Great find, Kim!   It is great that all of these newspapers are now coming online, and word-searchable in most cases.  I have made some great discoveries in the online newspapers for several of my family members. >From Black's Law Dictionary, 6th ed., the "ss' seen on many court records means: 'An abbreviation used in that part of a record, pleading, or affidavit, called the "statement of the venue."  Commonly translated or read, "to-wit," and supposed to be a contraction of "scilicet." ' --- On Sun, 1/17/10, Kim Stracener Zapalac <zapnyou@aol.com> wrote: "State of South-Carolina, Chesterfield district ss. [ss? - anyone know what this abbreviation stands for?]