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 Lester (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 Lester. 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 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.
Lester is located in Broome 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 Broome County: Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Tioga, Susquehanna (PA) & Wayne (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Lester. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lester:
- Broome County (The home county of Lester)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Kirkwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Windsor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Windsor is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 853 people
- Edson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Edson is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edson
- Conklin Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Conklin Station is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Station
- Conklin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Corbettsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Conklin Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Conklin Center is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Center
- Brookvale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Brookvale is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
- Ouaquaga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Windsor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Windsor is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Windsor
- Binghamton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Chenango County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Nineveh Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nineveh Junction is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nineveh Junction
- Afton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Greene
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- West Bainbridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- West Bainbridge is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bainbridge
- Bainbridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Union Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Union Valley is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Valley
- Smithville Flats
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Yaleville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Yaleville is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yaleville
- Adams Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Adams Corner is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
- East Guilford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Guilford is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Guilford
- Guilford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cortland County
- Marathon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Delaware County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- China
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- China is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
- Hambletville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hambletville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambletville
- Barbourville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Barbourville is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbourville
- Masonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hancock
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sidney
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Cadosia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cadosia is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadosia
- Tacoma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tacoma is located in Delaware County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
- Sidney Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Otsego County
- Unadilla
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tioga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Apalachin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Campville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Campville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campville
- Gaskill
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Gaskill is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaskill
- Hullsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hullsville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hullsville
- Ketchumville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ketchumville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchumville
- South Owego
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- South Owego is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Owego
- Newark Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Owego
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- West Newark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- West Newark is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Newark
- East Nichols
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- East Nichols is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Nichols
- Weltonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Weltonville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weltonville
- Bradford County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Warren Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Warren Center is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Center
- South Warren
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Warren is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Warren
- Le Raysville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Le Raysville is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Raysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 271 people
- Potterville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Potterville is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potterville
- West Warren
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- West Warren is located in Bradford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
- Susquehanna County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Great Bend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hallstead
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lanesboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 556 people
- Susquehanna Depot
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Susquehanna Depot is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susquehanna Depot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,444 people
- Susquehanna
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lawsville Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lawsville Center is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsville Center
- Brandt
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Brandt is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandt
- Brackney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Milford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Heart Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Heart Lake is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heart Lake
- Lakeview
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lakeview is located in Susquehanna County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Wayne County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Sherman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sherman is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Starrucca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Wrighter Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wrighter Corner is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrighter Corner
- Lakewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Poyntelle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Poyntelle is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poyntelle
- High Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- High Lake is located in Wayne County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Lake
- Wyoming County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Avery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Avery is located in Wyoming County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Nicholson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lester, see our County-by-County Page for Lester.
Cemeteries Near Lester ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lester.
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 Lester - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lester covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Mountain View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hazardville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Beaver Lake 'Scott' Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Kirkwood Village Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Windsor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Riley Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Milburn Presbyterian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lawrence Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Corbettsville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Windsor Village Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (366 more) ...
- Lyons Farm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons Farm Cemetery
- The Lyons Farm Cemetery has also been known as:
- North Windsor Cemetery
- Stow Cemetery
- Stowe Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65464 <2>
- Conklin Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wilcox Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 in 1895, Lester had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lester, with the one closest to Lester listed first.
- Flowers
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Flowers is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowers
- Kirkwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- West Windsor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- West Windsor is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Windsor
- Langdon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Langdon is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
- Conklin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Conklin Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Conklin Station is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Station
- Corbettsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Windsor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Windsor is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Population from the 2020 Census: 853 people
- Kirkwood Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kirkwood Center is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkwood Center
- Conklin Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Conklin Center is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conklin Center
- West Colesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- West Colesville is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Colesville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Brookvale
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Brookvale is located in Broome County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookvale
- Great Bend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hallstead
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lester. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lester.
Newspapers Published in Lester ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lester.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lester, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lester.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Lester:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Broome County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chenango County
- Cortland County
- Delaware County
- Otsego County
- Tioga County
- Bradford County
- Susquehanna County
- Wayne County
- Wyoming 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Lester) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Lester, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |