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 Wesson (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 Wesson. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Wesson is located in Copiah 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 Copiah County: Claiborne, Hinds, Lawrence, Lincoln, Rankin & Simpson.
Below are the counties that are near Wesson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wesson:
- Copiah County (The home county of Wesson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Beauregard
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Beauregard is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
- Martinsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Martinsville is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Sardis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sardis is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
- Glancy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Glancy is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glancy
- Bowerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bowerton is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowerton
- Hazlehurst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Allen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Allen is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Georgetown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Crystal Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Hopewell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hopewell is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Carpenter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carpenter is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Myles
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Myles is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myles
- Amite County
- Mount Olive
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Amite County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Claiborne County
- Carlisle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Carlisle is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- McCall Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Eddiceton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Eddiceton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddiceton
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Thompsonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Thompsonville is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Bear Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bear Creek is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Terry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Nola
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Nola is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nola
- Tryus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Tryus is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryus
- Rosella
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rosella is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosella
- Monticello
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hooker
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hooker is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Grange ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Grange is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
- New Hebron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Silver Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Verna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Verna is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verna
- Arm
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Arm is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arm
- Tilton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tilton is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Montgomery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Montgomery is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- New Sight
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- New Sight is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sight
- Brookhaven
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cobbs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cobbs is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbs
- Caseyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Caseyville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caseyville
- Wellman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wellman is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellman
- Norfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Norfield is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfield
- Pike County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Summit
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Topisaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Topisaw is located in Pike County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topisaw
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Alonzo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Alonzo is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alonzo
- Clear Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clear Branch is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Branch
- Whites
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Whites is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- King
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- King is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Shivers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Shivers is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
- Westville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Walthall County
- Sartinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sartinville is located in Walthall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartinville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wesson, see our County-by-County Page for Wesson.
Cemeteries Near Wesson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wesson.
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 Wesson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wesson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Wesson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- St. John Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Peter Rock Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Beauregard Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Little Memorial Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Sight Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest Church of Christ Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mission Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvarena Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Thompson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (374 more) ...
- New Hope MB Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brookhaven Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship MB Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Wesson had a population of 3,168 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wesson had a population of 1,849 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wesson, with the one closest to Wesson listed first.
- Beauregard
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Beauregard is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
- Montgomery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Montgomery is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Martinsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Martinsville is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Brookhaven
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Browns Wells
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Browns Wells is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Wells
- Ashley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ashley is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Bowerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bowerton is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowerton
- Hazlehurst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Gallatin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Gallatin is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallatin
- Tryus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Tryus is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryus
- Fair River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fair River is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair River
- Rockport
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rockport is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Allen
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Allen is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Caseyville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Caseyville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caseyville
- Wellman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wellman is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellman
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wesson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wesson.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wesson ...
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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wesson.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wesson. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wesson and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wesson.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<2> of Wesson.
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 helpful 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 Wesson:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Copiah County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amite County
- Claiborne County
- Franklin County
- Hinds County
- Lawrence County
- Lincoln County
- Pike County
- Rankin County
- Simpson County
- Walthall 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Wesson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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 Wesson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |