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 Bommers Ferry (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 Bommers Ferry. 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 Bommers Ferry ...
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.
While the name of this community is Bommers Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bommers Ferry may originally have been Bommer's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bommers Ferry might be written as Bommer Ferry.
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 and doctors 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.
Bommers Ferry is located in Sharkey County.
To see how the shape of Mississippi's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sharkey County: Humphreys, Issaquena, Washington & Yazoo.
Below are the counties that are near Bommers Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bommers Ferry:
- Sharkey County (The home county of Bommers Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Auter
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Auter is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auter
- Richey
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Richey is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richey
- Nitta Yuma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Nitta Yuma is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitta Yuma
- Anguilla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Panther Burn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Panther Burn is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther Burn
- Mont Helena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mont Helena is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Helena
- Riverside Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Junction is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Junction
- Lorenzen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lorenzen is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorenzen
- Rolling Fork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cary
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Cary is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Issaquena
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Issaquena is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Issaquena
- Blanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Blanton is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Onward
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Onward is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onward
- Hinds County
- Delta City
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Delta City is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta City
- Holmes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Pluto
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Pluto is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pluto
- Bee Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bee Lake is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Lake
- Bee Lake has also been known as:
- Bee Lake Plantation
- Good Hope
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Good Hope is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
- Mileston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mileston is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mileston
- Tolarville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tolarville is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolarville
- Coxburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coxburg is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxburg
- Gwin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Gwin is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwin
- Tchula
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Tchula is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tchula
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,905 people
- Wyatt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wyatt is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Gooden Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gooden Lake is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gooden Lake
- Louise
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Louise is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Silver City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Silver City is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Belzoni
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Isola
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Isola is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
- Lake City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lake City is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- Jaketown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jaketown is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaketown
- Issaquena County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Booth
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Booth is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Mayersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mayersville is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 517 people
- Valley Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Valley Park is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Park
- Tallula
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tallula is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallula
- Leflore County
- Morgan City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Morgan City is located in Leflore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 236 people
- Sunflower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- New Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- New Town is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Inverness
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Inverness is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Population from the 2020 Census: 852 people
- Baird
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Baird is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baird
- Heathman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Heathman is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathman
- Indianola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Moorhead
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Moorhead is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Murphy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Murphy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy
- Willet
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Willet is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willet
- Overby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Overby is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overby
- Hollandale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Forrest City ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forrest City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest City
- Hampton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hampton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Arcola
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Wilmot
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilmot is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Avon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- James
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- James is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Byrne City
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Byrne City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrne City
- Leland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dunleith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dunleith is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunleith
- Yazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Crump
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Crump is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump
- Dover ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Dover is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Kearney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Kearney is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kearney
- Jonestown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jonestown is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonestown
- Yazoo City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yazoo City is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yazoo City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,673 people
- Former names for Yazoo City:
- Hannan's Bluff
- Manchester
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yazoo City <2>
- Eden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Eden is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Pearce ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pearce is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearce
- Satartia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Satartia is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Satartia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 51 people
- Oil City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oil City is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Anding
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Anding is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anding
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bommers Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Bommers Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Bommers Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bommers Ferry.
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 Bommers Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bommers Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Fish Lake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Harris Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Gideon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Delta City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Vickland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Balup Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Huddleston Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cameta Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vicks Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Section 16 Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Georgia Bend Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Golden Link Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (128 more) ...
- Goshen Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bellewood Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bellamy Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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 Bommers Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bommers Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bommers Ferry, with the one closest to Bommers Ferry listed first.
- Auter
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Auter is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auter
- Murphy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Murphy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy
- Nitta Yuma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Nitta Yuma is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitta Yuma
- Anguilla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Panther Burn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Panther Burn is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther Burn
- Overby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Overby is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overby
- Mont Helena
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mont Helena is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Helena
- Percy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Percy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Hollandale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside Junction
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Junction is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Junction
- Warsaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Warsaw is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warsaw
- Lorenzen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lorenzen is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorenzen
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Rolling Fork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Grace
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Grace is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace
- Lake City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lake City is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bommers Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bommers Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Bommers Ferry ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bommers Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bommers Ferry, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bommers Ferry.
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 Bommers Ferry:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Sharkey County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hinds County
- Holmes County
- Humphreys County
- Issaquena County
- Leflore County
- Sunflower County
- Washington County
- Yazoo County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
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 Bommers Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bommers Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |