South Carolina Genealogy

It’s a somber switch to write one week about independence and the next to write about slavery. Such is the dichotomy of the history of our country. Freedom was established early for some, but not all. We can take pride and solace in the fact that over the generations that idea of freedom has been expanded to all citizens. It’s a somber feeling to be in the Old Slave Market of Charleston. I remember visiting there about 12 years ago. It’s very humbling and there is a sense of heartbreak and pain in every stone. I seem to recall being left speechless just being there.

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When I launched the new forums for queries here at South Carolina Genealogy.org I asked myself why should there be another South Carolina Genealogy Query forum. Aren’t there enough? Then I remembered the MANY forums I’ve posted on over the years about this family and that family. I also remember the many mailing lists and paper query posts I’ve read through and answered. That’s when it hit me…

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The South Carolina Genealogical Society is a non profit organization with several chapters throughout the state. Membership in the state society is included in the chapter membership fee. Libraries and Organizations interested in subscribing to the SCGS publications can subscribe for $8. They publish the Carolina Herald. The archives of the Society are located in…

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Located in present day Columbia, Old Shandon is a National Historic district and has a high concentration of homes dating from the 19th century. The city of Shandon was incorporated in 1904 and then annexed into Columbia in 1913. They’ve recently had their centennial celebration in 2004. The growth that led to the incorporation was spurred by the extension of Columbia’s trolley line out to the the area. The Lot’s were laid out around 1900. Old Shandon was referred to as a trolley car suburb and the later Annex of another area also referred to as Shandon was referred to as an automobile suburb.

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I’m pleased to announce several exciting new features on the site. Those of you with sharp eyes have already spotted some of them I’m sure. A long time ago we had a way of posting queries and frankly, the forum software I’ve had previously was useless to keep out the junk. Well, I’m diving in again with a forum for queries at the South Carolina Genealogy Forum. You should be able to share the same login here and in the forum. Currently there’s an area for statewide queries, but I expect to narrow down to a forum per county. I’ve also launched a new Web directory called the South Carolina Genealogy Directory The point of this is to focus on Genealogy and History links plus those of interest to South Carolina Genealogy. Finally, I’m introducing a once per month Newsletter to start in March. To sign up early visit South Carolina Genealogy Newsletter. All of the services are free. The directory would be a great place to include your genealogy related web site (preferred listings are available for a small cost, but you can submit for free.) I’ve included a forum for category requests for the directory as well. Read on below the fold if you like for the official press release

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The Kershaw-Cornwallis House was originally built in 1777 by an early settler of Camden. (Camden, in fact, is the oldest inland town in South Carolina.) Joseph Kershaw had established a store in Camden for a Charleston mercantile company and did quite well. In fact, Camden had become an inland trade hub of sorts by 1768. The House was confiscated or seized by the British in 1780 when Lord Cornwallis setup a headquarters in the house. The British occupied it until 1781. Joseph Kershaw lived there until his death in 1791. The family sold the house by 1805 and it served as home for the Camden Orphan Society until 1822. In the Civil War, Camden House was a confederate storehouse and was destroyed in 1865. The house was rebuilt in 1877 at the Camden Revolutionary War Site.

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