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 Shay (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 Shay. 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 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.
Shay is located in Washington County.
To see how the shape of Ohio's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Washington County: Athens, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Pleasants (WV), Tyler (WV) & Wood (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Shay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shay:
- Washington County (The home county of Shay)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Steel Run
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Steel Run is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel Run
- Ward ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ward is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Muskingum ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Muskingum is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muskingum
- Deucher
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Deucher is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deucher
- Dalzell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Dalzell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalzell
- Wade
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wade is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade
- Gasville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gasville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gasville
- Grandview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Grandview is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
- Matamoras
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Matamoras is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matamoras
- Population from the 2020 Census: 860 people
- Newell Run
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Newell Run is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newell Run
- Lower Salem
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lower Salem is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Salem
- Population from the 2020 Census: 82 people
- Whipple
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Whipple is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whipple
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Graysville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Graysville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 71 people
- Fly
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Fly is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fly
- Antioch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Antioch is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Plainview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Plainview is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
- Edwina
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Edwina is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwina
- Stafford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Stafford is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74 people
- Benwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Benwood is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benwood
- Lewisville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lewisville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 162 people
- Laings
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Laings is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laings
- Woodsfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sardis
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Carrick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Carrick is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carrick
- Morgan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Hackney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hackney is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hackney
- Reinersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Reinersville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reinersville
- Neelysville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Neelysville is located in Morgan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neelysville
- Stockport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Noble County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Harriettsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Harriettsville is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harriettsville
- Crooked Tree
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crooked Tree is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crooked Tree
- Dexter City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dexter City is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 124 people
- Fulda
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fulda is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulda
- South Olive
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- South Olive is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Olive
- Ashton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ashton is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
- Summerfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Summerfield is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Dungannon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Dungannon is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungannon
- Caldwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Whigville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Whigville is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whigville
- Sarahsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sarahsville is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarahsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 171 people
- Sharon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sharon is located in Noble County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Doddridge County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Duckworth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Duckworth is located in Doddridge County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duckworth
- West Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Avondale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Avondale is located in Doddridge County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Smithburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Smithburg is located in Doddridge County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
- Roberts
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Roberts is located in Doddridge County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roberts
- Marshall County (WV)
- Kent
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kent is located in Marshall County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Pleasants County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- DeLong
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- DeLong is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeLong
- Saint Marys
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Belmont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Belmont is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 853 people
- Sugar Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sugar Valley is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Valley
- Algeria ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Algeria is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algeria
- Willow Island
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Willow Island is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Island
- Schultz
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Schultz is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schultz
- Horseneck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Horseneck is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horseneck
- Adlai
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Adlai is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adlai
- Hebron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hebron is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Ritchie County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- League
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- League is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for League
- Ellenboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cornwallis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Cornwallis is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwallis
- Pennsboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cairo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Stanley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stanley is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
- Petroleum
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Petroleum is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petroleum
- Hannahdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hannahdale is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hannahdale
- Harrisville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Toll Gate
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Toll Gate is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toll Gate
- Cokeleys
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cokeleys is located in Ritchie County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cokeleys
- Tyler County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Friendly
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Friendly is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 120 people
- Adonis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Adonis is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adonis
- Sistersville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Meadville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Meadville is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadville
- Plum Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Plum Run is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Run
- Middlebourne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Paden City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- McKim
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- McKim is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKim
- Sandusky
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sandusky is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Blue
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Blue is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue
- Iuka
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Iuka is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iuka
- Big Moses
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Big Moses is located in Tyler County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Moses
- Wetzel County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- New Martinsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Minnie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Minnie is located in Wetzel County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnie
- Childs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Childs is located in Wetzel County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childs
- Proctor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Marion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Marion is located in Wetzel County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Ross
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ross is located in Wetzel County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Bebee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bebee is located in Wetzel County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bebee
- Pine Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Barker
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Barker is located in Wetzel County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker
- Wirt County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Freeport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Freeport is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
- Greencastle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Greencastle is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greencastle
- Newark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Newark is located in Wirt County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Wood County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Williamstown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Boaz
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boaz is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boaz
- Parkers Towne
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parkers Towne is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Towne
- Valley Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Mills is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Mills
- Dallison
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dallison is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallison
- North Hills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Hills is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 766 people
- Vienna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parkersburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kanawha
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kanawha is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha
- Blennerhassett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Blennerhassett is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blennerhassett
- Mineral Acres
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mineral Acres is located in Wood County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Acres
- Mineral Wells
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shay, see our County-by-County Page for Shay.
Cemeteries Near Shay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shay.
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 Shay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Pt. Pleasant Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Mt. Hope Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Muskingum Valley Baptist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Hall Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lawrence Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bowersock Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Taylor Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. Patricks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Patricks Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Patricks Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the west of Matamoras.
- The St. Patricks Cemetery has also been known as:
- Blue Bird Cemetery
- Ludlow Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2184817 <3>
- Graham Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tice Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rake Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (671 more) ...
- Independence Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- German Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hearn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<4>
While we didn't find Shay in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shay.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shay, with the one closest to Shay listed first.
- Archers Fork
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Archers Fork is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archers Fork
- Steel Run
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Steel Run is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steel Run
- Hohman
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hohman is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohman
- Wingett Run
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wingett Run is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingett Run
- Deucher
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Deucher is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deucher
- Ward ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ward is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
- Muskingum ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Muskingum is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muskingum
- Heslop
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Heslop is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heslop
- Fay
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fay is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fay
- Moss Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Moss Run is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Quarry ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Quarry is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry
- Wade
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wade is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Spring Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Run is located in Pleasants County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Run
- Dalzell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Dalzell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalzell
- Gasville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gasville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gasville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shay. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shay.
Newspapers Published in Shay ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shay, 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 Shay.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Shay:
- Websites specific to Ohio
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Monroe County
- Morgan County
- Noble County
- Doddridge County
- Marshall County
- Pleasants County
- Ritchie County
- Tyler County
- Wetzel County
- Wirt County
- Wood County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Ohio
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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Shay) 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 Shay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |