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 Wards Corner (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 Wards Corner. 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 Wards Corner ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Wards Corner: Wards Cor. (or less commonly used: Wards Crn.)
- While the name of this community is Wards Corner, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Wards Corner may originally have been Ward's Corner.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Wards Corner might be written as Ward Corner.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Wards Corner. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Wards Corner.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Wards Corner is located in Pender 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 Pender County: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow & Sampson.
Below are the counties that are near Wards Corner. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wards Corner:
- Pender County (The home county of Wards Corner)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Currie
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Atkinson
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Saint Helena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Saint Helena is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 428 people
- Burgaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Watha
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Watha is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watha
- Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
- Ashton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Ashton is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
- Murray Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Murray Town is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray Town
- Willard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Willard is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Rocky Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Hill is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill
- Brown Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Brown Town is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brown Town
- Hampstead
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Topsail
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Topsail is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topsail
- Bladen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Long View
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Long View is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long View
- Kelly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Kelly is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- East Arcadia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Arcadia is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Arcadia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 470 people
- Council
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Council is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Council
- White Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rosindale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rosindale is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosindale
- Mount Olive
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Olive is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Brunswick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Northwest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Northwest is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 806 people
- Phoenix
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Phoenix is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoenix
- Sandy Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sandy Creek is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 319 people
- Malmo
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Malmo is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malmo
- Navassa
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Navassa is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navassa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,534 people
- Belville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Belville is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,135 people
- Leland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Town Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Town Creek is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town Creek
- Winnabow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Old Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Old Town is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Columbus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Acme
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Acme is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Armour
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Armour is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armour
- Riegelwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Delco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sandyfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sandyfield is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandyfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 415 people
- Byrdville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Byrdville is located in Columbus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrdville
- Bolton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Waccamaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Duplin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Safe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Safe is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Safe
- Wallace
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Tin City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Tin City is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tin City
- Harrells
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Harrells is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrells
- Population from the 2020 Census: 191 people
- Teachey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Teachey is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teachey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 430 people
- Duff Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Duff Creek is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duff Creek
- Cartersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cartersville is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
- Brices Crossroads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Brices Crossroads is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brices Crossroads
- Hancheys Store
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hancheys Store is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancheys Store
- Pasley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pasley is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pasley
- Murphey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Murphey is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphey
- Rose Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Charity
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Charity is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- New Hanover County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Castle Hayne
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Skippers Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Skippers Corner is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skippers Corner
- Hightsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hightsville is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightsville
- Wrightsboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wrightsboro is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightsboro
- Murraysville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Murraysville is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murraysville
- Kings Grant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kings Grant is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Grant
- Kirkland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kirkland is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkland
- Smith Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Creek is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Creek
- Bayshore
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bayshore is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
- Ogden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Windemere
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Windemere is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windemere
- Seagate
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Seagate is located in New Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seagate
- Onslow County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Holly Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Surf City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sampson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Ivanhoe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ivanhoe is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
- Kerr
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kerr is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr
- Tomahawk
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Tomahawk is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
- Delway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Delway is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delway
- Garland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ingold
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ingold is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingold
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wards Corner, see our County-by-County Page for Wards Corner.
Cemeteries Near Wards Corner ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wards Corner.
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 Wards Corner - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wards Corner covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Page Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Malpass Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Croom Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Herring Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chadwick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lamb Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Herring Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Walker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Lewis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Browning Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Smith Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (180 more) ...
- Bell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Simpson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Atkinson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Wards Corner in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wards Corner.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wards Corner, with the one closest to Wards Corner listed first.
- Currie
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Atkinson
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Point Caswell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Point Caswell is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Caswell
- Montague
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Montague is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montague
- Long Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Long Creek is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Burgaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Ashton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Ashton is located in Pender County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
- Colly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colly is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colly
- Ivanhoe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ivanhoe is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivanhoe
- Rocky Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wallace
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Safe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Safe is located in Duplin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Safe
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Kerr
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kerr is located in Sampson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr
- Kelly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Kelly is located in Bladen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- Castle Hayne
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wards Corner. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wards Corner.
Newspapers Published in Wards Corner ...
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 10 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wards Corner.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wards Corner, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wards Corner.
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 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 Wards Corner:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Pender County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bladen County
- Brunswick County
- Columbus County
- Duplin County
- New Hanover County
- Onslow County
- Sampson 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> | 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 Wards Corner, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Wards Corner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |