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 Belsay (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 Belsay. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Belsay is located in Genesee County.
To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Genesee County: Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee & Tuscola.
Below are the counties that are near Belsay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belsay:
- Genesee County (The home county of Belsay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Davison
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Burton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Russellville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Russellville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Flint
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Genesee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Beecher
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Beecher is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beecher
- Atlas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Atlas is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Grand Blanc
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Morris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Goodrich
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Otisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Clio
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lapeer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Hadley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lapeer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Columbiaville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Otter Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hunters Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hunters Creek is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Creek
- Metamora
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Five Lakes
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Five Lakes is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Lakes
- Attica
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Kings Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Kings Mill is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Mill
- Lum
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lum is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lum
- Dryden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Tyrone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Tyrone is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
- Hallers Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hallers Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallers Corners
- Parshallville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Parshallville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshallville
- Deer Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Deer Creek is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
- Cohoctah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cohoctah is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohoctah
- Hartland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Macomb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Miami ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Miami is located in Macomb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miami
- Grays' Mills ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grays' Mills is located in Macomb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grays' Mills
- Former names for Grays' Mills:
- Clifton Mill
- Clifton Village
- Clifton
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Newark
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Newark is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Five Points
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Five Points is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Groveland Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Groveland Corners is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland Corners
- Ortonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Holly
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Austin Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Austin Corners is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Corners
- Oakwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Perry Lake Heights
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Perry Lake Heights is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry Lake Heights
- Thomas
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Thomas is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomas
- Davisburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jossman Acres
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jossman Acres is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jossman Acres
- Springfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Springfield is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Birch Run
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Taymouth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Taymouth is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taymouth
- Burt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Frankenmuth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Layton Corners
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Layton Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton Corners
- Luce ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Luce is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luce
- Bridgeport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Blumfield Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Blumfield Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blumfield Corners
- Chesaning
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Reese
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Oakley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Lennon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Juddville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Juddville is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juddville
- New Lothrop
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Durand
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Byron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vernon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bancroft
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Newburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Corunna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Middletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Middletown is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Owosso
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Henderson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tuscola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Millington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fostoria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fostoria is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
- Tuscola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Juniata
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Juniata is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniata
- Vassar
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mayville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Richville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Denmark Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Denmark Junction is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark Junction
- Watrousville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
- Wahjamega
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belsay, see our County-by-County Page for Belsay.
Cemeteries Near Belsay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belsay.
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 Belsay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belsay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Tanner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Peace Memory Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Richfield Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Assyrian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Machpelah Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Davison Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Eastwood Colonial Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Nicholas Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Aventine Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (300 more) ...
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gracelawn 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Belsay had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belsay, with the one closest to Belsay listed first.
- Flint
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Genesee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Atlas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Atlas is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
- Rogersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rogersville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogersville
- Grand Blanc
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elba
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Elba is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
- Goodrich
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Morris
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rankin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rankin is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankin
- Hadley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Otisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Swartz Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Pine Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Run is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Run
- Clio
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Flushing
(12 miles [19.3 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 Belsay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belsay.
Newspapers Published in Belsay ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belsay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belsay, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belsay.
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 Belsay:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Genesee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Lapeer County
- Livingston County
- Macomb County
- Oakland County
- Saginaw County
- Shiawassee County
- Tuscola County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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> | 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 Belsay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Belsay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |