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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 Middle 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 Middle 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 Middle 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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Middle Island: Middle Is. (in Canada, 'Isld.' is the more common abbreviation.)

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 northwest 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 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.

Middle 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 Middle Island. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Middle Island:

  • Suffolk County     (The home county of Middle Island)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middle Island, with the one closest to Middle Island listed first.
    • Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Ridge is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
    • Gordon Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Gordon Heights is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Heights
    • Upton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Yaphank
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Coram
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Rocky Point
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Shoreham
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Sound Beach
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • East Shoreham
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • East Shoreham is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Shoreham
    • Medford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Selden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Manorville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Farmingville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Nassau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middle Island, with the one closest to Middle Island listed first.
    • South Farmingdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • South Farmingdale is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Farmingdale
    • Farmingdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Laurel Hollow
      (28 miles [45.1 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
    • Old Bethpage
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Plainview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Woodbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • East Massapequa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • East Massapequa is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Massapequa
    • Cove Neck
      (29 miles [46.7 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
    • Oyster Bay Cove
      (29 miles [46.7 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
    • Swedetown Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Swedetown Village is located in Nassau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swedetown Village
    • Syosset
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Bethpage
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Centre Island
      (30 miles [48.3 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
  • Fairfield County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middle Island, with the one closest to Middle Island listed first.
    • Stratford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Black Rock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Black Rock is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Rock
    • Bridgeport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bridgeport is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143,525 people
    • Bridgeport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Fairfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Stratford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Stratford is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 51,660 people
    • Greens Farms
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Southport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Oronoque
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Oronoque is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oronoque
    • Compo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Compo is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compo
    • Fairfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairfield is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 62,215 people
    • Melville Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Melville Village is located in Fairfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville Village
    • Westport
      (26 miles [41.8 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
  • New Haven County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Middle Island, with the one closest to Middle Island listed first.
    • Milford
      (24 miles [38.6 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
      (24 miles [38.6 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>
    • Short Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Short Beach is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Beach
    • West Haven
      (26 miles [41.8 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
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • East Haven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • 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)
    • Pine Orchard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pine Orchard is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
    • Allingtown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Branford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Branford is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,736 people
    • Branford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • East Haven
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • East Haven is located in New Haven County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Haven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,454 people

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

Cemeteries Near Middle Island ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Middle 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 Middle Island - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Methodist Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Longwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Washington Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Elijah Davis Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Johah Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • The Old Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Old Catholic Cemetery
    • The Old Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
    • The Old Middle Country Road Cemetery
  • Coram Village Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Old Coram Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Presbyterian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Old Baptist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Yaphank Village Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (232 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Middle Island had a population of 290 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Coram
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Yaphank
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Rocky Point
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Selden
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Medford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • South Haven
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • South Haven is located in Suffolk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Haven
  • Manorville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Wading River
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mount Sinai
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Terryville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Terryville is located in Suffolk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terryville
  • Holtsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Brookhaven
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Holbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • East Patchogue
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • East Patchogue is located in Suffolk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Patchogue
    • Bellport
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Middle Island. See our List of 1890's Communities around Middle Island.

Newspapers Published in Middle 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 149 newspapers that have been published in the area around Middle Island.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Middle Island, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Middle Island.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Middle Island:

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>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 Middle Island, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Middle Island) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.