Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Fort Williams Ferry (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Fort Williams Ferry. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Name Variations for Fort Williams Ferry ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Fort Williams Ferry: Ft. Williams Ferry
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Fort Williams Ferry is located in Talladega County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Talladega County: Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Saint Clair & Shelby.
Below are the counties that are near Fort Williams Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fort Williams Ferry:
- Talladega County (The home county of Fort Williams Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Gantts Quarry
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Gantts Quarry is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gantts Quarry
- Oak Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 513 people
- Bon Air
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bon Air is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Air
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Childersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Comerdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Comerdale is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comerdale
- Zubers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Mignon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mignon is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mignon
- Sylacauga
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Oldfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Oldfield is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Sycamore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Alpine
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Autauga County
- Marbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bibb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Brierfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Oakley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakley is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Ashby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ashby is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Eddings
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Eddings is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddings
- Randolph
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
- Tucker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tucker is located in Bibb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker
- Chilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Jumbo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Jemison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Thorsby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clanton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Verbena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Verbena is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Mountain Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mountain Creek is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Creek
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Hollins
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hollins is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins
- Chambers Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Chambers Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambers Springs
- Coosa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Aucheucaula ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Aucheucaula is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aucheucaula
- Weogufka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Stewartville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
- Dollar
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Dollar is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar
- Mount Olive
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Olive is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Rockford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Goodwater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hissop
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hissop is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hissop
- Pentonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pentonville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentonville
- Cottage Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cottage Grove is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage Grove
- Kellyton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kellyton is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellyton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Nixburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Nixburg is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixburg
- Elmore County
- Lightwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lightwood is located in Elmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightwood
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Hoover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Cahaba Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Leeds
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cahaba Landing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cahaba Landing is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cahaba Landing
- Mountain Brook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vestavia Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Scott City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Scott City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott City
- Homewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Brook Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Shannon is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannon
- English Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- English Village is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
- Greenwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Saint Clair County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Vincent
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fountainrun ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Fountainrun is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountainrun
- Easonville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Easonville is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonville
- Woodland Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Woodland Village is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Brompton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Brompton is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brompton
- Moody
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Moody is located in Saint Clair County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,292 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moody <1>
- Cropwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Merrell Beach
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Merrell Beach is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrell Beach
- Pine Grove Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Village is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Village
- Wilsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shelby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Columbiana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Harpersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Westover
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Westover is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,769 people
- Calera
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Chelsea
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saginaw
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Saginaw is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saginaw
- Calcis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Calcis is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcis
- Pelham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Siluria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Siluria is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siluria
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fort Williams Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Fort Williams Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Fort Williams Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fort Williams Ferry.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Fort Williams Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fort Williams Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Ft. Williams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Talladega Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crumpton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Heaton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Blue Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Heaslet Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Old Good Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Old Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Old Shelby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Gardens of Rest
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Whitfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (417 more) ...
- Kahatchee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilsonville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
While we didn't find Fort Williams Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fort Williams Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fort Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Fort Williams Ferry listed first.
- Talladega Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Talladega Springs is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talladega Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 156 people
- Fayetteville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fayetteville is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayetteville
- Wilsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Shelby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marble Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Marble Valley is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Columbiana
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gold Branch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gold Branch is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Branch
- Childersburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shelby Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Shelby Springs is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelby Springs
- Zubers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Zubers is located in Talladega County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zubers
- Jumbo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jumbo is located in Chilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Quinsey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Quinsey is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinsey
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Weogufka
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Weogufka is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weogufka
- Sylacauga
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Stewartville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Stewartville is located in Coosa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fort Williams Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fort Williams Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Fort Williams Ferry ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fort Williams Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fort Williams Ferry, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fort Williams Ferry.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Fort Williams Ferry:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Talladega County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Autauga County
- Bibb County
- Chilton County
- Clay County
- Coosa County
- Elmore County
- Jefferson County
- Saint Clair County
- Shelby County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Fort Williams Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Fort Williams Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |