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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 Westport (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 Westport. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.

Westport is located in Essex 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 Essex County: Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, Washington, Addison (VT) & Chittenden (VT).

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

  • Essex County     (The home county of Westport)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
    • Whallonsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Whallonsburg is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whallonsburg
    • Elizabethtown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Craterclub
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Craterclub is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craterclub
    • Lewis
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Lewis is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
    • Witherbee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Witherbee is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witherbee
    • Reber
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Reber is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reber
    • Port Henry
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Moriah
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Willsboro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Willsboro Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Willsboro Point is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willsboro Point
    • Saint Huberts
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Saint Huberts is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Huberts
    • Ironville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Ironville is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironville
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
    • Au Sable Forks
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Thomasville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Thomasville is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
    • Village of Keeseville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Village of Keeseville is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Village of Keeseville
      • Estimated population in 2015: 1,750 people
    • Ausable Chasm
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Ausable Chasm is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ausable Chasm
    • Harkness
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Harkness is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harkness
    • Black Brook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Black Brook is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Brook
    • Peru
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Laphams Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Laphams Mills is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laphams Mills
  • Warren County
  • Addison County (VT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
    • Panton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Panton is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 718 people
    • Ferrisburgh
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Ferrisburgh is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrisburgh
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,691 people
    • Ferrisburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Ferrisburg is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrisburg
    • Vergennes
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Addison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Addison is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,320 people
    • Addison
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • North Ferrisburgh Station
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Chimney Point
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Chimney Point is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chimney Point
    • Waltham
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Waltham is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waltham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
    • North Ferrisburgh
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Palmer Corner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Palmer Corner is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer Corner
    • Weybridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Weybridge is located in Addison County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weybridge
  • Chittenden County (VT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
    • Charlotte
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Charlotte
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Charlotte is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlotte
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,783 people
    • East Charlotte
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • East Charlotte is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Charlotte
    • Prindle Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Prindle Corners is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prindle Corners
    • Shelburne
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Shelburne is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelburne
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,649 people
    • Shelburne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hinesburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Hinesburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hinesburg is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinesburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,522 people
    • Queen City Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Queen City Park is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City Park
    • Saint George
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint George is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint George
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 744 people
    • South Burlington
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Burlington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Burlington is located in Chittenden County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 42,899 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Burlington <1>
  • Rutland County (VT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
    • Benson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Benson is located in Rutland County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 991 people
    • Forest Dale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest Dale is located in Rutland County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Dale
    • Sudbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sudbury is located in Rutland County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sudbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
  • Washington County (VT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westport, with the one closest to Westport listed first.
    • Sugarbush Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Sugarbush Village is located in Washington County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarbush Village
    • Fayston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fayston is located in Washington County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,338 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fayston <1>
    • North Fayston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • North Fayston is located in Washington County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fayston
    • Warren
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Warren is located in Washington County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,667 people
    • Warren
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Alpine Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Alpine Village is located in Washington County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine Village
    • Duxbury
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Duxbury is located in Washington County (VT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duxbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,307 people
    • Waitsfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Westport ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westport.

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 Westport - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hillside Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Basin Harbor - Beach Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Adams Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Warner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Newton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Black River Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Stevenson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Adams Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Spaulding Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Kent Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Kellogg - Field Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (244 more) ...
    • Eaton Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Porter Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Lakeview Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Westport had a population of 563 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 1990, Westport had a population of 539 people.

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

  • Panton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Panton is located in Addison County (VT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panton
  • Whallonsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Whallonsburg is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whallonsburg
  • Mineville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • West Addison
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • West Addison is located in Addison County (VT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Addison
  • Elizabethtown
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Witherbee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Witherbee is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witherbee
  • Vergennes
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Lewis
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Lewis is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis
  • New Russia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Reber
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Reber is located in Essex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reber
  • Moriah Center
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Port Henry
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Westport ...

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 106 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westport.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Westport. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Westport and those printed in the larger area surrounding Westport.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4> of Westport.

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 Westport:

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 Westport, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Westport) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.