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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 Silver Lake (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 Silver Lake. 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 Silver Lake ...

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 Silver Lake: Silver Lk.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Silver Lake. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Silver Lake.

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 and doctors 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.

Silver Lake is located in Otsego 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 Otsego County: Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery & Schoharie.

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

  • Otsego County     (The home county of Silver Lake)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Lake, with the one closest to Silver Lake listed first.
    • Pittsfield
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Pittsfield is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
    • South Edmeston
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • South Edmeston is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Edmeston
    • Morris
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Garrattsville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Edmeston
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Welcome
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Welcome is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welcome
    • Gilbertsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • West Burlington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Copes Corner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Copes Corner is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copes Corner
    • Lena
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Lena is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lena
    • Burlington Flats
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Patent
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Patent is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patent
    • Laurens
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Chenango County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Lake, with the one closest to Silver Lake listed first.
    • New Berlin
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Columbus
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Columbus is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
    • Button City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Button City is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Button City
    • Sherburne
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • North Norwich
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • North Norwich is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Norwich
    • Lathams Corners
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Lathams Corners is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lathams Corners
    • Norwich
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Mount Upton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Smyrna
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Plymouth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Haynes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Haynes is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
    • Guilford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Kirk
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Kirk is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirk
  • Delaware County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Lake, with the one closest to Silver Lake listed first.
    • Franklin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • North Franklin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • North Franklin is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Franklin
    • Sidney
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Sidney Center
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Merrickville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Merrickville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrickville
    • Davenport Center
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Masonville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Tacoma
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Tacoma is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma
    • Shackport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Shackport is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shackport
    • Mundale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mundale is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mundale
    • Simpsonville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Simpsonville is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsonville
    • Delhi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Delhi is located in Delaware County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,871 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delhi <1>
  • Herkimer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Lake, with the one closest to Silver Lake listed first.
    • West Winfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Chepachet
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Chepachet is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepachet
    • Cedarville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedarville is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
    • Millers Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Millers Mills is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Mills
    • South Columbia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • South Columbia is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Columbia
    • Cullen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cullen is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
    • Norwich Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Norwich Corners is located in Herkimer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwich Corners
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Lake, with the one closest to Silver Lake listed first.
    • South Hamilton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • South Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hamilton
    • Brookfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Earlville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • East Hamilton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • East Hamilton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
    • Hamilton Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hamilton Center is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton Center
    • Hamilton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Randallsville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Randallsville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randallsville
    • Pecksport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pecksport is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pecksport
    • Bouckville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Madison
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Woods
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Woods is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Woods
    • Solsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • West Eaton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • West Eaton is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Eaton
  • Oneida County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Silver Lake, with the one closest to Silver Lake listed first.
    • Bridgewater
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Stockwell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Stockwell is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockwell
    • Sangerfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • North Bridgewater
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • North Bridgewater is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bridgewater
    • Waterville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Pine Village Estates
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Pine Village Estates is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village Estates
    • Cassville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Oriskany Falls
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Clayville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Augusta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Augusta is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta
    • Paris
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Paris is located in Oneida County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
    • Sauquoit
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Clinton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Silver Lake ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Silver Lake.

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 Silver Lake - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Scribner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • North Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • St. Andrew's Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Edmonds Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Wightman Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Dyer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Amblerville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Columbus Center Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Gazlay Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Columbus Corners Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (415 more) ...
    • Holmesville Burying Ground
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Riverside Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Mann Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)

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.<3>

While we didn't find Silver Lake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Silver Lake.

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

  • New Berlin
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pittsfield
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pittsfield is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
  • Chenango Lake
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Chenango Lake is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chenango Lake
  • South New Berlin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • South New Berlin is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South New Berlin
  • Morris
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • South Edmeston
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • South Edmeston is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Edmeston
  • Columbus
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Columbus is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
  • Holmesville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Holmesville is located in Chenango County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
  • New Lisbon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • New Lisbon is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lisbon
  • Maple Grove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Maple Grove is located in Otsego County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
  • Garrattsville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Edmeston
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Tallette
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Tallette is located in Chenango County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallette
    • Gilbertsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • West Laurens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • West Laurens is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Laurens

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

Newspapers Published in Silver Lake ...

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 Silver Lake.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Silver Lake, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Silver Lake.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Silver Lake:

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>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.
<3>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 Silver Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Silver Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.