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 West Bethel (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 West Bethel. 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 West Bethel ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Bethel: W. Bethel
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Bethel. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Bethel.
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 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.
West Bethel is located in Oxford 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 Oxford County: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, York, Carroll (NH) & Coos (NH).
Below are the counties that are near West Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Bethel:
- Oxford County (The home county of West Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Bethel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mayville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mayville is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayville
- Gilead
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gilead is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Newry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Greenville is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- North Newry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- North Newry is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newry
- Stoneham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Stoneham is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
- Bryant Pond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hanover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Woodstock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- North Woodstock is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Woodstock
- Greenwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Waterford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Chase Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Chase Mills is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chase Mills
- West Minot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Minot
- Livermore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- North Turner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- North Turner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Turner
- Mechanic Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- North Bridgton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Harrison
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Bridgton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- West Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bridgton
- Bridgton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Otisfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Otisfield is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,819 people
- Sandy Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sandy Creek is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- Cobb Cove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cobb Cove is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Cove
- South Bridgton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- South Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bridgton
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Carthage
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Carthage is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
- Berry Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Berry Mills is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berry Mills
- East Dixfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Dixfield is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dixfield
- Weld
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Perkin's Plantation ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Perkin's Plantation is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkin's Plantation
- Carroll County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Chatham
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Chatham
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- South Chatham is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chatham
- Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Intervale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Intervale is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intervale
- Jericho
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jericho is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- Kearsarge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kearsarge is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kearsarge
- North Conway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Center Conway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Hale's Location
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hale's Location is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale's Location
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- Bartlett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Harts Location
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coos County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Shelburne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Beans Purchase
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Beans Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Purchase
- Gorham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Berlin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Upper Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Upper Village is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Village
- Martins Location
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Martins Location is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Location
- Milan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Glen House
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Glen House is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen House
- Greens Grant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Greens Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1 people
- Randolph
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pinkhams Grant
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pinkhams Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkhams Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9 people
- Dummer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for West Bethel.
Cemeteries Near West Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Bethel.
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 West Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pine Grove Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the west of Bethel.
- The Pine Grove Cemetery has also been known as:
- West Bethel Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2375782 <3>
- Flat Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Skillingston Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Chapman Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Woodland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Riverside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Songo Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Will Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- South Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Chandler Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunday River Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Abbott Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (220 more) ...
- Howe Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mt. Abram Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Abram Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Abram Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the east of Bethel.
- The Mt. Abram Cemetery has also been known as:
- Locke Mills Union Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #90241 <3>
- Powers Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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 West Bethel had a population of 42 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Bethel, with the one closest to West Bethel listed first.
- Bethel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gilead
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gilead is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Newry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Bethel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- East Bethel is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bethel
- North Newry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- North Newry is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newry
- East Stoneham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bryant Pond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hanover
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shelburne
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- North Lovell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- North Lovell is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lovell
- Lynchville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lynchville is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchville
- Greenwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- North Woodstock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- North Woodstock is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Woodstock
- Rumford Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- North Waterford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Bethel.
Newspapers Published in West Bethel ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Bethel, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Bethel.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 West Bethel:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Oxford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Cumberland County
- Franklin County
- Carroll County
- Coos 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 '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- West Bethel) 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 West Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |