Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Bethel. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Bethel to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bethel, please Contact Us.
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 Bethel (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 Bethel. 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 and 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Bethel is historic, it would have been located within present day Somerset 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 Somerset County: Wicomico, Worcester & Accomack (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel:
- Somerset County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Monie
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Oriole
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Dames Quarter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Champ
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Mount Vernon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Chance
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Wenona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wenona is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Deal Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Upper Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- Frenchtown - Rumbly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Frenchtown - Rumbly is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown - Rumbly
- Manokin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Elliott
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Crocheron
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Crocheron is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocheron
- Bishops Head
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Toddville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Toddville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
- Wingate
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Crapo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crapo is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crapo
- Andrews
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Andrews is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Lakesville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lakesville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesville
- Vienna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Bucktown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Fishing Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Salem
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Salem is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Saint Mary's County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Dameron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dameron is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dameron
- Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Scotland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gum Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Gum Landing is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Landing
- Wicomico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Nanticoke
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Capitola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Jesterville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Bivalve
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Tyaskin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Green Hill Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Allen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Twiggs Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Quantico
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fruitland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Centennial Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Dogwood Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Rockawalking Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rockawalking Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockawalking Village
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Pocomoke City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Pocomoke City is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocomoke City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,095 people
- Former names for Pocomoke City:
- New Town
- Stevens Landing
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocomoke City <2>
- Girdletree
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Snow Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Stockton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cedartown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Delmar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ward
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Laurel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Saxis
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Saxis is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Withams
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Withams is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
- Tangier
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Hallwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hallwood is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Sign Post
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Post is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Post
- Groton Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Groton Town is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton Town
- Temperanceville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Atlantic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloxom
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sinnickson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sinnickson is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinnickson
- Franklin City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin City is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin City
- Greenbackville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Northumberland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Ophelia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnybank
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnybank is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnybank
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for Bethel.
Cemeteries Near Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel.
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 Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Oriole Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Chance & Rock Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Asbury Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- A Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- All Saints Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fairmount Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Christ Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Fairmount Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Stephens Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (140 more) ...
- Grace Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- John Wesley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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.
While we didn't find Bethel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Oriole
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Monie
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Dames Quarter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Victor ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Victor is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Chance
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mount Vernon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Deal Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Wenona
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wenona is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Upper Fairmount
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- Nanticoke
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Edwin ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Edwin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwin
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Widgeon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Widgeon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widgeon
- Whitehaven
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Manokin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel.
Newspapers Published in Bethel ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel.
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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Somerset County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dorchester County
- Saint Mary's County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Sussex County
- Accomack County
- Northumberland County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maryland
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |