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 Cousins Island (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 Cousins Island. 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 Cousins Island ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Cousins Island: Cousins Is. (in Canada, 'Isld.' is the more common abbreviation.)
- While the name of this community is Cousins Island, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Cousins Island may originally have been Cousin's Island.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Cousins Island might be written as Cousin Island.
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 hospitals 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.
Cousins Island is located in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County: Androscoggin, Oxford, Sagadahoc & York.
Below are the counties that are near Cousins Island. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cousins Island:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Cousins Island)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Lower Village ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lower Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Village
- Chebeague Island
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland Foreside
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Cumberland Foreside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Foreside
- Cumberland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Cumberland is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,298 people
- Upper Village ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Upper Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Village
- Yarmouth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chandler Cove Landing
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Chandler Cove Landing is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Cove Landing
- Falmouth Foreside
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Falmouth Foreside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth Foreside
- South Freeport
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bustins Island
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bustins Island is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bustins Island
- Yarmouth Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Yarmouth Junction is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarmouth Junction
- Cliff Island
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cliff Island is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliff Island
- Falmouth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Durham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lisbon Falls
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lisbon
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Danville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Penley Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Penley Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley Corner
- Rumford Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- Littlefield Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Auburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- East Poland
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Drinkwater Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Drinkwater Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drinkwater Corner
- Minot
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
- Moussam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Moussam is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moussam
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Litchfield Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Litchfield Corners is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield Corners
- Litchfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- South Monmouth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- South Monmouth is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monmouth
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Southport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mouse Island
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Mouse Island is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouse Island
- Trevett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- West Boothbay Harbor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- West Boothbay Harbor is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boothbay Harbor
- Westport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Westport is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 732 people
- Former name for Westport:
- Westport Island
- Boothbay Harbor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Boothbay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bayville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bayville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayville
- Hatchs Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hatchs Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs Corner
- South Dresden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Dresden is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dresden
- East Boothbay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Linekin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Linekin is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linekin
- East Edgecomb
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Edgecomb is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Edgecomb
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Spurrs Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- East Otisfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Sagadahoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Sebasco Estates
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Topsham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Small Point
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pejepscot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- Sabino
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sabino is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabino
- Phippsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- West Bath
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Popham Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Popham Beach is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popham Beach
- Arrowsic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bath
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bowdoin Center
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdoin Center is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin Center
- Woolwich
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Buxton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Buxton is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,368 people
- Old Orchard Beach
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chicopee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Ocean Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbles Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
- Bar Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kinney Shores
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kinney Shores is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney Shores
- Biddeford Pool
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Saco
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Biddeford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Limington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cousins Island, see our County-by-County Page for Cousins Island.
Cemeteries Near Cousins Island ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cousins Island.
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 Cousins Island - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cousins Island covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Riverside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ledge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Foreside Community Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Davis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wolf Neck Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- South Freeport Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Webster Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Merrill Graveyard
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Marston Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- McGregor Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (322 more) ...
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Moss Side Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Cousins Island had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cousins Island, with the one closest to Cousins Island listed first.
- Chebeague Island
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Cumberland is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,298 people
- Falmouth Foreside
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Falmouth Foreside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth Foreside
- Yarmouth
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Falmouth
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- South Freeport
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Yarmouth Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Yarmouth Junction is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarmouth Junction
- Long Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Harpswell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- South Harpswell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Harpswell
- West Harpswell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- West Harpswell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Harpswell
- Walnut Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Hill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Cumberland Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- East Deering
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- East Deering is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Deering
- Peaks Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bailey Island
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bailey Island is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Island
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cousins Island. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cousins Island.
Newspapers Published in Cousins Island ...
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 Cousins Island.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cousins Island, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cousins Island.
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 helpful 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 Cousins Island:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Kennebec County
- Lincoln County
- Oxford County
- Sagadahoc County
- York 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 Cousins Island, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Cousins Island) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |