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 Black Plain (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 Black Plain. 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 Black Plain ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Black Plain: Black Pln.
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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Black Plain is located in Washington County.
To see how the shape of the state'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: New London (CT), Windham (CT), Dukes (MA), Suffolk (NY), Bristol, Kent & Newport.
Below are the counties that are near Black Plain. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Black Plain:
- Washington County (The home county of Black Plain)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Austin
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Austin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
- Richmond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Richmond is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,886 people
- Tripps Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Tripps Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tripps Corner
- Arcadia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arcadia is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Lewis City
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lewis City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis City
- Exeter
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Exeter is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,531 people
- Liberty
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Wyoming
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wyoming is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Exeter
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Exeter is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Usquepaug
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Usquepaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Usquepaug
- Hope Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hope Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope Valley
- Moscow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moscow is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- Bristol County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Annawomscutt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Annawomscutt is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annawomscutt
- Barrington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,015 people
- Bristol
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bristol is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Barrington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bristol is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,866 people
- Warren
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Warren is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Coggeshall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Coggeshall is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coggeshall
- Warren
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Warren is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,469 people
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- West Greenwich
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- West Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greenwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,418 people
- Kitts Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- Gortons Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- Shippee Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- Spring Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Coventry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34,931 people
- Coventry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- East Greenwich
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- East Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,141 people
- Greene
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Greene is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Quidnick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- West Warwick
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- West Warwick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warwick
- Rice City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rice City is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice City
- Newport County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Jamestown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,482 people
- Jamestown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Clarks Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Prudence Island
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Prudence Island is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudence Island
- Brenton Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brenton Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
- Lawtons
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lawtons is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawtons
- Newport
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Newport is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,412 people
- Melville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Melville is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
- Middletown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Newport East
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Newport East is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport East
- Portsmouth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Portsmouth is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portsmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,108 people
- Middletown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,803 people
- Providence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Kent ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Richmond ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Clayville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clayville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayville
- Ashland ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Rockland ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Rockland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Oaklawn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Oaklawn is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklawn
- Foster
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Foster is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,747 people
- Meshanticut
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Meshanticut is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshanticut
- Sockanosset
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sockanosset is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sockanosset
- Chopmist
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Chopmist is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chopmist
- Garden City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Knightsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Knightsville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knightsville
- New London County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Voluntown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Voluntown is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voluntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,500 people
- Voluntown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Glasgo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- North Stonington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- North Stonington is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Stonington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,197 people
- Griswold
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Griswold is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,660 people
- North Stonington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mashantucket
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pawcatuck
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jewett City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Preston
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Clarks Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Lisbon
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lisbon is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,238 people
- Tolland County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Atwoodville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Atwoodville is located in Tolland County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwoodville
- Mansfield Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Conantville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Conantville is located in Tolland County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conantville
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Ekonk
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Oneco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sterling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sterling is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,764 people
- Sterling
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Moosup
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,084 people
- Plainfield Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Plainfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Central Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Killingly
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Killingly is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Killingly
- Wauregan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bristol County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Seekonk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seekonk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,851 people
- Harris
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Harris is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Ocean Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ocean Grove is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Grove
- South Rehoboth
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- South Rehoboth is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rehoboth
- Globe Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Globe Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
- Fall River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fall River is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89,792 people
- Hortonville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hortonville is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hortonville
- North Seekonk
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Seekonk
- Swansea Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Swansea Center is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansea Center
- Swansea
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Swansea is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansea
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,000 people
- Bowenville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bowenville is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowenville
- Flint Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Flint Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Village
- Worcester County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Blackstone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Blackstone is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackstone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9,209 people
- Millville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Millville is located in Worcester County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,236 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Black Plain, see our County-by-County Page for Black Plain.
Cemeteries Near Black Plain ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Black Plain.
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 Black Plain - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Black Plain covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Tefft Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Perkins Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Allen Straight Lot
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- James Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Lillibridge Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lillibridge Burial Ground
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Arnold Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Straight Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lewis Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Austin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lewis Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lockwood Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Continue List (744 more) ...
- Exeter Historical Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Indian Rock Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Cezar Onion Plot
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
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 Black Plain in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Black Plain.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Black Plain, with the one closest to Black Plain listed first.
- Pine Hill
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Pine Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Hill
- Arcadia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Arcadia is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Wyoming
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wyoming is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Liberty
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Escoheag
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Escoheag is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escoheag
- Hope Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hope Valley is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hope Valley
- Usquepaug
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Usquepaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Usquepaug
- Exeter
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Exeter is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Rockville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Canonchet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Canonchet is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canonchet
- Carolina
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Carolina is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Kingston Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Kingston Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston Station
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- West Kingston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- West Kingston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Kingston
- Wickford Junction
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wickford Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickford Junction
- Coventry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Black Plain. See our List of 1890's Communities around Black Plain.
Newspapers Published in Black Plain ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Black Plain.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Black Plain, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Black Plain.
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 Black Plain:
- Websites specific to Rhode Island
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bristol County
- Kent County
- Newport County
- Providence County
- New London County
- Tolland County
- Windham County
- Bristol County
- Worcester County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Rhode Island
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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Black Plain) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | The Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission (RIHCC) has created and maintains a database of cemeteries. More information about the RIHCC can be found on their website: rihistoriccemeteries.org. |
| <4> | 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. |
| <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 Black Plain, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |