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 Free Springs (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 Free Springs. 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 Free Springs ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Free Springs: Free Spgs. (or less commonly used: Free Spngs. or Free Sprngs.)
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 southwest 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 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.
Free Springs is located in Lafayette 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 Lafayette County: Calhoun, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Tate, Union & Yalobusha.
Below are the counties that are near Free Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Free Springs:
- Lafayette County (The home county of Free Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Harmontown
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Harmontown is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmontown
- Abbeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Alesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Alesville is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
- Oxford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Altus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Altus is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altus
- Springdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Springdale is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Delay
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Delay is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay
- Cornish
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cornish is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornish
- Lafayette Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Hickory Flat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- DeSoto County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Ingrams Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ingrams Mill is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingrams Mill
- Alphaba
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alphaba is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alphaba
- Bright
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bright is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
- Hernando
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Laws Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Laws Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws Hill
- Chulahoma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Chulahoma is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chulahoma
- Marianna
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Marianna is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marianna
- Holly Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Red Banks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Potts Camp
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cornersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cornersville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
- Victoria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Victoria is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
- Byhalia
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Taska
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Taska is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taska
- Atway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Atway is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atway
- Hudsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hudsonville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudsonville
- Panola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Terza
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Terza is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terza
- Como
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sardis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Batesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Courtland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Courtland is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Ballentine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Ballentine is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballentine
- Longtown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Longtown is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Pope
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pope is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
- Chapeltown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chapeltown is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapeltown
- Askew
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Askew is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askew
- Pontotoc County
- Toccopola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Tate County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Tyro
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tyro is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
- Wyatte
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wyatte is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatte
- Aiken
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Aiken is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
- Looxahoma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Looxahoma is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looxahoma
- Poagville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Poagville is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poagville
- New Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Antioch
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Antioch is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Senatobia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Coldwater
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arkabutla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Arkabutla is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkabutla
- Goode
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Goode is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goode
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Darden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Darden is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
- Myrtle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Yalobusha County
- Water Valley
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Free Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Free Springs.
Cemeteries Near Free Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Free Springs.
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 Free Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Free Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Free Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Harmontown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Waldrip Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lammey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fulmer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Peryn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Langstons Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Buford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wyatt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Harris Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (381 more) ...
- St. Peter Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
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 Free Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Free Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Free Springs, with the one closest to Free Springs listed first.
- Harmontown
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Harmontown is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmontown
- Laws Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Laws Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws Hill
- Tyro
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tyro is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
- Glenville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Glenville is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenville
- College Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- College Hill is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Hill
- Abbeville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Chulahoma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Chulahoma is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chulahoma
- Lespedeza
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lespedeza is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lespedeza
- Thyatira
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thyatira is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thyatira
- Galena
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Galena is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
- Wallace
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wallace is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
- Alesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Alesville is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Looxahoma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Looxahoma is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looxahoma
- Orion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Orion is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orion
- Wallhill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Wallhill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallhill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Free Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Free Springs.
Newspapers Published in Free Springs ...
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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Free Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Free Springs, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Free Springs.
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 Free Springs:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Lafayette County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- DeSoto County
- Marshall County
- Panola County
- Pontotoc County
- Tate County
- Union County
- Yalobusha County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
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 Free Springs, 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- Free Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |