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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 Otway (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 Otway. 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 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.

Otway is located in Carteret County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Carteret County: Craven, Hyde, Jones, Onslow & Pamlico.

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

  • Carteret County     (The home county of Otway)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Otway, with the one closest to Otway listed first.
    • Yucca Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Bettie
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Smyrna
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smyrna have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
      • Smyrna is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Smyrna <2>
    • Williston
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Williston have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
      • Williston is located in Carteret County
    • Gloucester
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gloucester have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester
      • Gloucester is located in Carteret County
    • Straits
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Marshallberg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Davis
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Davis have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
      • Davis is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Davis <2>
    • North River
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Harkers Island
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harkers Island have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkers Island
      • Harkers Island is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Harkers Island <2>
    • Beaufort
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beaufort have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaufort
      • Beaufort is located in Carteret County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,491 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beaufort <2>
    • Stacy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stacy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stacy
      • Stacy is located in Carteret County
    • Crab Point Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crab Point Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab Point Village
      • Crab Point Village is located in Carteret County
  • Craven County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Otway, with the one closest to Otway listed first.
    • Bachelor
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bachelor. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bachelor
      • Bachelor is located in Craven County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bachelor
      • From Otway to Bachelor
    • Cherry Point ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hancock Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hancock Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock Village
      • Hancock Village is located in Craven County
    • Manteo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Manteo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manteo
      • Manteo is located in Craven County
    • Havelock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Slocum Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Slocum Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum Village
      • Slocum Village is located in Craven County
    • Neuse Forest
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Neuse Forest have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neuse Forest
      • Neuse Forest is located in Craven County
    • Riverdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairfield Harbour
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairfield Harbour have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Harbour
      • Fairfield Harbour is located in Craven County
  • Pamlico County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Otway, with the one closest to Otway listed first.
    • Oriental
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oriental have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriental
      • Oriental is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 860 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oriental <2>
    • Pamlico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pamlico. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pamlico
      • Pamlico is located in Pamlico County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pamlico
      • From Otway to Pamlico
    • Minnesott Beach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Minnesott Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesott Beach
      • Minnesott Beach is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 423 people
    • Arapahoe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Arapahoe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arapahoe
      • Arapahoe is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 534 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Arapahoe <2>
    • Merritt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Stonewall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Alliance
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alliance have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alliance
      • Alliance is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 759 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alliance <2>
    • Bayboro
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayboro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayboro
      • Bayboro is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,242 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bayboro <2>
    • Mesic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Vandemere
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vandemere have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandemere
      • Vandemere is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
    • Bay City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bay City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
      • Bay City is located in Pamlico County
    • Grantsboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grantsboro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grantsboro
      • Grantsboro is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 651 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grantsboro <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Otway ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Otway.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Otway, with the one closest to Otway 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.<6>

While we didn't find Otway in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Otway.

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

  • Smyrna
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smyrna have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
    • Smyrna is located in Carteret County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Smyrna <2>
  • Straits
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Marshallberg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Davis
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Davis have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Davis is located in Carteret County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Davis <2>
  • Beaufort
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beaufort have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaufort
    • Beaufort is located in Carteret County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,491 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beaufort <2>
  • Morehead City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Merrimon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrimon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimon
    • Merrimon is located in Carteret County
  • Hollywood
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hollywood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • Hollywood is located in Carteret County
  • Atlantic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Bachelor
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bachelor. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bachelor
    • Bachelor is located in Craven County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Bachelor
    • From Otway to Bachelor
  • Wildwood
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wildwood have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Wildwood is located in Carteret County
  • Newport
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newport have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Newport is located in Carteret County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,636 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newport <2>
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Oriental
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oriental have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oriental
      • Oriental is located in Pamlico County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 860 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oriental <2>
    • Janeiro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Janeiro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janeiro
      • Janeiro is located in Pamlico County
    • Roe
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Roe have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roe
      • Roe is located in Carteret County

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

Newspapers Published in Otway ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Otway.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Otway, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Otway.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Otway:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Otway. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Carteret County: www.co.carteret.nc.us/

The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Otway) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Otway. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.7759, Longitude: -76.5583    
<6>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 Otway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025