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 Essex (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 Essex. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Essex is located in Halifax 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 Halifax County: Bertie, Edgecombe, Franklin, Martin, Nash, Northampton & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Essex. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Essex:
- Halifax County (The home county of Essex)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Hollister
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Brinkleyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Brinkleyville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkleyville
- Ringwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ringwood is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringwood
- White Oak
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- White Oak is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Airlie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Airlie is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
- Heathsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Heathsville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
- Littleton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Enfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Allen Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Allen Grove is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Grove
- South Rosemary
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- South Rosemary is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rosemary
- Halifax
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Belmont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Roanoke Rapids
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Edgecombe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Whitakers
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Battleboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gethsemane
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gethsemane is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gethsemane
- Rocky Mount
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sharpsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hartsease
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsease is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsease
- Leggett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Leggett is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leggett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Hartsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hartsboro is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsboro
- Lancaster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lancaster is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lancaster
- Lawrence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrence is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Centerville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Estimated population in 2017: 102 people
- White Level
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- White Level is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Level
- Alert
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Alert is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alert
- Lake View
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lake View is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View
- Mapleville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mapleville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleville
- Ingleside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ingleside is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Louisburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bunn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Katesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Katesville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katesville
- Sutton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sutton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutton
- Franklinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Nash County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Aventon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Aventon is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aventon
- Hilliardston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hilliardston is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliardston
- Taylors Store
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Taylors Store is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylors Store
- Hickory
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dukes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dukes is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dukes
- Castalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Castalia is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
- Matthews Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Matthews Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matthews Crossroads
- Red Oak
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Red Oak is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,492 people
- Gold Rock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Crossroads
- Lancaster Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Drake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Drake is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
- Corinth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Corinth is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Northampton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Henrico
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gaston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garysburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Vance County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Middleburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Adcock Crossroads
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Adcock Crossroads is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adcock Crossroads
- Gillburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gillburg is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillburg
- Drewry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Drewry is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drewry
- Flat Rock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Flat Rock is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
- Bobbitt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Bobbitt is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobbitt
- Bear Pond
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bear Pond is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Pond
- Gill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Gill is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gill
- Henderson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- South Henderson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- South Henderson is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Henderson
- Kittrell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dabney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Dabney is located in Vance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dabney
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Arcola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Lickskillet
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lickskillet is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lickskillet
- Vaughan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Afton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Afton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton
- Macon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Warrenton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Church Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Church Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Snow Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Warren Plains
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Warren Plains is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Plains
- Norlina
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Soul City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Soul City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soul City
- Wise
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wise is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wise
- Manson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wilson County
- Elm City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Brunswick County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Gasburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ankum
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ankum is located in Brunswick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ankum
- Gholsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Gholsonville is located in Brunswick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gholsonville
- Powellton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Powellton is located in Brunswick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Mecklenburg County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Bracey
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Palmer Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Palmer Springs is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer Springs
- Marengo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Marengo is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
- Hagood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hagood is located in Mecklenburg County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Essex, see our County-by-County Page for Essex.
Cemeteries Near Essex ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Essex.
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 Essex - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Essex covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Lynch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Lynch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Silver Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Saunders Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harper Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avent Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Gay Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ricks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ward Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wiggins Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ricks Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Green Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (202 more) ...
- Kennedy Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Green Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Essex had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Arcola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arcola is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Ita
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ita is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ita
- Ringwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ringwood is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringwood
- Grove Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grove Hill is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Hill
- Brinkleyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Brinkleyville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkleyville
- Airlie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Airlie is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
- Inez
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Inez is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
- Centerville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Estimated population in 2017: 102 people
- Hilliardston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hilliardston is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliardston
- Glenview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glenview is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenview
- Heathsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Heathsville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
- Embro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Embro is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embro
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Aurelian Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Aurelian Springs is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurelian Springs
- Vaughan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Castalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Castalia is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 273 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Essex. See our List of 1890's Communities around Essex.
Newspapers Published in Essex ...
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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Essex.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Essex, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Essex.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Essex:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Halifax County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Edgecombe County
- Franklin County
- Nash County
- Northampton County
- Vance County
- Warren County
- Wilson County
- Brunswick County
- Mecklenburg County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
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 Essex, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Essex) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |