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 Nelson (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 Nelson. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Nelson is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Chenango, Cortland, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego & Otsego.
Below are the counties that are near Nelson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Nelson:
- Madison County (The home county of Nelson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Cazenovia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bingley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bingley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingley
- Rippleton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rippleton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippleton
- Peterboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Chittenango Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Chittenango Falls is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chittenango Falls
- New Woodstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Woodstock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Woodstock
- Union
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Union is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Morrisville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sulphur Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Sulphur Springs has also been known as:
- Chittenango Springs
- West Eaton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- West Eaton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Eaton
- Morrisville Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Morrisville Station is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville Station
- Clockville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cottons
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cottons is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottons
- Cayuga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Sempronius
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sempronius is located in Cayuga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sempronius
- New Hope
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- New Hope is located in Cayuga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Chenango County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Otselic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Otselic is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otselic
- Otselic Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Otselic Center is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otselic Center
- Beaver Meadow
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Beaver Meadow is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Meadow
- South Otselic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Smyrna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sherburne
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kirk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kirk is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
- Plymouth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pitcher
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- North Norwich
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Norwich is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Norwich
- Button City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Button City is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Button City
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus is located in Chenango County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
- Norwich
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cortland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Crains Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Crains Mills is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crains Mills
- Cummings Crossing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cummings Crossing is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummings Crossing
- Truxton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Preble
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Slab City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Slab City is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab City
- East Homer
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- East Homer is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Homer
- Little York
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Little York is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little York
- East River
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East River is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- East Scott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Scott is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Scott
- Pratt Corners
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pratt Corners is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt Corners
- Solon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Solon is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
- Scott
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Scott is located in Cortland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- McGraw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Herkimer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Norwich Corners
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Norwich Corners is located in Herkimer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich Corners
- West Winfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Oneida County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Oneida Castle
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Oneida Castle is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida Castle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 603 people
- Sherrill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Augusta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Augusta is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
- Sconondoa
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sconondoa is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sconondoa
- Oriskany Falls
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Vernon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stockwell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Stockwell is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockwell
- Sylvan Beach
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Agnes Corners
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Agnes Corners is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnes Corners
- Cagwin Corners
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cagwin Corners is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cagwin Corners
- Sangerfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Blackmans Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blackmans Corners is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackmans Corners
- Lowell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lowell is located in Oneida County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
- Onondaga County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Delphi Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pompey Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pompey Center is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pompey Center
- Eagle Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eagle Village is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Village
- Watervale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Watervale is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watervale
- Manlius
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mycenae
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mycenae is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mycenae
- Fabius
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Log City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Log City is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log City
- Pompey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fayetteville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berwyn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Berwyn is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berwyn
- Kirkville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tall Pines Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tall Pines Village is located in Onondaga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tall Pines Village
- Oswego County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Cleveland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Constantia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nicholsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nicholsville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholsville
- Gayville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gayville is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayville
- West Monroe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Monroe is located in Oswego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
- Otsego County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- South Edmeston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- South Edmeston is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Edmeston
- Plainfield Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Plainfield Center is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Center
- Edmeston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Nelson, see our County-by-County Page for Nelson.
Cemeteries Near Nelson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Nelson.
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 Nelson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Nelson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Nelson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Weaver Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Welsh Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Tog Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lyons Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Lyons Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Needham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fenner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Westcott Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Haight Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (435 more) ...
- South Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Erieville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bliss Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
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 Nelson had a population of 129 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Cazenovia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Fenner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fenner is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenner
- Erieville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Bingley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bingley is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingley
- Rippleton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Rippleton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rippleton
- Chittenango Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Chittenango Falls is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chittenango Falls
- Perryville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Perryville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- New Woodstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Woodstock is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Woodstock
- West Eaton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- West Eaton is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Eaton
- Cottons
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cottons is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottons
- Morrisville Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Morrisville Station is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville Station
- Pratts Hollow
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pratts Hollow is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratts Hollow
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Siloam
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Siloam is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Merrillsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Merrillsville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrillsville
- Clockville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Nelson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Nelson.
Newspapers Published in Nelson ...
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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Nelson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Nelson, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Nelson.
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 websites either 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 Nelson:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Madison County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cayuga County
- Chenango County
- Cortland County
- Herkimer County
- Oneida County
- Onondaga County
- Oswego County
- Otsego 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> | 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 Nelson, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Nelson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |