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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 Head-of-the-Harbor (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 Head-of-the-Harbor. 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 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.

Head-of-the-Harbor 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 Head-of-the-Harbor. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Head-of-the-Harbor:

  • Suffolk County     (The home county of Head-of-the-Harbor)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.
    • Saint James
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Nissequogue
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Nissequogue is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nissequogue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,727 people
    • Stony Brook
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Nesconset
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Lake Grove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • The Branch
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • The Branch is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Branch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,789 people
      • The Branch has also been known as:
      • Village of the Branch
    • Smithtown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • San Remo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • San Remo is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Remo
    • Old Field
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • East Setauket
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Ronkonkoma
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Centereach
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Nassau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.
    • Laurel Hollow
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Laurel Hollow is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Hollow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,027 people
    • Woodbury
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Old Bethpage
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cove Neck
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Cove Neck is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Neck
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 299 people
    • Farmingdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Plainview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • South Farmingdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • South Farmingdale is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Farmingdale
    • Centre Island
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Centre Island is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centre Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 404 people
    • Oyster Bay Cove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Oyster Bay Cove is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyster Bay Cove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,243 people
    • Syosset
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Bethpage
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • East Norwich
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • East Norwich is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Norwich
  • Westchester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.
    • Milton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Milton is located in Westchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
    • Port Chester
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rye
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Rye is located in Westchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,634 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rye <1>
    • Scotts Corners
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Scotts Corners is located in Westchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Corners
    • Rye Brook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Harrison
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Banksville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Banksville is located in Westchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banksville
    • Lewisboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Pound Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Larchmont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Mamaroneck
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Purchase
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Fairfield County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.
    • Fairfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Southport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Compo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Compo is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compo
    • Greens Farms
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Black Rock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Black Rock is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Rock
    • East Norwalk
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • East Norwalk is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Norwalk
    • Rowayton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Saugatuck
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Saugatuck is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saugatuck
    • Westport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Westport is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,444 people
    • Bridgeport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeport is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143,525 people
    • Bridgeport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeport is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143,525 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bridgeport <1>
    • Darien
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Darien is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darien
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,693 people
  • New Haven County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.
    • Milford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Milford is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,781 people
    • Milford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Milford is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 53,259 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milford <1>
    • Orange
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Orange is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,882 people
    • Orange
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • West Haven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • West Haven is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Haven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,367 people
    • West Haven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Allingtown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Derby
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Derby is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,257 people
    • Derby
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Derby is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,257 people
      • Former name for Derby:
      • Birmingham
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Derby <1>
    • Short Beach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Short Beach is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Beach
    • East Haven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • New Haven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • New Haven is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130,801 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New Haven <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Head-of-the-Harbor ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Head-of-the-Harbor.

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 Head-of-the-Harbor - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.

  • St. James Methodist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Mills Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. James Episcopal Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Landing Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landing Cemetery
    • The Landing Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Smithtown Landing Methodist Churchyard Cemetery
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Methodist Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Smithtown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • New Village Congregation Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Nassakeage - Hawkins Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Agudat Achim Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (343 more) ...

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

These communities are listed based on their distance from Head-of-the-Harbor, with the one closest to Head-of-the-Harbor listed first.

  • Saint James
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Stony Brook
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Smithtown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake Grove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • East Setauket
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Setauket
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Hauppauge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Terryville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Terryville is located in Suffolk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terryville
  • Port Jefferson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Kings Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Ronkonkoma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Selden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Head-of-the-Harbor ...

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 195 newspapers that have been published in the area around Head-of-the-Harbor.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Head-of-the-Harbor, 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 Head-of-the-Harbor.

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 Head-of-the-Harbor:

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 Head-of-the-Harbor, 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- Head-of-the-Harbor) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.