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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 Gillingham (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 Gillingham. 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 northeast 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 north.

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 north 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.

Gillingham is located in Clearfield County.

To see how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clearfield County: Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana & Jefferson.

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

  • Clearfield County     (The home county of Gillingham)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Shiloh
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Shiloh is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Mount Joy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mount Joy is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Joy
    • Keewaydin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
    • Woodland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Barrett
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Barrett is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Plymptonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Plymptonville is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymptonville
    • Clearfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Wallaceton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Wallaceton is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallaceton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Kylertown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hyde
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hyde is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyde
    • Morrisdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Pottersdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Pottersdale is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottersdale
  • Blair County
    • Tyrone
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Cambria County
  • Cameron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Mix Run
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Mix Run is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mix Run
    • Driftwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wyside
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Wyside is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyside
    • Huntley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntley is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntley
    • Cameron
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Cameron is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
    • Beechwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Beechwood is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beechwood
    • Weber City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Weber City is located in Cameron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
    • Emporium
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Centre County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Pine Glen
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Pine Glen is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Glen
    • Casanova
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Casanova is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casanova
    • North Philipsburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • North Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Philipsburg
    • Philipsburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • South Philipsburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • South Philipsburg is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Philipsburg
    • Moshannon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Moshannon is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moshannon
    • Glass City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Glass City is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glass City
    • New Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • New Town is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Clarence
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Snow Shoe
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Pancake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Pancake is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancake
    • Poorman Side
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Poorman Side is located in Centre County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poorman Side
  • Clinton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Keating
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Keating is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keating
    • Bitumen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bitumen is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bitumen
    • Cooks Run
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cooks Run is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Run
    • Westport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hammersley Fork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hammersley Fork is located in Clinton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammersley Fork
  • Elk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Benezette
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Caledonia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Caledonia is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Scattertown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Scattertown is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scattertown
    • Grant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Grant is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
    • Byrnedale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dents Run
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Dents Run is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dents Run
    • Challenge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Challenge is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Challenge
    • Dagus Mines
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Dagus Mines is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dagus Mines
    • Kylers Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Kylers Corners is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kylers Corners
    • Brockport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Marys
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Shawmut
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Shawmut is located in Elk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
  • Huntingdon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Pennington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Pennington is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
    • Dungarvin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dungarvin is located in Huntingdon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dungarvin
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillingham, with the one closest to Gillingham listed first.
    • Crenshaw
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Crenshaw is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crenshaw
    • Falls Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Pancoast
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pancoast is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pancoast
    • Red Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Red Mill is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mill
    • Sykesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Brockway
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Prescottville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Prescottville is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescottville
    • Reynoldsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Sandy Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sandy Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Valley
  • Lawrence County
    • Big Run
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Big Run is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people

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

Cemeteries Near Gillingham ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gillingham.

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

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

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

  • Murray Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Congress Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Fulton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Stewart Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Owens Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Keewaydin Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Stoneville Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Center Hill Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Crown Crest Memorial Park
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (139 more) ...
    • Old Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hunter Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • New Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Gillingham in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Gillingham.

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

  • Lecontes Mills
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Frenchville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Frenchville is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchville
  • Shiloh
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Shiloh is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Leonard
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Leonard is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
  • Woodland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Keewaydin
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Keewaydin is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keewaydin
  • Clearfield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Clearfield Junction
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Clearfield Junction is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearfield Junction
  • Bigler
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Bigler is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigler
  • Riverview
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Riverview is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
  • Wallaceton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Wallaceton is located in Clearfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallaceton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
  • Karthaus
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Allport
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Kylertown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Belford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Belford is located in Clearfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belford

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

Newspapers Published in Gillingham ...

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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gillingham.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gillingham, 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 Gillingham.

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 helpful 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 Gillingham:

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