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 Wood Branch (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 Wood Branch. 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 Wood Branch ...
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 Wood Branch: Wood Br. (or less commonly used: Wood Brnch.)
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Wood Branch 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 Wood Branch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wood Branch:
- Sussex County (The home county of Wood Branch)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Georgetown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Harbeson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hollyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hollyville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollyville
- Millsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hollymount
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hollymount is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollymount
- Milton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Cool Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cool Spring is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
- East Side Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- East Side Village is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Side Village
- Mission
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mission is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Trinity
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Trinity is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Ellendale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Dagsboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Milford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Williamsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Williamsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Woods Haven
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Woods Haven is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Haven
- Farmington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Houston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Church Hill Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Church Hill Village is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill Village
- Andrewsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Andrewsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrewsville
- Adamsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Adamsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Harrington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Vernon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Vernon is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Brownsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brownsville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Caroline County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Hickman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hickman is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Federalsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hynson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hynson is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
- Whiteleysburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Whiteleysburg is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteleysburg
- Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Grove is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Denton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oil City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Oil City is located in Caroline County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Preston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dorchester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Reliance
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Reliance is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Galestown
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Finchville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Finchville is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchville
- Eldorado
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Eldorado is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
- Walnut Landing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Brookview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Brookview is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Marshyhope Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Marshyhope Village is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshyhope Village
- Williamsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Rhodesdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hurlock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rabbit Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Vienna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- 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 Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Pittsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Delmar
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- New Hope is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Willards
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Parsonsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sharptown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sharptown is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharptown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 664 people
- 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
- Powellville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Powellville is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellville
- Cedar Hurst Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Hurst Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hurst Village
- Hebron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Salisbury
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mardela Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mardela Springs is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mardela Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 351 people
- Worcester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Bishopville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Whaleyville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bishop
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Showell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Showell is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Showell
- Ocean Pines
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Berlin
(24 miles [38.6 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 <1>
- Ocean Bay City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ocean Bay City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Bay City
- North Ocean City
(25 miles [40.2 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Ocean City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ocean City
- Ocean City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Cape May County (NJ)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- 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
- North Cape May
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Cape May is located in Cape May County (NJ)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cape May
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wood Branch, see our County-by-County Page for Wood Branch.
Cemeteries Near Wood Branch ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wood Branch.
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 Wood Branch - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wood Branch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Providence Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Reed Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- New St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaverdam Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Asbury Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Old Field Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- 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.
- Millsboro Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- 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
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- 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]<2> to the south of Hollyville.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104375 <3>
- Continue List (170 more) ...
- Indian Mission Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cokesbury Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Carey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Wood Branch in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wood Branch.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wood Branch, with the one closest to Wood Branch listed first.
- Stockley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stockley is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockley
- Georgetown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bennum
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bennum is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennum
- Shortly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shortly is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shortly
- Redden
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Redden is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redden
- Harbeson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Millsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hollyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hollyville is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollyville
- Robbins
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Robbins is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robbins
- Cool Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cool Spring is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cool Spring
- Milton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sycamore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sycamore is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mission
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mission is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Warwick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Warwick is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
- Trinity
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Trinity is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wood Branch. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wood Branch.
Newspapers Published in Wood Branch ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wood Branch.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wood Branch, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wood Branch.
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 Wood Branch:
- Websites specific to Delaware
- Pages specific to Sussex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Caroline County
- Dorchester County
- Somerset County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Cape May County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Delaware
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> | 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- Wood Branch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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> | 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 Wood Branch, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |