Dear Sam and other interested parties,   I suggest that you examine the catalog on www.familysearch.org for South Carolina and get some ideas of what kinds of records exist (not many colonial ones for SC, I must say.  Comindex is a kind of index for Souh Caroina.   My friend who did basic research for Alex Haley' Roots and I agree with Dr.George K. Schweitzer of Knoxville, TN(he writes genealogical guides for various states) that for pre-Statehood South Carolina there are hardly any official records kept at the county level, which counties did not exist until well after the American Revolution.  The law-makers were headquartered at Charleston, and according to the genealogical experts, all deeds were to be recorded in Charleston.  If you were in upcountry, why would you waste time and money going to Charleston???  And perhaps get killed by enemies on the way?? For my SC ancestor, his widow, and his seven sons (War of 1812 time) I was lucky they moved to Louisiana and Mississippi [adjoining counties] and those localities have excellent records, letting me know that not only my now deceased Revolutionary sergeant had owned land,but thanks to a history of Baptists of SC, he was a reader at Swift Creek Baptist Church, Sumter Co.), a long way from Charleston.  Also, he not only had land which his widow and younger sons were selling after his death, but some of older sons had also held land in or near that county.  One record was found in the SC county after his death, but the Louisiana notarial records of the sons gave me a lot of detailed information--about SC land and relationships. If you lack some history about the places where your ancestors lived, you may not understand some of the obstacles which stood in their way.  The Red Book edited by Alice Eichholz (perhaps your local library has a copy at the reference desk) is written by experts who understand the limitations and unusual sources for each of the United States states.   Try for SC church histories and a county history.  Leah Townsend wrote a county history of Sumter Co. and explained that with the invention of the cotton gin, people in the older colonies were on their way to places where they could plant lots of cotton (and own lots of slaves.)  The migrations were through Sumter Co. and the natives soon got the bug and were on their way to lands recently ceded by Indians.  (Collect all the names of your ancestors neighbors.  These may have been in-laws and cousins--and his wife's family!!! E.W.Wallace (discouraged about SC lack of records)  and having computer troubles with format. ________________________________ From: Sam Harris <saminala179994@yahoo.com> To: "HARRIS-HUNTERS@rootsweb.com" <HARRIS-HUNTERS@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 10:19 AM Subject: [HARRIS-HUNTERS] new member I am Sam Harris #17994 of the DNA site.  Oldest known relative Allen Bailey Harris b. 1809  Pendleton/Abbeville/Pickens Co, SC - d 1882 Coosa Co, Alabama.  At the time  he married Winnie Gordon in 1837, he was known as Captain and was an ordinary of the Court in Pendleton and his grave marker and county records indicate he was a Reverend at the time of his death.    Question:  Is anyone's Benjamin known to have been a "director" of the Richmond Military Academy near Augusta, Georgia in 1826?  I have found that Allen Bailey's brother Daniel Marshall Harris went there and was later a Judge of the Inferior Court in NW Georgia and suspect that AB may have in attendence there as well.  That Benjamin may provide a familial tie to the John that was the father of AB and DM.   Thanks. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to HARRIS-HUNTERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Another unusual thing about south Carolina is the counties did not issue marriage licenses until fairly recent years. To find a marriage for a female line in that day you have to depend on land records and wills. ----- Original Message ----- From: "EVELYN WALLACE" <hdanw@verizon.net> To: "Sam Harris" <saminala179994@yahoo.com>; <harris-hunters@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 3:20 PM Subject: Re: [HARRIS-HUNTERS] Research problems Dear Sam and other interested parties, I suggest that you examine the catalog on www.familysearch.org for South Carolina and get some ideas of what kinds of records exist (not many colonial ones for SC, I must say. Comindex is a kind of index for Souh Caroina. My friend who did basic research for Alex Haley' Roots and I agree with Dr.George K. Schweitzer of Knoxville, TN(he writes genealogical guides for various states) that for pre-Statehood South Carolina there are hardly any official records kept at the county level, which counties did not exist until well after the American Revolution. The law-makers were headquartered at Charleston, and according to the genealogical experts, all deeds were to be recorded in Charleston. If you were in upcountry, why would you waste time and money going to Charleston??? And perhaps get killed by enemies on the way?? For my SC ancestor, his widow, and his seven sons (War of 1812 time) I was lucky they moved to Louisiana and Mississippi [adjoining counties] and those localities have excellent records, letting me know that not only my now deceased Revolutionary sergeant had owned land,but thanks to a history of Baptists of SC, he was a reader at Swift Creek Baptist Church, Sumter Co.), a long way from Charleston. Also, he not only had land which his widow and younger sons were selling after his death, but some of older sons had also held land in or near that county. One record was found in the SC county after his death, but the Louisiana notarial records of the sons gave me a lot of detailed information--about SC land and relationships. If you lack some history about the places where your ancestors lived, you may not understand some of the obstacles which stood in their way. The Red Book edited by Alice Eichholz (perhaps your local library has a copy at the reference desk) is written by experts who understand the limitations and unusual sources for each of the United States states. Try for SC church histories and a county history. Leah Townsend wrote a county history of Sumter Co. and explained that with the invention of the cotton gin, people in the older colonies were on their way to places where they could plant lots of cotton (and own lots of slaves.) The migrations were through Sumter Co. and the natives soon got the bug and were on their way to lands recently ceded by Indians. (Collect all the names of your ancestors neighbors. These may have been in-laws and cousins--and his wife's family!!! E.W.Wallace (discouraged about SC lack of records) and having computer troubles with format. ________________________________ From: Sam Harris <saminala179994@yahoo.com> To: "HARRIS-HUNTERS@rootsweb.com" <HARRIS-HUNTERS@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 10:19 AM Subject: [HARRIS-HUNTERS] new member I am Sam Harris #17994 of the DNA site. Oldest known relative Allen Bailey Harris b. 1809 Pendleton/Abbeville/Pickens Co, SC - d 1882 Coosa Co, Alabama. At the time he married Winnie Gordon in 1837, he was known as Captain and was an ordinary of the Court in Pendleton and his grave marker and county records indicate he was a Reverend at the time of his death. Question: Is anyone's Benjamin known to have been a "director" of the Richmond Military Academy near Augusta, Georgia in 1826? I have found that Allen Bailey's brother Daniel Marshall Harris went there and was later a Judge of the Inferior Court in NW Georgia and suspect that AB may have in attendence there as well. That Benjamin may provide a familial tie to the John that was the father of AB and DM. Thanks. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to HARRIS-HUNTERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to HARRIS-HUNTERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message