>From a document copied at the CDGS Library, Richburg, SC on Oct 14, 2003 Note : Items in [ ] are my additions to the copied list - hopefully to make some things clearer. I cannot verify the accuracy of this document, but all I have read points to this being very close, if not completely correct. If you have corrections, or recommended changes, or find problems, let me know and I will document them and try to send the CDGS an update. Author: Leonardo Andrea Title: Extinct Counties in South Carolina and Their Records BERKELEY COUNTY - A Colonial County... the records are in the Charleston Co. Court House....some in the Historical Commission in Columbia. The present Berkeley County, while it was a part of Colonial Berkeley, is a recent county. COLLETON COUNTY - A Colonial County... the records are in the Charleston Co. Court House....some in the Historical Commission in Columbia. The present Colleton County, while it was a part of Colonial Colleton, is a newer county. CRAVEN COUNTY - A Colonial County... the records are in the Charleston Co. Court House....some in the Historical Commission in Columbia. No county by the name of Craven now. [ Mike's note: CRAVEN County North Carolina is what is left of this county. Some early CRAVEN Co. records from upstate South Carolina can actually be found there in North Carolina] GRANVILLE COUNTY - A Colonial County... the records are in the Charleston Co. Court House....some in the Historical Commission in Columbia. No county by the name of Granville now. EXTINCT COUNTIES AFTER THE REVOLUTION LEWISBURG COUNTY - Formed in 1785 but after 1790 was united with Orangeburg County and all records were in Orangeburg. [ Mike's note: General William Tecumseh Sherman burned the records in 1865] WINTON COUNTY - After 1790 it was reformed and named BARNWELL COUNTY. Records in Barnwell Co. Courthouse. WINYAH COUNTY - was formed from Prince George County [or Parish] (in 1790 census) but was later renamed GEORGETOWN COUNTY. The records of WINYAH County were burned by [General] Sherman [in 1865]. KINGSTON COUNTY - was formed, or rather renamed from ALL SAINTS [PARISH] (in 1790 census of Georgetown District) but about 1798 Kingston was reformed into HORRY COUNTY. [Existing Records are in Conway Courthouse, except for the oldest records that were in Georgetown and burned by Sherman. LIBERTY COUNTY - was formed from Prince George and All Saints in 1785, but the name was later changed to MARION COUNTY. Records in Marion, SC. PRINCE FREDERICK COUNTY - ...was in Georgetown District in 1790 census. the records were in Georgetown and burned by Sherman.... In 1805 Prince Frederick County was renamed as WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY and all records after 1805 are in KINGSTREE, SC. WAXHAW TOWNSHIP - ..was often referred to as a county. It was formed into LANCASTER in 1785 and included [present day] KERSHAW. It had 2 county seats, Camden and Lancaster. Most of the records at Lancaster were burned by General Sherman. Some records scattered over Camden Dist. and a few can be found in Mecklenburg and Anson Counties of North Carolina. PENDLETON COUNTY - was formed in 1789 from Abbeville County. Records are in Anderson, SC. Pendleton was done away with about 1820, and the new counties of ANDERSON and PICKENS were formed. Later OCONEE COUNTY was formed from PICKENS COUNTY. WASHINGTON COUNTY (or DISTRICT) - was formed for a time and included parts of GREENVILLE, PICKENS, and OCONEE Counties. It was not in existence for very long. Records for lands granted are in Columbia. Other records scattered in SPARTANBURG, GREENVILLE, ANDERSON and PICKENS, SC PINCKNEY COUNTY (or DISTRICT) - was formed as a part of UNION COUNTY (In fact, most of UNION County was PINCKNEY DISTRICT) and parts of CHEROKEE, SPARTANBURG and even GREENVILLE on the Tyger River... the line was indefinite. Most of the existing records are in Union SC. DOWNS COUNTY - For a few weeks this was the name of [present] LAURENS COUNTY, but Capt. James Downs, for whom it was named, refused to allow his name to be used for a county, saying " The county needs to be named for a more distinguished man and I suggest it be named for the patriot Henry Laurens." Records at Laurens, SC SALEM COUNTY - This county was of indefinite lines. It was first a combination of CLEREMONT and CLARENDON Counties, others say SALEM came after CLEREMONT and CLARENDON. Some historians say SALEM was older than either CLEREMONT or CLARENDON. Most of the records of this county are in Sumter, SC. However, I [ the author] have found some of Salem's records in Camden, SC CLEREMONT COUNTY - was formed in 1785 (see 1790 census) In 1800 it was combined with CLARENDON forming the present SUMTER COUNTY. Records are in Sumter, SC CLARENDON COUNTY - It was formed in 1785 (see 1790 census) and was combined with CLEREMONT in 1799 to form SUMTER COUNTY in 1800. Records are in Sumter, SC. while a few are in Camden, SC. The present day CLARENDON COUNTY was formed just [before] the War Between the States, and named for the extinct county. CHERAW COUNTY - was formed in 1785. It was soon changed to CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. The first county seat was at Cheraw, SC and later moved to the village of Chesterfield. The records were all burned by Sherman in 1865. SAXE-GOTHA COUNTY - was formed from old ORANGEBURGH in 1785. The name was later changed to LEXINGTON COUNTY. The records are in Lexington, SC. The courthouse was burned by Sherman in 1865, but some books from 1825 on were saved. ALL SAINTS COIUNTY - see KINGSTON and HORRY PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY - see WINYAH and GEORGETOWN Counties.