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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 West Gloucester (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 Gloucester. 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 Gloucester ...

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 Gloucester: W. Gloucester

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

West Gloucester is located in Essex 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 Essex County: Middlesex, Suffolk & Rockingham (NH).

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

  • Essex County     (The home county of West Gloucester)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Gloucester, with the one closest to West Gloucester listed first.
    • Gloucester
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gloucester have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester
      • Gloucester is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,539 people
    • Freshwater Cove Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Freshwater Cove Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freshwater Cove Village
      • Freshwater Cove Village is located in Essex County
    • Dogtown Commons ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dogtown Commons. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogtown Commons
      • Dogtown Commons is located in Essex County
      • Former names for Dogtown Commons:
      • Common Settlement
      • Dogtown
      • Dogtown Commons has also been known as:
      • Dogtown Village
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Dogtown Commons
      • From West Gloucester to Dogtown Commons
    • Kettle Cove Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kettle Cove Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Cove Village
      • Kettle Cove Village is located in Essex County
    • Essex
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Bay View
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Manchester By The Sea
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • West Manchester
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Essex Falls
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Pigeon Cove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockport
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
      • Rockport is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,312 people
    • Beverly Farms
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Prides Crossing
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prides Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prides Crossing
      • Prides Crossing is located in Essex County
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Gloucester, with the one closest to West Gloucester listed first.
    • Montrose
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Montrose. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Montrose is located in Middlesex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Montrose
      • From West Gloucester to Montrose
    • North Reading
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Wakefield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Reading
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reading have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reading
      • Reading is located in Middlesex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,535 people
    • West Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Village
      • West Village is located in Middlesex County
    • Melrose
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Stoneham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wyoming
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 West Gloucester to Wyoming
    • Everett
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Malden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Montvale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Montvale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montvale
      • Montvale is located in Middlesex County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Montvale
      • From West Gloucester to Montvale
    • Mishawum ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
  • Norfolk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Gloucester, with the one closest to West Gloucester listed first.
    • Cohasset
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cohasset have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohasset
      • Cohasset is located in Norfolk County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,529 people
    • North Cohasset
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • North Weymouth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
    • Beechwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Brookline Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Montclair
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Norfolk Downs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Quincy Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Wollaston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • East Weymouth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Weymouth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Weymouth
      • East Weymouth is located in Norfolk County
    • Quincy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • West Quincy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Plymouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from West Gloucester, with the one closest to West Gloucester listed first.
    • Hull
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Minot
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Hingham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • North Scituate
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Scituate
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • 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
    • Greenbush
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • 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
  • Suffolk County
  • Rockingham County (NH)

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

Cemeteries Near West Gloucester ...

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Gloucester, with the one closest to West Gloucester 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 Gloucester had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Gloucester
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gloucester have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester
    • Gloucester is located in Essex County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,539 people
  • Magnolia
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Magnolia have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
    • Magnolia is located in Essex County
  • Annisquam ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Annisquam have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annisquam
    • Annisquam is located in Essex County
  • Essex
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • South Essex
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Essex have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Essex
    • South Essex is located in Essex County
  • Manchester By The Sea
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • West Manchester
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bay View
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Essex Falls
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Rockport
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
    • Rockport is located in Essex County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,312 people
  • Pigeon Cove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lanesville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lanesville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
    • Lanesville is located in Essex County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Beverly Farms
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Prides Crossing
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Prides Crossing have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prides Crossing
      • Prides Crossing is located in Essex County
    • Hamilton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hamilton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
      • Hamilton is located in Essex County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,070 people

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

Newspapers Published in West Gloucester ...

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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Gloucester.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Gloucester, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Gloucester.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Gloucester:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for West Gloucester. 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 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>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.

<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 Gloucester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<7>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- West Gloucester) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in West Gloucester. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.6108, Longitude: -70.7078       In this case, the coordinates for West Gloucester have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025