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 Vineyard Highlands (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 Vineyard Highlands. 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 southwest 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 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.
Vineyard Highlands is located in Dukes 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 Dukes County: Barnstable, Bristol, Nantucket & Plymouth.
Below are the counties that are near Vineyard Highlands. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vineyard Highlands:
- Dukes County (The home county of Vineyard Highlands)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Oak Bluffs
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- 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
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Chop is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chop
- Tisbury
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Tisbury is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tisbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,128 people
- Vineyard Haven
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Vineyard Haven is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineyard Haven
- Edgartown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edgartown is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgartown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,383 people
- Christian Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Christian Town is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christian Town
- North Tisbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Tisbury is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tisbury
- Katama
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Katama is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katama
- West Tisbury
(8 miles [12.9 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
- Gosnold
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gosnold is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosnold
- Population from the 2020 Census: 75 people
- Chilmark
(12 miles [19.3 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
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Menemsha is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menemsha
- Barnstable County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Acapesket
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Acapesket is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acapesket
- Falmouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 31,107 people
- East Falmouth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- East Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Falmouth
- Seconsett Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Seconsett Island is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seconsett Island
- Teaticket
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Teaticket is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaticket
- Monomoscoy Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Monomoscoy Island is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monomoscoy Island
- Woods Hole
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Hole is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Hole
- Seabrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Seabrook is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seabrook
- Maushop Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Maushop Village is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maushop Village
- New Seabury
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- New Seabury is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Seabury
- Popponesset Island
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Popponesset Island is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popponesset Island
- Popponesset
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Popponesset is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popponesset
- Bristol County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Nonquitt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Nonquitt is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nonquitt
- Bliss Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bliss Corner is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss Corner
- Fairhaven
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fairhaven is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,103 people
- South Dartmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Dartmouth is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dartmouth
- Apponagansett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Apponagansett is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apponagansett
- New Bedford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- New Bedford is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bedford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 95,517 people
- Acushnet Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Acushnet Center is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet Center
- Acushnet
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Acushnet is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,673 people
- Dartmouth
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dartmouth is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dartmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 33,926 people
- Acushnet Station ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Acushnet Station is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet Station
- North Dartmouth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- North Dartmouth is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dartmouth
- Gidleys Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gidleys Corner is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gidleys Corner
- Nantucket County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Nantucket
(27 miles [43.5 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 east)
- Pocomo is located in Nantucket County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocomo
- Plymouth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Mattapoisett
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mattapoisett is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattapoisett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,427 people
- Onset
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Onset is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onset
- Marion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Marion is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,189 people
- Onset Station
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Onset Station is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onset Station
- Weweantic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Weweantic is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weweantic
- East Wareham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- East Wareham is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wareham
- Briarwood Beach
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Briarwood Beach is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briarwood Beach
- Wareham Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wareham Center is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wareham Center
- Wareham
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Wareham is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wareham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,778 people
- Rochester
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rochester is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,740 people
- White Island Shores
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- White Island Shores is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Island Shores
- West Wareham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- West Wareham is located in Plymouth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Wareham
- Newport County (RI)
- Adamsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Adamsville is located in Newport County (RI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vineyard Highlands, see our County-by-County Page for Vineyard Highlands.
Cemeteries Near Vineyard Highlands ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vineyard Highlands.
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 Vineyard Highlands - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vineyard Highlands covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- West Chop Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Tisbury Village Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- South End Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lambert's Cove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambert's Cove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lambert's Cove Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<1> to the north of West Tisbury.
- The Lambert's Cove Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lamberts Cove Road Cemetery
- Jump to the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System: MACRIS ID #WTI.804 <2>
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #91158 <3>
- New Westside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Westside Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Christiantown Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Methodist Society Burying Ground
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Town Hill Burying Ground
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (162 more) ...
- Old Town Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Anthonys Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Anthonys Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Anthonys Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in East Falmouth.
- The St. Anthonys Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Anthonys Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #174183 <3>
- West Tisbury Village Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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, Vineyard Highlands had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vineyard Highlands, with the one closest to Vineyard Highlands listed first.
- Oak Bluffs
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Oak Bluffs is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Bluffs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,696 people
- Vineyard Haven
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Vineyard Haven is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineyard Haven
- West Chop
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Chop is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chop
- Falmouth Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Falmouth Heights is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth Heights
- Edgartown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Edgartown is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgartown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,383 people
- North Tisbury
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Tisbury is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tisbury
- Falmouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 31,107 people
- Teaticket
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Teaticket is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teaticket
- Katama
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Katama is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katama
- East Falmouth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- East Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Falmouth
- West Tisbury
(8 miles [12.9 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
- West Falmouth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- West Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Falmouth
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Hatchville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hatchville is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchville
- North Falmouth
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- North Falmouth is located in Barnstable County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Falmouth
- Chilmark
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chilmark is located in Dukes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chilmark
- Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vineyard Highlands. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vineyard Highlands.
Newspapers Published in Vineyard Highlands ...
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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vineyard Highlands.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vineyard Highlands, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<1>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vineyard Highlands.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Vineyard Highlands:
- Websites specific to Massachusetts
- Pages specific to Dukes County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barnstable County
- Bristol County
- Nantucket County
- Plymouth County
- Newport County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Massachusetts
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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- Vineyard Highlands) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Vineyard Highlands, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |