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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 Point Shirley (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 Point Shirley. 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 Point Shirley ...

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 have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Point Shirley: Pt. Shirley

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Point Shirley is located in Suffolk 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 Suffolk County: Essex, Middlesex & Norfolk.

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

  • Suffolk County     (The home county of Point Shirley)
  • Bristol County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Point Shirley, with the one closest to Point Shirley listed first.
    • North Easton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • South Easton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • 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
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Easton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Furnace Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • East Mansfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mansfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Raynham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Norton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Raynham Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • 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
  • Essex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Point Shirley, with the one closest to Point Shirley listed first.
    • Nahant
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • East Lynn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Lynn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Saugus
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • West Lynn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Swampscott
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Clifton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Clifton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
      • Clifton is located in Essex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Clifton
      • From Point Shirley to Clifton
    • Peabody
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Salem
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Marblehead
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marblehead have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marblehead
      • Marblehead is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,551 people
    • West Town Landing
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Town Landing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Town Landing
      • West Town Landing is located in Essex County
    • Lynnfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Point Shirley, with the one closest to Point Shirley listed first.
    • Everett
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Malden
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Wellington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Somerville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Medford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Cambridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Melrose
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyoming
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wyoming. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
      • Wyoming is located in Middlesex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wyoming
      • From Point Shirley to Wyoming
    • Huron Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • 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
    • West Medford
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Medford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Medford
      • West Medford is located in Middlesex County
    • Arlington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Belmont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Norfolk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Point Shirley, with the one closest to Point Shirley listed first.
    • Norfolk Downs
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • North Weymouth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Weymouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Weymouth
      • North Weymouth is located in Norfolk County
    • Quincy Point
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Quincy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Wollaston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Montclair
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Brookline Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brookline Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookline Village
      • Brookline Village is located in Norfolk County
    • Brookline
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • West Quincy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Milton Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milton Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton Village
      • Milton Village is located in Norfolk County
    • Braintree
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Milton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Plymouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Point Shirley, with the one closest to Point Shirley listed first.
    • Hull
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hingham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Accord
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Minot
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Minot have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minot
      • Minot is located in Plymouth County
    • North Scituate
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Scituate have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Scituate
      • North Scituate is located in Plymouth County
    • North Abington
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Rockland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockland have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
      • Rockland is located in Plymouth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,992 people
    • Greenbush
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenbush have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
      • Greenbush is located in Plymouth County
    • Norwell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Scituate
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Scituate have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scituate
      • Scituate is located in Plymouth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,047 people
    • Abington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Montello
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Worcester County

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

Cemeteries Near Point Shirley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Point Shirley.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Point Shirley, with the one closest to Point Shirley 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>

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

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

  • Winthrop
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Winthrop Beach
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winthrop Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winthrop Beach
    • Winthrop Beach is located in Suffolk County
  • Beachmont
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beachmont have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachmont
    • Beachmont is located in Suffolk County
  • Crescent Beach
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crescent Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Beach
    • Crescent Beach is located in Suffolk County
  • Chelsea
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • East Boston
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Oak Island
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Island have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Island
    • Oak Island is located in Suffolk County
  • South Boston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Pemberton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pemberton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton
    • Pemberton is located in Plymouth County
  • Revere
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Charlestown
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Boston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (24 more) ...
    • Savin Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
    • Hull
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Linden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Linden have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
      • Linden is located in Middlesex County

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

Newspapers Published in Point Shirley ...

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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Point Shirley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Point Shirley, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Point Shirley.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Point Shirley:

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

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

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 Point Shirley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Point Shirley) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Point Shirley. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.3604, Longitude: -70.9712    









 

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In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025