CHESTER CO.,

SOUTH CAROLINA

 

 

Introduction

Family Surnames

Ancestral Gen-Site(s)

List of Localities

Gen-Info Websites

Image Gallery

 

Contact Information

INTRODUCTION

Source: Wikipedia

 

     Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Chester County and its county seat, the city of Chester, were named for Chester County, Pennsylvania.

     Originally the area that now encompasses Chester County was located within Tryon County North Carolina.   Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768 and abolished in 1779 to form Rutherford and Lincoln counties in North Carolina. At its formation and until the border survey of 1772,  Tryon County included all or portions of the South Carolina counties of York, Chester, Union, Spartanburg and Cherokee counties. Records of early ancestors who lived in the current area of Chester County may be found any of these counties, including the North Carolina counties of Lincoln, Rutherford and Mecklenburg

 

 

and their neighbors.

      The county was formed in 1785 as part of the larger Camden District but was later transferred to Pinckney District (1791-1800); it became a separate district in 1800. Scotch-Irish settlers from Pennsylvania and Virginia moved into this upstate region beginning about 1755. 

     During the Revolutionary War, American forces under General Thomas Sumter were defeated here at the battle of Fishing Creek in August 1780; the Americans were victorious at Fishdam Ford in November of the same year.  The Landsford Canal was built in 1823 to allow boats and barges to bypass rapids on the Catawba River; this canal is now open as a state park. In later years the availability of hydroelectric power encouraged the establishment of textile mills in the area.

Chester County, SC

Family Surnames

The following are surnames of persons, found within our data bases, who were either born, married or died in this county.

 

 

McVicker; Moreland; Pinnell; Scruggs and allied families

Bishop;   Carter;   Dickson;   Neely

Bozarth; Peiffer; Quigley; Rhubart and allied families

 

Dellinger; Knecht; Pfeffer; Silar and allied families

 

To find out more about each family listed here click on the appropriate LINK(s).

Chester County, SC

Ancestral Gen-Site(s)

 

 

 

SITE NAME:

Michael Dickson Home and Tavern

The crossing at Rocky Creek near Chester, South Carolina.  Upon this spot stood the home and tavern of Michael and Sarah Neely Dickson.  Based upon the lay of the land, and old roadbeds, their housed was likely situated across the bridge where the road now passes.

LOCATION:

Chester County, South Carolina

COORDINATES:

34.44.360 N     81.10.200W

DIRECTIONS;

The Saluda Road, from the time of Michael and Sarah Dickson, evolved to be present day Route 72, and crosses Rocky Creek some three and one half miles north east of present day Chester, South Carolina.

HISTORY / DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION:

     The home of Michael and Sarah Dickson, was situated upon a 48 acre tract, received by grant, from Governor Tryon, on October 24, 1767, while it was yet in Mecklenburg Co., N.C.  This real property joined some of their other land holdings, and lay, "between the Broad and Catawba rivers on both sides of Rocky Creek, at the ford of the "Saludy (Saluda) road".  The Saluda Road, from the time of Michael and Sarah Dickson, evolved to be present day Route 72, and crosses Rocky Creek some three and one half miles northeast of present day Chester, South Carolina.  It is believed that Michael and Sarah Were living there, before, and during the Revolution, until they moved, about 1789, to Pendleton County, South Carolina. Other Evidence that they lived along the Saluda Road comes from the 1786, Chester County Court Minutes. In appointing road maintenance overseer's, Christopher Streight (Street) was assigned to oversee the section, "from Major Michael Dickson's, along Saludy road, (as) far as Chester County extends….”  From the Chester County Court Records of 1785, order book "A" comes the following statement; "Michael Dickson (is) permitted to keep tavern in his house, John Mills and Christopher Street, securities for 100 pounds". Knowing the religious convictions of Michael and Sarah Dickson, it is certain that "Tavern" referred to it's definition as an Inn for the overnight keeping of travelers along the Saluda Road, as opposed to it's present day definition as a place where alcoholic beverages are served.  Evidence in support of this claim comes from page 4 of the order book. "....Said Michael Dickson shall keep good Wholsom diet Cleanly Lodgings Stables pasturage & provide as Also keep up in his House the rates of everything necessary to supply the public...."

Remains of a former bridge and roadbed located on the right side of the bridge.

Land on which the tavern was probably located left of the present roadway.

ANCESTRY:

Michael Dickson, Sarah Neely and family lived here. John, Elizabeth, Hugh, William and Nancy Dickson were born here between 1768 and 1776.  Jane Dickson was probably married here to Nicholas Bishop around 1785

 

 

SITE NAME:

Neelys’ Creek

Map showing area around Neelys’ Creek

LOCATION:

York County and Chester County, South Carolina

COORDINATES:

344859N     0805727W

DIRECTIONS;

 

HISTORY / DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION:

Neelys Creek is a tributary of Tinkers Creek. The watershed occupies 17,005 acres of the Piedmont region of South Carolina. Land use/land cover in the watershed includes: 86.7% forested land, 8.8% agricultural land, 3.6% scrub/shrub land, 0.4% water, 0.4% urban land, and 0.1% barren land. Tinkers Creek accepts the drainage of Rum Branch and Neelys Creek before draining into Fishing Creek. There are a total of 41.3 stream miles and 15.1 acres of lake waters in this watershed.

ANCESTRY:

Most probably the area where Samuel Henry Neely settled sometime prior to 1758.

 

 

 

Chester County, SC

List of Localities

 

The list below will assist in your research regarding the matching of your ancestors birth, marriage, death dates and in what locality of this county these events may have occurred.

Source:  Wikipedia

 

Chester ;   Eureka Mill ;   Fort Lawn ;   Gayle Mill ;   Great Falls ;   Lowrys ;   Richburg ;

 

Chester County, SC

Gen-Info Websites

 

The following are links to websites that will provide you with specific

genealogical  information to assist with your research for this county.

 

 

 

 

Use the following LINKS to find more information that may pertain to this location.

 

 

 

Chester County, SC

Image Gallery

 

During our research we have collected and images and photographs that are of general interest to a variety of localities.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

 

Chester County Courthouse,

 140 Main Street, Chester, SC

 

If you have any photographs or other images relating to this ancestral

location we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

 

Use the following LINK to ascertain whether we have any images that pertain to this location. 

ANCESTRAL LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHS and IMAGES

 

Contact Information

 

Email

Pony Express:

Tom
27 Christopher Dr.
Burton, NB E2V3H4
Canada

Email

Snail mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

 

 

Top of Page