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 Shelltown (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 Shelltown. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Shelltown 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 Shelltown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shelltown:
- Somerset County (The home county of Shelltown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Rehobeth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Tulls Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Tulls Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulls Corner
- Costen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Costen is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- West Pocomoke
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- West Pocomoke is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pocomoke
- Annemessix Towne ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Annemessix Towne is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annemessix Towne
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Westover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lawsonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lawsonia is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonia
- Manokin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Crisfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Daugherty Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Daugherty Town is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daugherty Town
- Fairmount
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Upper Fairmount
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Upper Fairmount is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fairmount
- Dorchester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Crocheron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Crocheron is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crocheron
- Bishops Head
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bishops Head is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishops Head
- Elliott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elliott is located in Dorchester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Wicomico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Allen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Fruitland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Green Hill Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Twiggs Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Capitola
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Nanticoke
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Dogwood Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Whiton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Whiton is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
- Jesterville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Salisbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bivalve
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tyaskin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Centennial Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Centennial Village is located in Wicomico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial Village
- Worcester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Pocomoke City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Stockton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Girdletree
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Snow Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cedartown
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Newark
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Accomack County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Withams
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Withams is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
- Saxis
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Saxis is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Hallwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hallwood is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Temperanceville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Groton Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Groton Town is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton Town
- Sign Post
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sign Post is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Post
- Atlantic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bloxom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mappsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sinnickson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sinnickson is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sinnickson
- Hopeton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hopeton is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeton
- Nelsonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nelsonia is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonia
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shelltown, see our County-by-County Page for Shelltown.
Cemeteries Near Shelltown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shelltown.
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 Shelltown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shelltown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. James Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pitts Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Salem Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Trinity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mt. Sinai Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Landford Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Quindocqua Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (105 more) ...
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Trinity Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Shelltown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shelltown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shelltown, with the one closest to Shelltown listed first.
- Marumsco
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marumsco is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marumsco
- Sanford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sanford is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Belinda
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Belinda is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belinda
- Rehobeth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Messongo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Messongo is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Messongo
- Horsey
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Horsey is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsey
- New Church
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Tulls Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Tulls Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulls Corner
- Hallwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hallwood is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Temperanceville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pocomoke City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Mearsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mearsville is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mearsville
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Wattsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Costen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Costen is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shelltown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shelltown.
Newspapers Published in Shelltown ...
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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shelltown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shelltown, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shelltown.
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 Shelltown:
- Websites specific to Maryland
- Pages specific to Somerset County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Dorchester County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester 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> | 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> | 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 Shelltown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Shelltown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |