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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 Wales Hollow (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 Wales Hollow. 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 Wales Hollow ...

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.

  • A typical abbreviation for Wales Hollow: Wales Holw. (or less commonly used: Wales Hlw. or Wales Hllw.)
  • While the name of this community is Wales Hollow, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Wales Hollow may originally have been Wale's Hollow.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Wales Hollow might be written as Wale Hollow.

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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Wales Hollow is located in Erie 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 Erie County: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara & Wyoming.

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

  • Erie County     (The home county of Wales Hollow)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow listed first.
    • Porterville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Porterville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
    • Williston
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • East Aurora
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Holland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Billington Heights
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Billington Heights is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billington Heights
    • Dutchtown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Dutchtown is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchtown
    • Elma Center
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Elma Center is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma Center
    • Protection
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Protection is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Protection
    • Griffins Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Griffins Mills is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Mills
    • Jewettville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Jewettville is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewettville
    • Alden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Elma
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Brook
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Allegany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow listed first.
    • Fairview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairview is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Hume
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Rushford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wiscoy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Wiscoy is located in Allegany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiscoy
    • Fillmore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Houghton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Caneadea
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cattaraugus County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow 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)
      • Delevan is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delevan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,039 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delevan <2>
    • Elton
      (20 miles [32.2 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)
    • Brooklyn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Brooklyn is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Bird
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bird is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bird
    • Franklinville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Gowanda
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Gowanda is located in Cattaraugus County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gowanda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,524 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gowanda <2>
  • Genesee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow listed first.
    • Griswold
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Griswold is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
    • Sawens
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sawens is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sawens
    • Corfu
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Alexander
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Brookville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Brookville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookville
    • Linden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Linden is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linden
    • East Alexander
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • East Alexander is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Alexander
    • West Bethany
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • West Bethany is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bethany
    • 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
    • Bushville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bushville is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushville
    • Ridgewood Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Ridgewood Village is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgewood Village
    • Amherst
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Amherst is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amherst
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow listed first.
    • Lewis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewis is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
    • Pine Tavern
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Pine Tavern is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Tavern
    • Craigs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Craigs is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs
    • Nunda
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Nunda is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,274 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nunda <2>
    • Leicester
      (30 miles [48.3 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 <2>
    • Dalton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Niagara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow listed first.
    • Rapids
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Rapids is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rapids
    • Raymond
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Raymond is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
    • Park Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Park Village is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
    • Dysinger
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Dysinger is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dysinger
    • Martinsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Martinsville is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
    • North Tonawanda
      (27 miles [43.5 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
    • Hoffman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hoffman is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffman
    • Pendleton Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Pendleton Center is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton Center
    • Wurlitzer Park Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • South Lockport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • South Lockport is located in Niagara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lockport
  • Orleans County
    • West Barre
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • West Barre is located in Orleans County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Barre
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wales Hollow, with the one closest to Wales Hollow listed first.
    • Harris Corners
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Harris Corners is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Corners
    • Java Village
      (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
    • Varysburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Java Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • North Java
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Johnsonburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Johnsonburg is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsonburg
    • Curriers
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Curriers is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curriers
    • Attica
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Arcade
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Smiths Corner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Smiths Corner is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths Corner
    • Dale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Bliss
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Wales Hollow ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wales Hollow.

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 Wales Hollow - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. John's Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Hedges Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Goodleberg Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hunter Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Strykersville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Strykersville Pioneer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Caecilias Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • New St. Cecilia's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Holmes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Persons Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (359 more) ...
    • Maple Rest Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Humphrey Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Java 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.<3>

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

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

  • Wales Center
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Strykersville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sheldon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Sheldon is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldon
  • Porterville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Porterville is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
  • South Wales
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Java Village
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Williston
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Folsomdale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Folsomdale is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsomdale
  • East Elma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • East Elma is located in Erie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Elma
  • East Aurora
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Holland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Marilla
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Bennington
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bennington is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennington
    • Cowlesville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jamison Road
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jamison Road is located in Erie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison Road

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

Newspapers Published in Wales Hollow ...

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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wales Hollow.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wales Hollow, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wales Hollow.

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 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 Wales Hollow:

Footnotes ...

<1>It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties).
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 Wales Hollow, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wales Hollow) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.