Austells in South Carolina

Austells early were attracted to settle in South Carolina - which achieved statehood in 1788 (the 8th state). From the 1790 census on, with the exception of the year 1800, in which no Austells appear, the name is found in every census through at least 1850; all are in the county of Spartanburg, with the exception of Evan Austill in Wilkes County in 1830.

The "Handy Book for Genealogists" (published by Everton Publishers. Everton's Genealogical Helper: Web Site) tells us that in 1675 a group of Quakers came into the Territory. Since so many Austells were Quakers in England, it seems natural that they might have been a part of this group; however, the name does not appear among the South Carolina Quaker records as far as I have been able to find.

The 1790 census named Joseph Austill, living in District 96, from which Spartanburg County was created; his family consisted of two females; two males under 16 & two males over 16. By 1810 there were two Austells as heads of households - Joseph and Amos, probably father and son.

I have a will of Joseph Austell, signed in 1824; he appoints as the executors William and Amos Austell. By 1840 Amos Austell had moved to Tennessee. The date of this move is unknown, but his first child was born in Tennessee in 1833. (The author of this page will E-mail a copy of this will to anyone who requests it)

--From Research Notes by Juanita Austill Allen

South Carolina Deed Abstracts information places Amelia (Millie) Austell, widow of William Austell, Sr., in the Spartanburg District as early as 25 Dec 1786 when she bought some property. The wording of the record indicates that she had already been living there at the time. She is shown in other deed records until 22 Mar 1807. Interestingly she does not seem to show up in the U. S. Census Records for 1790 nor 1800.

South Carolina Census Data:

Census Data for 1790:

• Joseph Austell, Spartanburg Dist., SC, page 203

Census Data for 1810:

• Joseph Austell, Spartanburg Dist., SC
• Amos Austell, Spartanburg Dist. SC

Census Data for 1830:

• Ann Austell, Spartanburg Dist. SC
• William Austell, Spartanburg Dist. SC
• Amos Austele, Spartanburg Dist. SC
• Evan Austell, Wilkes County SC

Census Data for 1840:

• Joseph Austell, Spartanburg Dist. SC

Census Data for 1843:

• Joseph Austell, Richland Dist. SC, page 56

Census Data for 1850:

• Joseph Austell, Spartanburg Dist. SC
• James Austell, Spartanburg Twp, Spartanburg County, SC, page 240

Census Data for 1860:

• William Austell, Limestone Springs, Spartanburg County. SC, page 257

South Carolina Marriage Data:

• ? Austell mar Green A. Pennix, date unknown
• ? Austell mar Walter Gilkey, date unknown
• Elizabeth Austell mar ? Lovet, date unknown
• Joseph Austell mar Nancy ?, date unknown
• Samuel L Austell mar Caroline M. Wofford, 1838
• Joseph H. Austell mar Mary Jane Borders, 6 May 1858

Spartanburg Marriages 1785-1911 as implied in probate records

• ? Austell mar. Jane Petty, 1856, (dau of Charles Petty)
  (they moved to Tennessee)
• A.P. Austell mar. Mary C. Petty, 1858
• Joseph Austell mar. Lucinda R. Gaffney, 1854, (dau of Capt. Michael Gaffney who died 6 Sep 1854
• S. (or L.) Austell mar. Sarah Katharine Camp, 1837, (dau of Joseph Camp)
• ? Austell mar. Jean Wilkins, 1807, (dau of William Wilkins)

Samuel L. Austell

Samuel L. Austell came to Pickens County, (Ark) in 1837 from Spartanburg Dist., South Carolina and located at Carrollton; he formed a legal co-partnership with Gov. Samuel B. Moore, which continued until 1845, when they dissolved and Mr. Austell and Lemuel A. Gilkey entered into a partnership in the practice of law. In the latter part of 1845, Mr. Austell left Pickens and moved to the state of Arkansas, St. Francis County. He was twice elected State Senator for the districts composed of his county and several counties surrounding. When he lived in Pickens he was a candidate for the Legislature in 1843, but lost the election by a very few votes. He was a Democrat while in Pickens County, but became a member of the American Party in Arkansas.

Mr. Austell was the brother-in-law of Walter W. Gilkey, having married his sister, and was the uncle of Lemuel A. Gilkey, one of the former Probate Judges of Pickens.