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 Shady Harbor (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 Shady Harbor. 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 Shady Harbor ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Shady Harbor: Shady Hbr. (or less commonly used: Shady Harb. or Shady Hrbr.)
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Shady Harbor 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 Shady Harbor. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shady Harbor:
- Washington County (The home county of Shady Harbor)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Weekapaug
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Weekapaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weekapaug
- Langworthy Corner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Langworthy Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy Corner
- Bradford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bradford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Burdickville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Burdickville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
- Charlestown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Charlestown
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,836 people
- Avondale
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Avondale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Westerly
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Westerly is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,328 people
- Westerly
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Westerly is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
- Alton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Ashaway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
- Carolina
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Carolina is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- West Greenwich
(19 miles [30.6 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
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- East Greenwich
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Shippee Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- Gortons Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- Greene
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Greene is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Coventry
(24 miles [38.6 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
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Spring Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Quidnick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- Rice City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Rice City is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice City
- East Greenwich
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
- Newport County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Clarks Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Jamestown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Brenton Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brenton Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
- Jamestown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,482 people
- Newport
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Newport is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,412 people
- Newport East
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Newport East is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport East
- Middletown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Lawtons
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lawtons is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawtons
- Middletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,803 people
- Melville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Melville is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
- Portsmouth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Portsmouth is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portsmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,108 people
- Prudence Island
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prudence Island is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudence Island
- Providence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Clayville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Clayville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayville
- Kent ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Richmond ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Ashland ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Rockland ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rockland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Oaklawn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oaklawn is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklawn
- Sockanosset
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sockanosset is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sockanosset
- New London County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Clarks Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Pawcatuck
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wequetequock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wequetequock is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetequock
- Stonington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Stonington is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,566 people
- Stonington
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- North Stonington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- North Stonington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- 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
- Mystic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Old Mystic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- West Mystic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Noank
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mashantucket
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Ekonk
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Oneco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sterling
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sterling is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,764 people
- Plainfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Plainfield is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,084 people
- Sterling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Plainfield Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Plainfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Moosup
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Central Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Canterbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Canterbury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Canterbury is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canterbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,088 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shady Harbor, see our County-by-County Page for Shady Harbor.
Cemeteries Near Shady Harbor ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shady Harbor.
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 Shady Harbor - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shady Harbor covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Aldrich Potter Lot
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich Potter Lot
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Aldrich Potter Lot is located outside and to the west of Charlestown.
- Jump to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission: RIHCC ID #CH032 <2>
- Gardiner - Green Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Nathaniel Cook Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Charlestown Indian Burying Ground
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burdick Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Joseph Burdick Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hall - Geer Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Babcock Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Noyes - Wells Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Elias Lewis Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hoxsie - Cayer Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Royal Indian Burial Ground
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (545 more) ...
- Hopkinton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- George Babcock Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- St. Sebastian Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] 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.<3>
While we didn't find Shady Harbor in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shady Harbor.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shady Harbor, with the one closest to Shady Harbor listed first.
- Quonochontaug
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Quonochontaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quonochontaug
- Charlestown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Green Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Green Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Ashaway
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
- Wood River Junction
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wood River Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood River Junction
- Potter Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Potter Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Hill
- Watch Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Watch Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watch Hill
- Woodville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Woodville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- White Rock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- White Rock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Hopkinton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Perryville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Perryville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Kenyon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kenyon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Shannock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Shannock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannock
- Carolina
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Carolina is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Clarks Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clarks Falls is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Falls
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shady Harbor. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shady Harbor.
Newspapers Published in Shady Harbor ...
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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shady Harbor.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shady Harbor, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shady Harbor.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Shady Harbor:
- Websites specific to Rhode Island
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Newport County
- Providence County
- New London County
- Windham 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> | 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. |
| <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 Shady Harbor, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Shady Harbor) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |