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 Brownfield (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 Brownfield. 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 hospitals 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.
West Brownfield 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 Brownfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Brownfield:
- Oxford County (The home county of West Brownfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- Merrill Corner
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Merrill Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrill Corner
- Brownfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Brownfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Brownfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brownfield
- Fryeburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Porter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Porter is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
- Kezar Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kezar Falls is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kezar Falls
- East Hiram
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- East Hiram is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hiram
- Hiram
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Denmark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Durgintown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Durgintown is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgintown
- Rankins Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rankins Mill is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankins Mill
- Fryeburg Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fryeburg Center is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fryeburg Center
- East Fryeburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Fryeburg is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fryeburg
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- West Poland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Poland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- West Baldwin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Baldwin is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Baldwin
- West Bridgton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bridgton
- Baldwin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Baldwin is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,641 people
- South Bridgton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- South Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bridgton
- Sebago
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Sandy Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Creek is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- Bridgton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Naples
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- North Bridgton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Steep Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Harrison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Casco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Casco
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- North Parsonsfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- North Parsonsfield is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Parsonsfield
- Cornish
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Parsonsfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- South Effingham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- South Effingham is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Effingham
- East Parsonsfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Parsonsfield is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Parsonsfield
- Stevens Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Stevens Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Corner
- Mee Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Mee Corners is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mee Corners
- Limerick
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Limington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- North Limington
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- Newfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- West Newfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- East Limington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- Belknap County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- Center Harbor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale is located in Belknap County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Samoset
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Samoset is located in Belknap County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samoset
- Spring Haven
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Haven is located in Belknap County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Haven
- West Alton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Alton is located in Belknap County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
- Carroll County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- Eaton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Center Conway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Madison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Madison is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
- Freedom
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Conway
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Silver Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Effingham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- North Conway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Chatham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- South Chatham is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chatham
- Hale's Location
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Kearsarge
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kearsarge is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kearsarge
- Chocorua
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Coos County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- Hadleys Purchase
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hadleys Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadleys Purchase
- Sargents Purchase
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sargents Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargents Purchase
- Cutts Grant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cutts Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutts Grant
- Beans Purchase
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Beans Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Purchase
- Pinkhams Grant
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pinkhams Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkhams Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9 people
- Glen House
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glen House is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen House
- Greens Grant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greens Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1 people
- Beans Grant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Beans Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Grant
- Chandlers Purchase
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chandlers Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandlers Purchase
- Martins Location
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Martins Location is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Location
- Grafton County (NH)
- Waterville Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Strafford County (NH)
- Middleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Middleton is located in Strafford County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,832 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Brownfield, see our County-by-County Page for West Brownfield.
Cemeteries Near West Brownfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Brownfield.
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 Brownfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Brownfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- Brown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Greenlaw Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Linscott Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cole Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Blake Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Merrill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wentworth Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Isaac Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Marston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sargent Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sargent Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (286 more) ...
- Potter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Emery Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Clemons Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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, West Brownfield had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Brownfield, with the one closest to West Brownfield listed first.
- Eaton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Brownfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Snowville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- East Brownfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Brownfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brownfield
- Fryeburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- East Madison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Madison is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
- Center Conway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Freedom
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- West Denmark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denmark
- East Freedom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- East Freedom is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Freedom
- Porter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Porter is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
- Kezar Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kezar Falls is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kezar Falls
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- South Hiram
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- South Hiram is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hiram
- Conway
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Brownfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Brownfield.
Newspapers Published in West Brownfield ...
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 West Brownfield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Brownfield, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Brownfield.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Brownfield:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Oxford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Cumberland County
- York County
- Belknap County
- Carroll County
- Coos County
- Grafton County
- Strafford 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- West Brownfield) 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 Brownfield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |