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 Browns Crossing (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 Browns Crossing. 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 Browns Crossing ...
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 Browns Crossing: Browns Xing.
- While the name of this community is Browns Crossing, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Browns Crossing may originally have been Brown's Crossing.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Browns Crossing might be written as Brown Crossing.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Browns Crossing. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Browns Crossing.
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 and doctors 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.
Browns Crossing is located in Steuben 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 Steuben County: Allegany, Chemung, Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Yates, Potter (PA) & Tioga (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Browns Crossing. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Browns Crossing:
- Steuben County (The home county of Browns Crossing)
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- West Cameron
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Cameron is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Cameron
- Adrian
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Adrian is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Cameron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cameron Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Canisteo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Canisteo is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Canisteo
- Risingville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Risingville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risingville
- Hedgesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hedgesville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgesville
- Howard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Howard is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
- Canisteo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bath
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jasper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Rathbone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rathbone is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbone
- Avoca
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Allegany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Almond
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bishopville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bishopville is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishopville
- Alfred
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Alfred is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfred
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,919 people
- Alfred has also been known as:
- Alfred village
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Alfred <2>
- Andover
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Independence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Independence is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Whitesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Elm Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Elm Valley is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Valley
- Canaseraga
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Phillips Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Phillips Creek is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Creek
- West Almond
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- West Almond is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Almond
- Hallsport
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Hallsport is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsport
- Garwoods
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Garwoods is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garwoods
- Dyke
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Dyke is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyke
- Chemung County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Post Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Post Creek is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Creek
- Big Flats
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sagetown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sagetown is located in Chemung County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagetown
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Dansville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cumminsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cumminsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumminsville
- Woodsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodsville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodsville
- Springwater
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Websters Crossing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- West Sparta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- West Sparta is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sparta
- Ontario County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Naples
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woodville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Woodville is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Gulick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gulick is located in Ontario County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulick
- Schuyler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Wayne
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Dams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Townsend
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Townsend is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townsend
- Moreland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Moreland is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- North Reading
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Reading is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Reading
- Wedgewood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Wedgewood is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wedgewood
- Reading Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Watkins Glen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Watkins Glen is located in Schuyler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins Glen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,851 people
- Former names for Watkins Glen:
- Jefferson
- Salubria
- Watkins
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Watkins Glen <2>
- Yates County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Italy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Italy is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Italy
- Barrington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Yates County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Dundee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Potter County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- North Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Fork is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Harrison Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Harrison Valley is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Valley
- Elmer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Elmer is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- North Bingham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Bingham is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bingham
- Genesee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Genesee is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
- Hector
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Hector is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hector
- Ulysses
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Bingham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Bingham is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bingham
- Sunderlinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sunderlinville is located in Potter County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunderlinville
- Tioga County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Austinburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Austinburg is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinburg
- Elkland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Osceola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Osceola is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Knoxville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Cowanesque
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cowanesque is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowanesque
- Westfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Pritchard ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pritchard is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchard
- Potter Brook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Potter Brook is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Brook
- Farmington Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Farmington Hill is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington Hill
- Lawrenceville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrenceville is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Keeneyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Keeneyville is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Hammond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hammond is located in Tioga County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Tioga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Browns Crossing, see our County-by-County Page for Browns Crossing.
Cemeteries Near Browns Crossing ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browns Crossing.
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 Browns Crossing - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Browns Crossing covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Hadleyville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Swale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lower Swale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West Cameron Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sherer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ross Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clark Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cameron Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Scherer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Averell Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (358 more) ...
- White Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Buck Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dublin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
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 Browns Crossing in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Browns Crossing.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Browns Crossing, with the one closest to Browns Crossing listed first.
- Adrian
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Adrian is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Cameron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Cameron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- North Cameron is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Cameron
- Buena Vista
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- South Canisteo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Canisteo is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Canisteo
- Cameron Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hampshire
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hampshire is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampshire
- Hedgesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hedgesville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgesville
- Risingville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Risingville is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Risingville
- Howard
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Howard is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
- Canisteo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jasper
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Thurston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Thurston is located in Steuben County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurston
- Bath
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kanona
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Browns Crossing. See our List of 1890's Communities around Browns Crossing.
Newspapers Published in Browns Crossing ...
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 130 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browns Crossing.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Browns Crossing, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Browns Crossing.
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 helpful 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 Browns Crossing:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Steuben County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegany County
- Chemung County
- Livingston County
- Ontario County
- Schuyler County
- Yates County
- Potter County
- Tioga 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 Browns Crossing, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Browns Crossing) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |