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 Grays Corner (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 Grays Corner. 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 Grays Corner ...
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 Grays Corner: Grays Cor. (or less commonly used: Grays Crn.)
- While the name of this community is Grays Corner, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Grays Corner may originally have been Gray's Corner.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Grays Corner might be written as Gray Corner.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Grays Corner. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Grays Corner.
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.
Grays Corner is located in York 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 York County: Cumberland, Oxford, Carroll (NH), Rockingham (NH) & Strafford (NH).
Below are the counties that are near Grays Corner. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Grays Corner:
- York County (The home county of Grays Corner)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Charles Chase Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Wells
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Moody
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moody is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moody
- North Berwick
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Varney Crossing
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Varney Crossing is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varney Crossing
- Elms
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Elms is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elms
- Wells Branch
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wells Branch is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Branch
- Ogunquit
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Agamenticus Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Agamenticus Village is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agamenticus Village
- Kennebunk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Kennebunk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Kennebunk is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Kennebunk
- Chases Pond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Chases Pond is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chases Pond
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Grand Beach
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Beach is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Beach
- Prouts Neck
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Scarborough
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Scarborough is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Scarborough
- Danish Village ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Danish Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danish Village
- Scarborough
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- North Scarborough
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Scarborough is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Scarborough
- Gorham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lone Creek Village ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Creek Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Creek Village
- Cape Elizabeth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cash Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cash Corner is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash Corner
- Standish
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pleasantdale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasantdale is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantdale
- Belknap County (NH)
- Alton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Alton is located in Belknap County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,364 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alton <2>
- Carroll County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Brookfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brookfield is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 688 people
- East Wakefield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wakefield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Woodman is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodman
- Rockingham County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Newington Station
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Newington Station is located in Rockingham County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newington Station
- New Castle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Seacrest Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Seacrest Village is located in Rockingham County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seacrest Village
- Portsmouth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Newington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rye
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Rye is located in Rockingham County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,478 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rye <2>
- Newmarket
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stratham Station
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stratham Station is located in Rockingham County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratham Station
- West Rye
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- West Rye is located in Rockingham County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Rye
- Rye Beach
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Newfields
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Strafford County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Rollinsford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Somersworth
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Somersworth is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,286 people
- Former names for Somersworth:
- Great Falls
- Summersworth
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Somersworth <2>
- Dover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dover is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32,443 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <2>
- East Rochester
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- East Rochester is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rochester
- Pickering
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Pickering is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickering
- Madbury
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Madbury is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,879 people
- Rochester
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- North Rochester
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Rochester is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Rochester
- Durham
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Durham is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,441 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durham <2>
- East Barrington
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- East Barrington is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Barrington
- Milton
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Milton is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,614 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milton <2>
- Place
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Place is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Place
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Grays Corner, see our County-by-County Page for Grays Corner.
Cemeteries Near Grays Corner ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Grays Corner.
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 Grays Corner - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Grays Corner covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Jackson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Littlefield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Clay Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ocean View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Quaker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hillside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mitchell - Hatch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Portland Station Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hope Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (222 more) ...
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oldfields Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Home Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Grays Corner in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Grays Corner.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Grays Corner, with the one closest to Grays Corner listed first.
- Wells
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Wells Beach
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wells Beach is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Beach
- North Berwick
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ogunquit
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Elms
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Elms is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elms
- Wells Branch
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wells Branch is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Branch
- Agamenticus Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Agamenticus Village is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agamenticus Village
- Kennebunk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Kennebunk
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Kennebunk is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Kennebunk
- York
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Kennebunk Beach
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kennebunk Beach is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennebunk Beach
- South Sanford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- South Sanford is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sanford
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- South Berwick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Long Beach
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Long Beach is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Beach
- Cape Neddick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cape Neddick is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape Neddick
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Grays Corner. See our List of 1890's Communities around Grays Corner.
Newspapers Published in Grays Corner ...
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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Grays Corner.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Grays Corner, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Grays Corner.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Grays Corner:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to York County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cumberland County
- Belknap County
- Carroll County
- Rockingham County
- Strafford 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 Grays Corner, 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- Grays Corner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |