Williamsburg County Genealogy
- Formed 1804
- Parent district Georgetown District
- County seat Kingstree
- Neighbors Berkeley, Clarendon, Florence, Georgetown, Marion
Williamsburg County was formed in 1804 (Georgetown District). The county seat is Kingstree. Neighboring counties include Berkeley, Clarendon, Florence, Georgetown, Marion.
Use the research panels below for modern starting points—government contacts, census, vital records, cemeteries—and read the legacy narrative for local history notes and older link collections (some updated).
Williamsburg County was originally named for King William III of England. Originally it was a part of Georgetown District and became it's own district in 1804. The county seat was Kingstree. Originally the township of Williamsburg had been laid out in 1736 where the settlement of Kingstree was. In 1888, parts of Williamsburg County were used to form Florence County. Several of Francis Marions' Revolutionary Soldiers came from this area. The Revolutionary war battles of Black Mingo, Mount Hope Swamp and Lower Bridge all took place in Williamsburg County.
The story of Kingstree is somewhat interesting. In laying out the township of Williamsburg, there was a part of the Black River where a White Pine tree stood straighter and taller than the surrounding pines. This tree was marked with the "King's Arrow" by one of the surveyors and was planned to be taken for a ships mast. The tree was never cut for a mast and became known as the King's Tree. The town that developed nearby called Kingstree became a central village in the settlement and today is the county seat of Williamsburg County.
When the settlers arrived in this area of the backcountry, they lived in the area along with several groups of indians: the Wee Nee, the Wee Tee, the Chickasaw, the Creek, the Waccamaw, and the Pedee tribes all occupied this area.
Williamsburg County SCGenweb site
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries in Williamsburg County
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Williamsburg County:
- Greeleyville
- Hemingway
- Kingstree
- Lane
- Stuckey
History notes
Williamsburg County's documentary trail follows South Carolina's district-to-county evolution. When searching before county formation, check parent districts and neighboring counties for deeds, estates, and tax lists.
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules (and some state/colonial substitutes) are foundational for Williamsburg County household reconstruction. Start with every decade the family should appear, then correlate with land and probate.
Vital records
South Carolina statewide vital registration is comparatively late. For many Williamsburg County families you will rely on a mix of county probate, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, and delayed birth certificates—not only a single “vital records office” file.
Cemeteries
Cemetery surveys for Williamsburg County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, and local historical society vertical files. Always note whether a reading is complete or partial.
Courthouse & contacts
Williamsburg County Courthouse
Kingstree, South Carolina
https://www.williamsburgcounty.sc.gov/