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 Briar Patch (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 Briar Patch. 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.
Briar Patch is located in Wicomico 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 Wicomico County: Sussex (DE), Dorchester, Somerset & Worcester.
Below are the counties that are near Briar Patch. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Briar Patch:
- Wicomico County (The home county of Briar Patch)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Tyaskin
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bivalve
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jesterville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Nanticoke
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Capitola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Green Hill Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Quantico
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Twiggs Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Allen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Centennial Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Mardela Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mardela Springs is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mardela Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 351 people
- Rockawalking Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rockawalking Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockawalking Village
- Calvert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Cove Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Cove Point is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Point
- Brianwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brianwood is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brianwood
- Chesapeake Ranch Estates - Drum Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Drum Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Drum Point is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drum Point
- Olivet
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Olivet is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Solomons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Federalsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hynson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hynson is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
- Preston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Grove is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Tanyard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Tanyard is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanyard
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Elliott
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Crocheron
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crocheron is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocheron
- Bishops Head
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Toddville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Toddville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
- Wingate
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Vienna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Bucktown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Andrews
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Andrews is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Salem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Salem is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Crapo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Crapo is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crapo
- Lakesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lakesville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesville
- Saint Mary's County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Dameron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dameron is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dameron
- Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Scotland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lexington Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Saint Marys City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Mount Vernon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Dames Quarter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Monie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Chance
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oriole
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Loretto
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Loretto is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Champ
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Deal Island
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wenona
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Wenona is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Princess Anne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Eden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Eden is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Talbot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Trappe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oxford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Pocomoke City
(25 miles [40.2 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 <1>
- Snow Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Girdletree
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Delmar
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Reliance
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Reliance is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Ward
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Blades
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blades is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blades
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,498 people
- Seaford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Heritage Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Heritage Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Village
- Ross
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ross is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Briar Hook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Briar Hook is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Hook
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Saxis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Saxis is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Withams
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Withams is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Briar Patch, see our County-by-County Page for Briar Patch.
Cemeteries Near Briar Patch ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Briar Patch.
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 Briar Patch - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Briar Patch covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Asbury Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Dolbey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Elliotts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- John Wesley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grace Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Zion Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bethany Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chance & Rock Creek Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- All Saints Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Allen Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (178 more) ...
- Oriole Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Barren Creek Springs Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vienna Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Briar Patch in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Briar Patch.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Briar Patch, with the one closest to Briar Patch listed first.
- Bivalve
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Nanticoke
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Capitola
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Cokeland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Cokeland is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeland
- Victor ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Victor is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Mount Vernon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Whitehaven
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elliott
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Widgeon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Widgeon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widgeon
- Dames Quarter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Quantico
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bestpitch
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bestpitch is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bestpitch
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Monie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Athol
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Athol is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Wingate
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Briar Patch. See our List of 1890's Communities around Briar Patch.
Newspapers Published in Briar Patch ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Briar Patch.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Briar Patch, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Briar Patch.
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 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 Briar Patch:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Wicomico County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calvert County
- Caroline County
- Dorchester County
- Saint Mary's County
- Somerset County
- Talbot County
- Worcester County
- Sussex County
- Accomack County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maryland
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> | 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 Briar Patch, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Briar Patch) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |