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 Williamsville (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 Williamsville. 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 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.
Williamsville is located in Livingston 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 Livingston County: Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Oakland, Shiawassee & Washtenaw.
Below are the counties that are near Williamsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williamsville:
- Livingston County (The home county of Williamsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Gregory
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Unadilla
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Unadilla is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
- Chalkerville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Chalkerville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalkerville
- Chalkerville has also been known as:
- Chalkers Landing
- Kaiserville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kaiserville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaiserville
- Plainfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Plainfield is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Hell
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hell is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hell
- Hell has also been known as:
- Hi Land Lake
- Highland Lake
- Hiland Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hell <1>
- Anderson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Pinckney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Parkers Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Parkers Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Corners
- Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
- Pettysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pettysville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettysville
- Lakeland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Petrieville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Petrieville is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrieville
- Eaton Rapids
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Kingsland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Kingsland is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsland
- Charlesworth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Charlesworth is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesworth
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Argentine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Argentine is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
- Linden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hillsdale County
- Somerset
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Stockbridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Fitchburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fitchburg is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchburg
- Bunker Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bunker Hill is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Dansville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Webberville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Pollok ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pollok is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollok
- Pollok has also been known as:
- Pollock
- Leslie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Leslie
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Leslie is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leslie
- Williamston
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mason
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Meridian
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meridian is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Onondaga
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Waterloo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Waterloo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Munith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trist
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trist is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trist
- Pleasant Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Grass Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fishville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Fishville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Leoni
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leoni is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leoni
- Michigan Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rives Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rives Junction is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives Junction
- Norvell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Norvell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norvell
- Jackson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32,374 people
- Former name for Jackson:
- Jacksonopolis
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
- Berryville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Berryville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Cambridge Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cambridge Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge Junction
- Clinton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Clinton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,287 people
- Macon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Macon is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Cement City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tipton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Onsted
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Tecumseh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- South Lyon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- New Hudson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- West Highland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- West Highland is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Highland
- Hickory Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Ridge is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
- Highland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Milford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wixom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Clyde
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Highland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Highland is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Highland
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Nicholson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Nicholson is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson
- Byron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Morrice
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Perry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Shaftsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Shaftsburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaftsburg
- Bancroft
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Washtenaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Dover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dover is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Hudson Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hudson Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Mills
- Chelsea
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Dexter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Delhi Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Delhi Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi Mills
- Rowes Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Rowes Corner is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Corner
- Sharon Hollow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sharon Hollow is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Hollow
- Barton Hills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Barton Hills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Manchester
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Emery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Emery is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
- Ann Arbor
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bridgewater
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williamsville, see our County-by-County Page for Williamsville.
Cemeteries Near Williamsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamsville.
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 Williamsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williamsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Williamsville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Collins Plains Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- North Waterloo Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Unadilla Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Livermore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oaklawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Plainfield Village Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Harford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sprout Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Wright Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Jacob's German Lutheran Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Waterloo Village Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (348 more) ...
- North Lake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Stockbridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Derby Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
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>
While we didn't find Williamsville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Williamsville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Gregory
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Unadilla
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Unadilla is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
- Stockbridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Plainfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Plainfield is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Anderson
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Anderson is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Waterloo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Waterloo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Pinckney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- White Oak
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- White Oak is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Munith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trist
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trist is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trist
- Chelsea
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Fitchburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fitchburg is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchburg
- Francisco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Francisco is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francisco
- Pettysville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pettysville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettysville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williamsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williamsville.
Newspapers Published in Williamsville ...
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 198 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williamsville, 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 Williamsville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Williamsville:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Livingston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Eaton County
- Genesee County
- Hillsdale County
- Ingham County
- Jackson County
- Lenawee County
- Oakland County
- Shiawassee County
- Washtenaw 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 Williamsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Williamsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |