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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 Colly (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 Colly. 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 northwest 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 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.

Colly is located in Bladen County.

To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Bladen County: Columbus, Cumberland, Pender, Robeson & Sampson.

Below are the counties that are near Colly. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colly:

  • Bladen County     (The home county of Colly)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Long View
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Long View is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
    • Kelly
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Kelly is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
    • East Arcadia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
    • Council
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Council is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
    • Rosindale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Rosindale is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosindale
    • White Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Olive
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Olive is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
    • Clarkton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Elizabethtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Yorick
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Yorick is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorick
    • Abbottsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Abbottsburg is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbottsburg
    • Ammon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ammon is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammon
    • Dublin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dublin is located in Bladen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dublin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
  • Brunswick County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Northwest
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
    • Sandy Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandy Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
    • Malmo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Malmo is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
    • Phoenix
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
    • Navassa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Navassa is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
    • Belville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Belville is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,135 people
    • Town Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
    • Leland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Leland is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,647 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leland <1>
    • Winnabow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Makatoka
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Makatoka is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Makatoka
    • Exum
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Exum is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exum
    • Bolivia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Old Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Old Town is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
  • Columbus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Sandyfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Sandyfield is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
    • Armour
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Armour is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
    • Riegelwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Acme
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Acme is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
    • Byrdville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
    • Delco
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Bolton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Waccamaw
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Hallsboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hallsboro is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsboro
    • Rico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Rico is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rico
    • Redbug
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Redbug is located in Columbus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbug
    • Whiteville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Brunswick
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Duplin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Harrells
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Harrells is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrells
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
    • Safe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Safe is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Safe
    • Tin City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Tin City is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin City
    • Wallace
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Duff Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Duff Creek is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duff Creek
    • Teachey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Teachey is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teachey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 430 people
    • Brices Crossroads
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Brices Crossroads is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brices Crossroads
    • Concord
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Concord is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
    • Cartersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cartersville is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Rose Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hancheys Store
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hancheys Store is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancheys Store
    • Murphey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Murphey is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphey
    • Charity
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Charity is located in Duplin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
  • New Hanover County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Castle Hayne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Skippers Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Skippers Corner is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skippers Corner
    • Hightsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
    • Wrightsboro
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
    • Murraysville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Murraysville is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murraysville
    • Kings Grant
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
    • Smith Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Smith Creek is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Creek
    • Wilmington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Windemere
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Windemere is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windemere
    • Kirkland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Kirkland is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkland
    • Ogden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Silver Lake is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Lake
    • Bayshore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayshore is located in New Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
  • Pender County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Atkinson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Currie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Saint Helena
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Saint Helena is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
    • Ashton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Ashton is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Burgaw
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Rocky Point
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Watha
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Watha is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Murray Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Murray Town is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray Town
    • Willard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Willard is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
    • Brown Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Brown Town is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Town
  • Sampson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.
    • Ivanhoe
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ivanhoe is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
    • Kerr
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Kerr is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr
    • Tomahawk
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Tomahawk is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
    • Delway
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Delway is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delway
    • Garland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Ingold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Ingold is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingold

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colly, see our County-by-County Page for Colly.

Cemeteries Near Colly ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colly.

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 Colly - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colly covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.

  • Holmes Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Colvin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Kelley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Flynn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Long Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sheman Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Hunt Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Larkins Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hawes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Graham Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Atkinson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (217 more) ...

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 in 1895, Colly had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Colly, with the one closest to Colly listed first.

  • Kelly
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Kelly is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
  • Point Caswell
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Point Caswell is located in Pender County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Caswell
  • Atkinson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Armour
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Armour is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
  • Currie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Westbrook
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Westbrook is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook
  • Byrdville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Byrdville is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
  • Freeman
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Freeman is located in Columbus County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
  • Montague
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Montague is located in Pender County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montague
  • Ivanhoe
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Ivanhoe is located in Sampson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
  • Northwest
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Northwest is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
  • Council
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Council is located in Bladen County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Bolton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Long Creek
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Long Creek is located in Pender County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
    • Kerr
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Kerr is located in Sampson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Colly. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colly.

Newspapers Published in Colly ...

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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colly.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Colly, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Colly.

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 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 Colly:

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>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.
<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 Colly, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Colly) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.