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 West Canaan (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 West Canaan. 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 West Canaan ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Canaan: W. Canaan
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Canaan. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Canaan.
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 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.
West Canaan is located in Grafton County.
To see how the shape of New Hampshire's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Grafton County: Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Merrimack, Sullivan, Caledonia (VT), Essex (VT), Orange (VT) & Windsor (VT).
Below are the counties that are near West Canaan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Canaan:
- Grafton County (The home county of West Canaan)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- Canaan Street
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Canaan Street is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan Street
- Lockehaven
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lockehaven is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockehaven
- Enfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lower Shaker Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Shaker Village is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Shaker Village
- Upper Shaker Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Upper Shaker Village is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Shaker Village
- Canaan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mascoma
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mascoma is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mascoma
- Montcalm
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Montcalm is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcalm
- Orange
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Orange is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 312 people
- Etna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Etna is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Lebanon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Grafton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Belknap County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- New Hampton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gaza
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Gaza is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaza
- Winona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Winona is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona
- Sanbornton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Meredith
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Tilton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Winnisquam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Merrimack County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- Danbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmot
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- New London
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Elkins
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Elkins is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkins
- West Andover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Andover is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Andover
- Potter Place
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Potter Place is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Place
- Wilmot Flat
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Wilmot Flat is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot Flat
- Blodgett Landing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Blodgett Landing is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blodgett Landing
- Hill Center
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hill Center is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Center
- Andover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- East Andover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- East Andover is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Andover
- Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hill is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,115 people
- Sullivan County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- North Grantham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- North Grantham is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Grantham
- Meriden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Meriden is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Grantham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Springfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Springfield is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,348 people
- Croydon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Croydon is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croydon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 774 people
- Mill Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mill Village is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Georges Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Twin Lakes Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Twin Lakes Village is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Lakes Village
- Plainfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Croydon Flat
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Croydon Flat is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croydon Flat
- Fernwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Fernwood is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernwood
- Squag City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Squag City is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Squag City
- Orange County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- Union Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union Village is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Village
- Thetford Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thetford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thetford is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thetford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,525 people
- Ely
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Ely is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Fairlee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Post Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Post Mills is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Mills
- South Strafford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Strafford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Strafford is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strafford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,058 people
- Fairlee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fairlee is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 976 people
- Old City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Old City is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City
- Strafford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Fairlee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- West Fairlee is located in Orange County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Fairlee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Windsor County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- Pompanoosuc
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pompanoosuc is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pompanoosuc
- Lewiston ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lewiston is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Wilder
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Norwich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- White River Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- White River Junction is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White River Junction
- Norwich
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Norwich is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,401 people
- Hartford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- North Hartland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- North Hartland is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartland
- Hartford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hartford is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,566 people
- West Norwich
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- West Norwich is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Norwich
- Hartland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Quechee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Quechee is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quechee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Canaan, see our County-by-County Page for West Canaan.
Cemeteries Near West Canaan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Canaan.
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 West Canaan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Canaan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- Shaker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- George Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Purmort Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Methodist Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Orange Common Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Glenwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Plainfield Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hastings Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Greensboro Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Burpee Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (350 more) ...
- Prescott Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that West Canaan had a population of 125 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Canaan, with the one closest to West Canaan listed first.
- Enfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Lockehaven
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lockehaven is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockehaven
- Canaan Street
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Canaan Street is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan Street
- Canaan Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Canaan Center is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan Center
- Enfield Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Enfield Center is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield Center
- Canaan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Montcalm
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Montcalm is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcalm
- Hanover Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hanover Center is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover Center
- Etna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Etna is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Lebanon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Plainfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Plainfield is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Plainfield
- North Grantham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- North Grantham is located in Sullivan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Grantham
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Grafton Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Grafton Center is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton Center
- Grafton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pompanoosuc
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pompanoosuc is located in Windsor County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pompanoosuc
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Canaan. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Canaan.
Newspapers Published in West Canaan ...
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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Canaan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Canaan, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Canaan.
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 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 West Canaan:
- Websites specific to New Hampshire
- Pages specific to Grafton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Belknap County
- Merrimack County
- Sullivan County
- Orange County
- Windsor County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New Hampshire
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Canaan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 West Canaan, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |