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 Gray (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 Gray. 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 southwest 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 south.
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 south 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.
Gray 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 Gray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gray:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Gray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- East Gray
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Gray is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gray
- Dry Mills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dry Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Mills
- West Gray
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Gray is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Gray
- New Gloucester
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Yarmouth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Yarmouth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yarmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,997 people
- Ireland Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ireland Corner is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ireland Corner
- North Windham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Windham
- Raymond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pownal
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Shaker Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Shaker Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
- North Pownal
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Pownal is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pownal
- Cumberland Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Windham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Danville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Durham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Poland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Poland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Littlefield Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Poland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rumford Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- Minot
(13 miles [20.9 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
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Moussam is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moussam
- Penley Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Penley Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley Corner
- Auburn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lisbon Falls
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Litchfield Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Litchfield Corners is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield Corners
- Litchfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Monmouth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Monmouth is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monmouth
- Batchelders Crossing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Batchelders Crossing is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batchelders Crossing
- Monmouth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Monmouth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Monmouth is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Monmouth
- North Monmouth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Purgatory
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Purgatory is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purgatory
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Hatchs Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hatchs Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs Corner
- South Dresden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- South Dresden is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dresden
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Spurrs Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- East Otisfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Oxford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Rankins Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Rankins Mill is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankins Mill
- East Hiram
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- East Hiram is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hiram
- East Denmark
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- East Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Denmark
- Hiram
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Denmark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Durgintown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Durgintown is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgintown
- South Paris
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Norway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buckfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sagadahoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Pejepscot
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- Topsham
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Bowdoin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdoin is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,222 people
- Bowdoinham
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sabino
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sabino is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabino
- West Bath
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sebasco Estates
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bath
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Days Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Days Ferry is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Days Ferry
- Phippsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Small Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Richmond Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond Corner is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Corner
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Chicopee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Kimbles Corner
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
- Buxton
(19 miles [30.6 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
- East Limington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- North Limington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- Bar Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Limington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Limington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Limington
- Hollis Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,807 people
- Cornish
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Clarks Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Mills is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Mills
- Lake Arrowhead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Arrowhead is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Arrowhead
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gray, see our County-by-County Page for Gray.
Cemeteries Near Gray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gray.
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 Gray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- Purington Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Knight Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin Stevens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pineland Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Dolley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- West Cumberland Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Farris Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lower Corner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Arlington Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (467 more) ...
- North Raymond Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Windham Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Morrell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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 Gray had a population of 504 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Gray had a population of 8,297 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gray, with the one closest to Gray listed first.
- East Gray
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- East Gray is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gray
- West Gray
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Gray is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Gray
- Gray Station
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Gray Station is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gray Station
- Dry Mills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dry Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Mills
- North Gray
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- North Gray is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Gray
- West Cumberland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- West Cumberland is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Cumberland
- West Pownal
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Pownal is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pownal
- Walnut Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Hill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- North Yarmouth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Yarmouth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yarmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,997 people
- New Gloucester
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Windham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Windham
- East Raymond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Raymond is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Raymond
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Raymond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Windham Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Windham Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham Center
- North Falmouth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- North Falmouth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Falmouth
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gray.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gray ...
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 265 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gray.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gray. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gray and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gray.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<2> of Gray.
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 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 Gray:
- 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> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | 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- Gray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Gray, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |