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 West Hill (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 West Hill. 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 West Hill ...
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 West Hill: W. Hill
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Hill. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Hill.
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 hospitals and doctors 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.
West Hill is located in Schenectady 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 Schenectady County: Albany, Montgomery, Saratoga & Schoharie.
Below are the counties that are near West Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Hill:
- Schenectady County (The home county of West Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Scotia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rotterdam
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rynex Corners
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rynex Corners is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rynex Corners
- Schenectady
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Princetown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Princetown is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princetown
- Rotterdam Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pattersonville - Rotterdam Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stoodley Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Stoodley Corners is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoodley Corners
- Pattersonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mariaville Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mariaville Lake is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mariaville Lake
- Aqueduct
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Aqueduct is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aqueduct
- Alplaus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Duane Lake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Duane Lake is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duane Lake
- Albany County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Fullers
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fullers is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullers
- Altamont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hartmans Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hartmans Corners is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartmans Corners
- Lisha Kill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lisha Kill is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisha Kill
- Guilderland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Meadowdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Meadowdale is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
- Colonie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Westmere
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Westmere is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westmere
- Knox
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Voorheesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Latham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- New Salem
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- New Salem is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- New Scotland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- New Scotland is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Scotland
- Columbia County
- North Chatham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Chatham is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chatham
- Fulton County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Perth
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Perth is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perth
- Mills Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Mills Corners is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Corners
- Union Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Union Mills is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
- Broadalbin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- North Broadalbin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- North Broadalbin is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Broadalbin
- Progress
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Progress is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Berkshire
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Berkshire is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
- Johnstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gloversville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mayfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Meco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Meco is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meco
- Sammonsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sammonsville is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sammonsville
- Cranberry Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cranberry Creek is located in Fulton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranberry Creek
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Greenville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Norton Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Norton Hill is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Hill
- Oak Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Medway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Medway is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medway
- Surprise
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Cranesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Amsterdam
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rockton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rockton is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Burtonsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Burtonsville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burtonsville
- Hagaman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Harrower
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Harrower is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrower
- Wallins Corners
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wallins Corners is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Corners
- Fort Johnson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Auriesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Tribes Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fonda
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fultonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Randall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Randall is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Rensselaer County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Lansingburgh
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lansingburgh is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lansingburgh
- Pleasantdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Pleasantdale is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantdale
- Troy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Troy is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 48,804 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <1>
- Sycaway
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sycaway is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycaway
- Rensselaer
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Albia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Albia is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albia
- Defreestville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Defreestville is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defreestville
- Hampton Manor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton Manor is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton Manor
- Couse
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Couse is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Couse
- Wyantskill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wyantskill is located in Rensselaer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyantskill
- Wynantskill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Schaghticoke
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- East Greenbush
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Saratoga County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Groom Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Groom Corners is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groom Corners
- Charlton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Charlton is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton
- Burnt Hills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Charlton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- West Charlton is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Charlton
- Harmony Corners
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Harmony Corners is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Corners
- Elnora
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elnora is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elnora
- Jonesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesville is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesville
- Clifton Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Birchton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Birchton is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchton
- Ballston Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ballston Center is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballston Center
- Country Knolls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Country Knolls is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Knolls
- Halfmoon Beach
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Halfmoon Beach is located in Saratoga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfmoon Beach
- Round Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Schoharie County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Esperance
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Gallupville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Central Bridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Schoharie
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Howes Cave
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Middleburgh
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenbush
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greenbush is located in Schoharie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbush
- Mineral Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mineral Springs is located in Schoharie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Franklinton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklinton is located in Schoharie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklinton
- Argusville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Argusville is located in Schoharie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argusville
- Cobleskill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Livingstonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Livingstonville is located in Schoharie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingstonville
- Lawyersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lawyersville is located in Schoharie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyersville
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Crandall Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Crandall Corners is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crandall Corners
- North Easton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Easton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Easton
- Fly Summit
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fly Summit is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fly Summit
- Archdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Archdale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archdale
- Center Cambridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Center Cambridge is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Cambridge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Hill, see our County-by-County Page for West Hill.
Cemeteries Near West Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Hill.
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 West Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Viewland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viewland Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Viewland Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the west of Schenectady.
- The Viewland Cemetery has also been known as:
- Cobblestone Reformed Church Cemetery
- View Land Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #66615 <3>
- Van Slyck Cemetery
- The Van Slyck Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Slyck Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #66601 <3>
- Vedder Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vedder Family Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Vedder Family Cemetery is located in Schenectady.
- The Vedder Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Vedder Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2332933 <3>
- St.s Cyril and Method Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St.s Cyril and Method Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St.s Cyril and Method Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Rotterdam.
- The St.s Cyril and Method Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Cyril Cemetery
- South Schenectady Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65950 <3>
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sanders Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Old Reformed Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Maple Shade Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Park Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Scotia.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #65585 <3>
- Van Patten Old Burial Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mabee Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Pangburn-Wemple Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (542 more) ...
- Schenectady Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Fisher Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fisher Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Rotterdam.
- The Fisher Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rotterdam UMC Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #64539 <3>
- First Presbyterian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for First Presbyterian Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the First Presbyterian Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Schenectady.
- The First Presbyterian Cemetery has also been known as:
- First Presbyterian Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #641199 <3>
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.<4>
While we didn't find West Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Hill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Hill, with the one closest to West Hill listed first.
- Rotterdam
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Schenectady
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Schenectady is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Schenectady
- Scotia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rynex Corners
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Rynex Corners is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rynex Corners
- Kelleys
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kelleys is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelleys
- Princetown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Princetown is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princetown
- Schenectady
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Gifford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Gifford is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gifford
- Rotterdam Junction
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pattersonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fullers
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fullers is located in Albany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fullers
- Aqueduct
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Aqueduct is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aqueduct
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Alplaus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Glenville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Glenville is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Glenville
- Hoffmans
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hoffmans is located in Schenectady County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoffmans
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Hill.
Newspapers Published in West Hill ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Hill, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Hill.
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 West Hill:
- Websites specific to New York
- Pages specific to Schenectady County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Albany County
- Columbia County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Montgomery County
- Rensselaer County
- Saratoga County
- Schoharie County
- Washington 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- West Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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> | 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 West Hill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |