Sandifer Family Genealogy

Here is some of what I have learned about Sandifers that were in the Old Barnwell District of South Carolina. I've acquired the information from books, South Carolina Archives, personal searches of hundreds of census records, personal searches of microfilmed Barnwell County deeds and probate records, various internet sources and some very much appreciated help and information from fellow researchers, Joy McNally and Ann Monroe.

In the following, I have tried to maintain the spellings of “Sandifer” as they appeared in the records.

The first Sandifer in the Old Barnwell District for which a record has so far been found was James Sandifer. On September 8, 1784, Nat. Walker “laid out to Jas. Sanderford a tract of 100 acres in Orangeburg District on dividing ground between South Edisto and Salt Ketcher…” James Sandiford next appears on the 1790 census, “South of the Edisto River,” Orangeburg District. (In 1790, Old Barnwell was part of the Orangeburg Census District.) James “Sandifford” had another tract of 383 acres between South Edisto River and Lemons Swamp in Orangeburg District surveyed by Gasper Trotti in 1799. In a later record of this land being sold it was described as “all that tract of land granted to James Sandifer Nov. 4, 1799 containing original survey of 483 acres and found upon resurvey to contain 607 acres which said actually contains three hundred & three acres & a half as will more fully appear by a reference to the within plat…”

James Sandifer was probably born before 1755 and died by December 1804. The Barnwell Probate Court bundle and package for James Sandifer didn’t list his heirs, but Letters of Administration were granted to Laviniah Sandifer and John Sandifer on December 21, 1804. At his estate sale held on March 19, 1805, Sandifer purchasers were Lavinah Sandifer, John Sandifer, Jeames Sandifer and Elizabeth Sandifer.

James Sandifford was on the 1800 Orangeburg/Barnwell census; in his household, the oldest male was shown as 45 years or older. Also listed on the 1800 census are Peter Sandyford, Joseph Sandifford, and Samuel Sandifford. There are no further records of Samuel Sandifford in the Barnwell deed books or census records.

The name of the father of Peter Sandifer who was on the 1800 census is not known, but his mother was Elizabeth. In an 1804 deed she wrote “For the natural love and Effection that I have to my beloved Grandson Robert Sandefor Son of Peter Sandefor give unto him one heifer and Calf…” She is probably the one who made purchases at the James Sandifer estate sale in 1805 and also a member of Deans Swamp Baptist Church in 1805. This Peter Sandifer started buying land near Augley’s Branch of Millers Swamp in 1801. He left South Carolina in 1812 and went on to Louisiana and then to Mississippi by 1820. I am a descendant of this Peter Sandifer. He was born October 10, 1771 and died December 20, 1844.

Various census records indicate that Joseph Sandifer was born around 1770. If the Joseph Sandifer that was on the 1810 census is the same one that was on the 1800 census, he had some extra people living with him in 1810. The 1830 census shows him without a wife, so he may have been a widower by then. He died in 1838. His will was proved September 14, 1838. Although he makes reference to a wife in his will (probably a second wife), he does not name her. He showed his concern about what would happen to the property if she remarried after his death by saying in his will “but if my dear wife should marry a man that is not calculated to take good care of the place and property which I now give my wife I wish him to have nothing to do with the Plantation nor property.” His children named in his will were James, Priscilla (who married Lowery), Sarah, Martha and Mary Ann Lucy. Joseph’s son James was named executor in his will. He was apparently Joseph’s only male heir. This James was born about 1797, per various census records, and his wife was named Mary.

By the time the 1810 census rolled around, additional Sandifers were listed: John Sadiford in Orangeburg, John Sanderfer and William N. Sandefer in Barnwell. John Sanderfer was a male aged 45 or older. It is not known if he was the same John Sandifer that was co-administrator of the 1804/1805 estate of James Sandifer, but he could have been. Regardless, it does seem likely that he was the John Sandifer who is believed to be the father of Martha “Patty” Sandifer who married James McMillan. Many descendants of James and Martha Patty McMillan stayed in the area and are still there today.

William N. Sandifer (William Nightingale Sandifer) was born about 1760. He died February 5, 1850 in Lawrence County, Mississippi. He came to Barnwell County from Chester County, South Carolina where he had been since before 1790. On February 25, 1805 he bought 200 acres from Right Rice near the waters of Lemons Swamp. November 18, 1809 he signed an agreement to pay unto Keziah Sandefer one hundred six and two thirds of one dollar plus lawful interest when her two children Peter and Priscilla arriving to be of lawful age or at the different times that the said children may be lawful of age to demand the same. Elijah Dowling and John Rice signed this document along with William Nightingale Sandifer. It was recorded in the Barnwell County deed books January 18, 1810.

Apparently a widow by 1809, Keziah Sandifer went on. In her own name, in a deed dated 1809 and recorded in 1816, she bought 136 acres from John Simmons, the same 136 acres on “waters of Lemons Swamp” that John Simmons had had surveyed by John Milhous November 3, 1789, and received by State Grant February 16, 1792. I think Keziah was a pretty sharp lady and watched out for both herself and her children’s interest. On October 18, 1819, she signed a deed which said, in part, “...in consideration of the Natural love & effection which I have for my beloved children…. Peter Sandifer & Priscilla Furgerson… do give grant and deliver unto John Sutton of the same District and State aforesaid in trust for my said Beloved Children the following property (Viz.) One hundred & thirty six acres of land whereon I now live, one mare, eleven head of cattle and seventeen head of hogs together with my household and kitchen furniture… reserving to myself the use of the said property during the term of my life and at my death to be equally divided between my said two children, their heirs...” This deed, which was essentially a will, was recorded April 26, 1820. This date of recording may be an indication of when Keziah died. (It would be so nice if someone out there knows where this woman is buried). She must have died before September 27, 1822, when her daughter Priscilla and husband Benjamin Ferguson, who were then living in Chester County, sold Priscilla’s 68-acre share of the land to her brother, Peter Sandifer. Priscilla could not have sold this land until after her mother’s death. Priscilla and Benjamin sold the 68 acres for $68------------a dollar an acre seemed to be the going price for land in Barnwell County in 1822!

Just before and after 1820, a lot of the Sandifers who had been living in The old Barnwell District left and went to Mississippi where Peter Sandifer (of Millers Swamp) had already located. Among them were Willian Nightingale, John D., Joshua, Johnson and Benjamin Sandifer. Most, if not all, had located somewhere on the "waters of Lemons Swamp" near present-day Bamberg. Some, maybe all, had been there for over a decade. William Nightingale and John D. Sandifer both served in the War of 1812. In his pension application, John D. Sandifer said he had “volunteered at Orangburg, South Carolina on or about the 19^th June 1812 for the term of six months. Sandifer, Vol. I South Carolina to Mississippi and Westward, by Annie Sandifer Trickett, 1982, p. 265.

By 1830, the remaining Sandifers on the 1830 Barnwell County census were Joseph, his son James and Peter Sandifer who was the son of Keziah.

Keziah’s son, Peter, was born about 1797. His age is estimated from census records. He was married and had one son by 1820. He married Matilda…she was called Tildy. They had twelve children, ten sons and two daughters. He must have died before the 1850 census was taken, because Matilda and her younger children were listed without him. In January of 1852, Decania Dowling petitioned the court to have himself appointed administrator to manage the affairs of the estate. The administration was granted, the inventory of the estate was appraised and sold, and in 1854 final disbursements were made to Tildy and her children, some of which were still minors. Peter and Matilda’s sons were John B., James J., Joseph, William Butler, Henry A., George W., Lucius S., Andrew Jackson, Francis Jenkins and Wesley G. Sandifer. The daughters were Susan C. and S. E. (or S. E. J.) Sandifer. Not much is known about the daughters, but all of the sons married and raised families. Many of them and some of their sons served in the Confederate Army.

Sandifers of the Old Barnwell District have left many descendants still living in the same area, as well as a great many more scattered all over the world!