These records comprise the loose files of the late Pauline Young, one of South Carolina's most widely known genealogist on Upper South Carolina. Each family record is filed with names of persons mentioned, these records consists of estate settlements, bastardy bonds, deeds, wills, coroner's inquests, abstracts of letters pertaining to estates, guardianships, tavern licenses, etc... It is estimated each book contains more than 40,000 names of early settlers in Upper South Carolina from the mid 1700's down to the 1850's. These records are primarily from Upper South Carolina counties such as: Pendleton District, Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenville, and Pickens Counties.

This is a standard reference work in South Carolina genealogy, and for the period 1766-1853 it is absolutely indispensable. Testators are listed with references to the volume and page numbers of the books in which copies of their wills are recorded. All pre-1853 South Carolina counties are covered, except for the counties of Beaufort, Chesterfield, Colleton, Georgetown, Lancaster, Lexington, and Orangeburg, whose wills, having been destroyed by fire, were not included in the original WPA transcripts from which our work derives.

This book was written to aid families with ancestors from Laurens County, South Carolina, to jumpstart their genealogical research. Although the focus is on sources of particular relevance to African Americans, the book also contains information relevant to slave-holding families. Also, the background information at the beginning of each section will be of general interest to those families from South Carolina who are researching their African ancestors. In addition to practical advice born from the authors genealogical research and formal studies, the book includes information and compilations regarding the following topics: Free Persons of Color in Antebellum Laurens Slaves in Will Transcripts (17821860) Legislative Papers (17821866) Comptroller General Tax Return Books (18661868) 1869 SC State Population Census 1860 US Census Slave Schedule and Matching African American Surnames in the 1870 US Census Excerpts of Freedmen Bureau Records Grave Markers at Five African American Churches

Originally published in Charleston, 1950. Reprinted with permission by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, MD.