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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 Van Deusenville (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 Van Deusenville. 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.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Van Deusenville is located in Berkshire 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 Berkshire County: Litchfield (CT), Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Columbia (NY), Rensselaer (NY) & Bennington (VT).

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

  • Berkshire County     (The home county of Van Deusenville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Deusenville, with the one closest to Van Deusenville listed first.
    • Housatonic
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Great Barrington
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Alford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Egremont Plain
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Glendale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glendale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
      • Glendale is located in Berkshire County
    • Rockdale Mills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Stockbridge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • North Egremont
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Egremont
      • North Egremont is located in Berkshire County
    • South Lee
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Egremont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egremont
      • Egremont is located in Berkshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,202 people
    • South Egremont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Egremont have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Egremont
      • South Egremont is located in Berkshire County
    • Lee
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Hampden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Deusenville, with the one closest to Van Deusenville listed first.
    • North Blandford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Chester
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chester have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
      • Chester is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,365 people
    • Tolland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tolland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolland
      • Tolland is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 506 people
    • Blandford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blandford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blandford
      • Blandford is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,249 people
    • Chester Center
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • North Chester
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • West Granville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Russell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Woronoco
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Montgomery
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Montgomery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
      • Montgomery is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 863 people
    • Granville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Granville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • Granville is located in Hampden County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,606 people
  • Hampshire County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Deusenville, with the one closest to Van Deusenville listed first.
    • Middlefield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Middlefield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middlefield
      • Middlefield is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
    • Worthington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Worthington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
      • Worthington is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,176 people
    • Huntington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huntington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington
      • Huntington is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,159 people
    • Worthington Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • West Chesterfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Chesterfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chesterfield
      • West Chesterfield is located in Hampshire County
    • Cummington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Chesterfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chesterfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield
      • Chesterfield is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,250 people
    • Swift River
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Westhampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Plainfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Plainfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
      • Plainfield is located in Hampshire County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 663 people
  • Hartford County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Deusenville, with the one closest to Van Deusenville listed first.
    • Hartland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hartland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
      • Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
    • West Hartland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hartland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hartland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
      • Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,113 people
    • East Hartland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Hartland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hartland
      • East Hartland is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for East Hartland <3>
  • Litchfield County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Deusenville, with the one closest to Van Deusenville listed first.
    • Canaan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Clayton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Clayton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
      • Clayton is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Clayton
      • From Van Deusenville to Clayton
    • Taconic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wangum Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wangum Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wangum Village
      • Wangum Village is located in Litchfield County (CT)
    • North Canaan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Canaan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Canaan
      • North Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,235 people
    • Twin Lakes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • East Canaan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Canaan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Canaan
      • East Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for East Canaan <3>
    • Salisbury
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Salisbury have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
      • Salisbury is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,584 people
    • Salisbury
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Amesville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Canaan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Canaan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
      • Canaan is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,051 people
    • Falls Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Lakeville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Albany County (NY)
  • Columbia County (NY)
  • Dutchess County (NY)
  • Greene County (NY)
  • Rensselaer County (NY)
  • Ulster County (NY)

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

Cemeteries Near Van Deusenville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van Deusenville.

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 Van Deusenville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Van Deusenville, with the one closest to Van Deusenville 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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Van Deusenville had a population of 142 people in 1895 with railroad service and no post office.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Van Deusenville ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van Deusenville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Van Deusenville, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Van Deusenville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Van Deusenville:

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

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>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.
<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>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 Van Deusenville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<7>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Van Deusenville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Van Deusenville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.2273, Longitude: -73.3639       In this case, the coordinates for Van Deusenville have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025