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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 Rector (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 Rector. 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.

Rector is located in Lewis County.

To see how the shape of New York's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lewis County: Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Oswego & Saint Lawrence.

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

  • Lewis County     (The home county of Rector)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Parkers
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Parkers. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers
      • Parkers is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Parkers
      • From Rector to Parkers
    • New Boston
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Boston. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
      • New Boston is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to New Boston
      • From Rector to New Boston
    • West Martinsburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Harrisburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Harrisburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
      • Harrisburg is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Harrisburg
      • From Rector to Harrisburg
    • Barnes Corners
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Lowville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Copenhagen
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Copenhagen have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copenhagen
      • Copenhagen is located in Lewis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 767 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Copenhagen <2>
    • Martinsburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Briggs Corner
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Denmark
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Denmark. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
      • Denmark is located in Lewis County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Denmark
      • From Rector to Denmark
    • Michigan Mills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Castorland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Castorland have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castorland
      • Castorland is located in Lewis County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 341 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Castorland <2>
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rector, with the one closest to Rector listed first.
    • Worth Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Worth
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • East Rodman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for East Rodman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rodman
      • East Rodman is located in Jefferson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to East Rodman
      • From Rector to East Rodman
    • Lorraine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • West Carthage
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Carthage have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Carthage
      • West Carthage is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,901 people
    • Carthage
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carthage have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
      • Carthage is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,256 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carthage <2>
    • Adams Center
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Adams
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Black River
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Herrings
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Herrings have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrings
      • Herrings is located in Jefferson County
      • Estimated population in 2017: 90 people
    • Deferiet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Deferiet have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deferiet
      • Deferiet is located in Jefferson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 278 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Deferiet <2>
    • Great Bend
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Oneida County
  • Oswego County

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

Cemeteries Near Rector ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rector.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Liberty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Liberty Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Liberty Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St.s Peter & Paul Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Newton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Newton Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Newton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Battle Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Battle Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Battle Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ashback Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Rural Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rural Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rural Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Gallup Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Gallup Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Gallup Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Old Martinsburg Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Martinsburg Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Martinsburg Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ebblie Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ebblie Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ebblie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (173 more) ...
    • Hillside Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hillside Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hillside Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Bent Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bent Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bent Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • South Champion Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the South Champion Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the South Champion Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Rector had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Parkers
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Parkers. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers
    • Parkers is located in Lewis County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Parkers
    • From Rector to Parkers
  • Windecker
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Windecker have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windecker
    • Windecker is located in Lewis County
  • New Boston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for New Boston. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Boston
    • New Boston is located in Lewis County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to New Boston
    • From Rector to New Boston
  • Hooker
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hooker have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
    • Hooker is located in Lewis County
  • West Martinsburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Harrisburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Harrisburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
    • Harrisburg is located in Lewis County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Harrisburg
    • From Rector to Harrisburg
  • Barnes Corners
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Worth Center
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Lowville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Copenhagen
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Copenhagen have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copenhagen
    • Copenhagen is located in Lewis County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 767 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Copenhagen <2>
  • Martinsburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Denmark
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Denmark. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
    • Denmark is located in Lewis County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Denmark
    • From Rector to Denmark
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • East Rodman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for East Rodman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rodman
      • East Rodman is located in Jefferson County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to East Rodman
      • From Rector to East Rodman
    • East Martinsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Watson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Rector ...

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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rector.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rector, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rector.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Rector:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Rector. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Lewis County: www.lewiscountyny.org/

The official website for State of New York: https://www.ny.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Rector) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Rector. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.7557, Longitude: -75.6768    
<5>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.
<6>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 Rector, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025