Williamsburg County Genealogy Records
Williamsburg County genealogy research draws on records dating back to the county's formation in 1802 from Georgetown District. All records for the Williamsburg area before 1802 are held in Georgetown County. Williamsburg County sits in the lower Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Its history reflects the Scots-Irish settlers who moved into the Carolina backcountry during the eighteenth century and the African American community that makes up a significant portion of the county's population. The county seat is Kingstree. The Williamsburg County Probate Court, Register of Deeds, and public library are the primary local sources for genealogy records. The Williamsburg Historical Society preserves local history. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia holds additional collections covering Williamsburg County from its 1802 formation and the Georgetown District records that predate it.
Williamsburg County Quick Facts
Williamsburg County Probate Court and Marriage Records
The Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg County Courthouse, 147 W Carolina Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556. Phone: (843) 355-9321.
Estate records at the Williamsburg County Probate Court include wills, inventories, administration papers, and guardianship files from 1802 forward. These documents name heirs, list property, and define family relationships across more than two centuries. Williamsburg County's probate records from the nineteenth century document the planting families and African American communities that shaped the lower Pee Dee region. These records are primary sources for Williamsburg County genealogy research from the county's formation through the early twentieth century.
For Williamsburg 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.
Pre-1802 Williamsburg County Genealogy: Georgetown District Records
All genealogy records for the Williamsburg County area before 1802 are located in Georgetown County. Georgetown District was organized in 1769 as one of South Carolina's original districts and has maintained records since the colonial period. The Georgetown County Probate Court and Register of Deeds hold the pre-1802 records for the Williamsburg area. SCDAH in Columbia holds microfilm of Georgetown District records that predate Williamsburg County's formation.
The SCDAH Online Records Index allows name-based searches across all holdings and may return results from Georgetown District collections for ancestors in the Williamsburg area before 1802. State land grant plats from 1784 to 1868 that cover the Williamsburg County area document original land grants during the Georgetown District era and are indexed in the Online Records Index.
SCDAH's online research portal links to indexes and digital collections covering Williamsburg County and the Georgetown District records from before the county's 1802 formation.
Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg County deaths from 1915 through 1967. For Williamsburg County genealogy before 1915, church records, census data, and Freedmen's Bureau records are the primary sources. African American family researchers should search Freedmen's Bureau records for the Williamsburg County area from the Civil War and Reconstruction era.
Williamsburg County Register of Deeds and Land Records
The Williamsburg County Register of Deeds maintains land records dating back to 1802. The office is at 147 W Carolina Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556. Phone: (843) 355-9323. 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.
For land transactions in the Williamsburg area before 1802, researchers must consult the Georgetown County Register of Deeds. The SCDAH Online Records Index includes state land grant plats from 1784 to 1868 that cover the Williamsburg County area during the Georgetown District era. These plats document original land grants along the Black River and its tributaries and identify the earliest families in what became Williamsburg County.
Williamsburg County Library and Local Resources
The Williamsburg County Library at 135 Hampton Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556 maintains local history and genealogy collections. Phone: (843) 355-9485. The library holds census records, local newspapers, and family history materials that complement official county genealogy records. The Williamsburg Historical Society preserves local history and genealogical materials specific to the county.
The South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston at 100 Meeting Street holds statewide manuscript collections that may include materials relevant to Williamsburg County families. Phone: (843) 723-3225. The SCGenWeb Archives for Williamsburg County provides free volunteer-contributed cemetery transcriptions, census extracts, and family histories.
The State Library guide is a practical reference for Williamsburg County genealogy, helping researchers determine whether to contact the county courthouse, Georgetown County for pre-1802 records, SCDAH, or DPH.
South Carolina Archives Resources for Williamsburg County Genealogy
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Williamsburg County records and the Georgetown District records that predate the county's 1802 formation. 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 and Will Transcripts from 1782 to 1855. Will Transcripts from Georgetown District cover the territory that became Williamsburg County and are available free online. The Library of Congress South Carolina genealogy guide provides resources covering Williamsburg County. The South Carolina Genealogical Society connects researchers to county-level genealogy resources through local chapters.
Cities in Williamsburg County
Kingstree is the county seat of Williamsburg County. All county genealogy records are maintained at the Williamsburg County courthouse on West Carolina Avenue in Kingstree.
Nearby Counties
Williamsburg County was formed from Georgetown District in 1802. Georgetown County holds genealogy records for the Williamsburg area before that year.