Laurens County, South Carolina

Laurens County, South Carolina is very complex for Puckett genealogy.  

First off, I call it Laurens County, though the area covered by modern Laurens Co, SC started as Craven County, then became Ninety-Six District in 1769.  In 1785, Ninety-Six District was divided into counties, including Laurens County.  In 1800, the over-arching districts like Ninety-Six were abolished, and Laurens County became Laurens District.  Finally, in 1868, all South Carolina districts became counties, so Laurens District became Laurens County, and remains so today.  I just abbreviate it as 'Laurens Co, SC' from 1785 on.

There were three sets of Puckett families in Laurens County.  

1) James Puckett and wife Martha  his wife were in the area of Cain Creek, where it meets the Saluda River, by 1778, and probably earlier.  James Puckett on a Jury List for Ninety-Six District of men in the area of 'Little River Between Broad & Saludy.'  Jonathan Puckett, probable brother of James, was there by 1776 (see Newberry Co, SC DB D:452).  See 'Laurens Co, SC - James & Jonathan Puckett'.

2) Charles Puckett was there by 1777 (newspaper The South Carolina Gazette, 15 Sep 1777, p.6, col 3).  He was in the area of Duncan's Creek and the Enoree River.  Charles's younger brother Benjamin Puckett moved from Lincoln Co, NC to Laurens Co, SC around 1805.  See 'Laurens Co, SC - Charles & Benjamin Puckett'.

3) Grief Puckett and William Smith Puckett moved from Chester Co, SC to Laurens Co, SC in the 1820s.  My current thinking (as of Dec 2024) is that Grief Puckett and William Smith Puckett were half-brothers, both sons of Susannah Smith Puckett.  See 'Chester County, South Carolina'.

There was also a Duckett family in Laurens Co, SC, and Duckett and Puckett look similar in old handwriting.

The various lines of Pucketts in Laurens Co, SC are easily confused.  They had children with similar names.  Christine South Gee confused and conflated many of these Pucketts.

Map of approximate Puckett Locations in Laurens Co, SC

See numbers in red on map.

1. James & Jonathon Puckett - southern Lauren County, area of Cain Creek and Saluda River.

2. Charles & Benjamin Puckett - northern Laurens County, area of Duncans Creek and Enoree River, near Musgrove Mill.

3. Grief & William Smith Puckett - western Laurens County.   The cemetery where William Smith Puckett was interred is a little north of Ware Shoals.