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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 Westville (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 Westville. 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 doctors 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.

Westville is located in Worcester 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 Worcester County: Tolland (CT), Windham (CT), Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Cheshire (NH), Hillsborough (NH) & Providence (RI).

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

  • Worcester County     (The home county of Westville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Southbridge
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Southbridge is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southbridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,788 people
    • Globe Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Globe Village is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
    • Sturbridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Sturbridge is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,561 people
    • Old Sturbridge Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fiskdale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Fiskdale is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiskdale
    • Dudley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Dudley is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,663 people
    • Tufts Village ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Tufts Village is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tufts Village
    • Charlton City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlton City is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton City
    • Charlton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlton is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,698 people
    • Merino Village ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Merino Village is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merino Village
    • Charlton Depot
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlton Depot is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton Depot
    • Hodges Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Hodges Village is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodges Village
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Smiths ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Smiths is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths
    • Millington ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Millington is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
  • Hampden County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Holland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Holland is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
    • Brimfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Brimfield is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brimfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,679 people
    • Wales
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Wales is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,862 people
    • West Brimfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • West Brimfield is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brimfield
    • Monson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Monson is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,750 people
    • South Factory Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • State Line
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • State Line is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
    • Tenneyville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Tenneyville is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenneyville
    • Palmer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Palmer is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,174 people
    • Thorndike
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Thorndike is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorndike
    • Three Rivers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Three Rivers is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Rivers
    • Hampden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Hampden is located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,154 people
  • Hampshire County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Ware
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Ware is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,897 people
    • Bondsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bondsville is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bondsville
    • Enfield ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Enfield is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
    • Belchertown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Belchertown is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belchertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,103 people
    • Granby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Granby is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,262 people
    • Pelham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Pelham is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,305 people
    • South Amherst
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • South Amherst is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Amherst
    • South Hadley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • South Hadley is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,539 people
    • West Pelham
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • West Pelham is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelham
    • East Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • East Village is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Woodville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodville is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
    • Hayden Row
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Hayden Row is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayden Row
    • Hopkinton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Hopkinton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,624 people
  • Norfolk County
    • Bellingham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bellingham is located in Norfolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellingham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,336 people
  • Hartford County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Enfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Enfield is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43,559 people
    • Hazardville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Hazardville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazardville
    • Mill Pond Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Mill Pond Village is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Pond Village
    • Sherwood Manor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sherwood Manor is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Manor
    • Broad Brook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • East Windsor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • East Windsor is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,654 people
    • Windsorville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Windsorville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsorville
    • Enfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Southwood Acres
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Southwood Acres is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwood Acres
    • Thompsonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Thompsonville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
    • Lydallville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lydallville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lydallville
    • Manchester Green
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Manchester Green is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchester Green
  • New London County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Hanover
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Liberty Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Liberty Hill is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • Williams Crossing
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Williams Crossing is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams Crossing
    • North Franklin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Sprague
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Sprague is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprague
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,851 people
  • Tolland County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Union
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Union is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 844 people
    • Union
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Staffordville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Stafford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • State Line
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • State Line is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
    • Stafford Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Stafford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Stafford is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,834 people
    • East Willington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • East Willington is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Willington
    • Willington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Hope
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Mount Hope is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
    • Crystal Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Crystal Lake is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
    • Gurleyville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Gurleyville is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurleyville
  • Windham County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Quinebaug
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodstock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Woodstock is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,834 people
    • East Woodstock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Fabyan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • West Woodstock
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • West Woodstock is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Woodstock
    • Woodstock Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Woodstock
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • North Grosvenor Dale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • South Woodstock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Eastford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Grosvenor Dale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Thompson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Thompson is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,371 people
  • Kent County (RI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • Rice City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Rice City is located in Kent County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice City
    • Greene
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Greene is located in Kent County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
  • Providence County (RI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.
    • West Glocester
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • West Glocester is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Glocester
    • Burrillville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Burrillville is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrillville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,810 people
    • Pascoag
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Pascoag is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pascoag
    • Harrisville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Harrisville is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisville
    • Whipple
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Whipple is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whipple
    • Foster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Foster is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
    • Glendale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Glendale is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • Chepachet
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Chepachet is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepachet
    • Nasonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Nasonville is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nasonville
    • Glocester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Glocester is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glocester
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,352 people
    • Simmons Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Simmons Corner is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmons Corner
    • Foster
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Foster is located in Providence County (RI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,747 people

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

Cemeteries Near Westville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westville.

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 Westville - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westville, with the one closest to Westville listed first.

  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. George Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • North Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Old Notre Dame Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • New Notre Dame Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Hedwig Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Blackmer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Dresser Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • St. Annes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Northwest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • North Woodstock Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (473 more) ...

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.<5>

While we didn't find Westville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westville.

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

  • Southbridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Southbridge is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southbridge
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,788 people
  • Globe Village
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Globe Village is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
  • Sturbridge
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Sturbridge is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,561 people
  • Sandersdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Sandersdale is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersdale
  • West Dudley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • West Dudley is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Dudley
  • Fiskdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Fiskdale is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiskdale
  • Mashapaug
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mashapaug is located in Tolland County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashapaug
  • East Brimfield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • East Brimfield is located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brimfield
  • Holland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Holland is located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,469 people
  • North Woodstock
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • North Woodstock is located in Windham County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Woodstock
  • Quinebaug
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Dudley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Dudley is located in Worcester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dudley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,663 people
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Charlton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlton is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,698 people
    • Charlton City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlton City is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton City
    • Union
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Westville ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westville, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westville.

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 Westville:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Westville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<5>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 Westville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.