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 Gum Swamp (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 Gum Swamp. 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.
Name Variations for Gum Swamp ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
Another variation: Gumswamp.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Gum Swamp. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Gum Swamp.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Gum Swamp 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 Gum Swamp. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gum Swamp:
- Wicomico County (The home county of Gum Swamp)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Tyaskin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Quantico
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bivalve
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Capitola
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Green Hill Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Jesterville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Twiggs Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Nanticoke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Centennial Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Rockawalking Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Rockawalking Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockawalking Village
- Hebron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mardela Springs
(8 miles [12.9 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
- Calvert County
- Cove Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cove Point is located in Calvert County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Point
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Federalsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hynson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hynson is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hynson
- Preston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bethlehem is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Grove is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Tanyard
(28 miles [45.1 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 Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Rabbit Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rabbit Town is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabbit Town
- Vienna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Elliott
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Salem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Salem is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Walnut Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Walnut Landing is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Landing
- Bucktown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bucktown is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucktown
- Toddville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Toddville is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toddville
- Brookview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Brookview is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
- Linkwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Linkwood is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkwood
- Bishops Head
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Crocheron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crocheron is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocheron
- Wingate
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Mount Vernon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Loretto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loretto is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Monie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Monie is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monie
- Eden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eden is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Dames Quarter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Oriole
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Oriole is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriole
- Princess Anne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Champ
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Champ is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champ
- Somersett Town ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Somersett Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersett Town
- Chance
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Deal Island
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wenona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wenona is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- Talbot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Trappe
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oxford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp 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
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whaleyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Girdletree
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Cedartown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Newark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sussex County (DE)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Delmar
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Reliance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Reliance is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Ward
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ward is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Blades
(22 miles [35.4 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Heritage Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Heritage Village is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Village
- Ross
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ross is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Briar Hook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Briar Hook is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briar Hook
- Mission
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mission is located in Sussex County (DE)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission
- Bridgeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Accomack County (VA)
- Saxis
(30 miles [48.3 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gum Swamp, see our County-by-County Page for Gum Swamp.
Cemeteries Near Gum Swamp ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gum Swamp.
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 Gum Swamp - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gum Swamp covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Dolbey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Asbury Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Barren Creek Springs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- John Wesley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Grace Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Allen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Vienna Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hebron Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elliotts Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- All Saints Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (191 more) ...
- Salem Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Palmer Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Spring Hill Memorial Garden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Gum Swamp in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Gum Swamp.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gum Swamp, with the one closest to Gum Swamp listed first.
- Bivalve
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Quantico
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cokeland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cokeland is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeland
- Capitola
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Athol
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Athol is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athol
- Whitehaven
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Nanticoke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Mount Vernon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Vernon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Victor ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Victor is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Widgeon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Widgeon is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widgeon
- Whayland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Whayland is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whayland
- Hebron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Vienna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Allen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Bestpitch
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bestpitch is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bestpitch
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gum Swamp. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gum Swamp.
Newspapers Published in Gum Swamp ...
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 Gum Swamp.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gum Swamp, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gum Swamp.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Gum Swamp:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Wicomico County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calvert County
- Caroline County
- Dorchester 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 Gum Swamp, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Gum Swamp) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |