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 McWilliams (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 McWilliams. 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.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
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 east contained birth and death records; the county to the north 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.
McWilliams is located in Wilcox 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 Wilcox County: Butler, Clarke, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near McWilliams. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to McWilliams:
- Wilcox County (The home county of McWilliams)
- The following are listed by their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Schuster
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Caledonia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Oak Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Pine Apple
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Awin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- McBrydes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Estelle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Ackerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ackerville is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ackerville
- Snow Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Furman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- Camden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nellie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Nellie is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellie
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Forest Home
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Shacklesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Starlington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Bolling
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Chapman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Garland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Georgiana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Greenville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- McKenzie
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Conecuh County
- The following are listed by their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Commerce
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Mixonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Ramah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Bermuda
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Owassa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Wilcox
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Belleville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Evergreen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rabb
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Repton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dallas County
- The following are listed by their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Carlowville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Carlowville is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlowville
- Minter
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Minter is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Richmond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Pleasant Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Belknap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Belknap is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belknap
- Kings
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kings is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings
- Crumptonia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Crumptonia is located in Dallas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumptonia
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Bragg's
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bragg's is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bragg's
- Collirene
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Collirene is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collirene
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Pineville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Beatrice
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Pine Orchard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Vredenburgh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Vredenburgh is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vredenburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Tunnel Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Hybart
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hybart is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hybart
- Burnt Corn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Peterman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Franklin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to McWilliams, see our County-by-County Page for McWilliams.
Cemeteries Near McWilliams ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McWilliams.
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 McWilliams - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for McWilliams covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- McWilliams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Pineview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Grimes Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pineview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Turkestan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jenkins Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Solomon Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pineville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pineville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (246 more) ...
- Savannah Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Turnbull Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Midway Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
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 McWilliams in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of McWilliams.
These communities are listed based on their distance from McWilliams, with the one closest to McWilliams listed first.
- Caledonia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Turkestan ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Turkestan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkestan
- Pine Apple
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Pineville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Riley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Riley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
- Allenton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Allenton is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenton
- Chestnut
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Chestnut is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
- Turnbull
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Turnbull is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbull
- Rosebud
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rosebud is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebud
- Awin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- Buena Vista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Fatama
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fatama is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fatama
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Skinnerton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Skinnerton is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnerton
- McBrydes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around McWilliams. See our List of 1890's Communities around McWilliams.
Newspapers Published in McWilliams ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around McWilliams.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McWilliams, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for McWilliams.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 McWilliams:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Wilcox County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Conecuh County
- Dallas County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe 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 McWilliams, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- McWilliams) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |