Researching Using South Carolina, Delayed Birth Certificates, 1766-1900

We are going to use South Carolina, Delayed Birth Certificates, 1766-1900 to select a delayed birth certificate and search for family members. With the delayed birth certificate, we will start with a father, a mother, and a child. As we search, we will notice a pattern developing. It will lead us to where we will go next to find more results. We will look in this new space for our people, but we may choose to document as many African Americans as we are able (I have done this before in Fairview Cemetery in Greenwood, SC).

Isaac Singleton was born 15 January 1883 in Mowberry (sp), Charleston, South Carolina. He applied for this delayed birth certificate on 24 October 1956. He was 65 years old at the time living in Ravenel, SC, the same place where his parents lived.

A search for Isaac’s death certificate on Ancestry.com leads to:

Isaac Singleton’s death certificate has him buried in Loundes Cemetery, in Davidson, SC, and his parents are Ned Singleton and Clarinda Grant. He died on 13 March 1964. His birthday is different than the delayed birth record with the year of birth as 1883. The death certificate has it listed as 15 January 1894. He was a farmer.

With the differences in age and his father’s first name being different, Ned or Edward, it would be helpful to find more records and records of siblings.

Samuel died on 7 June 1961, and his address was Rt. 1 Box 139 Ravenel, SC. Samuel’s parents are listed as Edward and Clarenda Grant Singleton. Now, we have another cemetery to check out: Lounce Cemetery, Ravenel, SC. Could it be a mistake? It is not listed as a cemetery on FindAGrave.com.

I am of the belief that these cemeteries are the same. Looking at a third one, I am convinced:

This is the death certificate for Lillian Singleton Murry, the daughter of Isaac and Eliza Singleton. Notice that the cemetery name is similar: Lawrence Cemetery, in Davison, SC.

I also found her brother, Edward Singleton’s death certificate:

Edward had still another spelling for the same cemetery, Lowdens Cemetery, Davidson, SC. Once again, this name and location might be cleared up by calling the funeral home on the death certificate.

At this point I would find out the correct name and location for the cemetery. I would try the following resources:

1.     Obituaries may exist for these deaths. Usually the correct spelling for the cemetery can be found.

2.     The local library can help to identify the cemetery name and location.

3.     The funeral homes, if they still exist, are on the death certificates. They can identify the location of the cemetery.

Once the cemetery has been identified then it will be important to determine if it is accessible. It will be necessary to view the graves because more family members may be buried here.

Sharpen the Saw

I searched for death certificates to find siblings and children of Isaac Singleton. After finding a few, the thing that stuck out to me was the cemetery. Each death certificate had the same cemetery, but the cemetery name and location was spelled incorrectly.

I would next find out what the name of this cemetery and where it is located. I would then see if it is accessible. Then I would find out how many more family members are in the cemetery. This will help you go past 1900.

Any more ideas? Let us know out in the Facebook Group.