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 Williamsburg (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 Williamsburg. 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 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 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.
Williamsburg is located in Jefferson County.
To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Jefferson County: Franklin, Hamilton, Marion, Perry, Washington & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Williamsburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williamsburg:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Williamsburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Waltonville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Scheller
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dareville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dareville is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dareville
- Marcoe
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Marcoe is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcoe
- Roaches
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Emerson City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Emerson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerson City
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Nason
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bonnie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ina
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ina is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,279 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ina <1>
- Jefferson City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Jefferson City is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson City
- Mount Vernon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Centralia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hoffman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Posey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Posey is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posey
- Huey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bartelso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Sesser
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Whittington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rend City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Rend City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rend City
- Valier
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ewing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Coello
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- North City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- North City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 566 people
- Benton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Hill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Hill
- Buckner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Christopher
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mulkeytown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Frisco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Frisco is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Dahlgren
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lovilla
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lovilla is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovilla
- Macedonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Flint
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Flint is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint
- Belle Prairie City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Belle Prairie City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Prairie City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 50 people
- Piopolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Piopolis is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piopolis
- Diamond City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Diamond City is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond City
- McLeansboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Dowell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elkville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hallidayboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hallidayboro is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallidayboro
- Vergennes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- De Soto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Oraville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Walnut Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Kell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Central City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Central City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,107 people
- Cartter
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cartter is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartter
- Junction City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Junction City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Hickory Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Hill is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hill
- Odin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sandoval
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Union Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Town
- Salem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bannister
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bannister is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannister
- Iuka
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Tamaroa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sunfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Saint Johns
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Johns is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Du Quoin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Du Quoin is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Quoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,591 people
- Pinckneyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pyatts
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pyatts is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pyatts
- Winkle
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Winkle is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkle
- Conant
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Conant is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conant
- Denmark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Denmark is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Cutler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph County
- Coulterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Radom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Du Bois
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Du Bois is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Du Bois
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Ashley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Richview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Irvington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Posen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Posen is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Posen
- Baldwin Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Baldwin Heights is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin Heights
- Hoyleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Nashville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wamac
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wamac is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wamac
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,117 people
- New Minden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Minden is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Minden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Oakdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Addieville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Keenes
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wayne City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Sims
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Williamson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Freeman Spur
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Freeman Spur is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman Spur
- Population from the 2020 Census: 276 people
- Freeman Spur has also been known as:
- Freeman Spur village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeman Spur <1>
- Bush
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bush is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Herrin Junction ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Herrin Junction is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrin Junction
- Hurst
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Stiritz
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Stiritz is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stiritz
- Johnston City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Blairsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Blairsville is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairsville
- Colp
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Colp is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colp
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Former name for Colp:
- Colpville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colp <1>
- Herrin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cambria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dewmaine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Dewmaine is located in Williamson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewmaine
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williamsburg, see our County-by-County Page for Williamsburg.
Cemeteries Near Williamsburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamsburg.
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 Williamsburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williamsburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Gilbert Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Knob Prairie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Stephens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bald Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Barbara Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Black Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rightnower Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dryden Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Taylor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Quinn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Abner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- South Hickory Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hickory Hill Cemetery
- The South Hickory Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hickory Hill Cemetery
- South Hickory Hill Christian Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #108327 <2>
- Continue List (441 more) ...
- Memorial Garden Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Minson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ward Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Williamsburg in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Williamsburg.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Fitzgerrell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fitzgerrell is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzgerrell
- Roaches
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Roaches is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaches
- Drivers
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Drivers is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drivers
- Radom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Vernon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tamaroa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Garden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Spring Garden is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Idlewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Idlewood is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewood
- Richview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Boyd
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Boyd is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- Sunfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunfield is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunfield
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ewing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Opdyke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Irvington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williamsburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williamsburg.
Newspapers Published in Williamsburg ...
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 95 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamsburg.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williamsburg, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williamsburg.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Williamsburg:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Jackson County
- Marion County
- Perry County
- Randolph County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Williamson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Illinois
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 Williamsburg, 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' (or 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- Williamsburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |