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 Williams 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 Williams 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 Williams 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 Williams Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Williams Ferry may originally have been William's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Williams Ferry might be written as William Ferry.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Williams Ferry. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Williams 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.
Williams Ferry is located in Attala 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 Attala County: Carroll, Choctaw, Holmes, Leake, Madison, Montgomery, Neshoba, Winston & Yazoo.
Below are the counties that are near Williams Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williams Ferry:
- Attala County (The home county of Williams Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Newport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Newport is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Sallis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Zemuly
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Zemuly is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zemuly
- Possumneck
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Possumneck is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possumneck
- Rocky Point
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rocky Point is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Point
- Kosciusko
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hesterville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hesterville is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesterville
- Auris ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Auris is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auris
- Ethel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ethel is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 381 people
- Langley ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Langley is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley
- Gregory ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gregory is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Vaiden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Coila
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Coila is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coila
- Holmes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Goodman
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Richland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Richland is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Durant
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pickens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lexington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- West
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jones Crossing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Crossing is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossing
- Coxburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Coxburg is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxburg
- Tolarville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tolarville is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolarville
- Acona
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Acona is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acona
- Ituma
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ituma is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ituma
- Gwin
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Gwin is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwin
- Mileston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mileston is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mileston
- Leake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Saint Ann
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Ann is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Ann
- Redwater
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Redwater is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwater
- Carthage
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Coosa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Coosa is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosa
- Lena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Camden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sharpsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sharpsburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Davis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Davis is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Cobbville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cobbville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbville
- Sharon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Sharon is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Maris Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Maris Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maris Town
- Mill Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Mill Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Canton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Madisonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Madisonville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Scott County
- Ludlow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Ludlow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Yazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Vaughan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughan is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughan
- Fordyke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Fordyke is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyke
- Evans
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Evans is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Nod
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nod is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nod
- Eden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Eden is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 128 people
- Pearce ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Pearce is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearce
- Dover ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dover is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Crump
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Crump is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crump
- Yazoo City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- 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>
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williams Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Williams Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Williams Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williams 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 Williams Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williams Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- New Banyon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pole Pen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ables Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Green Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mitchell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Mark Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Falls Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Seneasha Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (417 more) ...
- Macedonia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dickerson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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 Williams Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Williams Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williams Ferry, with the one closest to Williams Ferry listed first.
- Goodman
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Shrock ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shrock is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shrock
- Richland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Richland is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
- Pickens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Newport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Newport is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Durant
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Franklin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
- Sallis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cameron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cameron is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Ebenezer
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ebenezer is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
- Oaks
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oaks is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaks
- McAdams
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- McAdams is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAdams
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Camden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lexington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Fordyke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Fordyke is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyke
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williams Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williams Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Williams 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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williams Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williams Ferry, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williams 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 Williams Ferry:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Attala County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Holmes County
- Leake County
- Madison County
- Scott 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 Williams Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Williams Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |