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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 Oyster Harbors (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 Oyster Harbors. 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 Oyster Harbors ...

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 Oyster Harbors: Oyster Hbrs.

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 northwest 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 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.

Oyster Harbors is located in Barnstable County.

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

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

  • Barnstable County     (The home county of Oyster Harbors)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Harbors, with the one closest to Oyster Harbors listed first.
    • Osterville
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Osterville is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osterville
    • Cotuit
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Cotuit is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotuit
    • Marstons Mills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Marstons Mills is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marstons Mills
    • Mashpee Neck
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Mashpee Neck is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashpee Neck
    • Mashpee
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mashpee is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashpee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,266 people
    • Popponesset Island
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Popponesset Island is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popponesset Island
    • Craigville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Craigville is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigville
    • Centerville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Centerville is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Maushop Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Maushop Village is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maushop Village
    • New Seabury
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • New Seabury is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Seabury
    • Popponesset
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Popponesset is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popponesset
    • Barnstable Town
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Barnstable Town is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnstable Town
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 44,535 people
  • Bristol County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Harbors, with the one closest to Oyster Harbors listed first.
    • Acushnet Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Acushnet Center is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet Center
    • Acushnet
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Acushnet is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,673 people
    • Fairhaven
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Fairhaven is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,103 people
    • Long Plain
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Long Plain is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Plain
    • New Bedford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • New Bedford is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bedford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 95,517 people
    • Acushnet Station ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Acushnet Station is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet Station
    • Bliss Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Bliss Corner is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss Corner
    • Nonquitt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Nonquitt is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nonquitt
    • South Dartmouth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • South Dartmouth is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dartmouth
    • Apponagansett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Apponagansett is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apponagansett
    • Clifford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Clifford is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
    • North Dartmouth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • North Dartmouth is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dartmouth
  • Dukes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Harbors, with the one closest to Oyster Harbors listed first.
    • Oak Bluffs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Bluffs is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Bluffs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,696 people
    • West Chop
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • West Chop is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chop
    • Tisbury
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tisbury is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tisbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,128 people
    • Vineyard Haven
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Vineyard Haven is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineyard Haven
    • Edgartown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Edgartown is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgartown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,383 people
    • Katama
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Katama is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katama
    • Christian Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Christian Town is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christian Town
    • North Tisbury
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • North Tisbury is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tisbury
    • Gosnold
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Gosnold is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosnold
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 75 people
    • West Tisbury
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Tisbury is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Tisbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,927 people
    • Chilmark
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chilmark is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilmark
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Menemsha
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Menemsha is located in Dukes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menemsha
  • Nantucket County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Harbors, with the one closest to Oyster Harbors listed first.
    • Nantucket
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Nantucket is located in Nantucket County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nantucket
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,376 people
    • Pocomo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Pocomo is located in Nantucket County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocomo
  • Plymouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oyster Harbors, with the one closest to Oyster Harbors listed first.
    • Onset
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Onset is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onset
    • East Wareham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • East Wareham is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wareham
    • Onset Station
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Onset Station is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onset Station
    • White Island Shores
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • White Island Shores is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Island Shores
    • Briarwood Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Briarwood Beach is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarwood Beach
    • Wareham Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Wareham Center is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wareham Center
    • Wareham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Wareham is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wareham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,778 people
    • Weweantic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Weweantic is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weweantic
    • Marion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Marion is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,189 people
    • Mattapoisett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Mattapoisett is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattapoisett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,427 people
    • Manomet
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Manomet is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manomet
    • Cranberry Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cranberry Village is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry Village

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

Cemeteries Near Oyster Harbors ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oyster Harbors.

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 Oyster Harbors - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oyster Harbors, with the one closest to Oyster Harbors 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.<3>

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

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

  • Wianno
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Wianno is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wianno
  • Osterville
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Osterville is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osterville
  • Marstons Mills
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Marstons Mills is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marstons Mills
  • Mashpee
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mashpee is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashpee
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,266 people
  • Craigville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Craigville is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigville
  • Centerville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Centerville is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
  • Hyannis Port
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Hyannis Port is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyannis Port
  • Hyannis
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Hyannis is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyannis
  • West Barnstable
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • West Barnstable is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Barnstable
  • Forestdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Forestdale is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestdale
  • East Falmouth
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • East Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Falmouth
  • Hatchville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hatchville is located in Barnstable County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchville
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • East Sandwich
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • East Sandwich is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sandwich
    • Barnstable
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Barnstable is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnstable
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 45,193 people
      • Barnstable has also been known as:
      • Barnstable Village
    • West Yarmouth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • West Yarmouth is located in Barnstable County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Yarmouth

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

Newspapers Published in Oyster Harbors ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oyster Harbors.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oyster Harbors, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oyster Harbors.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Oyster Harbors:

Footnotes ...

<1>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.

<2>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.
<3>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 Oyster Harbors, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Oyster Harbors) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.