Kershaw County Genealogy Records
Kershaw County genealogy research draws on records dating to the county's formation in 1791 from parts of the Camden District. Camden is one of the oldest and most historically significant towns in South Carolina. It was a major British stronghold during the Revolutionary War and the site of two important battles. The county seat of Kershaw is Camden, and the community's deep history makes it one of the richest areas in the state for genealogy research. The Kershaw County Probate Court, Register of Deeds, and public library are the primary local sources for genealogy records. The Camden Archives and Museum and Historic Camden hold local history materials that extend beyond what county offices maintain. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia holds collections covering Kershaw County from its formation forward.
Kershaw County Quick Facts
Kershaw County Probate Court and Marriage Records
The Kershaw County Probate Court holds marriage licenses issued from July 1, 1911 through June 30, 1950. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20, every marriage in South Carolina requires a written application filed with the Probate Court before a license is issued. The court maintains a permanent record of all licenses as required by § 20-1-270. The Probate Court is at Kershaw County Courthouse, 1121 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020. Phone: (803) 425-1503.
Estate records at the Kershaw County Probate Court include wills, inventories, administration papers, and guardianship files from 1791 forward. These documents name heirs, list property, and define family relationships across more than two centuries. Early Kershaw County probate records from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries document the planter families, merchants, and Revolutionary War veterans who settled the Camden area. Camden was a prosperous market town, and the probate records from this era reflect the wealth of the community and the complexity of estate distributions among multiple heirs.
For Kershaw County marriage records from July 1950 onward, contact the South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Phone: 803-898-3630.
Searching Kershaw County Genealogy Records Online
The free South Carolina Archives Online Records Index is the best starting point for Kershaw County genealogy research online. This database covers will transcripts, land grant plats, Confederate veteran records, and court records held by SCDAH. Search by name to find indexed entries connected to Kershaw County ancestors. The index covers Kershaw County from 1791 and also returns results from the Camden District records that predate the county's formation.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org provides access to Kershaw County court case records. You can search by party name or case number. For full document copies, contact the Kershaw County Clerk of Court at 1121 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020. In-person research at the Kershaw County Courthouse in Camden gives direct access to the full range of genealogy records held by the Probate Court and Register of Deeds.
The Online Records Index is the best free online starting point for Kershaw County genealogy and covers collections held at SCDAH that include materials from Camden's long history as a regional center.
Kershaw County Vital Records for Genealogy
South Carolina required birth and death registration starting January 1, 1915. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-10, every birth must be registered within five days. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Kershaw County birth records for 1915 to 1918 online and death records for 1915 to 1963. The South Carolina Department of Public Health holds vital records from 1915 to present at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia. Phone: 803-898-3630.
Death certificates become public records 50 years after death under § 44-63-84. The free South Carolina death index for genealogy covers Kershaw County deaths from 1915 through 1967. For Kershaw County genealogy before 1915, church records, census data, and probate files are the primary sources. Camden had active Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist congregations whose registers document vital events going back to the eighteenth century. Camden's long history as a town means local church records can supplement official county genealogy sources.
Kershaw County Register of Deeds and Land Records
The Kershaw County Register of Deeds maintains land records dating back to 1791. The office is at 1121 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020. Phone: (803) 425-1505. Deeds, mortgages, and plats document property ownership across more than two centuries. Under Title 30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, counties are required to maintain and preserve these public land records.
The SCDAH Online Records Index includes state land grant plats from 1784 to 1868 that cover Kershaw County. These early plats document original land grants in the Camden area and along the Wateree River. For land records predating the county's 1791 formation, researchers should search the Camden District records at SCDAH in Columbia. The Camden area had active land markets from the mid-eighteenth century, and these early grants are foundational for tracing families in what became Kershaw County.
Camden Archives and Museum for Kershaw County Genealogy
The Camden Archives and Museum is a primary resource for Kershaw County genealogy research. The museum holds historical records, photographs, maps, and documents specific to Camden and Kershaw County. The collection includes materials on Camden's role in the Revolutionary War and the community's development through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Researchers tracing families in the Camden area should contact the museum directly for access to its collections.
Historic Camden is another local resource for Kershaw County genealogy research. Historic Camden preserves and interprets the Revolutionary War-era history of Camden. Its collections and archives may include records documenting families and individuals present in Camden during the eighteenth century. The site maintains documentation related to the British occupation of Camden and the battles fought in and around the town. These historical records can help researchers connect family stories to documented historical events.
The Kershaw County Library at 1304 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020 maintains local history collections with an emphasis on Camden's Revolutionary War history. Phone: (803) 425-1508. The library holds census records, local newspapers, and family history materials that complement the official records at the county courthouse offices. The library's local history collection is a practical first stop for Kershaw County genealogy research.
Kershaw County Library and Local Resources
The South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston at 100 Meeting Street holds statewide manuscript collections that may include materials relevant to Kershaw County families. Phone: (843) 723-3225. The SCGenWeb Archives for Kershaw County provides free volunteer-contributed cemetery transcriptions, census extracts, and family histories for the county.
The State Library guide is a practical reference for navigating Kershaw County genealogy records across the county courthouse, SCDAH, and DPH depending on the time period and record type.
South Carolina Archives Resources for Kershaw County Genealogy
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Kershaw County records including court files, land documents, and census materials. SCDAH is at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223. Phone: (803) 896-6100. The Research Room provides access to microfilm and a research library covering all 46 counties. Staff answer queries by mail, email, and phone.
The SCDAH Digital Collections include Confederate Pension Applications from 1919 to 1938, Will Transcripts from 1782 to 1855, and colonial plats. The Will Transcripts from the Camden District and Kershaw County are especially valuable because Camden was a wealthy community with a large number of estates probated during this period. The Library of Congress South Carolina genealogy guide provides resources covering Kershaw County. The South Carolina Genealogical Society connects researchers to county-level genealogy resources through local chapters.
Cities in Kershaw County
Camden is the county seat of Kershaw County. All county genealogy records are maintained at the Kershaw County courthouse offices on Broad Street in Camden.
Nearby Counties
Kershaw County borders several South Carolina Midlands counties. Ancestors near a county line may have records in neighboring counties.