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 Somerset (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 Somerset. 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 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.
Somerset is located in Chowan 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 Chowan County: Bertie, Gates, Hertford & Perquimans.
Below are the counties that are near Somerset. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Somerset:
- Chowan County (The home county of Somerset)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Edenton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mavaton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mavaton is located in Chowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavaton
- Center Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Center Hill is located in Chowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Hill
- Ryland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ryland is located in Chowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryland
- Gliden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gliden is located in Chowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gliden
- Beaufort County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Union Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Union Grove is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Grove
- Pungo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pungo is located in Beaufort County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pungo
- Bertie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Edenhouse
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Edenhouse is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenhouse
- Edenhouse has also been known as:
- Eden House Point
- Eden House
- Edenhouse Point
- Avoca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Avoca is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Ashland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Ashland is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Merry Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Merry Hill is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merry Hill
- Colerain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Colerain is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Askewville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Askewville is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askewville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
- Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Powellsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Powellsville is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Camden County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Camden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Elizabeth City Beach
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Elizabeth City Beach is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth City Beach
- Shiloh
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Belcross
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Belcross is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcross
- Horseshoe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Horseshoe is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horseshoe
- South Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Alder Branch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alder Branch is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alder Branch
- Riddle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Riddle is located in Camden County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riddle
- Gates County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Hobbsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hobbsville is located in Gates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbsville
- Mintonsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mintonsville is located in Gates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mintonsville
- Mitchells Fork
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mitchells Fork is located in Gates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchells Fork
- Muddy Cross
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Muddy Cross is located in Gates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddy Cross
- Acorn Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Acorn Hill is located in Gates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acorn Hill
- Sunbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Gatesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Savage
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Savage is located in Gates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage
- Hertford County
- Harrellsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Harrellsville is located in Hertford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrellsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 95 people
- Martin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Dardens
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dardens is located in Martin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dardens
- Jamesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pasquotank County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Nixonton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nixonton is located in Pasquotank County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonton
- Weeksville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Weeksville is located in Pasquotank County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeksville
- Elizabeth City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Perquimans County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Snug Harbor
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Snug Harbor is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snug Harbor
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Burgess
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Burgess is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Yeopim Station
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yeopim Station is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeopim Station
- Yeopim Station has also been known as:
- Yeopim
- Hertford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Winfall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Belvidere
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Woodville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woodville is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Snow Hill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Nicanor
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Nicanor is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicanor
- Tyrrell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Columbia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- New Lands
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- New Lands is located in Tyrrell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lands
- Alligator
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Alligator is located in Tyrrell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator
- Fort Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fort Landing is located in Tyrrell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Landing
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Pea Ridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Pea Ridge is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- Skinnersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Skinnersville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnersville
- Creswell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Roper
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Westover
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Westover is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Pine Ridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Ridge is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
- Plymouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Monticello ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Monticello is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
- Wenona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wenona is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Somerset, see our County-by-County Page for Somerset.
Cemeteries Near Somerset ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Somerset.
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 Somerset - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Somerset covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Philips Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gatling - Smith Cemetery
- Johnston Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Harvey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jackson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Beaver Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Vine Oak Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Nixon Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- New Hope UMC Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Godfrey Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (38 more) ...
- Azalia Garden Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- St. Luke Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Thomas S. Woodley Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find Somerset in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Somerset.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Somerset, with the one closest to Somerset listed first.
- Burgess
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Burgess is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
- Yeopim Station
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yeopim Station is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeopim Station
- Yeopim Station has also been known as:
- Yeopim
- Hertford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Edenton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Skinnersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Skinnersville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnersville
- Winfall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Scuppernong
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Scuppernong is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scuppernong
- Creswell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cisco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cisco is located in Chowan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco
- Avoca
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Avoca is located in Bertie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoca
- Belvidere
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Nixonton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nixonton is located in Pasquotank County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixonton
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Woodville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woodville is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Okisko
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Okisko is located in Pasquotank County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Okisko
- Chapanoke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Chapanoke is located in Perquimans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapanoke
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Somerset. See our List of 1890's Communities around Somerset.
Newspapers Published in Somerset ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Somerset.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Somerset, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Somerset.
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 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 Somerset:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Chowan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Beaufort County
- Bertie County
- Camden County
- Gates County
- Hertford County
- Martin County
- Pasquotank County
- Perquimans County
- Tyrrell County
- Washington 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> | 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 Somerset, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Somerset) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |