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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 Big Tree (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 Big Tree. 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.

Big Tree is located in Erie 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 Erie County: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara & Wyoming.

Below are the counties that are near Big Tree. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Tree:

  • Erie County     (The home county of Big Tree)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.
    • Blasdell
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Armor
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Armor is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armor
    • Scranton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Scranton is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scranton
    • Athol Springs
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Bay View
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Bay View is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Orchard Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Webster Corners
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Webster Corners is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Corners
      • Webster Corners has also been known as:
      • Websters Corners
    • Lackawanna
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Hamburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Ellicott
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellicott is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellicott
    • Water Valley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Water Valley is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
    • Wanakah
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Wanakah is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wanakah
  • Cattaraugus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.
    • Gowanda
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Gowanda is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,524 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gowanda <1>
    • Brooklyn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Yorkshire
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Perrysburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Delevan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Delevan is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delevan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delevan <1>
    • Cottage
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cottage is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage
    • Persia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Persia is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
    • Otto
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Elton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
    • Machias
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cattaraugus
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Eddyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Eddyville is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eddyville
  • Chautauqua County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.
    • Irving
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Parcells Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Parcells Corners is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parcells Corners
    • Forestville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wango
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Wango is located in Chautauqua County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wango
    • Sheridan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.
    • Amherst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
    • Corfu
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Griswold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Sawens
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Indian Falls
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
    • Alexander
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Basom
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • North Pembroke
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • North Pembroke is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pembroke
    • Alabama
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Alabama is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.
    • Park Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • North Tonawanda
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
    • Martinsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • Hoffman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Black Creek Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Black Creek Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek Village
    • Saint Johnsburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Saint Johnsburg is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johnsburg
    • Bergholtz
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
    • Pendleton Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Pendleton Center is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton Center
    • Rapids
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Rapids is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapids
    • Raymond
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Raymond is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
    • Niagara Falls
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.
    • Folsomdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Harris Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Java Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Curriers
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Java Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • North Java
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Johnsonburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Varysburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Arcade
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Attica
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Smiths Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Tree, see our County-by-County Page for Big Tree.

Cemeteries Near Big Tree ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Tree.

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 Big Tree - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Tree covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.

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 in 1895, Big Tree had a post office and railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Tree, with the one closest to Big Tree listed first.

  • Blasdell
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Windom
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Windom is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windom
  • Armor
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Armor is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armor
  • Bay View
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Bay View is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
  • Athol Springs
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hamburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Webster Corners
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Webster Corners is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster Corners
    • Webster Corners has also been known as:
    • Websters Corners
  • Clover Bank
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Clover Bank is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Bank
  • Water Valley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Water Valley is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
  • Ellicott
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellicott is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellicott
  • Ebenezer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ebenezer is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
  • West Seneca
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Eden Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Eden Valley is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Valley
    • North Boston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • North Boston is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Boston
    • East Seneca
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • East Seneca is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Seneca

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Tree. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Tree.

Newspapers Published in Big Tree ...

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 322 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Tree.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Tree, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Tree.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Big Tree:

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 Big Tree, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Big Tree) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.