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 Chester (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 Chester. 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.
A Few Details for Chester ...
While it's still very early in our research, we found that:
- Chester was settled in 1760.
- It was incorporated in 1765.
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 and doctors 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.
Chester is located in Hampden County.
To see how the shape of Massachusetts' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Hampden County: Hartford (CT), Litchfield (CT), Tolland (CT), Berkshire, Hampshire & Worcester.
Below are the counties that are near Chester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chester:
- Hampden County (The home county of Chester)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Chester Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Chester Center is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Center
- North Chester
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Chester is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chester
- North Blandford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- North Blandford is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Blandford
- Blandford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Blandford is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blandford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
- Russell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,787 people
- Montgomery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 863 people
- Woronoco
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Woronoco is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woronoco
- Tolland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Tolland is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
- Hampton Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton Village is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton Village
- West Granville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- West Granville is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Granville
- Granville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Granville is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,606 people
- Westfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Westfield is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 41,063 people
- Southwick
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Southwick is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwick
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,715 people
- Berkshire County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Becket
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Becket is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becket
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,707 people
- East Otis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Otis is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otis
- North Otis
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Otis is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Otis
- Otis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Otis is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,531 people
- West Becket
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Becket is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Becket
- Washington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Washington is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
- Peru
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Peru is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Population from the 2020 Census: 833 people
- Tyringham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Tyringham is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyringham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- East Lee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- East Lee is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lee
- East Windsor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- East Windsor is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Windsor
- Hinsdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hinsdale is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinsdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,902 people
- Monterey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Monterey is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 918 people
- Lee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lee is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,629 people
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- West Hawley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- West Hawley is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hawley
- Ashfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,720 people
- South Ashfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Ashfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ashfield
- Hawley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hawley is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Whately
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Whately is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whately
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,583 people
- Conway
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Conway is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,875 people
- Buckland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Buckland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,851 people
- South Deerfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- South Deerfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Deerfield
- Charlemont
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Charlemont is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlemont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,231 people
- Sunderland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sunderland is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunderland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,634 people
- Shelburne Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shelburne Falls is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelburne Falls
- Deerfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Deerfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,049 people
- Shelburne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shelburne is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelburne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,840 people
- Hampshire County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Middlefield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Middlefield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Huntington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huntington is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,159 people
- Worthington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Worthington is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,176 people
- Worthington Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Worthington Corners is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington Corners
- Westhampton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Westhampton is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westhampton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,630 people
- Chesterfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chesterfield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,250 people
- West Chesterfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Chesterfield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chesterfield
- Southampton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Southampton is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southampton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,162 people
- West Farms
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- West Farms is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Farms
- Cummington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cummington is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 873 people
- Swift River
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Swift River is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift River
- Goshen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Goshen is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,057 people
- Williamsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Williamsburg is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,462 people
- Hartford County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Hartland
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,113 people
- West Hartland
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- East Hartland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hartland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- North Granby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rising Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rising Corner is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising Corner
- Granby
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Granby is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,558 people
- West Granby
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Granby
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Salmon Brook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Salmon Brook is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Brook
- West Suffield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chatsworth Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Chatsworth Village is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatsworth Village
- East Granby
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- East Granby is located in Hartford County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Granby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,120 people
- Litchfield County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Colebrook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Colebrook is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colebrook
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,396 people
- North Colebrook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- North Colebrook is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Colebrook
- Colebrook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Riverton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Clayton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Norfolk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hampsted
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hampsted is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampsted
- Norfolk
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Norfolk is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfolk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,622 people
- Barkhamsted
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Barkhamsted is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkhamsted
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,587 people
- Barkhamsted
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Grantville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Grantville is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantville
- East Canaan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Canaan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Canaan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
- Columbia County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Austerlitz
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Canaan Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Canaan Center is located in Columbia County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan Center
- Canaan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Green River
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Green River is located in Columbia County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green River
- Red Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Red Rock is located in Columbia County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Rock
- New Britain ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Britain is located in Columbia County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Britain
- New Concord
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- New Concord is located in Columbia County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Concord
- Copake Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Moorhouse Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Moorhouse Corner is located in Columbia County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorhouse Corner
- Rensselaer County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Wyomanock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wyomanock is located in Rensselaer County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyomanock
- Stephentown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brainard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Chester, see our County-by-County Page for Chester.
Cemeteries Near Chester ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chester.
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 Chester - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Chester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Diney Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Webster Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wright Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Middlefield Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- North Blandford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Blanford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Norwich Bridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Converse Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Leonard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (353 more) ...
- Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Old Burying Ground
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ireland Street Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Chester had a population of 1,318 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Chester had a population of 1,365 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Chester, with the one closest to Chester listed first.
- Chester Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Chester Center is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Center
- North Blandford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- North Blandford is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Blandford
- Littleville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Littleville is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littleville
- North Chester
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Chester is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chester
- Becket Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Becket Center is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becket Center
- Middlefield
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Middlefield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Huntington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huntington is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,159 people
- South Worthington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Worthington is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Worthington
- Becket
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Becket is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Becket
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,707 people
- Blandford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Blandford is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blandford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
- Norwich
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Norwich is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
- Ringville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ringville is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Worthington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Worthington is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,176 people
- Otis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Otis is located in Berkshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,531 people
- Russell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Russell is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,787 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Chester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Chester.
Newspapers Published in Chester ...
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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Chester.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chester, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chester.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Chester:
- Websites specific to Massachusetts
- Pages specific to Hampden County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berkshire County
- Franklin County
- Hampshire County
- Hartford County
- Litchfield County
- Columbia County
- Rensselaer County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Massachusetts
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 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.
|
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Chester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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 from Point A (ie- Chester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |