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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 Fishers Island (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 Fishers Island. 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 Fishers Island ...

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 Fishers Island: Fishers Is. (in Canada, 'Isld.' is the more common abbreviation.)
  • While the name of this community is Fishers Island, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Fishers Island may originally have been Fisher's Island.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Fishers Island might be written as Fisher Island.

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 doctors and hospitals 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.

Fishers Island is located in Suffolk County.

To see how the shape of New York's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

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

  • Suffolk County     (The home county of Fishers Island)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fishers Island, with the one closest to Fishers Island listed first.
    • Orient Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Orient Point is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient Point
    • Ditch Plains
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Ditch Plains is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ditch Plains
    • Montauk
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Orient
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Napeague
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Napeague is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napeague
    • Alberts Landing
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Alberts Landing is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberts Landing
    • Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Springs is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springs
    • East Marion
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Northwest Harbor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Northwest Harbor is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest Harbor
    • Amagansett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Dering Harbor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Dering Harbor is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dering Harbor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11 people
    • Greenport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Shelter Island Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Middlesex County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fishers Island, with the one closest to Fishers Island listed first.
    • Fenwick
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Fenwick is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
    • Old Saybrook
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Old Saybrook is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Saybrook
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,028 people
    • Old Saybrook
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Plum Bank Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Plum Bank Beach is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Bank Beach
    • Saybrook Manor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Saybrook Manor is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook Manor
    • Essex
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Crowley Corner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Crowley Corner is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley Corner
    • Centerbrook
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Essex
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Essex is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,634 people
    • Ivoryton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Westbrook
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Deep River
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Grove Beach
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Grove Beach is located in Middlesex County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Beach
  • New Haven County (CT)
  • New London County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fishers Island, with the one closest to Fishers Island listed first.
    • Noank
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Eastern Point
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Eastern Point is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastern Point
    • Groton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Groton is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,872 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Groton <2>
    • Groton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Groton is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38,258 people
    • Long Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Long Hill is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Hill
    • Pequot Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Pequot Village is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pequot Village
    • Poquonock Bridge
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Poquonock Bridge is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poquonock Bridge
    • West Mystic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • New London
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • New London is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,870 people
    • Mystic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • New London
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • New London is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,870 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New London <2>
    • Pleasure Beach
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pleasure Beach is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasure Beach
    • Waterford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Waterford is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
      • Waterford has also been known as:
      • Central Waterford
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waterford <2>
  • Tolland County (CT)
    • Amston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Windham County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fishers Island, with the one closest to Fishers Island listed first.
    • Ekonk
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
    • Plainfield Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
    • Plainfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Canterbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Canterbury is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canterbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,088 people
    • Canterbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Scotland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Scotland is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,664 people
    • Scotland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • South Windham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Fishers Island ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fishers Island.

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 Fishers Island - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Union Chapel
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Fishers Island Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Col Ledyard Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Packer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Fishtown Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Gardiners Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Great Neck Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Rogers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Smith Lake Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Miner Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (267 more) ...
    • Dennison Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Mason Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Fish Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Fishers Island had a population of 324 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Groton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Groton is located in New London County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,872 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Groton <2>
  • Noank
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Poquonock Bridge
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Poquonock Bridge is located in New London County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poquonock Bridge
  • West Mystic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • New London
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • New London is located in New London County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,870 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New London <2>
  • Mystic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Waterford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Waterford is located in New London County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
    • Waterford has also been known as:
    • Central Waterford
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waterford <2>
  • Stonington
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Mystic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Niantic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Quaker Hill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Crescent Beach
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Crescent Beach is located in New London County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Beach
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Fishers Island ...

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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fishers Island.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fishers Island, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fishers Island.

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 Fishers Island:

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>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.
<4>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 Fishers Island, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Fishers Island) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.