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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 Godwins Ferry (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 Godwins Ferry. 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 Parishes/Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next parish to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes/counties instead of the parish in which they lived:  their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the west contained birth and death records; the parish to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Godwins Ferry is located in Sabine Parish.

To see how the shape of Louisiana's parishes may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Sabine Parish: De Soto, Natchitoches, Vernon, Newton (TX), Sabine (TX) & Shelby (TX).

Below are the parishes/counties that are near Godwins Ferry. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Godwins Ferry:

  • Sabine Parish     (The home parish of Godwins Ferry)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.
    • Toro
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Toro is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro
    • Rock ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
    • Negreet
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Florien
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Fisher
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Many
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Many is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
    • Zwolle
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Corleyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
    • Bayou Scie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Noble
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Belmont
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • Vowells Mill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Vowells Mill is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vowells Mill
  • Vernon Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.
    • Hornbeck
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Anacoco
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Evans
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Fertitta Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fertitta Park is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fertitta Park
    • Westwood Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Westwood Village is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
    • Leesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • New Llano
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Savage Fork
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Savage Fork is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage Fork
    • Billy Goat Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Billy Goat Hill is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billy Goat Hill
    • Elmwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Elmwood is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
    • Kurthwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Jasper County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.
    • Browndell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Browndell is located in Jasper County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
    • Sam Rayburn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Newton County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.
    • South Toledo Bend
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • South Toledo Bend is located in Newton County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Toledo Bend
    • Toledo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Toledo is located in Newton County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
    • Burkeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Wiergate
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Shanklerville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Shanklerville is located in Newton County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanklerville
  • Sabine County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.
    • Mason
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mason is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Fairmount
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Fairmount is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
    • Hemphill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Milam
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Geneva
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Pineland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Rosevine
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Bronson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Brookeland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • San Augustine County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.
    • Rebecca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
    • Powell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Powell is located in San Augustine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Maxey Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • San Augustine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County (TX)
    • Huxley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Godwins Ferry, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Godwins Ferry.

Cemeteries Near Godwins Ferry ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Godwins Ferry.

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 Godwins Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Godwins Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.

  • Isaac Low Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Harper's Chapel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • McCord Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Sabinetown Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Conner Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Sinai Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • McMillion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Fairmount Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Victoria Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Caney Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (227 more) ...
    • Low's Chapel Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Gomer Family Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ener Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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.<2>

While we didn't find Godwins Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Godwins Ferry.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Godwins Ferry, with the one closest to Godwins Ferry listed first.

  • Columbus ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Columbus is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
  • Toro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Toro is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro
  • Fairmount
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Fairmount is located in Sabine County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
  • Hemphill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Negreet
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Toledo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Toledo is located in Newton County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
  • Milam
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Geneva
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Anacoco
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Many
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Many is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
  • Caney
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Caney is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney
  • East Hamilton
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • East Hamilton is located in Shelby County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Sexton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sexton is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
    • Brookeland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Burkeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Godwins Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Godwins Ferry.

Newspapers Published in Godwins Ferry ...

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 Godwins Ferry.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Godwins Ferry, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Godwins Ferry.

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 Godwins Ferry:

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>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 Godwins Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Godwins Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.