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 Watson Crossroads (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 Watson Crossroads. 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 Watson Crossroads ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Watson Crossroads: Watson Xrds.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Watson Crossroads. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Watson Crossroads.
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.
Watson Crossroads is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Barbour (AL), Henry (AL), Calhoun, Early, Quitman & Randolph.
Below are the counties that are near Watson Crossroads. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Watson Crossroads:
- Clay County (The home county of Watson Crossroads)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Oketeyeconne ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Oketeyeconne is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oketeyeconne
- Fort Gaines
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bellville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bellville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellville
- Estimated population in 2019: 118 people
- Bluffton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Edison
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Arlington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Williamsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Williamsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Early County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Blakely
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bancroft
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bancroft is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bancroft
- Rock Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rock Hill is located in Early County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
- Population from the 2010 Census: 248 people
- Quitman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Hatcher
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hatcher is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatcher
- Morris
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Georgetown is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Coleman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cuthbert
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Wades
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wades is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wades
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,858 people
- Shellman
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Brooksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Brooksville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooksville
- Estimated population in 2019: 559 people
- Five Points
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Five Points is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Stewart County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Sanford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Sanford is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Estimated population in 2019: 159 people
- Mount Zion ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Florence
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Florence is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Lumpkin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Omaha
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Weston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Leveretts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leveretts is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leveretts
- Barbour County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Eufaula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cotton Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cotton Hill is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Hill
- Bakerhill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Bakerhill is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerhill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
- Big Eddy ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Big Eddy is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Eddy
- Hawkinsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hawkinsville is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkinsville
- Clayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Comer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Comer is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comer
- Blue Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Blue Springs is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 86 people
- Spring Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Hill is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
- Dale County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Clopton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Clopton is located in Dale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clopton
- Bertha
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bertha is located in Dale County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
- Henry County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Screamer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Screamer is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamer
- Shorterville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shorterville is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorterville
- Abbeville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Graball
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Graball is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graball
- Former names for Graball:
- Hart's Crossroads
- Hudspeth's Crossroads
- Oakey Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oakey Grove is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakey Grove
- Haleburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Haleburg is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haleburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Capps
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Capps is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capps
- Newville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Newville is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
- Houston County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Columbia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Williams
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Williams is located in Houston County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
- Russell County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Jernigan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Jernigan is located in Russell County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jernigan
- Cottonton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cottonton is located in Russell County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonton
- Glenville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Glenville is located in Russell County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Watson Crossroads, see our County-by-County Page for Watson Crossroads.
Cemeteries Near Watson Crossroads ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Watson Crossroads.
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 Watson Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Watson Crossroads covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Mt. Gilead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Midway Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Lowell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Campground Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Singletary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Methvin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pecan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. James Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Old Judson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (214 more) ...
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Old Pataula Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Liberty Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
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 Watson Crossroads in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Watson Crossroads.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Watson Crossroads, with the one closest to Watson Crossroads listed first.
- Hatcher
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hatcher is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatcher
- Pecan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pecan is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecan
- Otho
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Otho is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otho
- Fort Gaines
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Coleman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Springvale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Springvale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springvale
- Georgetown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Georgetown is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Shorterville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shorterville is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorterville
- Cuthbert
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Eufaula
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tullis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tullis is located in Barbour County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tullis
- Lawrenceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Lawrenceville is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bluffton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Abbeville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hardwickburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hardwickburg is located in Henry County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardwickburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Watson Crossroads. See our List of 1890's Communities around Watson Crossroads.
Newspapers Published in Watson Crossroads ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Watson Crossroads.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Watson Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Watson Crossroads.
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 Watson Crossroads:
- Websites specific to Georgia
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Early County
- Quitman County
- Randolph County
- Stewart County
- Webster County
- Barbour County
- Dale County
- Henry County
- Houston County
- Russell County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Georgia
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 Watson Crossroads, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Watson Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |