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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 Merry Oaks (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 Merry Oaks. 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.

Merry Oaks is located in Chatham 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 Chatham County: Alamance, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Randolph & Wake.

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

  • Chatham County     (The home county of Merry Oaks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Haywood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Haywood is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood
    • Brickhaven
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Brickhaven is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickhaven
    • Moncure
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Corinth
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Corinth is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
    • Pittsboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bynum
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bynum is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
    • Fearrington Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fearrington Village is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fearrington Village
    • Farmville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Cary
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cary is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 173,587 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cary <1>
    • Gulf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Gulf is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf
    • Goldston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Carbonton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Carbonton is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbonton
    • Bear Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Bear Creek is located in Chatham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
  • Alamance County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Mandale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Mandale is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mandale
    • Eli Whitney
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Eli Whitney is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eli Whitney
    • Sutphin
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sutphin is located in Alamance County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutphin
    • Saxapahaw
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Snow Camp
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Cumberland County
    • Linden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Durham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Morrisville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Parkwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Parkwood is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Nelson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Nelson is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
    • Brassfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brassfield is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brassfield
    • Durham
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • The American Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • The American Village is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The American Village
    • Gorman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Gorman is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorman
  • Harnett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Cokesbury
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cokesbury is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokesbury
    • Duncan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Duncan is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
    • Rawls
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rawls is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawls
    • Ryes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Ryes is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryes
    • Seminole
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Seminole is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seminole
    • Chalybeate Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Chalybeate Springs is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalybeate Springs
    • Boone Trail
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Boone Trail is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boone Trail
    • Mamers
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Mamers is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mamers
    • Kipling
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Kipling is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kipling
    • Angier
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Luart
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Luart is located in Harnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luart
    • Cape Fear
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Lillington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Johnston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Willow Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Willow Springs is located in Johnston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Springs
    • Clayton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Osgood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Osgood is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osgood
    • Colon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Colon is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
    • Broadway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Edgewater Estates
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Edgewater Estates is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater Estates
    • San-Lee Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • San-Lee Park is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San-Lee Park
    • Cumnock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Cumnock is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumnock
    • Glenwood Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Glenwood Village is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Village
    • Green Valley Estates
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Sanford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Carolina Trace
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Carolina Trace is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina Trace
    • Jonesboro Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jonesboro Heights is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro Heights
    • Wildwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Wildwood is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Saint Andrews
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Andrews is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Andrews
  • Moore County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Cameron
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Carthage
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Parkwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Parkwood is located in Moore County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Vass
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • Dogwood Acres
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Dogwood Acres is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Acres
    • Chapel Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Greenwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Davie Circle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Davie Circle is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davie Circle
    • Mount Bolus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Mount Bolus is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Bolus
    • Spring Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Spring Valley is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
    • Tenney Circle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Tenney Circle is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenney Circle
    • Carrboro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Rangewood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Rangewood is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rangewood
    • Summerfield Crossing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Summerfield Crossing is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield Crossing
    • Ashley Forest
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Ashley Forest is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Forest
    • Calvander
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Calvander is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvander
    • Cedar Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Cedar Hill is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hill
  • Wake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merry Oaks, with the one closest to Merry Oaks listed first.
    • New Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hollemans Crossroads
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Hollemans Crossroads is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollemans Crossroads
      • Former names for Hollemans Crossroads:
      • Collins
      • Enno
    • Holly Springs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Wilbon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Wilbon is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbon
    • Apex
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Apex is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apex
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 64,388 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apex <1>
    • Indian Trail
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Trail is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Trail
    • Fuquay - Varina
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Dutchess Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dutchess Village is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchess Village
    • Macks Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Macks Village is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macks Village
    • Hazelwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Kennebec
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Kennebec is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kennebec
    • McCullers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • McCullers is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCullers
    • Mount Pleasant
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant

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

Cemeteries Near Merry Oaks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Merry Oaks.

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 Merry Oaks - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Merry Oaks had a population of 94 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Haywood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Haywood is located in Chatham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood
  • Moncure
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • New Hill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Corinth
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Corinth is located in Chatham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
  • Holly Springs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Apex
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Apex is located in Wake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apex
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 64,388 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Apex <1>
  • Pittsboro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Bynum
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Bynum is located in Chatham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bynum
  • Cary
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Cary is located in Chatham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cary
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 173,587 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cary <1>
  • Gulf
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Gulf is located in Chatham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulf
  • Banks
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Banks is located in Wake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
  • Morrisville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Goldston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Asbury
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Asbury is located in Wake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asbury
    • Nelson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Nelson is located in Durham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson

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

Newspapers Published in Merry Oaks ...

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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Merry Oaks.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Merry Oaks, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Merry Oaks.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Merry Oaks:

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 Merry Oaks, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Merry Oaks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.