Originally Barnwell County was part of Granville County and later part of Orangeburg District. Winton County was created by an act of the legislature on March 12, 1785. Justices William Robertson, John Parkinson, Thomas Knight, Richard Treadway, Daniel Green, William Buford, and James Fair were directed to erect a court house, gaol, pillory, whipping post, and stocks, which were built of pine logs. Winton County became Barnwell District in 1798 and Barnwell County in 1868.