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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 White Sands Beach (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 White Sands Beach. 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 White Sands Beach ...

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 White Sands Beach: White Sands Bch.

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.

White Sands Beach is located in New London 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 New London County: Hartford, Middlesex, Tolland, Windham, Kent (RI) & Washington (RI).

Below are the counties that are near White Sands Beach. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to White Sands Beach:

  • New London County     (The home county of White Sands Beach)
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Old Lyme
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Old Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Lyme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,280 people
    • South Lyme
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Lyme
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • East Lyme
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • East Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lyme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,525 people
    • East Lyme
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Niantic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hamburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Hamburg is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
    • Sterling City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Sterling City is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling City
    • Pleasure Beach
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Pleasure Beach is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasure Beach
    • Lyme
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyme
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,304 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lyme <1>
    • Lyme
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyme
    • Waterford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Waterford is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,865 people
  • Hartford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Marlborough
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Terramuggus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Terramuggus is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terramuggus
    • Marlborough
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Marlborough is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,303 people
    • Taylor Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Taylor Town is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Town
    • East Glastonbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Glastonbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Glastonbury is located in Hartford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glastonbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 34,426 people
    • South Glastonbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Fenwick
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Fenwick is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
    • Old Saybrook
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Old Saybrook
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Old Saybrook is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Saybrook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,028 people
    • Plum Bank Beach
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Plum Bank Beach is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Bank Beach
    • Saybrook Manor
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Saybrook Manor is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook Manor
    • Essex
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Centerbrook
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Essex
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Essex is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,634 people
    • Westbrook
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Ivoryton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Westbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Westbrook is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,842 people
    • Deep River
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • New Haven County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Madison
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • East River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • East River is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
    • Madison
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Madison is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,924 people
    • North Madison
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • North Madison is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Madison
    • Guilford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Guilford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Guilford is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,043 people
    • Stony Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Stony Creek is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
    • North Branford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • North Branford is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Branford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,066 people
    • North Branford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Pine Orchard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Pine Orchard is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
    • Branford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Branford is located in New Haven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,736 people
    • Branford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Tolland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Amston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Turnerville ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Turnerville is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
    • Hebron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Hebron is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,480 people
    • Hebron
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Gilead
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Gilead is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
    • Columbia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Columbia is located in Tolland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,355 people
    • Columbia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Windham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • South Windham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Willimantic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Windham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Scotland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Scotland is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,664 people
    • Scotland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Windham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Windham is located in Windham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,463 people
  • Suffolk County (NY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Orient Point
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Orient Point is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient Point
    • Orient
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • East Marion
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Greenport
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Dering Harbor
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Dering Harbor is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dering Harbor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11 people
    • Fishers Island
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Shelter Island Heights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Shelter Island Heights is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Island Heights
    • Shelter Island
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Westmoreland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Westmoreland is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmoreland
    • Southold
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • North Haven
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • North Haven is located in Suffolk County (NY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Haven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 894 people
    • Peconic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County (RI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.
    • Avondale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Avondale is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
    • Westerly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Westerly is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,328 people
    • Westerly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Westerly is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
    • Ashaway
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ashaway is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
    • Langworthy Corner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Langworthy Corner is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy Corner
    • Weekapaug
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Weekapaug is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weekapaug
    • Bradford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bradford is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
    • Hopkinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopkinton is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,095 people
    • Hopkinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopkinton is located in Washington County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to White Sands Beach, see our County-by-County Page for White Sands Beach.

Cemeteries Near White Sands Beach ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of White Sands Beach.

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 White Sands Beach - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for White Sands Beach covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.

  • Griswold Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Champion Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Waite Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Duck River Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Lady Fenwicks Grave
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Cypress Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Champion Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Upper Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sterling Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (388 more) ...
    • Ely Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Stone Church Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Riverview 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 White Sands Beach in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of White Sands Beach.

These communities are listed based on their distance from White Sands Beach, with the one closest to White Sands Beach listed first.

  • Black Hall
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Black Hall is located in New London County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Hall
  • Fenwick
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Fenwick is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
  • South Lyme
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Saybrook Point
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Saybrook Point is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook Point
  • Crescent Beach
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Crescent Beach is located in New London County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Beach
  • Niantic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • East Lyme
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Essex
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hamburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Hamburg is located in New London County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
  • Westbrook
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Lyme
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Lyme is located in New London County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyme
  • Brockway
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Brockway is located in New London County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockway
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Ivoryton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • North Lyme
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • North Lyme is located in New London County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lyme
    • Orient
      (9 miles [14.5 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 White Sands Beach. See our List of 1890's Communities around White Sands Beach.

Newspapers Published in White Sands Beach ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around White Sands Beach.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of White Sands Beach, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for White Sands Beach.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 White Sands Beach:

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 White Sands Beach, 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 from Point A (ie- White Sands Beach) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.