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 Helms Landing (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 Helms Landing. 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 Helms Landing ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Helms Landing: Helms Lndg. (or less commonly used: Helms Lndng.)
- While the name of this community is Helms Landing, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Helms Landing may originally have been Helm's Landing.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Helms Landing might be written as Helm Landing.
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 doctors and 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.
Helms Landing is located in Sussex County.
To see how the shape of Delaware's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sussex County: Kent, Caroline (MD), Dorchester (MD), Wicomico (MD), Worcester (MD) & Cape May (NJ).
Below are the counties that are near Helms Landing. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Helms Landing:
- Sussex County (The home county of Helms Landing)
- The following are listed by their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- Dagsboro
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Frankford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Omar
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Omar is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omar
- Blackwater Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Blackwater Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwater Village
- Boyers Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Boyers Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyers Village
- Clarksville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Clarksville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
- Trinity
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Trinity is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Millsboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roxana
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roxana is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Millville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Long Neck
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sea Farers Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sea Farers Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sea Farers Village
- Bayard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- Milford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Haven
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Haven is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Haven
- Farmington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Williamsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Williamsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Church Hill Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Church Hill Village is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill Village
- Houston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Andrewsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Andrewsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrewsville
- Dorchester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- Galestown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Galestown is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
- Reliance
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Reliance is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Finchville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Finchville is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
- Walnut Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Somerset County (MD)
- Eden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eden is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Wicomico County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- New Hope
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Willards
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pittsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Parsonsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Powellville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Powellville is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Whiton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Whiton is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
- Delmar
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- White Plains
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- White Plains is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Salisbury
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Hurst Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Hurst Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hurst Village
- Dogwood Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Centennial Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Fruitland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Worcester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- Bishopville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bishop
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bishop is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Ocean Pines
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Showell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Showell is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
- Whaleyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ocean Bay City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ocean Bay City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Bay City
- Berlin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Berlin is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,940 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Berlin <2>
- North Ocean City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Ocean City
- West Ocean City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- West Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ocean City
- Ocean City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newark
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cedartown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Snow Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cape May County (NJ)
- Cape May
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cape May is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape May
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,404 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Helms Landing, see our County-by-County Page for Helms Landing.
Cemeteries Near Helms Landing ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Helms Landing.
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 Helms Landing - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Helms Landing covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- Redman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redman Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Redman Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Dagsboro.
- The Redman Cemetery has also been known as:
- Millsboro Cemetery
- Long Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- St. Georges Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Millsboro Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Millsboro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millsboro Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Millsboro Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Millsboro.
- The Millsboro Cemetery has also been known as:
- Brotherhood Cemetery
- Mechanics Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1535377 <3>
- Order United American Men Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Marvel Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Harmony Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Harmony Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<4> to the south of Hollyville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104375 <3>
- Wilgus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Daisey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisey Cemetery
- The Daisey Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rickards / Daisey Cemetery
- Wilgus Road Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2589210 <3>
- Baker Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (141 more) ...
- Friendship Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- New St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Field Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Field Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Old Field Cemetery is located outside and to the southwest of Millsboro.
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.<5>
While we didn't find Helms Landing in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Helms Landing.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Helms Landing, with the one closest to Helms Landing listed first.
- Dagsboro
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Frankford
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Omar
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Omar is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omar
- Warwick
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Warwick is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Roxana
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roxana is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxana
- Trinity
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Trinity is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Millsboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Millville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Selbyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bayard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Ocean View
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hollyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hollyville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollyville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bunting
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bunting is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunting
- Mission
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mission is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Bishopville
(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 Helms Landing. See our List of 1890's Communities around Helms Landing.
Newspapers Published in Helms Landing ...
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 2 newspapers that have been published in the area around Helms Landing.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Helms Landing, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Helms Landing.
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 helpful 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 Helms Landing:
- Websites specific to Delaware
- Pages specific to Sussex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Dorchester County
- Somerset County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Cape May County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Delaware
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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- Helms Landing) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <5> | 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 Helms Landing, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |