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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 Townsend Harbor (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 Townsend Harbor. 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 Townsend Harbor ...

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 Townsend Harbor: Townsend Hbr. (or less commonly used: Townsend Harb. or Townsend Hrbr.)

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 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.

Townsend Harbor is located in Middlesex 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 Middlesex County: Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Worcester & Hillsborough (NH).

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

  • Middlesex County     (The home county of Townsend Harbor)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor listed first.
    • Townsend
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pepperell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • West Groton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Groton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Groton
      • West Groton is located in Middlesex County
    • Old City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Old City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City
      • Old City is located in Middlesex County
    • Babbatasset Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Babbatasset Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Babbatasset Village
      • Babbatasset Village is located in Middlesex County
    • East Pepperell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Pepperell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pepperell
      • East Pepperell is located in Middlesex County
    • West Townsend
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Townsend have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Townsend
      • West Townsend is located in Middlesex County
    • Paper Mill Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 Middlesex County
    • Groton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Shirley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ayer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashby
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Shaker Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shaker Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
      • Shaker Village is located in Middlesex County
  • Essex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor listed first.
    • Haggetts
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Lawrence
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Lowell Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Andover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Ayers Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ayers Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ayers Village
      • Ayers Village is located in Essex County
    • Methuen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Methuen have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Methuen
      • Methuen is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 50,910 people
    • Shawsheen Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shawsheen Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawsheen Village
      • Shawsheen Village is located in Essex County
    • Tozier Corner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • North Andover
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Andover have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Andover
      • North Andover is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,460 people
    • Ward Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • West Boxford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Boxford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boxford
      • West Boxford is located in Essex County
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor listed first.
    • Tully
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tully. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tully
      • Tully is located in Franklin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tully
      • From Townsend Harbor to Tully
    • North Orange
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Norfolk County
    • Wellesley Hills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wellesley Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellesley Hills
      • Wellesley Hills is located in Norfolk County
  • Worcester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor listed first.
    • Lunenburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fitchburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • South Fitchburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Shaker Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shaker Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
      • Shaker Village is located in Worcester County
    • Leominster
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Blackburn Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blackburn Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn Village
      • Blackburn Village is located in Worcester County
    • Still River
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Harvard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Village
      • North Village is located in Worcester County
    • Ashburnham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Lancaster
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Pratts Junction
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Lane Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lane Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane Village
      • Lane Village is located in Worcester County
  • Cheshire County (NH)
  • Hillsborough County (NH)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor listed first.
    • Brookline
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Hollis Depot
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hollis
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hollis have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
      • Hollis is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,123 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hollis <3>
    • Mason
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mason have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
      • Mason is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,433 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mason <3>
    • Greenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • South Merrimack
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • New Ipswich
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Ipswich have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Ipswich
      • New Ipswich is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,429 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New Ipswich <3>
    • East Milford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Milford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Nashua
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wilton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
      • Wilton is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,838 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wilton <3>
    • Hudson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Amherst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Merrimack County (NH)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor listed first.
    • South Hooksett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Hooksett have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hooksett
      • South Hooksett is located in Merrimack County (NH)
    • Martin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Martin have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Martin is located in Merrimack County (NH)
  • Rockingham County (NH)

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

Cemeteries Near Townsend Harbor ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Townsend Harbor.

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 Townsend Harbor covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Townsend Harbor, with the one closest to Townsend Harbor 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.<7>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Townsend Harbor had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Townsend
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • West Groton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Groton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Groton
    • West Groton is located in Middlesex County
  • Pepperell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Lunenburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • East Pepperell
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Pepperell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pepperell
    • East Pepperell is located in Middlesex County
  • West Townsend
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Townsend have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Townsend
    • West Townsend is located in Middlesex County
  • Groton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Brookline
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Shirley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Ayer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hollis Depot
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hollis
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hollis have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
    • Hollis is located in Hillsborough County (NH)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,123 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hollis <3>
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Townsend Harbor ...

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 117 newspapers that have been published in the area around Townsend Harbor.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Townsend Harbor, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Townsend Harbor.

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 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 Townsend Harbor:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Townsend Harbor. 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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.

<5>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.
<6>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- Townsend Harbor) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Townsend Harbor. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.6515, Longitude: -71.6675       In this case, the coordinates for Townsend Harbor have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<7>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 Townsend Harbor, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025