Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Bessie. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Bessie to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bessie, please Contact Us.
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 Bessie (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 Bessie. 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Bessie is historic, it would have been located within present day Wilkes County.
To see how the shape of Georgia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Wilkes County: Elbert, Lincoln, McDuffie, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Bessie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bessie:
- Wilkes County (The home county of Bessie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- New Town
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- New Town is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Tignall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rayle
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Washington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Centerville is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Tyrone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tyrone is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Lundberg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lundberg is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lundberg
- Estimated population in 2019: 831 people
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Winterville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cedar Shoals Estates
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar Shoals Estates is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Shoals Estates
- Population from the 2010 Census: 74 people
- Chamberlin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Chamberlin is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlin
- Estimated population in 2019: 30,307 people
- Elbert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Elberton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Silk Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Silk Mills is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silk Mills
- Estimated population in 2019: 277 people
- Goss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Goss is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
- Bowman Ferry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bowman Ferry is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowman Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 808 people
- Dewy Rose
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Edinburg ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Edinburg is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edinburg
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,396 people
- Harmony
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Harmony is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Centerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Harper
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Harper is located in Elbert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Bowman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Daniel Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Daniel Springs is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel Springs
- Estimated population in 2019: 594 people
- Durham Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Durham Town is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham Town
- Jacksonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Estimated population in 2019: 133 people
- Woodville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Woodville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 397 people
- Union Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Siloam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greensboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- White Plains
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Swaggy Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Swaggy Valley is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swaggy Valley
- Estimated population in 2019: 7,542 people
- Scull Shoals ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Scull Shoals is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scull Shoals
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Springfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Springfield is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Gum Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gum Hill is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 2,146 people
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Midway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Midway is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Lisbon ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lisbon is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Goshen
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Goshen is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Hesters Ferry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hesters Ferry is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesters Ferry
- Estimated population in 2019: 911 people
- Lincolnton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Loce
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Loce is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loce
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Carlton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Comer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Colbert
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Patterson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Patterson is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson
- Estimated population in 2019: 755 people
- Hull
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- McDuffie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Columbia Mine ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia Mine is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Mine
- Estimated population in 2019: 195,769 people
- Hamilton Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hamilton Crossroads is located in McDuffie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,117 people
- Thomson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oglethorpe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Palmetto
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Palmetto is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
- Veribest
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Veribest is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veribest
- Estimated population in 2019: 124 people
- Lexington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Crawford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Stephens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Maxeys
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Arnoldsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cherokee Corner ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Cherokee Corner is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Corner
- Taliaferro County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Carters Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Carters Grove is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Grove
- Estimated population in 2019: 21,760 people
- Springfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Springfield is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Raytown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Raytown is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raytown
- Sharon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Crawfordville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Barnett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Barnett is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Cadley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cadley is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadley
- Estimated population in 2019: 540 people
- Norwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Camak
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mesena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Warrenton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Abbeville County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Calhoun Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Latimer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Latimer is located in Abbeville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latimer
- Lowndesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Monterey ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Monterey is located in Abbeville County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- McCormick County (SC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Mount Carmel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Willington is located in McCormick County (SC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willington
- McCormick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bessie, see our County-by-County Page for Bessie.
Cemeteries Near Bessie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bessie.
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 Bessie - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bessie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Newtown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- White Rock Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Washington - Wilkes Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Twin Oak Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaverdam Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cliffords Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clarks Station Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tignall Baptist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tignall Baptist Cemetery
- The Tignall Baptist Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tignall Cemetery
- Mallorysville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sardis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- City West Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (406 more) ...
- School Street Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hill Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fishing Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.
Bessie itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bessie, with the one closest to Bessie listed first.
- Tignall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lina ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lina is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lina
- Washington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Anon ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Anon is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anon
- Danburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Danburg is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danburg
- Tyrone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tyrone is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Broad
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Broad is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broad
- Philomath
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Philomath is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philomath
- Little River
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Little River is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little River
- Metasville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Metasville is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metasville
- Dyson ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dyson is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyson
- Vesta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Vesta is located in Oglethorpe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vesta
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Lyneville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lyneville is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyneville
- Hillman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hillman is located in Taliaferro County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillman
- Adasburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Adasburg is located in Wilkes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adasburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bessie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bessie.
Newspapers Published in Bessie ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bessie.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bessie, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bessie.
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 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 Bessie:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Wilkes County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clarke County
- Elbert County
- Greene County
- Hancock County
- Lincoln County
- Madison County
- McDuffie County
- Oglethorpe County
- Taliaferro County
- Warren County
- Abbeville County
- McCormick County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Bessie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bessie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |