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 Nelson (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 Nelson. 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 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 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.
Nelson is located in Tioga 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 Tioga County: Chemung (NY), Steuben (NY), Bradford, Lycoming & Potter.
Below are the counties that are near Nelson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Nelson:
- Tioga County (The home county of Nelson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Farmington Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Farmington Hill is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington Hill
- Elkland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pritchard ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pritchard is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchard
- Lawrenceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lawrenceville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrenceville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 633 people
- Osceola
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Osceola is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Hammond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hammond is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Tioga
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Keeneyville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Keeneyville is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeneyville
- Niles Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Niles Valley is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niles Valley
- Knoxville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Austinburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Austinburg is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinburg
- Cowanesque
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cowanesque is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowanesque
- Charleston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Charleston is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
- Bradford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Coryland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Coryland is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coryland
- Austinville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Austinville is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austinville
- Gillett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Gillett is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett
- Sylvania
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvania is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvania
- Population from the 2020 Census: 209 people
- Fassett
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Fassett is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fassett
- Berrytown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Berrytown is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrytown
- Columbia Cross Roads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia Cross Roads is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Cross Roads
- Covert
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Covert is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covert
- Bentley Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bentley Creek is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley Creek
- Troy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Middletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Big Pond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Big Pond is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Pond
- Alba
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alba is located in Bradford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alba
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Lycoming County
- Lorenton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lorenton is located in Lycoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorenton
- Potter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- North Fork
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- North Fork is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fork
- Elmer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Elmer is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Hector
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hector is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hector
- Harrison Valley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Harrison Valley is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Valley
- Sunderlinville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sunderlinville is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunderlinville
- Galeton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- North Bingham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- North Bingham is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bingham
- Ulysses
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- West Bingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- West Bingham is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bingham
- Brookland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Brookland is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookland
- Newfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Newfield is located in Potter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newfield
- Allegany County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Whitesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Independence
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Allegany County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Chemung County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Sagetown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sagetown is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagetown
- Webb Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Webb Mills is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb Mills
- Big Flats
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pine City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- West Elmira
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- West Elmira is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Elmira
- Southport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Southport is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southport
- Post Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Post Creek is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Creek
- Elmira
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Elmira Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Horseheads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pioneer Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pioneer Village is located in Chemung County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer Village
- Wellsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pine Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Schuyler County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Beaver Dams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moreland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moreland is located in Schuyler County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
- Townsend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Townsend is located in Schuyler County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Townsend
- Wedgewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wedgewood is located in Schuyler County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wedgewood
- Steuben County (NY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Van Vleet
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Van Vleet is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Vleet
- Lindley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Addison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Presho
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Presho is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Presho
- Rathbone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rathbone is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbone
- Caton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Caton is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caton
- Woodhull
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Gang Mills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gang Mills is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gang Mills
- Coopers Plains
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Corning
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Painted Post
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Riverside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Riverside is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
- Hedgesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hedgesville is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgesville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Nelson, see our County-by-County Page for Nelson.
Cemeteries Near Nelson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Nelson.
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 Nelson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Nelson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Nichols Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Liberty Pole Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mourey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Freeman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- McCollum Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lawrenceville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Addison Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Thompson - Wright Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Peters Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Swan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (303 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Tioga Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tioga Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Tioga Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Tioga.
- Seelye Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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 Nelson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Nelson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Nelson, with the one closest to Nelson listed first.
- Tompkins
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Tompkins is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkins
- Nichols
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Nichols is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nichols
- Farmington Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Farmington Hill is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington Hill
- Elkland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Elbridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elbridge is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Pritchard ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pritchard is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pritchard
- Van Vleet
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Van Vleet is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Vleet
- Freeman
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Freeman is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
- Osceola
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Osceola is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Hammond
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hammond is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Tioga Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Tioga Junction is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tioga Junction
- Rising
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rising is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rising
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Somers Lane
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Somers Lane is located in Tioga County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers Lane
- Lindley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Borden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Borden is located in Steuben County (NY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borden
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Nelson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Nelson.
Newspapers Published in Nelson ...
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 93 newspapers that have been published in the area around Nelson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Nelson, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Nelson.
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 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 Nelson:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to Tioga County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bradford County
- Lycoming County
- Potter County
- Allegany County
- Chemung County
- Schuyler County
- Steuben County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
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 Nelson, 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 from Point A (ie- Nelson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |