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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 Halifax (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 Halifax. 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 Halifax ...

While it's still very early in our research, we found that:

  • Halifax was settled in 1670.
  • It was incorporated in 1734.

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 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 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.

Halifax is located in Plymouth 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 Plymouth County: Barnstable, Bristol & Norfolk.

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

  • Plymouth County     (The home county of Halifax)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Monponsett
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monponsett have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monponsett
      • Monponsett is located in Plymouth County
    • Bryantville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bryantville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantville
      • Bryantville is located in Plymouth County
    • Plympton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plympton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plympton
      • Plympton is located in Plymouth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,998 people
    • Oldham Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oldham Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldham Village
      • Oldham Village is located in Plymouth County
    • Hanson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Pembroke
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • North Carver
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Paper Mill Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Paper Mill Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paper Mill Village
      • Paper Mill Village is located in Plymouth County
    • Ashdod
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • East Bridgewater
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Bridgewater
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Elmwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Elmwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
      • Elmwood is located in Plymouth County
  • Barnstable County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Buzzards Bay
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buzzards Bay have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buzzards Bay
      • Buzzards Bay is located in Barnstable County
    • Bourne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bourne have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bourne
      • Bourne is located in Barnstable County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,743 people
    • Sagamore Beach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sagamore Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagamore Beach
      • Sagamore Beach is located in Barnstable County
    • Monument Beach
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monument Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monument Beach
      • Monument Beach is located in Barnstable County
    • Sagamore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sagamore have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagamore
      • Sagamore is located in Barnstable County
    • Pocasset
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sandwich
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cataumet
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cataumet have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cataumet
      • Cataumet is located in Barnstable County
    • East Sandwich
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • North Falmouth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Falmouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Falmouth
      • North Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
    • Silver Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Beach
      • Silver Beach is located in Barnstable County
    • Forestdale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Bristol County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Raynham Center
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Raynham Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynham Center
      • Raynham Center is located in Bristol County
    • East Taunton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Raynham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • South Easton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Easton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Easton
      • South Easton is located in Bristol County
    • Easton Center
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Easton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Easton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
      • Easton is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,116 people
    • Taunton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Weir Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Furnace Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Furnace Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furnace Village
      • Furnace Village is located in Bristol County
    • North Easton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Easton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Easton
      • North Easton is located in Bristol County
    • East Freetown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Berkley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Berkley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkley
      • Berkley is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,900 people
  • Essex County
    • Nahant
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Cambridgeport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cambridgeport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridgeport
      • Cambridgeport is located in Middlesex County
    • Chestnut Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chestnut Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Hill
      • Chestnut Hill is located in Middlesex County
    • Cambridge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Eliot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Newton Centre
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Newton Highlands
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Newton Upper Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newton Upper Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Upper Falls
      • Newton Upper Falls is located in Middlesex County
    • Somerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Everett
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Huron Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huron Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron Village
      • Huron Village is located in Middlesex County
    • Newton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Newtonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newtonville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
      • Newtonville is located in Middlesex County
  • Norfolk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Brookville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Brookville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
      • Brookville is located in Norfolk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Brookville
      • From Halifax to Brookville
    • Avon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Avon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Avon is located in Norfolk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,557 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Avon
      • From Halifax to Avon
    • Holbrook
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • South Weymouth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Beechwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • East Weymouth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Weymouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Weymouth
      • East Weymouth is located in Norfolk County
    • North Stoughton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Randolph
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Randolph have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randolph
      • Randolph is located in Norfolk County
      • Estimated population in 2019: 34,362 people
    • Stoughton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Weymouth Heights
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Weymouth
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Braintree
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Suffolk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Ashmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ashmont. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashmont
      • Ashmont is located in Suffolk County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Ashmont
      • From Halifax to Ashmont
    • Hyde Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mattapan Station
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Neponset
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Neponset have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neponset
      • Neponset is located in Suffolk County
    • Readville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Readville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Readville
      • Readville is located in Suffolk County
    • Dorchester
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Mattapan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Stonybrook Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stonybrook Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonybrook Village
      • Stonybrook Village is located in Suffolk County
    • Roslindale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Savin Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Savin Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savin Hill
      • Savin Hill is located in Suffolk County
    • Highland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Highland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
      • Highland is located in Suffolk County
    • Jamaica Plain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bristol County (RI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax listed first.
    • Coggeshall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Warren
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Warren have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Warren is located in Bristol County (RI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,469 people
    • Barrington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bristol
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bristol have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Bristol is located in Bristol County (RI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,866 people
    • Warren
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Barrington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barrington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
      • Barrington is located in Bristol County (RI)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,015 people
  • Newport County (RI)
  • Providence County (RI)

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

Cemeteries Near Halifax ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Halifax.

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 Halifax - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Halifax, with the one closest to Halifax 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Halifax had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Halifax had a population of 7,865 people.

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

  • Silver Lake
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silver Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
    • Silver Lake is located in Plymouth County
  • Plympton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plympton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plympton
    • Plympton is located in Plymouth County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,998 people
  • South Hanson
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Hanson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hanson
    • South Hanson is located in Plymouth County
  • Bryantville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bryantville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryantville
    • Bryantville is located in Plymouth County
  • Eddyville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eddyville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
    • Eddyville is located in Plymouth County
  • Hanson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • North Carver
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • West Duxbury
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Duxbury have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Duxbury
    • West Duxbury is located in Plymouth County
  • North Hanson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Hanson have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hanson
    • North Hanson is located in Plymouth County
  • Pembroke
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Satucket
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Satucket have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Satucket
    • Satucket is located in Plymouth County
  • East Carver
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Carver have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Carver
    • East Carver is located in Plymouth County
  • Continue List   (23 more) ...
    • Kingston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Island Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • South Hanover
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Halifax. See our List of 1890's Communities around Halifax.

Newspapers Published in Halifax ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Halifax.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Halifax, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Halifax.

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 Halifax:

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>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.
<3>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.

<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>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 Halifax, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Halifax) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Halifax. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.9959, Longitude: -70.8442