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 Plainfield (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 Plainfield. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Plainfield is located in Windham County.
To see how the shape of Connecticut's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Windham County: New London, Tolland, Worcester (MA), Kent (RI) & Providence (RI).
Below are the counties that are near Plainfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plainfield:
- Windham County (The home county of Plainfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Central Village
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Almyville
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Almyville is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Moosup
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Plainfield
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Plainfield Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Sterling
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Wauregan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Canterbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oneco
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sterling
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sterling is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,764 people
- Ekonk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Canterbury
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Canterbury is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canterbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,088 people
- Hartford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Marlborough
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Marlborough
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Marlborough is located in Hartford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,303 people
- Terramuggus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Terramuggus is located in Hartford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terramuggus
- Middlesex County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Crowley Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Crowley Corner is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley Corner
- East Haddam
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Haddam is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Haddam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,956 people
- New London County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Jewett City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Griswold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Griswold is located in New London County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,660 people
- Voluntown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Voluntown is located in New London County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voluntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,500 people
- Voluntown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lisbon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lisbon is located in New London County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,238 people
- Glasgo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hanover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Occum
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Occum is located in New London County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occum
- Sprague
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sprague is located in New London County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprague
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,851 people
- Versailles
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Baltic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Preston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Tolland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Atwoodville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Atwoodville is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwoodville
- Mount Hope
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Hope is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
- Conantville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Conantville is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conantville
- Mansfield Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gurleyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Gurleyville is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurleyville
- Mansfield City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mansfield City is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield City
- Mansfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Storrs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Columbia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Eagleville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Eagleville is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagleville
- Columbia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Columbia is located in Tolland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,355 people
- Coventry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bristol County (MA)
- Seekonk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seekonk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,851 people
- Hampden County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Holland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Holland is located in Hampden County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
- Wales
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wales is located in Hampden County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,862 people
- Worcester County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Dudley
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dudley is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,663 people
- East Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- East Village is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Merino Village ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Merino Village is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merino Village
- Webster
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Webster is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,822 people
- Webster has also been known as:
- Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg
- Douglas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Douglas is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,117 people
- Southbridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Southbridge is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southbridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,788 people
- Tufts Village ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Tufts Village is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tufts Village
- East Douglas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Douglas is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Douglas
- Globe Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Globe Village is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
- West Oxford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- West Oxford is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oxford
- Millville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Millville is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,236 people
- Blackstone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Blackstone is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackstone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,209 people
- Bristol County (RI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Annawomscutt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Annawomscutt is located in Bristol County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annawomscutt
- Barrington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,015 people
- Barrington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Kent County (RI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Greene
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Greene is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Rice City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Rice City is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice City
- Coventry
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Coventry is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34,931 people
- Gortons Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- Kitts Corner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- West Greenwich
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- West Greenwich is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greenwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,418 people
- Coventry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Coventry is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Spring Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Arkwright
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Arkwright is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkwright
- Phenix
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Phenix is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Quidnick
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- Shippee Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- Newport County (RI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Jamestown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,482 people
- Prudence Island
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Prudence Island is located in Newport County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudence Island
- Clarks Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Jamestown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Providence County (RI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Foster
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Foster is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,747 people
- Simmons Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Simmons Corner is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmons Corner
- Clayville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Clayville is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayville
- Foster
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Foster is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Rockland ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rockland is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Richmond ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Richmond is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Chopmist
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chopmist is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chopmist
- West Glocester
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- West Glocester is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Glocester
- Ashland ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Ashland is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Kent ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Kent is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Scituate
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Scituate is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scituate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,727 people
- Burrillville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burrillville is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrillville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,810 people
- Washington County (RI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Lewis City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis City is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis City
- Arcadia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Arcadia is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Austin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Austin is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
- Moscow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Canonchet
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Canonchet is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canonchet
- Hope Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hope Valley is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope Valley
- Wyoming
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wyoming is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Hopkinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,095 people
- Hopkinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Richmond
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Richmond is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,886 people
- Tripps Corner
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Tripps Corner is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tripps Corner
- Ashaway
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plainfield, see our County-by-County Page for Plainfield.
Cemeteries Near Plainfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plainfield.
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 Plainfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plainfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- New Plainfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Plainfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Old Plainfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- St. John Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Packerville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- All Hallows Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cleaveland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleaveland Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cleaveland Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the northwest of Plainfield.
- The Cleaveland Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cleveland Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1975862 <2>
- Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Carey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (797 more) ...
- Cedar Swamp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gallups Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Plainfield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Plainfield.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plainfield, with the one closest to Plainfield listed first.
- Plainfield
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Central Village
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Moosup
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wauregan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sterling
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Canterbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ekonk
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Oneco
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brooklyn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westminster
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Westminster is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westminster
- Jewett City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greene
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Greene is located in Kent County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Moosup Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Moosup Valley is located in Providence County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moosup Valley
- South Killingly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- South Killingly is located in Windham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Killingly
- Voluntown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plainfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plainfield.
Newspapers Published in Plainfield ...
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 112 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plainfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plainfield, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plainfield.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Plainfield:
- Websites specific to Connecticut
- Pages specific to Windham County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hartford County
- Middlesex County
- New London County
- Tolland County
- Bristol County
- Hampden County
- Worcester County
- Bristol County
- Kent County
- Newport County
- Providence County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Connecticut
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Plainfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Plainfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |