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 Bernhards Bay (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 Bernhards Bay. 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 Bernhards Bay ...
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.
While the name of this community is Bernhards Bay, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bernhards Bay may originally have been Bernhard's Bay.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bernhards Bay might be written as Bernhard Bay.
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 southeast 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 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.
Bernhards Bay is located in Oswego County.
To see how the shape of New York's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Oswego County: Cayuga, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida & Onondaga.
Below are the counties that are near Bernhards Bay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bernhards Bay:
- Oswego County (The home county of Bernhards Bay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Cleveland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Nicholsville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nicholsville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholsville
- Constantia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Gayville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gayville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
- West Monroe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- West Monroe is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
- West Amboy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- West Amboy is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amboy
- Mallory
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Central Square
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Caughdenoy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Caughdenoy is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caughdenoy
- Hastings
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Parish
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Ridge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sand Ridge is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge
- Kasoag
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Kasoag is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasoag
- Cayuga County
- Meridian
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Osceola
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Osceola is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Leisher Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Leisher Mill is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisher Mill
- West Leyden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Michigan Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Michigan Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Mills
- Mohawk Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mohawk Hill is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk Hill
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Bridgeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Whitelaw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Whitelaw is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitelaw
- Bolivar
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bolivar is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivar
- Oneida Valley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida Valley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida Valley
- Sullivan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sullivan is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Chittenango
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Canastota
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cottons
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cottons is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottons
- Sulphur Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Sulphur Springs has also been known as:
- Chittenango Springs
- Clockville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wampsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oneida
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chittenango Falls
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Chittenango Falls is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chittenango Falls
- Oneida County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Jewell
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jewell is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Elpis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elpis is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elpis
- North Bay
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Bay is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
- Sylvan Beach
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vienna
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Vienna is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
- Camden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- McConnellsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- McConnellsville is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McConnellsville
- Blossvale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Humaston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Humaston is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humaston
- Leisure Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Leisure Village is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
- Taberg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Agnes Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Agnes Corners is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnes Corners
- Brookfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Brookfield is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Onondaga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Tall Pines Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Tall Pines Village is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tall Pines Village
- Brewerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Kirkville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Minoa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- North Syracuse
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Syracuse
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,595 people
- Clay
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mycenae
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Mycenae is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mycenae
- Fayetteville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- East Syracuse
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Syracuse is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Syracuse
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,907 people
- Lyncourt
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lyncourt is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyncourt
- Mattydale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Euclid
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Euclid is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Euclid
- De Witt
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- De Witt is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Witt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,962 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bernhards Bay, see our County-by-County Page for Bernhards Bay.
Cemeteries Near Bernhards Bay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bernhards Bay.
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 Bernhards Bay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bernhards Bay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Lakeside Rural Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Cleveland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Constantia Center Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Lakewood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ingersoll Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Trinity Episcopal Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lynch Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Terpenning Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Deyo Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bridgeport Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- McAllister Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (377 more) ...
- Smith's Ridge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Temple Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Union Settlement Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bernhards Bay had a population of 228 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bernhards Bay, with the one closest to Bernhards Bay listed first.
- Cleveland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Constantia Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Constantia Center is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constantia Center
- Constantia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Gayville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gayville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
- Bridgeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Elpis
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elpis is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elpis
- Cicero Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cicero Center is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicero Center
- Lakeport
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeport is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- North Constantia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Constantia is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Constantia
- West Monroe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- West Monroe is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
- Amboy Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Amboy Center is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amboy Center
- West Amboy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- West Amboy is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Amboy
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- North Bay
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Bay is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bay
- Cicero
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- North Manlius
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- North Manlius is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Manlius
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bernhards Bay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bernhards Bay.
Newspapers Published in Bernhards Bay ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bernhards Bay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bernhards Bay, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bernhards Bay.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Bernhards Bay:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Oswego County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cayuga County
- Lewis County
- Madison County
- Oneida County
- Onondaga County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New York
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 Bernhards Bay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 drawn from Point A (ie- Bernhards Bay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |