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 North Woods (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 North Woods. 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.
Name Variations for North Woods ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for North Woods: N. Woods
You might be interested in other communities that are also named North Woods. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for North Woods.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
North Woods is located in Worcester 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 Worcester County: Tolland (CT), Windham (CT), Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Cheshire (NH), Hillsborough (NH) & Providence (RI).
Below are the counties that are near North Woods. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to North Woods:
- Worcester County (The home county of North Woods)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Ruralville
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Ruralville is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruralville
- Brooks
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Brooks is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Jefferson
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jefferson is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Holden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Holden is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,259 people
- Princeton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Princeton is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,486 people
- Dawson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Dawson is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- Rutland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rutland is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,024 people
- Oakdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Oakdale is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- West Boylston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Boylston is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boylston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,039 people
- East Princeton
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- East Princeton is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Princeton
- North Rutland
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- North Rutland is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Rutland
- North Worcester
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Worcester is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Worcester
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Millington ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Millington is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
- Smiths ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Smiths is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths
- New Salem
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- New Salem is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,034 people
- Morse Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Morse Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morse Village
- North Orange
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Orange is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Orange
- Orange
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Orange is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,581 people
- Tully
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tully is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tully
- Cooleyville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cooleyville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleyville
- Shutesbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Shutesbury is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shutesbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,753 people
- Wendell Depot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wendell Depot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendell Depot
- Wendell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wendell is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 881 people
- Locks Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Locks Village is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locks Village
- Hampden County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Brimfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Brimfield is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,679 people
- West Brimfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- West Brimfield is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brimfield
- Holland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Holland is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
- Tenneyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tenneyville is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenneyville
- Thorndike
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Thorndike is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorndike
- Palmer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Palmer is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,174 people
- Three Rivers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Three Rivers is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Rivers
- Wales
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wales is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,862 people
- Monson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Monson is located in Hampden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,750 people
- Hampshire County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Ware
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ware is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,897 people
- Enfield ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Enfield is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
- Bondsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bondsville is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bondsville
- Pelham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pelham is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,305 people
- Belchertown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Belchertown is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belchertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,103 people
- West Pelham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- West Pelham is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelham
- Middlesex County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Shaker Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shaker Village is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
- Hudson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hudson is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,732 people
- Shirley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shirley is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,554 people
- Marlborough Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Marlborough Junction is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough Junction
- Marlborough
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Marlborough is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
- Population from the 2020 Census: 39,290 people
- Devens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Devens is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devens
- Ayer
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Ayer is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,211 people
- Old City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Old City is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City
- Boxborough
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Boxborough is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boxborough
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,752 people
- Stow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Stow is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,178 people
- Ashby
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ashby is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,204 people
- South Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- South Village is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Village
- Norfolk County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Bellingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bellingham is located in Norfolk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellingham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,336 people
- Medway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Medway is located in Norfolk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medway
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,443 people
- Millis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Millis is located in Norfolk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,519 people
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Quinebaug
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- East Thompson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- East Thompson is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Thompson
- Fabyan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- East Woodstock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- North Grosvenor Dale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Thompson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Thompson is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,371 people
- Grosvenor Dale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Thompson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- West Thompson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- West Thompson is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Thompson
- Woodstock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Woodstock is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,834 people
- Cheshire County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Rindge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- West Rindge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- West Rindge is located in Cheshire County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Rindge
- Fitzwilliam Depot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fitzwilliam Depot is located in Cheshire County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzwilliam Depot
- Jaffrey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fitzwilliam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsborough County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Mason
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mason is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,433 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <1>
- New Ipswich
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greenville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Brookline
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hollis Depot
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hollis Depot is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis Depot
- Hollis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hollis is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,123 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hollis <1>
- Sharon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sharon is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 370 people
- Temple
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Temple is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,434 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Temple <1>
- West Wilton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- West Wilton is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Wilton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to North Woods, see our County-by-County Page for North Woods.
Cemeteries Near North Woods ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North Woods.
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 North Woods - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for North Woods covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- St. Mary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Mary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Mary Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Holden.
- The St. Mary Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
- St. Marys Cemetery
- Jump to the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System: MACRIS ID #SPE.802 <2>
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2164241 <3>
- Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Grove Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Holden.
- Jump to the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System: MACRIS ID #HOL.802 <2>
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #91044 <3>
- Park Avee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- South Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Boylston Burial Ground
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Worthington Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- High Plains Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Legge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Sterling Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mooreland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (455 more) ...
- Goose Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- West Rutland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 in 1895, North Woods had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from North Woods, with the one closest to North Woods listed first.
- Jefferson
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jefferson is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Quinapoxet
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Quinapoxet is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinapoxet
- Brooks
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Brooks is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Holden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Holden is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,259 people
- Muschopauge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Muschopauge is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muschopauge
- Princeton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Princeton is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,486 people
- Rutland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rutland is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,024 people
- Dawson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Dawson is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawson
- West Boylston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Boylston is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boylston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,039 people
- Oakdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Oakdale is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakdale
- Princeton Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Princeton Station is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton Station
- North Worcester
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Worcester is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Worcester
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Summit
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Summit is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Sterling Junction
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sterling Junction is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling Junction
- West Sterling
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Sterling is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sterling
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around North Woods. See our List of 1890's Communities around North Woods.
Newspapers Published in North Woods ...
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 234 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Woods.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Woods, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for North Woods.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 North Woods:
- Websites specific to Massachusetts
- Pages specific to Worcester County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Hampden County
- Hampshire County
- Middlesex County
- Norfolk County
- Windham County
- Cheshire County
- Hillsborough 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 North Woods, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- North Woods) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |