RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New York >> Erie County >> Brighton >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Brighton (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 Brighton. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Brighton 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 Brighton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brighton:

  • Erie County     (The home county of Brighton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Amherst
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Tonawanda
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kenmore
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Getzville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Williamsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Ferry Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Ferry Village is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry Village
    • Grandyle Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Grandyle Village is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandyle Village
    • Swormville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Swormville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swormville
    • Buffalo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Sloan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Sloan is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,522 people
    • Cheektowaga
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bowmansville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Amherst
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
    • Corfu
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Indian Falls
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
    • Alabama
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Alabama is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alabama
    • Basom
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Sawens
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Griswold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • North Pembroke
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • North Pembroke is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pembroke
    • Wheatville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Wheatville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheatville
    • Ridgewood Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ridgewood Village is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
    • Alexander
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Bushville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bushville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushville
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Park Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • North Tonawanda
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
    • Martinsville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Hoffman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
    • Saint Johnsburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Saint Johnsburg is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johnsburg
    • Pendleton Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Pendleton Center is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton Center
    • Bergholtz
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bergholtz is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergholtz
    • Black Creek Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Black Creek Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek Village
    • Raymond
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Raymond is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
    • Colonial Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Colonial Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Lockport Junction
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Lockport Junction is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockport Junction
  • Orleans County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Jeddo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeddo is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeddo
    • Lakewood Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakewood Village is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Village
    • Medina
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brighton, with the one closest to Brighton listed first.
    • Folsomdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
    • Harris Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Attica
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Java Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Varysburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Brighton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brighton.

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 Brighton - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. John's Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Elmlawn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Salem Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Salem Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tonawanda.
    • The Salem Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Salem Cemetery
    • Salem's Gemeinde Kirchhof
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2300968 <2>
  • City Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for City Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the City Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Tonawanda.
    • The City Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Tonawanda City Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #64209 <2>
  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Skinnersville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • White Chapel Memorial Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. Martin's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • White Haven Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (329 more) ...
    • St. Johns Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Stanislaus RC Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Stanislaus RC Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Stanislaus RC Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Cheektowaga.
      • The St. Stanislaus RC Cemetery has also been known as:
      • St. Stanislaus Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #66205 <2>
    • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)

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 Brighton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brighton.

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

  • Kenmore
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Eggertsville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Tonawanda
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • North Tonawanda
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
  • Snyder
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Snyder is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snyder
  • Getzville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Martinsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
  • Williamsville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Hoffman
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
  • Wendelville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wendelville is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wendelville
  • Beach Ridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Beach Ridge is located in Niagara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach Ridge
  • Buffalo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Sloan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Sloan is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sloan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,522 people
    • Cheektowaga
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Forks
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Forks is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks

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

Newspapers Published in Brighton ...

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 Brighton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brighton, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brighton.

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 Brighton:

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 Brighton, 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 from Point A (ie- Brighton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.