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 Shenks Ferry (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 Shenks Ferry. 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 Shenks Ferry ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Shenks Ferry: Shenks Fry. (or less commonly used: Shenks Frry.)
- While the name of this community is Shenks Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Shenks Ferry may originally have been Shenk's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Shenks Ferry might be written as Shenk Ferry.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Shenks Ferry. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Shenks Ferry.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Shenks Ferry is located in York 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 York County: Baltimore (MD), Carroll (MD), Harford (MD), Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin & Lancaster.
Below are the counties that are near Shenks Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shenks Ferry:
- York County (The home county of Shenks Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Goram
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goram is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goram
- Airville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Kyleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Kyleville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyleville
- New Bridgeville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- New Bridgeville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bridgeville
- Craley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Craley is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craley
- Slab
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Slab is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab
- Bruce
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bruce is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
- Muddy Creek Forks
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Muddy Creek Forks is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddy Creek Forks
- Fenmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fenmore is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Laurel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Bittersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bittersville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bittersville
- Castle Fin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Castle Fin is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castle Fin
- Berks County
- Adamstown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Adamstown is located in Berks County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,905 people
- Adamstown has also been known as:
- Adamschteddel
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Adamstown <2>
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Mount Vernon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mount Vernon is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Tweedale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Tweedale is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tweedale
- Glen Roy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Roy is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Roy
- Hopewell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hopewell is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Atglen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Barnsley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Barnsley is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnsley
- Lenover
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lenover is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenover
- Oxford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Compass
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Compass is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compass
- Parkesburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Chrome
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chrome is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chrome
- Cambridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cambridge is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge
- Dauphin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Bachmanville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bachmanville is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bachmanville
- Royalton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Royalton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royalton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,019 people
- Middletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clifton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clifton is located in Dauphin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Hershey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Highspire
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hummelstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Colemanville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Colemanville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemanville
- Mount Nebo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Nebo is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Nebo
- Highville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Highville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highville
- Rockhill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rockhill is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhill
- Conestoga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Letort
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Letort is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letort
- Slackwater
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Slackwater is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slackwater
- Creswell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Creswell is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Union
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Union is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Millersville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Central Manor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Central Manor is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Manor
- Herrville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Herrville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrville
- Lebanon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Lawn
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Colebrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Colebrook is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colebrook
- Mount Gretna Heights
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mount Gretna Heights is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Gretna Heights
- Mount Gretna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Timber Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Timber Hills is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Hills
- Burd Coleman Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Burd Coleman Village is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burd Coleman Village
- Miners Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Miners Village is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miners Village
- Cornwall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Johnstown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Johnstown is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnstown
- Quentin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Fontana
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fontana is located in Lebanon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fontana
- Schaefferstown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Baltimore County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Gorsuch Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gorsuch Mills is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorsuch Mills
- Trump
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Trump is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trump
- Maryland Line
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Maryland Line is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland Line
- Shane
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shane is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shane
- Freeland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Stablersville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stablersville is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stablersville
- Parkton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Walker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Walker is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Eklo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Eklo is located in Baltimore County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eklo
- White Hall
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Monkton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carroll County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Young Mans Fancy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Young Mans Fancy is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Mans Fancy
- Roller
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Roller is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roller
- Lineboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lineboro is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineboro
- Rockbrook Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rockbrook Village is located in Carroll County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockbrook Village
- Cecil County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Bald Friar ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bald Friar is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Friar
- Oakwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Rock Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Springs is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Springs
- Conowingo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rowlandsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rowlandsville is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowlandsville
- Colora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Grove is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Grove
- Mason Dixon Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mason Dixon Village is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Dixon Village
- Rising Sun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sylmar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sylmar is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylmar
- Rock Run
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Run is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Run
- Winchester Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Winchester Village is located in Cecil County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester Village
- Harford County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Cambria
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cambria is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
- Whiteford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pylesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Street
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Dublin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Dublin is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dublin
- Federal Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Federal Hill is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Federal Hill
- Scarboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Scarboro is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarboro
- Chestnut Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Chestnut Hill is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Hill
- Poole
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Poole is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poole
- Jarrettsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Conowingo Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Conowingo Village is located in Harford County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conowingo Village
- Darlington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery County (MD)
- High Point Estates
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- High Point Estates is located in Montgomery County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Point Estates
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shenks Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Shenks Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Shenks Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shenks Ferry.
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 Shenks Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shenks Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Mt. Nebo Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Highville UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Christ Covenant Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Airville United Presbyterian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Marticville UMC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Conestoga UMC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conestoga UMC Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Conestoga UMC Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Conestoga.
- The Conestoga UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Conestoga Methodist Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2264305 <3>
- Chanceford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Kauffman Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Springville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mann - Grosh - Lutz Graveyard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- The Mann - Grosh - Lutz Graveyard is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mann - Grosh - Lutz Graveyard
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mann - Grosh - Lutz Graveyard is located less than 2 miles<4> to the west of Central Manor.
- The Mann - Grosh - Lutz Graveyard has also been known as:
- John Mann Cemetery
- Rohrer Farm Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2328116 <3>
- Olewiler Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (316 more) ...
- Craley Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Craley Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Craley.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #283170 <3>
- Trinity Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Habecker Mennonite Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
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.<5>
While we didn't find Shenks Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shenks Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shenks Ferry, with the one closest to Shenks Ferry listed first.
- Pequea
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Goram
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Goram is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goram
- Colemanville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Colemanville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemanville
- Safe Harbor
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Safe Harbor is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Safe Harbor
- Mount Nebo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mount Nebo is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Nebo
- Highville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Highville is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highville
- Lucky
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lucky is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
- Airville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Conestoga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rockhill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rockhill is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockhill
- Letort
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Letort is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letort
- Creswell
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Creswell is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Slackwater
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Slackwater is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slackwater
- New Bridgeville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- New Bridgeville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Bridgeville
- Sunnyburn
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sunnyburn is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyburn
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shenks Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shenks Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Shenks Ferry ...
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 158 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shenks Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shenks Ferry, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shenks Ferry.
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 Shenks Ferry:
- Websites specific to Pennsylvania
- Pages specific to York County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berks County
- Chester County
- Dauphin County
- Lancaster County
- Lebanon County
- Baltimore County
- Carroll County
- Cecil County
- Harford County
- Montgomery County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Pennsylvania
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Shenks Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <5> | 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 Shenks Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |