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 Reads Chapel (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 Reads Chapel. 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.
Name Variations for Reads Chapel ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
While the name of this community is Reads Chapel, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Reads Chapel may originally have been Read's Chapel.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Reads Chapel might be written as Read Chapel.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and hospitals 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.
Reads Chapel is located in Beaufort 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 Beaufort County: Craven, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Pitt & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Reads Chapel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Reads Chapel:
- Beaufort County (The home county of Reads Chapel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Aurora
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Edward
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Ransomville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ransomville is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransomville
- Bath
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Pomouk Indian Village ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Blounts Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Blounts Creek is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blounts Creek
- Whitepost
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Whitepost is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitepost
- Whitepost has also been known as:
- White Post
- Belhaven
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pantego
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pantego is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pantego
- Population from the 2020 Census: 175 people
- River Road
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- River Road is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
- Gaylord
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gaylord is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaylord
- Walla Watta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Walla Watta is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walla Watta
- Pinetown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pinetown is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinetown
- Carteret County
- Sportsmans Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Sportsmans Village is located in Carteret County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sportsmans Village
- Craven County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Spring Hope
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hope is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hope
- Ernul
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ernul is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernul
- Bridgeton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Harbour
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Harbour is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Harbour
- New Bern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- James City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- James City is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James City
- Old Town Harbor
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Old Town Harbor is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town Harbor
- Lima
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lima is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lima
- Vanceboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clark
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Clark is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clark
- Riverdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Riverdale is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale
- Snug Harbor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Snug Harbor is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snug Harbor
- Trent Woods
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Trent Woods is located in Craven County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Woods
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,991 people
- Hyde County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Germantown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Germantown is located in Hyde County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
- Sladesville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sladesville is located in Hyde County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sladesville
- Scranton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Scranton is located in Hyde County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
- Mount Olive
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Hyde County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Swan Quarter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Perfection
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Perfection is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perfection
- Debruhls Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Debruhls Landing is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Debruhls Landing
- Pamlico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Bay City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bay City is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
- Mesic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mesic is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mesic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Vandemere
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vandemere is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandemere
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Lowland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lowland is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowland
- Hobucken
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hobucken is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobucken
- Bayboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Stonewall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Stonewall is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Alliance
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Grantsboro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Merritt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Merritt is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merritt
- Reelsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Reelsboro is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reelsboro
- Pamlico
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Pamlico is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pamlico
- Oriental
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Pitt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Clayroot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Clayroot is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayroot
- Calico
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Calico is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
- Grimesland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grimesland is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grimesland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
- Shelmerdine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Shelmerdine is located in Pitt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelmerdine
- Washington County
- Wenona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Wenona is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Reads Chapel, see our County-by-County Page for Reads Chapel.
Cemeteries Near Reads Chapel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Reads Chapel.
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 Reads Chapel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Reads Chapel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- High Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- James I. Moore Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Lee Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- White Hill FWB Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rowe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oakhaven Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bonner Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Watson Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Concord Church Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Melvin Earl Keyes, Jr. Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Broughton Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Old Ware Creek MB Church Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (36 more) ...
- W.H. Marslender Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Stapleford Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sand Hill Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Reads Chapel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Reads Chapel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Reads Chapel, with the one closest to Reads Chapel listed first.
- Aurora
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Idalia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Idalia is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idalia
- South Creek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- South Creek is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Creek
- Vandemere
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vandemere is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandemere
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Mesic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mesic is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mesic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Maribel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Maribel is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maribel
- Hobucken
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hobucken is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobucken
- Ransomville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ransomville is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransomville
- Bayboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Stonewall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Stonewall is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 269 people
- Bath
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Grantsboro
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Alliance
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Blounts Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Blounts Creek is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blounts Creek
- Florence
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Florence is located in Pamlico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Reads Chapel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Reads Chapel.
Newspapers Published in Reads Chapel ...
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 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Reads Chapel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Reads Chapel, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Reads Chapel.
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 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 Reads Chapel:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Beaufort County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carteret County
- Craven County
- Hyde County
- Jones County
- Pamlico County
- Pitt County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 from Point A (ie- Reads Chapel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <5> | 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 Reads Chapel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |