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 Essex (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 Essex. 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 Essex ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Essex was referred to as Essex Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Essex. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Essex.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Essex is located in Essex 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 Essex County: Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, Washington, Addison (VT) & Chittenden (VT).
Below are the counties that are near Essex. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Essex:
- Essex County (The home county of Essex)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Craterclub
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Craterclub is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craterclub
- Willsboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Whallonsburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Whallonsburg is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whallonsburg
- Willsboro Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Willsboro Point is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willsboro Point
- Reber
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Reber is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reber
- Westport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lewis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lewis is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
- Port Douglass
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Port Douglass is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Douglass
- Elizabethtown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Keeseville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Port Kent
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- North Jay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- North Jay is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Jay
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Village of Keeseville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Village of Keeseville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village of Keeseville
- Estimated population in 2015: 1,750 people
- Ausable Chasm
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ausable Chasm is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ausable Chasm
- Thomasville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Thomasville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
- Au Sable Forks
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Harkness
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Harkness is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkness
- Peru
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Laphams Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Laphams Mills is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laphams Mills
- Black Brook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Black Brook is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Brook
- Parc
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Parc is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parc
- Plattsburgh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Head
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Head is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Head
- Morrisonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Addison County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- North Ferrisburgh Station
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Ferrisburgh
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ferrisburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ferrisburg is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrisburg
- Ferrisburgh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Ferrisburgh is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrisburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,691 people
- Vergennes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Panton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Panton is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 718 people
- Monkton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Monkton is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monkton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,106 people
- Waltham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Waltham is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
- Starksboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Addison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Addison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Addison is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,320 people
- New Haven
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Haven is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,704 people
- Chittenden County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Charlotte
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Charlotte
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Charlotte is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,783 people
- Shelburne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shelburne is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelburne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,649 people
- Shelburne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Charlotte
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- East Charlotte is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Charlotte
- Prindle Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Prindle Corners is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prindle Corners
- Queen City Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Queen City Park is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City Park
- Hinesburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Saint George
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Saint George is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
- Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
- South Burlington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hinesburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hinesburg is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinesburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,522 people
- Burlington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- West Georgia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- West Georgia is located in Franklin County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Georgia
- East Georgia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Georgia is located in Franklin County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Georgia
- Georgia Plains
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Georgia Plains is located in Franklin County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia Plains
- Georgia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Georgia is located in Franklin County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,806 people
- Grand Isle County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- South Hero
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- South Hero is located in Grand Isle County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hero
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,639 people
- Keeler Bay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Keeler Bay is located in Grand Isle County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler Bay
- Pearl
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Pearl is located in Grand Isle County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
- Grand Isle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Grand Isle is located in Grand Isle County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Isle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,115 people
- Adams Landing
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Adams Landing is located in Grand Isle County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Landing
- Washington County (VT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Fayston
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Duxbury
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Duxbury is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duxbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,307 people
- North Fayston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- North Fayston is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fayston
- Sugarbush Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sugarbush Village is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarbush Village
- Waitsfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Warren
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Warren is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,667 people
- Waitsfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Waitsfield is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waitsfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,692 people
- Warren
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mill Village is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Waterbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Moretown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Moretown is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,664 people
- Alpine Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alpine Village is located in Washington County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Essex, see our County-by-County Page for Essex.
Cemeteries Near Essex ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Essex.
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 Essex - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Essex covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Lakeview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Burt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Brookfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Thorp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barber Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Guilderland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Paya - Oppenheim Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grandview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Meach Island Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Meech Island Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (284 more) ...
- Quaker Smith Point Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Webb Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kellogg - Field Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
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 Essex had a population of 507 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Essex, with the one closest to Essex listed first.
- Whallonsburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Whallonsburg is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whallonsburg
- Willsboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Charlotte
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Willsboro Point
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Willsboro Point is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willsboro Point
- North Ferrisburgh Station
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Reber
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Reber is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reber
- North Ferrisburgh
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shelburne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ferrisburgh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East Charlotte
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- East Charlotte is located in Chittenden County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Charlotte
- Westport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lewis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lewis is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Vergennes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Panton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Panton is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panton
- Monkton Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Monkton Ridge is located in Addison County (VT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monkton Ridge
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Essex. See our List of 1890's Communities around Essex.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Essex ...
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 125 newspapers that have been published in the area around Essex.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Essex. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Essex and those printed in the larger area surrounding Essex.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4> of Essex.
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 Essex:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Essex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Addison County
- Chittenden County
- Franklin County
- Grand Isle County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New York
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 Essex, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Essex) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |