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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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 Moultrie 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 Moultrie County: Coles, Douglas, Macon, Piatt & Shelby.
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:
- Moultrie County (The home county of Williamsburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Cadwell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cadwell is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadwell
- Lovington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cushman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Sullivan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lake City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Dunn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Bethany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Allenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Allenville is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 141 people
- Dalton City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Coles
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Coles is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coles
- Gays
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Champaign County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Ivesdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Pesotum
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sadorus
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tolono
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Seymour
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bondville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Longview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Philo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Savoy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Staley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Staley is located in Champaign County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Staley
- Christian County
- Assumption
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Cooks Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cooks Mills is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Mills
- Humboldt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dorans
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dorans is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorans
- Mattoon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Bushton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bushton is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushton
- Lerna
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rardin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rardin is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rardin
- Charleston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Trilla
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Saint Omer ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Omer is located in Coles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Omer
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Neoga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Johnstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Johnstown is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Janesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- De Witt County
- Weldon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Douglas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Arthur
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Chesterville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Garrett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Ficklin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ficklin is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ficklin
- Chicken Bristle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chicken Bristle is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicken Bristle
- Arcola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Tuscola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Filson
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Filson is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Filson
- Hayes
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Hayes is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
- Kemp
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kemp is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kemp
- Patterson Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Patterson Springs is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patterson Springs
- Camargo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hindsboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Casner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Casner is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casner
- Long Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,262 people
- Hervey City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hervey City is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hervey City
- Mount Zion
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sangamon
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sangamon is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangamon
- Turpin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Turpin is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turpin
- Decatur
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Oreana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Argenta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elwin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Macon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Forsyth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Boody
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Piatt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Hammond
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Burrowsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Lintner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Atwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- La Place
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Voorhies
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Voorhies is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voorhies
- Milmine
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bement
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cerro Gordo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Monticello
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cisco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- White Heath
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- De Land
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Shelby County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Findlay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Windsor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Yantisville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Yantisville is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yantisville
- Middlesworth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Middlesworth is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesworth
- Sexson Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sexson Corner is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexson Corner
- Shelbyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Moweaqua
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Strasburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Trowbridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Trowbridge is located in Shelby County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trowbridge
- Tower Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
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.
- Keller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Turner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hewitt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Seass Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pea Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hammond Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hagerman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Yoder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Taylor Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Souther Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jonathon Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bolin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (314 more) ...
- Yoder Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hampton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Williamsburg had a population of 47 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamsburg, with the one closest to Williamsburg listed first.
- Fairbanks
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Fairbanks is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- Lovington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hammond
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cushman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cushman is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cushman
- Arthur
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Burrowsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burrowsville is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Ullrich
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ullrich is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ullrich
- Lintner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lintner is located in Piatt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lintner
- Sullivan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Atwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lake City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Lake City is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Dunn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dunn is located in Moultrie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Chesterville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chesterville is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Garrett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Garrett is located in Douglas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- La Place
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
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 71 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 29 miles [46.7 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 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 Williamsburg:
- Websites specific to Illinois
- Pages specific to Moultrie County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Champaign County
- Christian County
- Coles County
- Cumberland County
- De Witt County
- Douglas County
- Macon County
- Piatt County
- Shelby 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Williamsburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |