38,577	1.1%
2000	42,768	10.9%
2010	46,734	9.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

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

1800

• Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogical Services and James C. Pigg. 1790 Cheraw District & 1800, 1810 Chesterfield County, S.C. Federal Census. Tega Cay, S.C.: The Services & J.C. Pigg, 1997. FHL Collection 975.7 X2c
• King, Walter. The Second Federal Census, South Carolina, Chesterfield County. FHL Collection 975.763 X2p 1800

1810

• Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogical Services and James C. Pigg. 1790 Cheraw District & 1800, 1810 Chesterfield County, S.C. Federal Census. Tega Cay, S.C.: The Services & J.C. Pigg, 1997. FHL Collection 975.7 X2c

1820

• Thomas, Elizabeth Wood. 1820 Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Pass Christian, Miss.: Willo Institute of Genealogy, 1967. FHL Collection 975.763 B4t
• Pigg, James C. 1820 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: J.C. Pigg, 1996. FHL Collection 975.763 X2p 1820

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

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

1830

• Pigg, James C. 1830 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: J.C. Pigg, 1995. FHL Collection 975.763 X2p 1830

1840 Revolutionary War Pensioners

• 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. Washington, D.C.: Blair and Rives, 1841. FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840; FHL Collection 2321; digital version at Google Books. See South Carolina, Chesterfield District on page 144.

1850 Agriculture

• Pigg, James C. 1850 Federal Agricultural Census for Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 1996. FHL Collection 975.763 X2p 1850

1850-1880 Mortality Schedules

• Pigg, James C. Mortality Schedule, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Federal Census. Tega Cay, S.C.: J.C. Pigg, 1995. FHL Collection 975.763 X2p 1850-1880

1860

• Pigg, James C. and Chesterfield County, South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Services. 1860 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: Chesterfield County, S.C. Geneal. Services, J.C. Pigg, 1998. FHL Collection 975.763 X2p 1860

1870

• Pigg, James C. and Chesterfield County, South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Services. 1870 Federal Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Tega Cay, S.C.: The Services & J.C. Pigg, 1997. FHL Collection 975.763 X2f 1870

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Chesterfield County Churches identifies dozens of churches in the area, courtesy: South Carolina Genealogical Society.

Church of England (Anglican, Episcopal)
See St. David's Parish.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

• United States African Americans African American Resources for South Carolina
  

Known plantations South Carolina Plantations:

• Enfield
• Homestead
• Lynchwood
• Oakland - Cheraw
• Red Oak Woods

Genealogies

General
Surname indexes to Leonardo Andrea's Files | Folders | Resources are available online, courtesy: The Andrea Files: South Carolina Genealogical Research. Learn more.

• Historical Society of Chesterfield County. Book Committee. The Heritage of Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Knoxville, Tenn.: Tennessee Valley Pub., 2004. FHL 975.763 H2h

Bibliography

• Allen - Allen--Osborn--Alley, and Connected Families, Census Records, 1850-1870. MSS., 1937. FHL Film 1597818 Item 8.
• Blakeney - Stringer, Mildred E. Blakeney, Stringer, Ware [and] Brinson, Heidleberg, McClammy. n.p.: M.E. Stringer, 1979. FHL Book 929.273 A1 no. 2698.
  
• Boan - Melton, E. Frank. Descendants of Daniel Boan, Born ca. 1765 Ireland. Hartsville, S.C.: Old Darlington District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society, 2003. FHL Book 929.273 B63me.
  
• Buchanan - "Alexander Henry Riley's petition for a name change [to Alexander Henry Buchanan]," The Carolina Herald and Newsletter, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan./Mar. 2005). FHL Book 975.7 B2c v. 33-34.
  
• Bustin - Bustin, Larry. The Family History of George Washington Bustin. Laurel, Miss.: L. Bustin, 1979?. FHL Book 929.273 B969b.
  
• Cochran - Cochran, Wayne E. T. Cochran Family. LaGrange, Ga.: T. Cochran, 199-. FHL Book 929.273 C643cw.
  
• Eddins Rivers, Minnie Lee Sanders and Sharon F. Corey. Descendants of Nehemiah and Bedie Eddins, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Mt. Croghan, S.C.: S.F. Corey, 2000. FHL 929.273 Ed23r Originally published 1926.
• Ellis Raymond, Charles E. Journey into the Past with Reverend John Ellis and Catherine McCraney: of Chesterfield District, South Carolina, Darlington District, South Carolina, Conecuh County, Alabama and Wilcox County, Alabama. Murrieta, Calif.: C.E. Raymond, 2006. FHL 929.273 EL59rc; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Eubanks Jay, Ella Mae Eubanks. Eubanks, a Brief Historical and Genealogical Record. Meridian, Miss.: E.M.E. Jay, 1983. FHL Book 929.273 A1 no. 3941.
  
• Ford - Patillo, Edward. "Ford of the Low Country," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Reseach, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Spring 2004):63-72; Vol. 32, No. 3 (Summer 2004):133-142; Vol. 33, No. 1 (Winter 2005):44-52. FHL Book 975.7 B2sc v. 32-33
• Graves Graves, Kenneth Vance. Robert Graves of Anson County, N. C. and Chesterfield County, S. C., Ancestors and Descendants (ca. 1580-1979) a Branch of the Descendants of Capt. Thomas Graves, 1608 Immigrant to Jamestown, Va.; Allied Families Include Austin, Bagley, Davis, Dunn, Guy, Pyle, Reeves, Sholars, Slater, Smith, Wallis, Ward, Weisinger and Others. Baltimore, Md.: Gateway Press, 1980. FHL 929.273 G787g
• Hendrick - Hendrix, GeLee Corley. "Benjamin Hendrick (1730-1818) of Virginia and Carolina and Some of His Descendants," The American Genealogist, Vol. 65, No. 1 (Jan. 1990):44-53. FHL 973 D25aga
• Holifield - Daniel, Harland H. Two Hundred and One Years: This Book is Memories and History of John Holifield Family. 1972? FHL Book 929.273 H717a.
  
• Hough - Geren, Emmie Hough. Hough Family (a Louisiana Family). Typescript, 1939-1952. FHL Film 1697429 Item 4; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.
  
• Hough - Hough, Granville W. Some Descendants of Needham and Rebecca Hough of SC, NC, GA & AL. Laguna Hills, Calif.: G.W. Hough, 1992. FHL Book 929.273 A1 no. 7327.
• Jackson - Garner, Linda. Our Jackson Family: Descendants of Jesse & Delilah Jackson. Box Springs, Ga.: L. Garner, 1982, 1998. FHL Book 929.273 J135g.
  
• Jones Jones, Hazel Parker. The History of the Samuel Jones Family, Kershaw County, S.C. 1756-1960, Including Allied Families. Kershaw, S.C.: H.P. Jones, 1961. FHL Film 1697619 Item 5.
• Jones Jones, Hazel Parker. Book Two of the Samuel Jones Family, Kershaw County, S.C., 1756-1979: Including Allied Families. Kershaw, S.C.: H.P. Jones, 1979. FHL Book 929.273 J725j 1979.
• Knotts Knotts, Burton Ray. Knotts & Walrond Families of Randolph County, Arkansas. Little Rock, Ark.: B.R. Knotts, 1991. FHL Book 929.273 K759k.
• Lowry - Wiggins, Marie Gulledge. "Lowry Family of Chesterfield Co., S.C.," Wiggins Genealogical Collection, MSS. Microfilmed 1990: FHL Film 1597762 Item 3.
• McFarland - McFarland Family Records, 1755-1830. MSS. Microfilmed 1972: FHL Film 893741 Item 2.
  
• McRae - Walker, Anne Kendrick. The Storied Kendalls; with Historical and Genealogical Records of Scottish and Allied Families. Richmond, Va.: Dietz Press, 1947. FHL Film 1321266 Item 2.
  
• Murphy - Murphy, Joseph Albert. Murphy: Genealogy. 2003. FHL Book 929.273 M954mja.
• Newman - Kewman, Kenneth L. Loose Ends: Some Newman Families. Jacksonville, Ala.: K.L. Newman, 1991? FHL Book 929.273 N462nkL.
  
• Pate - Scarborough, Eleazer Pate. Pate History and Genealogy. Florence, S.C.: E.P. Scarborough, [1987?]. FHL Book 929.273 P271s.
• Pigg - Pigg, James C. Antecedents and Descendants of Rev. Edward Pigg. Hartsville, S.C.: South Carolina Genealogical Society. Old Darlington District Chapter, 1999. FHL Book 929.273 P624p.
• Raley - Raley, William Lindsay. The Fabric of a Family: Some Ancestors and Descendants of William Charlie Raley, Julius Goodrich Hollister, John Lindsay Lowry and Michael Miller. Winter Haven, Fla.: W.L. Raley, 1995. FHL Book 929.273 R138r.
• Reid - Reid, John Sharp. Family History, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Anson County, North Carolina. Typescript. Microfilmed 1971: FHL Film 873454 Item 5.
  
• Riley - "Alexander Henry Riley's petition for a name change [to Alexander Henry Buchanan]," The Carolina Herald and Newsletter, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan./Mar. 2005). FHL Book 975.7 B2c v. 33-34.
  
• Rivers Seymour, Geneva Bailey. Rivers - Eudy - Seymour. Lubbock, Texas: G.B. Seymour, 1981. FHL Book 929.273 R524s.
  
• Rivers Purvis, Charles Lee and Betty Lee Johnson. Descendants of William Rivers: Born about 1718 in England; Died before 1790, Chesterfield Co., SC. Ogden, Utah: C.L. Johnson and B.L. Johnson, 1999. FHL Book 929.273 R524p
  
• Rivers Purvis, Charles Lee. The Descendants of Isaac Rivers 1735-1999. Thomasville, N.C.: C.L. Purvis, 1999. FHL Book 929.273 R524pc.
  
• Roberson - Derhak, Pauline McConkie, Jennis McConkie Betts and Sandra Estes Allen. John Newton Roberson, 1843-1915, and Martha Ann Davenport, 1843-1931, and Their Ancestors. 2 vols. West Valley City, Utah: Jennies Family Histories, 1998. FHL Book 929.273 R54d v. 1 - v. 2.
  
• Sellers Pigg, James C. Descendants of Hardy Sellers. Hartsville, S.C.: Old Darlington District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society, 2002. FHL Book 929.273 Se48pj.
  
• Shelby - Johnson, Johnnie Mullinax. Rees and Mary Shelby: Ancestors & Descendants. Athens, Texas: J.M. Johnson, 1994. FHL Book 929.273 Sh43jj
  
• Turnage - Turnage, Wynne Edwards. Descendants of Isaac W. Turnage [and] William George Turnage, Olean Payne Turnage, Sr. Austin, Texas: W.E. Turnage, 1999. FHL Book 929.273 T849tw.
  
• Welsh - Welch, Brian E. Welch Records in Sumter District and Other Areas of South Carolina. Columbia, S.C.: B.E. Welch, 1995. FHL Book 929.273 W442wb.
  
• Winfrey - Davidson, Grace Gillam. Dyonisius Oliver, Georgia's Pioneer Realtor. Newspaper clipping. Microfilmed 1960: FHL Film 209591 Item 8.
  

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.

• For information about the State Land Grants, see State Land Grants

Online Land Indexes and Records
The following chart show where you may best expect to find land records.

Tracing Land Currently in Chesterfield County with Parent Counties and Districts

Date	Government Office
1868-Present	Chesterfield County
1800-1865	Chesterfield District Records Lost
1785-1800	Chesterfield County Records Lost
1719-1785	Charleston District
1710-1719	Proprietary Land Grants

• Some Chesterfield deeds may be found in Lancaster, Darlington and Marlboro counties of South Carolina, and neighboring North Carolina counites.
• Antebellum deed books do not survive.

Conveyance Books
The earliest surviving Chesterfield County conveyance book begins in 1861 and is kept at the county courthouse. It has been microfilmed: FHL Collection 1449103

Local Histories

• Gardner, Miles. Further Tales of Murder and Mayhem in Lancaster, Kershaw, and Chesterfield Counties(Spartanburg, South Carolina Reprint Company Publishers, c2006), 296 pages. Book at FHL 975.7 H2gm and Other Libraries.
• Historical Society of Chesterfield County, Book Committee. The Heritage of Chesterfield County, South Carolina(Knoxville, Tennessee Tennessee Valley Pub., c2004 ), 374 pages. Includes: county & local Histories, organizations, schools, churches and many family histories. Book at FHL 975.763 H2h and Other Libraries
• Gregg, Alexander.History of the Old Cheraws Containing an Account of the Aborigines of the Pedee, the First White Settlements, their Subsequent Progress, Civil Changes, the Struggle of the Revolution, and the Growth of the Country Afterward, Extending from About A.D. 1730 to 1810 with Notices of Families and Sketches of Individuals (Baltimore, Maryland Genealogical Pub. Co., 1967 ), 629 pages. Book at FHL 975.7 F2g 1967

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

Migration

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

• Fall Line Road about 1735

Military Records

Revolutionary War

• "Revolutionary war pensioners, 1841," Carolinas Genealogical Society Bulletin, November 1965, Volume 2, Issue 3. Carolinas Genealogical Society Monroe, NC. FHL Collection Book 975 B2c.
• Raymond, Charles E. Chesterfield District, South Carolina Genealogical Links and Revolutionary War Pension Data (1786-2855). Temecula, California C.E. Raymond, 2010. FHL Collection Book 975.763 D2r.

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 Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. See Vol. 5, South Carolina, Chesterfield County, p. 183. 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 Chesterfield County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were formed in Chesterfield County or from many of its men:

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

- 2nd Regiment, South Carolina Artillery, Company D

- 4th Regiment, South Carolina State Troops, Company K

- 4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge's), Company A (may have been known as Charleston Light Dragoons) and Company B (also known as the Palmetto Rangers)

- 5th Battalion, South Carolina Reserves (Brown's), Company C

- 6th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry (Aiken's Partisan Rangers) (1st Partisan Rangers), Company K

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

- Company A

- Company E

- Company F

- Company G

- 7th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry , Company H and Company I

- 8th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company B, Company C, and Company D

- 9th Battalion, South Carolina infantry (Smith's) (Pee Dee Legion), Company B, Company D, and Company E

- 9th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, Company F

- Garden's Company, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Light Battery)

Newspapers

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

Historic
The Library of Congress has identified the following historic newspapers for Chesterfield 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.

• Cheraw Chronicle (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-current.
• Cheraw Gazette (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838.
• Cheraw Gazette (Cheraw, S.C.) 1847-18??.
• Cheraw Gazette and Pee Dee Farmer (Cheraw, S.C.) 1838-1839.
• Cheraw Intelligencer and Southern Register (Cheraw, S.C.) 1823-1826.
• Cheraw Republican (Cheraw S.C.) 1830-1833.
• Chesterfield Democrat (Cheraw, S.C.) 1868-18??.
• Farmers' Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser (Cheraw, S.C.) 1839-1847.
• Pee Dee Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser (Cheraw, S.C.) 1820-1826.
• Pee Dee Gazette, and Cheraw Advertiser (Cheraw, S.C.) 1833-1833.
• Pee Dee Gazette, and Cheraw Intelligencer (Cheraw, S.C.) 1826-1826.
• South-Carolina Spectator (Cheraw, S.C.) 1826-1833.
• The Carolina Sun (Cheraw, S.C.) 1880-1883.
• The Cheraw Reporter (Cheraw, S.C.) 1885-1896.
• The Chesterfield Advertiser (Chesterfield, S.C.) 1880-1978.
• The Chesterfield Advertiser (Chesterfield, S.C.) 1980-1990.
• The Chesterfield Advertiser-Journal (Chesterfield, S.C.) 1978-1980.
• The Jeffersonian (Jefferson, S.C.) 1912-1920.
• The McBee Courier (McBee, Chesterfield County, S.C.) 1912-19??.
• The Pageland Journal (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978.
• The Pageland Journal (Pageland, S.C.) 1980-1981.
• The Pageland Progressive (Pageland, S.C.) 1978-1981.
• The Pageland Progressive-Journal (Pageland, S.C.) 1981-current.
• The Pee Dee Herald (Cheraw, S.C.) 1856-1859.
• The Sun and Monitor (Cheraw and Bennettsville, S.C.) 1883-1885.

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.

• Carolinas Genealogical Society Bulletin
• Chesterfield District Chronicle

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

• Cheraws District or Chesterfield District Wills, 1750-1865 and abstracts from the court of common pleas, 1823-1869. By James C. Pigg. Family History Library
• Chesterfield County, South Carolina estate records, ca. 1865-1927. South Carolina, Probate Court. Microeproduction of original manuscripts at the South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina. FHL Film 2134779
• Indexed in: Chesterfield County, South Carolina index to estate papers, 1865-1977. South Carolina. Probate Court.
• 1670-1980 South Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1670-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
• 1671-1977 South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
• 1732-1964 South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images Only
• 1737-1964 South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964 at Ancestry - images ($)
• 1782-1866 South Carolina, Will Transcripts 1782-1866 at Findmypast — index, ($) — $, index

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.

Online Tax Indexes and Records

• South Carolina Department of Archives and History tax lists for Chesterfield County (the earliest are dated 1866).
  

Extant tax records are identified in:

• Inventory of Local Government Records in the Old Vault, Chesterfield District Chronicle, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Winter 2006).

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.

• 1840-1920: The Diary of Aaron W. Knight: a Collection of Marriages and Deaths, 1840-1920, Chesterfield County, S.C., Indexed by Aaron W. Knight FHL Collection WorldCat - index

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

• 1911-1951 South Carolina, Chesterfield County, Original Marriage licenses, 1911-1951 at FamilySearch — index; Also at Ancestry ($) WorldCat - records
  
• There are several online marriage indexes containing miscellaneous marriage records found insome 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 ($)
• 1910-1950 - Death Notices from Pageland Journal of Chesterfield County, SC 1910-1935 by James C. Pigg FHL Collection WorldCat - index
  
• 1915-1930 Chesterfield County, South Carolina Death Certificates (caucasian) by James C. Pigg FHL Collection- records
  
• 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.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Chesterfield 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

• Camden South Carolina Family History Center
• Florence South Carolina Family History Center
• Pembroke North Carolina Family History Center

• Fairfield County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
• Richland County Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

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

Libraries
Chesterfield County Library System includes the main Chesterfield County Library and four branches. Their catalog SClends is shared with the South Carolina State Library and a number of other county systems in the state. Chesterfield County Library (HQ)
Address:
119 W. Main St.
Chesterfield, SC 29709
Telephone: (843) 623-7489
Fax: (843) 623-3295 )
Hours: M-F 9:00AM-6:00PM,Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM
Website

• Matheson Memorial Library
  Address:
  227 Huger St.
  Cheraw, SC 29520
  Telephone: (843) 537-3571
  Fax: (843) 537-1248
  Hours: M-F 9:00AM-6:00PM, Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM
  
  
• Pageland Community Library
  Address:
  109 West Blakeney St.
  Pageland, SC 29728
  Telephone: (843) 672-6930
  Fax: (843) 672-6670
  Hours: M-F 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sat 10:00AM-2:00PM
  
  
• McBee Depot Library
  Address:
  96 W. Pine Ave.
  McBee, SC 29101
  Telephone: (843) 335-7515
  Fax: (843) 335-6219
  Hours: T, Th 10:00AM-6:00PM
  
  
• Fannie D. Lowry Memorial Library
  Address:
  500 N. Main St.
  Jefferson, SC 29718
  Telephone: (843) 658-3966
  (843) 658-6695
  Hours: M,W,F 12:00PM-6:00PM

Societies

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

• Historical Society of Chesterfield County
  100 East Main St.
  Chesterfield, SC 29709
  843-623-9673
  Website

Websites

• Chesterfield County, SCGenWeb
• Chesterfield County, South Carolina Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

• 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

• Inventory of Local Government Records in the Old Vault, Chesterfield District Chronicle, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Winter 2006).
• South Carolina Archives Summary Guide: Chesterfield County, available online, courtesy: South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Family History Library

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