RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Massachusetts >> Barnstable County >> West Barnstable >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Massachusetts

The Commemorative Quarter for Massachusetts





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 West Barnstable (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 West Barnstable. 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 West Barnstable ...

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 West Barnstable: W. Barnstable

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

West Barnstable is located in Barnstable County.

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

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

  • Barnstable County     (The home county of West Barnstable)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Barnstable, with the one closest to West Barnstable listed first.
    • Barnstable Town
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barnstable Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnstable Town
      • Barnstable Town is located in Barnstable County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 44,535 people
    • Barnstable
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Barnstable. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnstable
      • Barnstable is located in Barnstable County
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 45,193 people
      • Barnstable has also been known as:
      • Barnstable Village
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Barnstable
      • From West Barnstable to Barnstable
    • Centerville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Cobbs Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cobbs Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbs Village
      • Cobbs Village is located in Barnstable County
    • East Sandwich
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Plowed Neck
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Marstons Mills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cummaquid ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cummaquid have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummaquid
      • Cummaquid is located in Barnstable County
    • Osterville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Osterville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osterville
      • Osterville is located in Barnstable County
    • Hyannis
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • West Hyannisport
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Hyannisport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hyannisport
      • West Hyannisport is located in Barnstable County
    • Forestdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Bristol County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Barnstable, with the one closest to West Barnstable listed first.
    • Long Plain
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Acushnet Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Acushnet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Acushnet have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acushnet
      • Acushnet is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,673 people
    • Fairhaven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairhaven have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairhaven
      • Fairhaven is located in Bristol County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,103 people
    • Bliss Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bliss Corner have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bliss Corner
      • Bliss Corner is located in Bristol County
    • Clifford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Clifford. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
      • Clifford is located in Bristol County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Clifford
      • From West Barnstable to Clifford
    • New Bedford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Braleys
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • East Freetown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Nonquitt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • South Dartmouth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Dartmouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dartmouth
      • South Dartmouth is located in Bristol County
  • Dukes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Barnstable, with the one closest to West Barnstable listed first.
    • Oak Bluffs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • West Chop
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Chop have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Chop
      • West Chop is located in Dukes County
    • Tisbury
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Vineyard Haven
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Edgartown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Katama
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Katama. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katama
      • Katama is located in Dukes County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Katama
      • From West Barnstable to Katama
    • Christian Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Christian Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christian Town
      • Christian Town is located in Dukes County
    • North Tisbury
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gosnold
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gosnold have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gosnold
      • Gosnold is located in Dukes County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 75 people
    • West Tisbury
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Plymouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Barnstable, with the one closest to West Barnstable listed first.
    • White Island Shores
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Island Shores have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Island Shores
      • White Island Shores is located in Plymouth County
    • East Wareham
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Wareham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wareham
      • East Wareham is located in Plymouth County
    • Onset
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Manomet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Manomet have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manomet
      • Manomet is located in Plymouth County
    • White Horse Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for White Horse Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Horse Beach
      • White Horse Beach is located in Plymouth County
    • Wareham Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wareham Center have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wareham Center
      • Wareham Center is located in Plymouth County
    • Wareham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wareham have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wareham
      • Wareham is located in Plymouth County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 22,778 people
    • Weweantic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weweantic have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weweantic
      • Weweantic is located in Plymouth County
    • Briarwood Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Marion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Chiltonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cranberry Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cranberry Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry Village
      • Cranberry Village is located in Plymouth County

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

Cemeteries Near West Barnstable ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Barnstable.

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 West Barnstable covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Barnstable, with the one closest to West Barnstable 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 in 1895, West Barnstable had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Centerville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Barnstable
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Barnstable. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnstable
    • Barnstable is located in Barnstable County
    • Population from the 2010 Census: 45,193 people
    • Barnstable has also been known as:
    • Barnstable Village
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Barnstable
    • From West Barnstable to Barnstable
  • Marstons Mills
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • East Sandwich
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Osterville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Osterville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osterville
    • Osterville is located in Barnstable County
  • Craigville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Craigville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigville
    • Craigville is located in Barnstable County
  • Hyannis
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Yarmouth Station
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Yarmouth Station have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarmouth Station
    • Yarmouth Station is located in Barnstable County
  • Mashpee
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mashpee came from an uncertain source and they still need to be verified:<5>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashpee
    • Mashpee is located in Barnstable County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,266 people
  • Wianno
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wianno have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wianno
    • Wianno is located in Barnstable County
  • Hyannis Port
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Yarmouth Port
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Yarmouth Port have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarmouth Port
    • Yarmouth Port is located in Barnstable County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in West Barnstable ...

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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Barnstable.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Barnstable, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Barnstable.

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 West Barnstable:

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

The official website for Barnstable County: www.barnstablecounty.org/

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 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>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>If we found a location and have questions about the accuracy of our information, we will simply say that the marker is 'in the vicinity'. We are not confident about the location and the position of our marker is only a rough guide. If we have too many doubts about the location, we will not include it in our database.
<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 West Barnstable, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Barnstable) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in West Barnstable. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 41.7069, Longitude: -70.3736    









 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

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.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025