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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 Bradford (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 Bradford. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Bradford is located in Essex County.

To see how the shape of Massachusetts' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Essex County: Middlesex, Suffolk & Rockingham (NH).

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

  • Essex County     (The home county of Bradford)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • Haverhill
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Ward Hill
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ward Hill. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward Hill
      • Ward Hill is located in Essex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ward Hill
      • From Bradford to Ward Hill
    • Groveland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Rocks Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rocks Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocks Village
      • Rocks Village is located in Essex County
    • West Boxford
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Boxford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boxford
      • West Boxford is located in Essex County
    • Ayers Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ayers Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers Village
      • Ayers Village is located in Essex County
    • Tozier Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Merrimac
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrimac have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
      • Merrimac is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,972 people
    • West Newbury
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Georgetown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Methuen
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Methuen have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Methuen
      • Methuen is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50,910 people
    • North Andover
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Andover have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Andover
      • North Andover is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,460 people
    • Byfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Byfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byfield
      • Byfield is located in Essex County
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • North Reading
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Dracut
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Tewksbury
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • West Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Village
      • West Village is located in Middlesex County
    • Ayres City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ayres City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayres City
      • Ayres City is located in Middlesex County
    • Collinsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Lowell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Reading
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reading have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
      • Reading is located in Middlesex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,535 people
    • Wilmington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Middlesex Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Middlesex Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlesex Village
      • Middlesex Village is located in Middlesex County
    • North Billerica
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Montrose
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Montrose. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Montrose is located in Middlesex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Montrose
      • From Bradford to Montrose
    • Billerica
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Norfolk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • Brookline Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brookline Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Village
      • Brookline Village is located in Norfolk County
    • Brookline
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Suffolk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • Revere
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Chelsea
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Charlestown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • East Boston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Winthrop
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Allston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allston have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allston
      • Allston is located in Suffolk County
    • Bay Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bay Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Village
      • Bay Village is located in Suffolk County
    • Boston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Point Shirley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Brighton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • South Boston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Worcester County
    • Shaker Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shaker Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
      • Shaker Village is located in Worcester County
  • Hillsborough County (NH)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • Pelham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pelham have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
      • Pelham is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,306 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pelham <3>
    • Hudson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Nashua
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • East Merrimack
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Merrimack have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Merrimack
      • East Merrimack is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
    • Litchfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Reeds Ferry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Massabesic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Merrimack
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Manchester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Hollis Depot
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • South Merrimack
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Bedford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bedford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
      • Bedford is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,957 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bedford <3>
    • Hollis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hollis have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
      • Hollis is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,123 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hollis <3>
  • Merrimack County (NH)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • South Hooksett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Hooksett have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hooksett
      • South Hooksett is located in Merrimack County (NH)
    • Martin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Martin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Martin is located in Merrimack County (NH)
    • Hooksett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Rockingham County (NH)
  • Strafford County (NH)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bradford, with the one closest to Bradford listed first.
    • Glenmere Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lee have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee
      • Lee is located in Strafford County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,597 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lee <3>
    • Durham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Madbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Madbury have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madbury
      • Madbury is located in Strafford County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,879 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bradford, see our County-by-County Page for Bradford.

Cemeteries Near Bradford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bradford.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bradford had a population of 3,500 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Haverhill
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ward Hill
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ward Hill. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward Hill
    • Ward Hill is located in Essex County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Ward Hill
    • From Bradford to Ward Hill
  • South Groveland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Groveland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Groveland
    • South Groveland is located in Essex County
  • Groveland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Plaistow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • West Boxford
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Boxford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boxford
    • West Boxford is located in Essex County
  • Westville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
    • Westville is located in Rockingham County (NH)
  • Ayers Village
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ayers Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers Village
    • Ayers Village is located in Essex County
  • Methuen
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Methuen have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Methuen
    • Methuen is located in Essex County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 50,910 people
  • North Andover
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Andover have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Andover
    • North Andover is located in Essex County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,460 people
  • South Georgetown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Georgetown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Georgetown
    • South Georgetown is located in Essex County
  • Georgetown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • West Newbury
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Merrimac
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrimac have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
      • Merrimac is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,972 people
    • Lawrence
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Bradford ...

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 107 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bradford.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bradford, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bradford.

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 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 Bradford:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Bradford. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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.
<5>The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MACRIS (for the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System). More information about the MHC and MACRIS can be found on their website: mhc-macris.net.

When visiting the MACRIS website, you might encounter their page requiring the 'Acceptance of Terms'. With your acceptance, you'll be transfered to the desired page.

<6>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 Bradford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<7>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bradford) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bradford. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.7679, Longitude: -71.0764    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025