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 Cockrells 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 Cockrells 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 Cockrells 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.
While the name of this community is Cockrells Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Cockrells Ferry may originally have been Cockrell's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Cockrells Ferry might be written as Cockrell 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 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.
Cockrells Ferry is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Attala, Hinds, Holmes, Leake, Rankin, Scott & Yazoo.
Below are the counties that are near Cockrells Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cockrells Ferry:
- Madison County (The home county of Cockrells Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Madison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Madisonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Madisonville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Ridgeland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Twelve Oaks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Twelve Oaks is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Oaks
- Canton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mannsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mannsdale is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannsdale
- Maris Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Maris Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maris Town
- Mill Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mill Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Cobbville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cobbville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbville
- Sharon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Sharon is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Davis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Davis is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Flora
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- North Town Plaza
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Town Plaza is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Plaza
- Jackson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Choctaw Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Choctaw Village is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw Village
- Clinton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Byram
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Brownsville is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Raymond
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bolton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bolton is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 523 people
- Midway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Midway is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Palestine
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Palestine is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Terry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Holmes County
- Pickens
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Leake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Lena
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Saint Ann
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Ann is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Ann
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Fannin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Goshen Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Sand Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sand Hill is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Flowood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Brandon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pearl
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Greenfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Pearson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Pelahatchie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Richland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Florence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- King
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- King is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Branch
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Branch is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Ludlow
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ludlow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Beach is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
- Morton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cooperville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Clifton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Kalem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Kalem is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
- Cash
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cash is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Raworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Hunter Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Simpson County
- Braxton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Polkville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Daniel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Yazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Vaughan
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Vaughan is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughan
- Bentonia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Nod
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Nod is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nod
- Anding
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Anding is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anding
- Evans
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Evans is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Oil City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oil City is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cockrells Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Cockrells Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Cockrells Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cockrells 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 Cockrells Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cockrells Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Haley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pearl River Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- True Light Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fairview Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- True Light Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Mt. Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Natchez Trace Memorial Park Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Memory Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jessamine Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Charity MB Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lewis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (319 more) ...
- Fannin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fannin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fannin 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>
While we didn't find Cockrells Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cockrells Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cockrells Ferry, with the one closest to Cockrells Ferry listed first.
- Fannin
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Goshen Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Tougaloo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Canton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mannsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mannsdale is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannsdale
- Brandon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Shoccoe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shoccoe is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoccoe
- Livingston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Livingston is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Cynthia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cynthia is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cynthia
- Jackson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Green Crossing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Green Crossing is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Crossing
- Greenfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Rankin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rankin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankin
- Eureka
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Eureka is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Sharon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Sharon is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cockrells Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cockrells Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Cockrells 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 138 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cockrells Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cockrells Ferry, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cockrells Ferry.
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 Cockrells Ferry:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hinds County
- Holmes County
- Leake County
- Rankin County
- Scott County
- Simpson County
- Smith 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 Cockrells 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cockrells Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |