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 Lancaster (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 Lancaster. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Lancaster is located in Edgecombe 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 Edgecombe County: Halifax, Martin, Nash, Pitt & Wilson.
Below are the counties that are near Lancaster. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lancaster:
- Edgecombe County (The home county of Lancaster)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Mercer
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mercer is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Hartsboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hartsboro is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsboro
- Hartsease
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hartsease is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsease
- Pinetops
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Henrietta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Henrietta is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Summerfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summerfield is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Macclesfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sharpsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rocky Mount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Princeville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Princeville is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,901 people
- Tarboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Fairview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Fieldsboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Fieldsboro is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fieldsboro
- Walstonburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Walstonburg is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walstonburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Speights Bridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Speights Bridge is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speights Bridge
- Contentnea
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Contentnea is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contentnea
- Maury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Maury is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maury
- Snow Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hookerton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Roseneath
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Roseneath is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseneath
- Hobgood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hobgood is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobgood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Enfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Braswells Crossroads
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Braswells Crossroads is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braswells Crossroads
- Palmyra
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Palmyra is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmyra
- Scotland Neck
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- White Oak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- White Oak is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Ringwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ringwood is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringwood
- Heathsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Heathsville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathsville
- Tillery
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Allen Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Allen Grove is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Grove
- Brinkleyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Brinkleyville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkleyville
- Johnston County
- Kenly
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Parmele
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Parmele is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parmele
- Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
- Oak City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hassell
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hassell is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hassell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 75 people
- Robersonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Gold Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Gold Point is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Point
- Hamilton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Everetts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Everetts is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everetts
- Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
- Nash County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Ashburk
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ashburk is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashburk
- Joyners Crossing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Joyners Crossing is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joyners Crossing
- North Green
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- North Green is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Green
- Easonburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Easonburg is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easonburg
- Halifax Crossing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Halifax Crossing is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halifax Crossing
- Langley Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Langley Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley Crossroads
- Westry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Westry is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westry
- Winstead Crossroads
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Winstead Crossroads is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstead Crossroads
- Dortches
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dortches is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dortches
- Population from the 2020 Census: 964 people
- Drake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Drake is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
- Cliftonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cliftonville is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliftonville
- Sandy Cross
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sandy Cross is located in Nash County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Cross
- Pitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Fountain
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Falkland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Falkland is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
- Bethel
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Farmville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Farmville is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,747 people
- Whitehurst
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Whitehurst is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehurst
- Oakley
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Oakley is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- House
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- House is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for House
- Greenville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Red Oak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Red Oak is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Ripple City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ripple City is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripple City
- Stokes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Stokes is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Summerfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Summerfield is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Eureka
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Eureka is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Fremont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pikeville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Elm City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Saratoga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Saratoga is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 408 people
- Spring Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Lake is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Eastwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Eastwood is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Wilson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stantonsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Black Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Black Creek is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 767 people
- Scotts
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Scotts is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts
- Sims
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Lucama
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lancaster, see our County-by-County Page for Lancaster.
Cemeteries Near Lancaster ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lancaster.
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 Lancaster - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lancaster covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Bulluck Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Powell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- County Home Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pineview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Joseth Acie Brown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joseth Acie Brown Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Joseth Acie Brown Cemetery is located 9 miles [14.5 km]<3> to the east of Wilson.
- The Joseth Acie Brown Cemetery has also been known as:
- Womble Cemetery
- Womble Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2337787 <2>
- Varnell Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Edgecombe Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Northeastern Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Unity Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pineview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pineview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Old Town Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (191 more) ...
- New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- St. Matthews Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
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 Lancaster in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lancaster.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lancaster, with the one closest to Lancaster listed first.
- Hartsboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hartsboro is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartsboro
- Penelo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Penelo is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penelo
- Saint Lewis
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Saint Lewis is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Lewis
- Bridgersville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgersville is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgersville
- Sharpsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rocky Mount
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Old Sparta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Old Sparta is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Sparta
- Tarboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Elm City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mildred
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mildred is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mildred
- Leggett
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Leggett is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leggett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Battleboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Conetoe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Conetoe is located in Edgecombe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conetoe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 263 people
- Saratoga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Saratoga is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 408 people
- Falkland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Falkland is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falkland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 98 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lancaster. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lancaster.
Newspapers Published in Lancaster ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lancaster.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lancaster, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lancaster.
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 Lancaster:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Edgecombe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Greene County
- Halifax County
- Johnston County
- Martin County
- Nash County
- Pitt County
- Wayne County
- Wilson 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> | 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> | 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- Lancaster) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Lancaster, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |