Library volunteers are in the process of indexing material that relates to Hilton Head Island from the censuses completed by the State following the Civil War. The 1868 Agriculture Census is a rich source of information. Farmer’s names are included with information on the number of acres farmed, produce raised, and livestock. The 1868 census of residents was taken to identify eligible voters, and is another useful source. Another project is digitizing and indexing the records of applications for pensions by those who served in the Colored Troops during the Civil War. This is a rich source for the names of relatives and often useful in tracing former slaves back to their plantations. We are also attempting to collect and index records of land sales and land indentures during the Civil War period. These projects, and others, can benefit from the assistance of enthusiastic and capable volunteers.
