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 Watts Flats (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 Watts Flats. 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 Watts Flats ...
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 Watts Flats: Watts Flts.
- While the name of this community is Watts Flats, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Watts Flats may originally have been Watt's Flats.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Watts Flats might be written as Watt Flats.
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 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.
Watts Flats is located in Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua County: Cattaraugus, Erie, Erie (PA) & Warren (PA).
Below are the counties that are near Watts Flats. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Watts Flats:
- Chautauqua County (The home county of Watts Flats)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Niobe
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ashville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Panama
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Busti
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Busti is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busti
- Quigley Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Quigley Park is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quigley Park
- Lakewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Greenhurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bemus Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Phillips Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Phillips Mills is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Mills
- Celoron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fluvanna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fluvanna is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fluvanna
- North Clymer
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- North Clymer is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Clymer
- Cattaraugus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Onoville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Onoville is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoville
- Randolph
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Conewango
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Conewango is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conewango
- East Randolph
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- East Randolph is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Randolph
- Estimated population in 2012: 615 people
- Elko ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Elko is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Elko has also been known as:
- Wolf Run
- Leon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Quaker Bridge ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Quaker Bridge is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quaker Bridge
- Quaker Bridge has also been known as:
- Tunesassa
- Axeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Axeville is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Axeville
- Cold Spring
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cold Spring is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cold Spring
- Napoli
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Napoli is located in Cattaraugus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoli
- South Dayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Spartansburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vrooman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Vrooman is located in Crawford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vrooman
- Canadohta Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Canadohta Lake is located in Crawford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadohta Lake
- Riceville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Riceville is located in Crawford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Centerville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lincolnville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lincolnville is located in Crawford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincolnville
- Rootville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rootville is located in Crawford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rootville
- Tryonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tryonville is located in Crawford County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryonville
- Erie County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Corry
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Dam
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Dam is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Dam
- Elgin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elgin is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
- Wattsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Arbuckle
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Arbuckle is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbuckle
- Hornby
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hornby is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornby
- North East
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Union City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Phillipsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Phillipsville is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillipsville
- Freeport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Freeport is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
- Waterford Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Waterford Station is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford Station
- LeBoeuf Garden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- LeBoeuf Garden is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LeBoeuf Garden
- Mill Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mill Village is located in Erie County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 383 people
- Forest County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Fagundus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fagundus is located in Forest County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagundus
- Trunkeyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Trunkeyville is located in Forest County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trunkeyville
- Warren County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Sugar Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lottsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lottsville is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottsville
- Columbus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Youngsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Putnamville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Putnamville is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Putnamville
- Colza
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Colza is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colza
- Pittsfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Garland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Garland is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Irvine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Spring Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- West Spring Creek is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Spring Creek
- East Branch
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- East Branch is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Branch
- East Warren
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- East Warren is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Warren
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Watts Flats, see our County-by-County Page for Watts Flats.
Cemeteries Near Watts Flats ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Watts Flats.
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 Watts Flats - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Watts Flats covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Blockville Union Burying Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Grant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wellman Road Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tillotson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wintergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Turnpike Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cherry Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Panama Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Knapp Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (184 more) ...
- Gardner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Town Line Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Open Meadows Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<5>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Watts Flats had a population of 247 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Watts Flats, with the one closest to Watts Flats listed first.
- Blockville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blockville is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blockville
- Boomertown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Boomertown is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boomertown
- Ashville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Panama
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Lottsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lottsville is located in Warren County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lottsville
- Busti
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Busti is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Busti
- Lakewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenhurst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Griffiths
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Griffiths is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffiths
- Driftwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Driftwood is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Driftwood
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Belleview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belleview is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
- Colburns
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Colburns is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colburns
- Fluvanna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fluvanna is located in Chautauqua County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fluvanna
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Watts Flats. See our List of 1890's Communities around Watts Flats.
Newspapers Published in Watts Flats ...
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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Watts Flats.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Watts Flats, 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 Watts Flats.
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 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 Watts Flats:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Chautauqua County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cattaraugus County
- Crawford County
- Erie County
- Forest County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New York
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> | 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. |
| <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 drawn from Point A (ie- Watts Flats) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <5> | 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 Watts Flats, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |