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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 Lafayette (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 Lafayette. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Lafayette 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 Lafayette. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lafayette:

  • Washington County     (The home county of Lafayette)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Wickford
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Wickford is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickford
    • Wickford Junction
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Wickford Junction is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickford Junction
    • Allenton
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Allenton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenton
    • Belleville
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Belleville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
    • North Kingstown
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • North Kingstown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Kingstown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,278 people
    • North Kingstown
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • North Kingstown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Kingstown
    • Exeter
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Exeter is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
    • Slocum
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Slocum is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Exeter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Exeter is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,531 people
    • Mount View
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount View is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount View
    • Saunderstown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Saunderstown is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saunderstown
    • Liberty
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Liberty is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
  • Bristol County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Bristol
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bristol is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
    • Annawomscutt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Annawomscutt is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annawomscutt
    • Barrington
      (13 miles [20.9 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
    • Barrington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Barrington is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
    • Bristol
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bristol is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,866 people
    • Warren
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Warren is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
    • Coggeshall
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Coggeshall is located in Bristol County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coggeshall
    • Warren
      (15 miles [24.1 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 Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • East Greenwich
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • East Greenwich is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 13,141 people
    • Shippee Corner
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
    • East Greenwich
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • East Greenwich is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
    • Cowesett
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Cowesett is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowesett
    • Buttonwoods
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Buttonwoods is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buttonwoods
    • Apponaug
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Apponaug is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apponaug
    • Quidnick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Quidnick is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
    • Warwick
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Warwick is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warwick
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81,189 people
    • Oakland Beach
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Oakland Beach is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Beach
    • Coventry
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Coventry is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
    • Kitts Corner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
    • Spring Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Lake is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
  • Newport County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Jamestown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jamestown is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,482 people
    • Jamestown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jamestown is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Prudence Island
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Prudence Island is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudence Island
    • Clarks Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Clarks Village is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
    • Lawtons
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Lawtons is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawtons
    • Brenton Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Brenton Village is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
    • Melville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Melville is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
    • Middletown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Middletown is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
    • Portsmouth
      (10 miles [16.1 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
    • Newport East
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Newport East is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport East
    • Newport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Newport is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,412 people
    • Middletown
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Oaklawn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Oaklawn is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklawn
    • Sockanosset
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Sockanosset is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sockanosset
    • Garden City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Garden City is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Meshanticut
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Meshanticut is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshanticut
    • Kent ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Kent is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
    • Bellefonte
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Bellefonte is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefonte
    • Cranston
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Cranston is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 81,142 people
    • Knightsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Knightsville is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knightsville
    • Riverside
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Riverside is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Simmonsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Simmonsville is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
    • Kent Corner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Kent Corner is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Corner
    • Richmond ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Richmond is located in Providence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
  • New London County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Voluntown
      (18 miles [29 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
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Glasgo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • North Stonington
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • 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
    • North Stonington
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Pawcatuck
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Griswold
      (22 miles [35.4 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
    • Clarks Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
    • Wequetequock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Wequetequock is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetequock
    • Mashantucket
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Preston
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Jewett City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Windham County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Oneco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Sterling
      (19 miles [30.6 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
    • Ekonk
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
    • Sterling
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Almyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
    • Moosup
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • South Killingly
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • South Killingly is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Killingly
    • Plainfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Plainfield is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,084 people
    • Central Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Plainfield Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
    • Plainfield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Wauregan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bristol County (MA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Globe Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Globe Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
    • Ocean Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ocean Grove is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Grove
    • Seekonk
      (17 miles [27.4 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
    • Fall River
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Fall River is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 89,792 people
    • Harris
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Harris is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
    • Swansea Center
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Swansea Center is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansea Center
    • Central Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Central Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Village
    • Flint Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Flint Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Village
    • South Rehoboth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • South Rehoboth is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rehoboth
    • Swansea
      (19 miles [30.6 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
    • Acoaxet
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Acoaxet is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acoaxet
    • Bowenville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bowenville is located in Bristol County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowenville
  • Dukes County (MA)
    • Cuttyhunk
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cuttyhunk is located in Dukes County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuttyhunk
  • Norfolk County (MA)
    • Plainville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Plainville is located in Norfolk County (MA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,280 people

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

Cemeteries Near Lafayette ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lafayette.

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

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

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

  • Carr Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Phillips - Gardiner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Boone Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • George Thomas Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Phillips Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Himes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Congdon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Himes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Elm Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Old Baptist Meetinghouse Yard Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Tennabt Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Continue List   (715 more) ...
    • St. Paul - Updike Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Wightman Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Young Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Lafayette had a population of 445 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Wickford
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Wickford is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickford
  • Wickford Junction
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Wickford Junction is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickford Junction
  • Allenton
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Allenton is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenton
  • Belleville
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Belleville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
  • Hamilton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamilton is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamilton
  • Davisville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Davisville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davisville
  • Exeter
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Exeter is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
  • Liberty
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Liberty is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
  • Kingston
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Kingston is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • East Greenwich
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • East Greenwich is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
  • Kingston Station
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kingston Station is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston Station
  • West Kingston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • West Kingston is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Kingston
  • Continue List   (22 more) ...
    • Jamestown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jamestown is located in Newport County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Potowomut
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Potowomut is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potowomut
    • Chepiwanoxet
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Chepiwanoxet is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chepiwanoxet

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

Newspapers Published in Lafayette ...

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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lafayette.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lafayette, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lafayette.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Lafayette:

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>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 Lafayette, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Lafayette) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.