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 Chance (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 Chance. 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 hospitals and 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.
Chance is located in 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 Chance. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Chance:
- Somerset County (The home county of Chance)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Deal Island
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Dames Quarter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wenona
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wenona is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Monie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Champ
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Oriole
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Frenchtown - Rumbly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Frenchtown - Rumbly is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchtown - Rumbly
- Mount Vernon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Fairmount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Upper Fairmount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Manokin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Annemessix Towne ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Annemessix Towne is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annemessix Towne
- Calvert County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Chesapeake Ranch Estates - Drum Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cove Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cove Point is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Point
- Drum Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Drum Point is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drum Point
- Brianwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brianwood is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brianwood
- Olivet
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Olivet is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olivet
- Solomons
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Dowell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Crocheron
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Crocheron is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocheron
- Bishops Head
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Elliott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Wingate
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Toddville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Toddville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
- Crapo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Crapo is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crapo
- Andrews
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Andrews is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrews
- Lakesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lakesville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesville
- Fishing Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bucktown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Rabbit Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Vienna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Golden Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Golden Hill is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Hill
- Saint Mary's County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Dameron
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Dameron is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dameron
- Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Scotland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gum Landing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gum Landing is located in Saint Mary's County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Landing
- Saint Marys City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lexington Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Drayden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Great Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Piney Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wicomico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Nanticoke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Jesterville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Bivalve
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Tyaskin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Capitola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Green Hill Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Allen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Twiggs Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Quantico
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Centennial Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Fruitland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dogwood Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Rockawalking Village
(21 miles [33.8 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 Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Pocomoke City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Stockton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Girdletree
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Sussex County (DE)
- Delmar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Saxis
(20 miles [32.2 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
- Tangier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Withams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Withams is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
- Hallwood
(27 miles [43.5 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
- Groton Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Groton Town is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton Town
- Sign Post
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Post is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Post
- Temperanceville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bloxom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Atlantic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeton is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeton
- Mappsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Parksley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Northumberland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Ophelia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnybank
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sunnybank is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnybank
- Reedville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fleeton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fleeton is located in Northumberland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleeton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Chance, see our County-by-County Page for Chance.
Cemeteries Near Chance ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Chance.
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 Chance - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Chance covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Chance & Rock Creek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- A Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oriole Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Asbury Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bethany Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elliotts Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fairmount Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Christ Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Fairmount Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (135 more) ...
- St. Stephens Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- All Saints Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Chance had a population of 80 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Chance, with the one closest to Chance listed first.
- Deal Island
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Wenona
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wenona is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Dames Quarter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Monie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Victor ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Victor is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Oriole
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Nanticoke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Fairmount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Upper Fairmount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- Mount Vernon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Fords Wharf ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fords Wharf is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Wharf
- Bivalve
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Bishops Head
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Elliott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Manokin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- 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 Chance. See our List of 1890's Communities around Chance.
Newspapers Published in Chance ...
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 Chance.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Chance, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Chance.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Chance:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Somerset County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calvert County
- Dorchester County
- Saint Mary's County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Sussex County
- Accomack County
- Northumberland 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 Chance, 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' (or 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- Chance) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |