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 Billings Hill (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 Billings Hill. 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 Billings Hill ...
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.
While the name of this community is Billings Hill, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Billings Hill may originally have been Billing's Hill.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Billings Hill might be written as Billing Hill.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Billings Hill is located in Penobscot County.
To see how the shape of Maine's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Penobscot County: Aroostook, Hancock, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Billings Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Billings Hill:
- Penobscot County (The home county of Billings Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- East Newport
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- North Newport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- North Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newport
- Newport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Etna
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,194 people
- Stetson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stetson is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stetson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- Plymouth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Corinna
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Carmel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Exeter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Exeter is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,098 people
- East Exeter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Exeter is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Exeter
- Dixmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,119 people
- East Dixmont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dixmont
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- Bucksport Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bucksport Center is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucksport Center
- Bucksport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Verona Island
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Verona Island is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 555 people
- Former name for Verona Island:
- Verona
- Dedham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Orland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- Clinton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
- Albion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Benton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
- Benton Station
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
- Waterville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Winslow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- China
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Piscataquis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- Dover South Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Dover South Mills is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover South Mills
- South Dover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- South Dover is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dover
- East Sangerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- East Sangerville is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sangerville
- Atkinson Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Atkinson Mills is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson Mills
- Atkinson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Atkinson is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- Howard Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Howard Corner is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard Corner
- Sangerville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Parkman
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Dover - Foxcroft
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Guilford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Wellington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Wellington is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Abbot
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- Detroit
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Houston Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Houston Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Corner
- Palmyra
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dogtown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Dogtown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogtown
- Pittsfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Palmyra
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- West Palmyra is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Palmyra
- Saint Albans
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hartland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ripley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ripley is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 479 people
- Mainstream
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mainstream is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mainstream
- Cambridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Waldo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- Troy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jackson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Jackson is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 588 people
- Burnham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burnham is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
- Winnecook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- Unity
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Monroe
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Thorndike
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Monroe Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Monroe Center is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe Center
- Knox Ledge Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Knox Ledge Corner is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Ledge Corner
- Brooks
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- North Winterport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Winterport is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Winterport
- Freedom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Billings Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Billings Hill.
Cemeteries Near Billings Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Billings Hill.
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 Billings Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Billings Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- Palmer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Riverside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- North Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Etna Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Coboro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Stuart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Clark Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- North Newport Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Weeks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (258 more) ...
- Toothaker Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bragg Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<4>
While we didn't find Billings Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Billings Hill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Billings Hill, with the one closest to Billings Hill listed first.
- East Newport
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- North Newport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- North Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newport
- Newport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Plymouth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Etna
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,194 people
- Stetson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stetson is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stetson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- Detroit
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Etna Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Etna Center is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna Center
- Damascus
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Damascus is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Spragues Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Spragues Mill is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spragues Mill
- Corinna
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Dixmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- North Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dixmont
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Carmel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- South Exeter
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- South Exeter is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Exeter
- Palmyra
(7 miles [11.3 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 Billings Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Billings Hill.
Newspapers Published in Billings Hill ...
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 Billings Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Billings Hill, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Billings Hill.
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 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 Billings Hill:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Penobscot County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hancock County
- Kennebec County
- Piscataquis County
- Somerset County
- Waldo County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maine
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Billings Hill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Billings Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |