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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 Bestgate (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 Bestgate. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Bestgate is located in Anne Arundel County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Anne Arundel County: Baltimore City, Baltimore, Calvert, Howard, Kent, Prince George's, Queen Anne's & Talbot.

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

  • Anne Arundel County     (The home county of Bestgate)
  • Baltimore City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Brooklyn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Brooklyn is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Curtis Bay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Curtis Bay is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis Bay
    • Oaklee Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Oaklee Village is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklee Village
    • Violetville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Baltimore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Beechfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Carroll
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Carroll is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Old Town
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Old Town is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Edmondson Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Edmondson Village is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmondson Village
    • Anthonyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Charles Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Charles Village is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles Village
    • Gardenville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Gardenville is located in Baltimore City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardenville
    • Waverly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Baltimore County
  • Calvert County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Chaney
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Apple Greene
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Dunkirk Town Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Dunkirk Town Center is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkirk Town Center
    • Dunkirk
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • North Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Owings Town Center
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Owings Town Center is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owings Town Center
    • Owings
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Penwick Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Penwick Village is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penwick Village
    • Chesapeake Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Summer City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Summer City is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer City
    • Sunderland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Academy Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Lower Marlboro Towne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Lower Marlboro Towne is located in Calvert County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Marlboro Towne
  • Charles County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Malcolm
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Mattawoman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mattawoman is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattawoman
    • White Oak Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • White Oak Village is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Village
    • Acton Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Acton Village is located in Charles County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acton Village
  • Howard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Aladdin Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Aladdin Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aladdin Village
    • Elkridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Savage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenshire Towne
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Glenshire Towne is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenshire Towne
    • Lawyers Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Guilford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Oak View Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Oak View Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak View Village
    • Woodland Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Woodland Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
    • Hammond Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hammond Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond Village
    • Leishear Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Leishear Village is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leishear Village
    • North Laurel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • North Laurel is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Laurel
    • Ilchester
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ilchester is located in Howard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ilchester
    • Scaggsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Rock Hall
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Edesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cliffs City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Cliffs City is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffs City
    • Old Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Old Town is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Pomona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestertown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Mile Tree Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mile Tree Village is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mile Tree Village
    • Morganec Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Morganec Village is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morganec Village
  • Montgomery County
  • Prince George's County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Bowie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Pin Oak Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Pin Oak Village is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pin Oak Village
    • Collington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Glenn Dale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Woodmore
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Mitchellville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Springdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Kettering
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kettering is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettering
    • Largo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Upper Marlboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Goddard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Goddard is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goddard
    • Lake Arbor
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Lake Arbor is located in Prince George's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Arbor
    • Lanham
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Queen Anne's County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Bay City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Bay City is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
    • Stevensville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Mattapex
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Chester
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Cheslou Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cheslou Village is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheslou Village
    • Kent Narrows
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Kent Narrows is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Narrows
    • Grasonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Guys
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Guys is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guys
    • Queenstown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Queenstown is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queenstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 701 people
    • Bloomingdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Indian Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Indian Town is located in Queen Anne's County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Town
    • Centreville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Willoughby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Talbot County
  • Alexandria City (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Alexandria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Arlandria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Warwick Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Warwick Village is located in Alexandria City (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick Village
    • Chinquapin Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Chinquapin Village is located in Alexandria City (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinquapin Village
  • Arlington County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate listed first.
    • Colonial Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Colonial Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Arlington Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Arlington Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington Village
    • Arlington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Cherrydale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Lyon Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Lyon Village is located in Arlington County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Village
    • Riverwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Bestgate ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bestgate.

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

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bestgate, with the one closest to Bestgate 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bestgate had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Parole
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Parole is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parole
  • West Annapolis
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Annapolis
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Winchester
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Arnold
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Revell
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Revell is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Revell
  • Crownsville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Eastport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Eastport is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastport
  • Jones
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Round Bay
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Round Bay is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bay
  • Rutland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Rutland is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rutland
  • Saint Margarets
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Margarets is located in Anne Arundel County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Margarets
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Waterbury
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Waterbury is located in Anne Arundel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterbury
    • Davidsonville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • South River
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • South River is located in Anne Arundel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South River

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

Newspapers Published in Bestgate ...

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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bestgate.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bestgate, there are papers which were published within 3 miles [4.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bestgate.

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 professional and volunteer websites 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 Bestgate:

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 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.
<3>The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MIHP (for the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties). More information about the MHT and MIHP can be found on their website: mht.maryland.gov.
<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 Bestgate, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bestgate) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.