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 Wards Cove (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 Wards Cove. 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 Wards Cove ...
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 Wards Cove: Wards Cv.
- While the name of this community is Wards Cove, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Wards Cove may originally have been Ward's Cove.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Wards Cove might be written as Ward Cove.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Wards Cove 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 Wards Cove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wards Cove:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Wards Cove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- Steep Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Frye Island
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Frye Island is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frye Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13 people
- Sebago
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Baldwin
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Baldwin is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,641 people
- Sebago Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sebago Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebago Lake
- North Gorham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- North Gorham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Gorham
- South Casco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Standish
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Windham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- North Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Windham
- Raymond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Baldwin
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Baldwin is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baldwin
- Naples
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- West Poland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Poland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Danville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- East Poland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Moussam
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Moussam is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moussam
- Mechanic Falls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Minot
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
- Littlefield Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Rumford Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- Durham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Penley Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Penley Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley Corner
- Auburn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- Rankins Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rankins Mill is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankins Mill
- East Hiram
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- East Hiram is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hiram
- Durgintown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Durgintown is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgintown
- Hiram
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Denmark
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- East Denmark
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- East Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Denmark
- Kezar Falls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Kezar Falls is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kezar Falls
- Spurrs Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- Brownfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Brownfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Brownfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brownfield
- Porter
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Porter is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
- East Otisfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Sagadahoc County
- Pejepscot
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- North Limington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- East Limington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- Limington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Chicopee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- South Limington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Limington
- Cornish
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Kimbles Corner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
- East Parsonsfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Parsonsfield is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Parsonsfield
- Lake Arrowhead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Arrowhead is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Arrowhead
- Limerick
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Buxton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Buxton is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,368 people
- Hollis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hollis is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,807 people
- Carroll County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- Effingham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- South Effingham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Freedom
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Eaton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Woodman
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Woodman is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodman
- East Wakefield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Wakefield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- East Madison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- East Madison is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
- Center Conway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Conway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Madison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ossipee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wards Cove, see our County-by-County Page for Wards Cove.
Cemeteries Near Wards Cove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wards Cove.
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 Wards Cove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wards Cove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- Fitch Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sawyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lord Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- York Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wiggins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Sanborn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Goodwin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rounds Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Martin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (423 more) ...
- Wentworth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ridlon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sanborn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
While we didn't find Wards Cove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wards Cove.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wards Cove, with the one closest to Wards Cove listed first.
- East Sebago
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Sebago is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sebago
- Steep Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Richville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Richville is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richville
- North Sebago
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- North Sebago is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sebago
- North Baldwin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- North Baldwin is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Baldwin
- Sebago
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- North Limington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- Sebago Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sebago Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebago Lake
- East Limington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- Standish
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Gorham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- North Gorham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Gorham
- South Casco
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Limington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- White Rock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- White Rock is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- North Windham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- North Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Windham
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wards Cove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wards Cove.
Newspapers Published in Wards Cove ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wards Cove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wards Cove, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wards Cove.
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 Wards Cove:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Oxford County
- Sagadahoc County
- York County
- Carroll 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 Wards Cove, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wards Cove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |