RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of New York >> Chenango County >> Preston >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Preston (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 Preston. 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.

Preston is located in Chenango 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 Chenango County: Broome, Cortland, Delaware, Madison & Otsego.

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

  • Chenango County     (The home county of Preston)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Kirk
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Kirk is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
    • Norwich
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Plymouth
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Oxford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Haynes
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Haynes is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • North Norwich
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • North Norwich is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Norwich
    • Beaver Meadow
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Beaver Meadow is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Meadow
    • Adams Corner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Adams Corner is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams Corner
    • Smyrna
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Sherburne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • South Otselic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Guilford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lathams Corners
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Lathams Corners is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lathams Corners
  • Broome County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Triangle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Triangle is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triangle
    • Upper Lisle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Upper Lisle is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Lisle
    • North Colesville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • North Colesville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Colesville
    • Quinneville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Quinneville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinneville
    • Belden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Belden is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
    • Killawog
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Whitney Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Nineveh
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Lisle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Creekside Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Creekside Village is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creekside Village
    • Harpursville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Manningville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Manningville is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manningville
    • Castle Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Castle Creek is located in Broome County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Creek
  • Cortland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Solon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Solon is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Marathon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Crains Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Crains Mills is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crains Mills
    • Truxton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Messengerville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Messengerville is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Messengerville
    • McGraw
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • East Homer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • East Homer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Homer
    • Lapeer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Lapeer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapeer
    • East River
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • East River is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
    • Slab City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Slab City is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab City
    • Cortland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Homer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Homer is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,080 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer <1>
    • Little York
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Little York is located in Cortland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little York
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Sidney
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Masonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Sidney Center
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Franklin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Tacoma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Tacoma is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
    • Merrickville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Merrickville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrickville
    • North Franklin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • North Franklin is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Franklin
    • China
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • China is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for China
    • Barbourville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Barbourville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbourville
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Earlville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Hamilton Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hamilton Center is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Center
    • Randallsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Randallsville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randallsville
    • South Hamilton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • South Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hamilton
    • Hamilton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • East Hamilton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • East Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
    • DeRuyter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • DeRuyter is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeRuyter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 518 people
    • Puckerville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Puckerville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckerville
    • Pecksport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Pecksport is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecksport
    • West Eaton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • West Eaton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Eaton
    • Bouckville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Morrisville Station
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Morrisville Station is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisville Station
    • Brookfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Oneida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Stockwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Stockwell is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockwell
    • Oriskany Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Sangerfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bridgewater
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Waterville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Onondaga County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Delphi Falls
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Fabius
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Apulia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Apulia is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apulia
    • Assembly Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Assembly Park is located in Onondaga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assembly Park
    • Tully
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Preston, with the one closest to Preston listed first.
    • Gilbertsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Copes Corner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Copes Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copes Corner
    • Pittsfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Pittsfield is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
    • South Edmeston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • South Edmeston is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Edmeston
    • Morris
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Youmans Corner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Youmans Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youmans Corner
    • Unadilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Edmeston
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wells Bridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Garrattsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Otego
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Welcome
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Welcome is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
    • West Burlington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Tioga County
    • Ketchumville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ketchumville is located in Tioga County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketchumville

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

Cemeteries Near Preston ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Preston.

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 Preston - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Lewis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Rogers Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Packer - Mason Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Heady Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Curtiss Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Slater Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mason - Packer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Harris Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Corbin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Stafford Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • South Plymouth Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (439 more) ...
    • Beardsley Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Blackman Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Mt. Hope Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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 Preston had a population of 115 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • East McDonough
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • East McDonough is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East McDonough
  • Kirk
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Kirk is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
  • South Plymouth
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • South Plymouth is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Plymouth
  • Norwich
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Plymouth
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • East Pharsalia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Oxford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Haynes
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Haynes is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
  • North Pharsalia
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • North Pharsalia is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pharsalia
  • McDonough
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Tyner
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Tyner is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
  • North Norwich
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • North Norwich is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Norwich
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Sherburne Four Corners
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Pharsalia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Pharsalia is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pharsalia
    • Beaver Meadow
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Beaver Meadow is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Meadow

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

Newspapers Published in Preston ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Preston.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Preston, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Preston.

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 Preston:

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