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 Sheldon (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 Sheldon. 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 and doctors 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.
Sheldon is located in Wyoming 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 Wyoming County: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee & Livingston.
Below are the counties that are near Sheldon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sheldon:
- Wyoming County (The home county of Sheldon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Harris Corners
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
- Java Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Johnsonburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Varysburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- North Java
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Folsomdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
- Java Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Curriers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Curriers is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
- Attica
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Smiths Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
- Dale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bliss
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Arcade
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Allegany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Fairview
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Hume
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wiscoy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wiscoy is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscoy
- Fillmore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rushford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Houghton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Caneadea
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oramel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oramel is located in Allegany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oramel
- Cattaraugus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Yorkshire
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Yorkshire is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
- Delevan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Elton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Elton is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
- Machias
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bird
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
- Brooklyn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Franklinville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Erie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Porterville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Porterville is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Williston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dutchtown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dutchtown is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
- Holland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Protection
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Protection is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protection
- East Aurora
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Alden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Billington Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Billington Heights is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billington Heights
- Elma Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elma Center is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma Center
- Griffins Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Griffins Mills is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Mills
- Alden Center
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Alden Center is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden Center
- Elma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Jewettville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jewettville is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewettville
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Griswold
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Griswold is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Sawens
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sawens is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
- Alexander
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Corfu
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Brookville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brookville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
- Linden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Linden is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
- West Bethany
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- West Bethany is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bethany
- East Alexander
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Alexander is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Alexander
- Indian Falls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Indian Falls is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Falls
- North Pembroke
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- North Pembroke is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pembroke
- Ridgewood Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ridgewood Village is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
- Bushville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bushville is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushville
- Batavia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Pine Tavern
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pine Tavern is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Tavern
- Lewis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lewis is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
- Craigs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Craigs is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs
- Leicester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Leicester is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leicester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 441 people
- Former names for Leicester:
- Leister
- Moscow
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leicester <1>
- Nunda
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cuylerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cuylerville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuylerville
- Mount Morris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dalton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- York
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- York is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Inverness
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Inverness is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Geneseo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Niagara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Rapids
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rapids is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapids
- Dysinger
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dysinger is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysinger
- Raymond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Raymond is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Park Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Park Village is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
- Hoffman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hoffman is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
- Martinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Martinsville is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- North Tonawanda
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Tonawanda is located in Niagara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tonawanda
- Population from the 2020 Census: 30,050 people
- Orleans County
- West Barre
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- West Barre is located in Orleans County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Barre
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sheldon, see our County-by-County Page for Sheldon.
Cemeteries Near Sheldon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sheldon.
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 Sheldon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sheldon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- St. Caecilias Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- New St. Cecilia's Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. John's Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Strykersville Pioneer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Frink's Corners Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Humphrey's Hollow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Persons Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Hedges Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Strykersville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Java Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hunter Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (349 more) ...
- St. Nicholas Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Silver Maple Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Java Pioneer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Sheldon had a population of 366 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sheldon, with the one closest to Sheldon listed first.
- Strykersville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Java Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- North Java
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Johnsonburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
- Varysburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Folsomdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
- Java Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bennington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bennington is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
- Wales Center
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cowlesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Williston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Porterville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Porterville is located in Erie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- South Wales
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Curriers
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Curriers is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
- Sierks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sierks is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sierks
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sheldon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sheldon.
Newspapers Published in Sheldon ...
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 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sheldon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sheldon, 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 Sheldon.
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 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 Sheldon:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Wyoming County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegany County
- Cattaraugus County
- Erie County
- Genesee County
- Livingston County
- Niagara County
- Orleans 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 Sheldon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Sheldon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |