Know your Jurisdictions!

Today- a quick blurb about Southern jurisdictions. Of course, it is absolutely essential that wherever you are focusing your research, you know what the jurisdictions are for the records you need. If you don’t know the jurisdictions, you won’t be able to find anything!

 In the South as much as anywhere, jurisdictions will vary state by state. Here are a few things I learned about jurisdictions while doing research on the Kennerly family: 

• South Carolina: Historically, jurisdictions changed in South Carolina more than anywhere else I’ve done research. My work was mostly in Barnwell county, which was formed from Orangeburg district, so that’s what I’ll include here. But even if this county has nothing to do with your research, at least recognize that figuring out the jurisdictions will be just as crazy anywhere else in the state!
  South Carolina began as an assembly of parishes, which as the colony grew, developed into various townships and counties. In 1769, all counties were abolished and 7 circuit court districts were established. Among these was the Orangeburgh District, Barnwell county originated. At this point, most records were being held in Charleston. In 1785, the districts were divided into 3-6 counties each. Most of these were counties in name only, never functioning quite in the way a county does today. The counties in Orangeburgh District functioned for a few years, but in 1791, the counties in some of the Districts (including Orangeburgh) were dissolved. From Orangeburgh District, Barnwell District was created. In 1800, all districts were officially abolished, though these districts-turned-counties continued to use the term “district” for years (including Barnwell county).¹

• Louisiana: Research in Louisiana can be a bit of a challenge as well, because both the French and Spanish controlled it at various times before the United States purchased it in 1803. France founded New Orleans in 1718, and controlled the area until Spain took over in 1763. The French took it back in 1800, but sold it to the US in 1803. Because there was so much back-and-forth until Louisiana’s statehood in 1812, it is very important to know which country had jurisdiction for the time period you are researching. 
  Another interesting fact about Louisiana- the “counties” are called parishes. Because the French and Spanish had so much early influence, the Catholic church was very prominent in Louisiana, and religious organization was very important. So, the land was organized into parishes. Luckily, this means that there are quite good church records from as early as 1730 in Louisiana. They’re there waiting, you just need to know where to look!  

~AC

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1 "Orangeburgh District, South Carolina." FamilySearch Wiki. Accessed January 25, 2016. https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Orangeburgh_District,_South_Carolina.^↩