Marty and Karla Grant
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Turner Genealogy - Marion Co., SC
Welcome to my Turner genealogy pages. I am interested in the Turner surname in Marion Co., SC and that general area.
Turner was the 49th most common surname in the United States in 2000. By 2010 it had dropped slightly to 54th.
My most recent Turner ancestor is my grandmother, Gertrude Turner (1919-1973), who married my grandfather, Alva G. Campbell (1916-1980) in Mullins, Marion Co., SC. I had the distinct pleasure of knowing them both. Gertrude was born near Mullins, SC, a proven daughter of Thomas and Zadie.
Thomas Lide Turner (1883-1953) was born just east of Mullins, Marion Co., SC. We’ve often wondered if his middle name signified a relationship to the Lide family, but to date we’ve found no such connection. He married Zadie Idell Watson (1896-1963) in 1914 in Mullins. They resided near Mullins the rest of their lives. Thomas is a proven son of Daniel and Virginia.
Daniel T. Turner (1846-1915) was born somewhere in the vicinity of Latta, in what is now Dillon Co., SC but was then part of Marion Dist., SC. While still young(ish) his family moved to the Mullins area. That’s where he married Laura Virginia James (1840-1914) in 1868. That is where they remained. Daniel is a proven son of Daniel and Martha.
Daniel Turner (c1796-1860s) was born somewhere in the vicinity of Latta in what was then Georgetown Dist., SC, Liberty County, but soon became Marion Dist., SC, later Marion Co., SC (1868) and is now Dillon Co., SC (1910). He married three times, his 3rd wife being Martha Collins (1811-1892) whom he married in the 1840s. They resided in the same area he was from until the 1860s when the family moved to the Mullins area. It isn’t known for certain if he made the move or died beforehand, however it is clear Martha and the children made the move. Daniel’s parents are not proven, but I have strong suspects in Reuben and Dorothy.
Reuben Turner (1760/65-1830s) was born in Halifax (now Martin) Co., NC. His family is quite interesting in that his father was a “mulatto” slave at the time of Reuben’s birth. However, as Reuben’s mother was a free white woman, her children were born free, per the law at the time. His mother purchased his father’s freedom in 1769 and they quickly moved to the vicinity of Latta, SC, then part of Craven Co., SC, soon to become Georgetown District, then later Marion District, now Dillon County. Reuben Turner married Dorothy Martin in that area ca 1780s. They had a large family, but only two of their children are proven, and unfortunately, Daniel isn’t one of the proven ones. However, based on location, affiliations, and other circumstantial evidence, it appears that Reuben in the only possible father for Daniel. DNA evidence strongly supports this placement. Reuben, though technically of mixed ethnicity, was listed as white on almost all of his records suggesting he was of lighter complexion. Daniel was always listed as white. Reuben is a proven son of John and Patience.
John Turner (c1730s-c1805) was probably born in Elizabeth City Co., VA. He was born a slave to Thomas Weathersbee (c1700-1774) and presumably, a Miss Turner. That Weathersbee is John’s father is proven by court records and makes for an interesting story. The Weathersbee family moved from Virginia to the Roanoke River in then Halifax Co., NC in the section that became Martin Co., NC.
John married Patience Smith before 1765, presumably in Halifax Co., NC (now Martin Co., NC) while he was still a slave. She purchased John from Weathersbee in 1769 then moved to South Carolina with him and their small children.
As noted, John Turner’s father was Thomas Weathersbee. I don’t know if his mother was a Turner or not, so it’s possible he is the first Turner in our line. If he wasn’t born to a Miss Turner, then perhaps his wife Patience was a Turner and he took on her surname after marriage. Records show that Patience’s mother was a Smith, but we don’t know who her father was. We’ve assumed Patience herself was a Smith, but it’s possible she was a Turner by birth or perhaps by marriage (and widowed before marrying John). Perhaps some evidence will be found eventually to help clear this up.
I have done practically no research on the Weathersbee family thus far. However, I’ve found two sources for information on them which take the family back to the 1500s. I can’t vouch for any of it yet, but since it was a very well-to-do family, there ought to be plenty of records for them.
The Weathersbee Family of Halifax and Martin Counties, North Carolina and Barnwell County, South Carolina, compiled by Elizabeth Willis Dehuff between the years 1920-1965.
Weathersbee of Virginia North Carolina and Other Southern States, pp 103-110, contributed by Lenora (Weathersbee) Smith, Jackson, Mississippi and Elizabeth (Willis) DeHuff, Augusta, GA. (No date or source for what book the above comes from).
Revised: August 4, 2026
Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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