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Anderson County

South Carolina, USA

Introduction

Researching by Surname

Ancestral Gen-Sites

Researching by Location

Introduction

Anderson County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Its county seat is Anderson Named for Revolutionary War leader Robert Anderson, (1741-1812).

This region was occupied by the Cherokee Indians until 1777, when it was ceded by treaty to the State of South Carolina. Part of the "Indian Land" became Pendleton District (also called Washington District at one time.) The area was given its present name in 1826, when Pendleton District was split into Anderson and Pickens. Most of the early settlers of this area were Scotch-Irish farmers who migrated from Pennsylvania and Virginia in the eighteenth century. The oldest town in the county is Pendleton, which was founded around 1790; it became a popular summer resort for low-country planters in the nineteenth century.

The county is located in northwestern South Carolina, along the Georgia border. Counties that lie adjacent to Anderson are: Pickens County, South Carolina – north; Greenville County, South Carolina – northeast; Laurens County, South Carolina – east; Abbeville County, South Carolina – south; Elbert County, Georgia – southwest; Hart County, Georgia – west; and Oconee County, South Carolina – northwest.

Researching by surname

The following are names of persons, found within our databases as having been either born, married or died in this location. Names in dark red denote direct ancestral lines. To find out more about each surname listed click on the corresponding Link.

McVicker; Moreland; Pinnell; Scruggs and allied families

Bishop; Dickson; Douglass; Henderson; Long; Neely

Bozarth; Peiffer; Quigley; Rhubart and allied families

Dellinger; Knecht; Pfeffer; Silar and allied families

Click on this link to find out more about each surname listed above as well as other surnames found within our three family databases.

This link will also lead you to surname resources at Rootsweb, and information about the world-wide distribution of a surname.

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Where in the World do These
Surnames Come From?

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of any surname. You can get greater

detail for any of the maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Ancestral Gen-Sites

-sites

Family History Notes

Map of the County

Gen-Site Profiles

Family history notes

About 1789, Michael and Sarah Dickson moved westward from the Chester District of South Carolina to that part of the old Pendleton District that now falls into Anderson County, South Carolina. He acquired lands along Twenty and Three Creek and Garvin Creek. This property lay in the vicinity of Pendleton, near the home of his daughter Jane and son-in-law Nicholas Bishop. In the 1790 census of heads of families, the first U. S. Census, Michael Dickson is shown as a resident of Pendleton County, Ninety Six District. The Dickson's, while not of the wealth and social prominence of many of their neighbors, were among the earlier residents of Pendleton, South Carolina and were good, substantial citizens, well regarded in the community. Michael was involved with that community, and was instrumental in founding the Old Stone Church at Clemson, where some members of his family are buried. In later years Michael Dickson became a member of Carmel Church near his home plantation on Twenty and Three Creek. Michael and Sarah lived out the balance of their lives at this location. Sarah Dickson preceded her husband in death on February 17, 1815. Michael Dickson died on July 19, 1825. Both are buried at the Pickens Chapel Cemetery.

About 1789 Nicholas moved with his father-in-law Michael Dickson to the newly created Pendleton District that was formed as a result of the Treaty of Hopewell in 1785 by which the Cherokee's relinquished their lands to the State of South Carolina. Here he acquired lands along Three and Twenty Creek and Garvin Creek, in the vicinity of Pendleton. In the 1790 census of heads of families, the first U. S. Census, Nicholas Bishop III is shown as a resident of Ninety-Six District, Pendleton County. Subsequent census documents between 1800 and 1840 show him and his family living at the same location in Pendleton County that was to become Anderson County in 1826. The Bishop family plantation most likely located between 3 and 4 miles east of the center of the town of Pendleton. It appears that Nicholas's plantation was fairly prosperous as illustrated by his ownership of at least fifteen slaves by 1830. In 1842 his wife Jane died and he followed her in death a little over a year later, at age 83. Nicholas Bishop and wife Jane, as well as their daughters Jane and Dorcas are buried at the Old Stone Church in Pendleton, South Carolina.

Map of the county

The in the map designates the location of the seat of government for this county. designate seats of government in adjacent counties. A shows the location of identified ancestral Gen-Site(s).

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Gen-site profiles

Carmel Presbyterian Church; Michael Dickson Home-Site;

Nicholas Bishop Home-Site; Old Stone Church; Pickens Chapel Cemetery;

Carmel Presbyterian Church

LOCATION: Country: United States; State: South Carolina; County: Pickens; Local: N/A

Coordinates/Map: Latitude = 34.755947 or 34° 45' 21.4" N; Longitude = -82.6415243 or 82° 38' 29.5" W

Driving Directions: The church is located at SC 135 and Carmel Church Road not far from the Pickens-Anderson Co. line.

NAME / DESCRIPTION:

Carmel Church Cemetery

Click on Thumbnail

Dr. Thomas Reese who became pastor of the Carmel Church in 1792 placed the date of 1787 as the year of organization. The name "Carmel" appears first in the year 1793 when it is found in the Minutes of the Presbytery. From this, it has been presumed that the two formed churches known as Twenty-three Mile Creek and Richmond became one, and out of this union came the Carmel Presbyterian Church. The first building was located about three miles east of the present building. The old cemetery is still there at that location. However, a Methodist Church was built on the spot where the old Carmel was first located in the late 1700's. Carmel was moved to the current location about 1814, and is now a Baptist Church.

ANCESTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GEN-SITE: see Family History Notes

INTERNET WEB LINK(S): Carmel Presbyterian Church of Pickens Co., SC; Find A Grave: Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery; Details for Carmel Cemetery

Michael Dickson Home-Site

LOCATION: Country: United States; State: South Carolina; County: Anderson; Local: N/A

Coordinates/Map: (approximately) 34.64446N – 82.72978W

NAME / DESCRIPTION:

Click on Thumbnail

ANCESTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GEN-SITE: see Family History Notes

INTERNET WEB LINK(S):

Nicholas Bishop Home-Site

LOCATION: Country: United States; State: South Carolina; County: Anderson; Local: N/A

Coordinates/Map: (approximately) 34.66849N – 82.73440W

NAME / DESCRIPTION:

Click on Thumbnail

Nicholas Bishop, III acquired lands along Three and Twenty Creek and Garvin Creek, in the vicinity of Pendleton. In the 1790 census of heads of families, the first U. S. Census, Nicholas Bishop III is shown as a resident of Ninety-Six District, Pendleton County. Subsequent census documents between 1800 and 1840 show him and his family living at the same location in Pendleton County that was to become Anderson County in 1826. The Bishop family plantation most likely located between 3 and 4 miles east of the center of the town of Pendleton.

ANCESTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GEN-SITE: see Family History Notes

INTERNET WEB LINK(S): Bishop Family Surname Genealogy;

Old Stone Church

LOCATION: Country: United States; State: South Carolina; County: Pickens; Local: N/A

Coordinates/Map: 34°39′52″N 82°48′55″W;

Driving Directions: The Church is located on Anderson Road, about 2 miles south of Clemson, SC.

NAME / DESCRIPTION:

Click on Thumbnail

Old Stone Church is a church building built in 1802. When it was constructed, it was in the Pendleton District, South Carolina. When Pendleton District was divided in 1826, the church was in Pickens District. When Pickens District was split in 1868, it was in Oconee County, South Carolina. In 1968, this section of Oconee County was annexed back to Pickens County. The church is about mid-way between the centers of Pendleton and Clemson. It is now in the city limits of Clemson.

ANCESTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GEN-SITE: see Family History Notes

INTERNET WEB LINK(S): Metamorphic Rocks in The Old Stone Church; Old Stone Church (National Register); Old Stone Church and Cemetery - Wikipedia; Old Stone Church - Clemson South Carolina SC; Find A Grave (Old Stone Church);

Pickens Chapel Cemetery

LOCATION: Country: United States; State: South Carolina; County: Anderson; Local: N/A

Coordinates/Map: Latitude = 34.7392816, 34° 44' 21.4" N; Longitude = -82.5909664, 82° 35' 27.5" W

Driving Directions: Located on the east side of Three and Twenty road, (county road 485) in the northeastern quadrant of the county. About two miles North of SC Rt. 88. Three and Twenty road departs SC 88 at Old Slabtown, SC, (now only a name on a little country restaurant.) The old cemetery is some distance behind the present “Pickens Chapel” building.

NAME / DESCRIPTION:

Pickens Chapel

Click on Thumbnail

Pickens Cemetery, once served as the initial burial ground, for the present day Carmel Presbyterian Church that is located about three miles away in Pickens county. The Pickens Chapel and Cemetery are situated about seven miles south of Easley in Anderson County. They are surrounded by a wooded area located behind a white frame church building once known as Wesley Methodist Chapel. The first log meetinghouse originally known as Richmond-Carmel church once stood between the Pickens Cemetery and present-day Pickens Chapel. The graves of at least twenty-eight Revolutionary War soldiers can be found in this burial ground. Michael and John Dickson were among the first elders of the church organized in 1787.

ANCESTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GEN-SITE: Michael Dickson, Revolutionary War veteran and one of the first elders of the church, and wife Sarah Neeley Dickson are buried here. Elder John Dickson, brother of Michael, and Hugh Dickson son of Michael were also members of this church.

INTERNET WEB LINK(S): Pickens Chapel Cemetery (Genealogy Trails); Pickens Chapel, Anderson Co., SC; Pickens Cemetery Marker;

populated places

Researching
by Location

Gazetteer of Places in This County

Changes of County Boundaries

Link to State-Wide Resources

Where in the World are My Ancestors?

gazetteer

The list below will assist in your research regarding the matching of your ancestor’s birth, marriage, death dates and the place(s) within this locality at which these events may have occurred.

Profiles for 201 cities, towns and other populated places in Anderson County, South Carolina

Map of Anderson County South Carolina

Anderson County Physical, Cultural & Historic Features | Schools

Anderson County ZIP Codes | Area Codes

Anderson County Land - Property, Farms & Ranches

Anderson County, South Carolina, United States

Details | Resources | Cities | Cemeteries

Links To Populated Places Within This County

· Cities and towns: Incorporated

· Anderson

· Belton

· Clemson (territory in Pickens and Anderson Counties)

· Easley (territory in Pickens and Anderson Counties)

· Honea Path (territory in Anderson and Abbeville Co.)

· Iva

· Pelzer

· Starr

· Unincoporated

· Fair Play (territory in Oconee and Anderson Counties)

· Homeland Park

· La France

· Northlake

· Piedmont (territory in Anderson and Greenville Co.)

· Powdersville

· Sandy Springs

· Townville (territory in Anderson and Oconee Counties)

Find Physical Features* Within This County

* includes but not limited to Cemeteries, Churches, Locales, Schools,

Military Installations; Populated Places, Post Offices, Streams, and Trails

County boundary changes

Conducting genealogical research in the United States requires an understanding of county boundaries. As the population grew more counties were created to meet the public’s need for localized governments. This phenomena was common in all states during the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries. As such you must be sure that you are not looking for records in the wrong county or state.

The web-site for the Atlas of Historical County Boundary Project provides interactive maps for all states. This Atlas is meant to be a resource for people seeking records of past events, and people trying to analyze, interpret and display county-based historical data like Land Records, Probate Records, Court Records, Tax Records, and Vital Records that document birth, death, and marriage. Listed below are the boundary changes for this county, the dates they occurred, as well as the government statute that decreed the change. To see actual changes in a mapping format follow this LINK to the Atlas of Historical County Boundary Project .

Map of 1789 – 1816 Pendleton District Boundaries (heavy black line)

Pendleton (Extinct) / Pendleton District:

07 Mar 1789 - PENDLETON (extinct) created from Non-County Area 2 (former Cherokee and Creek lands), attached to ABBEVILLE.

19 Feb 1791 - PENDLETON (extinct) became part of newly created Washington District.

01 Jan 1800 - Pendleton District created from Washington District, with same boundaries as PENDLETON County (extinct). Between 1 January 1800 and 16 April 1868, judicial districts were the principal administrative subdivisions of the state, while counties survived mostly as geographical references.

19 Dec 1816 - PENDLETON (extinct) gained all of Non-County Area 5; territory ceded by the Cherokee on 22 March 1816.

20 Dec 1826 - PENDLETON (extinct) lost to creation of ANDERSON and PICKENS; PENDLETON eliminated.

Anderson District / County:

20 Dec 1826 - Anderson District created from part of Pendleton District, with same boundaries as ANDERSON County. Between 1 Jan 1800 and 16 Apr 1868, judicial districts were the principal administrative subdivisions of the state, while counties survived mostly as geographical references.

16 Apr 1868 - Anderson District eliminated when new state constitution abolished all judicial districts. ANDERSON County continued and assumed all functions of local government from both judicial districts and parishes.

State-Wide Resources

For more information about the U.S. State in which this county is located click on these LINKS:

Where in the world

Where in the World
are My Ancestors?

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. This

LINK will take you to Maps, Gazetteers, and other helpful resources that will assist you in discovering Ancestral Locations.

Gen Tool-Kit

gen tool-kit

Our “Gen-Tool Kit” has been primarily designed for those researchers who may be traveling to this location to perform on-site studies of their family history, or to just visit some of the interesting historical sites located in the area. It can be very satisfying to mix research with sightseeing at historical and scenic spots. Such activity not only gives you an understanding of the land but a needed break from intense research sessions. When visiting an ancestral county for genealogical research we’ve found that the three most important places to visit are the county courthouse; the county library; and the county historical and/or genealogical societies. It is also good to plan ahead by contacting any site you intend visiting in order to ascertain where it is and when it will be open. This is especially true with regard to historical and genealogical societies. We hope that the following information will provide you with a better idea of what resources are available, within this county, to the family historian.

Maps and Gazetteers

County Records

Societies

(History & Genealogical)

Cemeteries

· Anderson County SC Cemetery Transcription & Photo Project

· Anderson County Cemeteries

· Anderson County Cemetery List

· Anderson County Cemetery Registration

· Anderson County, SC Cemetery Mapping Project

· Anderson County, South Carolina Cemeteries

· Cemetery Survey Book Resources

History

Your LINK to the Historical Places and Districts in ANDERSON County

· Anderson County Bibliography

· Anderson County Historical Markers

· National Register Sites in Anderson County, SC

· South Carolina Reference Room - Anderson County

· Anderson County Churches

· History of Latimer Memorial United Methodist Church

· Andersonville

· History of Belton, South Carolina

· About Anderson County Library

· Anderson County Library History

Libaries, Museums, Archives

· Anderson County Libraries

· Anderson County Library's South Carolina Room

· Anderson County Museum

· Belton Area Museum

· Family History Library Holdings

· Pendleton District Museums

· PERiodical Source Index Search Anderson Co., SC

Maps and Gazetteers

· Anderson County 1895 U.S. Atlas

· Anderson County Gazetteer

· Anderson County Post Offices

· Anderson County Post Offices 1846

· Anderson County Topo Maps and Aerial Photos

· Anderson County, 1909

· Anderson quadrangle 1957

· Anderson quadrangle 1969

· Anderson, 1884 May

· Anderson, 1890 June

· Anderson, 1896 February

· Anderson, 1901 February

· Anderson, 1906 July

· Anderson, 1911 August

· Anderson, 1918 February

· Belton, 1905 August

· Belton, 1911 August

· Belton, 1922 November

· Easley Quadrangle 1958

· Elberton Sheet 1942

· Fountain Inn Quadrangle 1958

· Honea Path, 1923 May

· Pelzer, 1902 November

· Pelzer, 1908 September

· Pendleton District, South Carolina 1825

· Pickens Sheet 1909

· Pickens Sheet 1928

· Pickens Sheet 1942

· Piedmont, 1902 November

· Piedmont, 1908 September

· Sandy Springs, 1927

· Starr, 1928

· Tiger Map Server Browser

· Townville, 1928

· West Pelzer (Frankville), 1927

· Williamston Quadrangle 1957

· Williamston, 1908 February

County Records

· Anderson County Bible Records

· Anderson Co. Census Records

· Anderson County Census

· Anderson County Federal Census Index

· Ninty-Six County Federal Census Index

· Pendleton Co. Census Records

· Pendleton County Federal Census Index

· 1800 Federal Census Pendleton District

· Pendleton District Census Images – 1810

· Census Search Anderson County - 1880

· Anderson County on Reel 2185 – 1830 U.S. Census

· Anderson County on Reel 2186 – 1830 U.S. Census

· Anderson County on Reel 2187 – 1830 U.S. Census

· Anderson County Church Records

· Livingston's Law Register, 1851 Anderson Dist. Lawyers

· Anderson County Probate Records

· Anderson County Wills

· Anderson County, S. C. Naturalizations 1783-1850

· Anderson County Deeds

· Ninety-Sixth District Land Plats, Vol. A, 1784-1794

· Ninety-Sixth District Land Plats, Vol. B, 1785-1787

· Ninety-Sixth District Land Plats, Vol. C, 1786-1788

· Anderson County Military Records

· Anderson County, South Carolina Military Index

· List of Pensioners on Roll Jan 1, 1883 Anderson Co., SC

· Confederate Newspaper Project Anderson Co., SC

· Anderson County, South Carolina WWII Casualties

· Anderson County Newspaper Abstracts

· Chronicling America Anderson County

· Anderson Independent-Mail - Obituaries

· Gray Mortuary Pelzer, South Carolina

· Sullivan-King Mortuary Anderson, South Carolina

· The Williamston Journal - Obituaries

· Anderson County – Slave Records

· Ashtabula Plantation – Slave Records

· Pendleton County – Slave Records

· Riviol – Slave Records

· Woodburn – Slave Records

· Anderson County Vital Records

· Miscellaneous Deaths

· Anderson County Public Records Links

· Anderson County Records

Use this link to find specific information about the historical and

genealogical public records maintained by the government of this county.

Societies

· Anderson County Chapter of SCGS

· Belton Area Museum Association

· The Boonesborough Historical Society

· Old Pendleton District Chapter of S.C. Genealogical Society

· The Piedmont Historical Society

resources

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General Resources

Locality Specific Resources

FREE Records

and Databases

Our Genealogy Reference Library

General Resources

· GenealogyLinks.net

· The USGenWeb Project

· United States Research Wiki – Family Search

· Kindred Trails.com

· U.S. County Resources at Rootsweb

· Genealogy Trails History Group

· Genealogy.com: Resources by county

· Family Search, USA IGI Batches, Localities

· Birth & Marriage Records Indexes for USA

· Record Search - Family Search.org

· n2genealogy.com

· Genealogy Forum: U.S. States

· Rootsweb.com – U.S. Message Boards

· Cyndi's List – United States Index

· USGenWeb Archives

· Data Base Collections at Ancestry.com$

· MyGenealogist.com

· Access Genealogy

· Histopolis.com – Collaborative Genealogy and History

· DistantCousin.com - archive of genealogy records

· Searchable Death Indexes & Records

· Census Finder –Free Census and other Records

· Locality Specific Resources

· Anderson County Genealogy Links

· Anderson County USGenWeb

· Anderson County Research Wiki

· Kindred Trails.com – Anderson County

· Anderson County at RootsWeb

· Genealogy Trails History Group – Anderson Co.

· Anderson County, Genealogy Forum

· Rootsweb Message Board – Anderson County

· Cyndi's List – Anderson County

· USGenWeb Archives – Anderson County

· Anderson County Data Collection - Ancestry.com $

· MyGenealogist.com – Anderson County

Free Records & Databases

FREE Records
& Databases

All of the records and databases we’ve collected are FREE and can be accessed and searched online without having to pay for a subscription. We have divided our collected into 14 record types as follows: Biographical; Birth; Cemetery; Census & City Directories; Church; Court; Death; Immigration & Naturalization; Land; Marriage; Military; Newspapers; Occupational; and Tax Records. We try not to list any sites that have only a few records for the purpose of getting you to a website that will charge a fee to actually see the record beyond just a name.

This Link will take you to our

collections of FREE Records.

Genealogy Reference Library

Our Genealogy
Reference Library

The following Link will take you to our library of genealogy reference books. Here you may find books about the history and records of this county and other places such as towns and churches. The collection also contains research works about military units and personnel during America’s wars, in addition too resource texts about the ethnic and religious groups who may have settled in this locality.

This Link will take you to our

collections of reference books.

Gallery

Image Gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a variety of localities. Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

New Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson, South Carolina

Use this LINK to see the picture

gallery that pertains to this location.

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-- This webpage was last updated on --

01 January 2012