South Island John Doe

Archaeologists seek relatives of South Carolina remains

Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, the skeletal remains of a young fisherman were discovered near the site of ongoing archaeological research in Georgetown County, South Carolina.

Archival research identified the area where he was found as a 19th century fishing village, located between Mosquito Creek and Winyah Bay. Clothing found with his remains resembled the fishermen shown in this 1915 photograph by Frank G. Tarbox, courtesy of the Georgetown County Digital Library.

We are working with the SC Department of Natural Resources to help provide him with a proper burial. More information can be found in a story on the WPDE-TV website.

We need your help to give South Island John Doe back his name. Major funding for this project was provided by a Hurricane Irma Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Grant from the National Park Service and the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Genealogy For Justice’s Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund is assisting with genealogy uploads and DNA testing. To contribute a DNA sample please contact us. If you’ve already taken a DNA test, please be sure to upload your raw data to GEDmatch.

Online Donation

Some jurisdictions need help to fund cases like these. The Dean and Tina Linn Clouse Memorial Fund at Genealogy For Justice™ will apply your online donations to unidentified remains cases. All donations are tax deductible.

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