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 Wakefield (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 Wakefield. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Wakefield is located in Washington County and is the County Seat.
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 Wakefield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wakefield:
- Washington County (The home county of Wakefield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Peace Dale
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Peace Dale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peace Dale
- Rocky Brook
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Rocky Brook is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Brook
- Curtis Corner
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Curtis Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis Corner
- South Kingstown
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- South Kingstown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Kingstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 30,454 people
- Narragansett Pier
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Narragansett Pier is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narragansett Pier
- Narragansett
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Narragansett is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narragansett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,309 people
- Narragansett
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Narragansett is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narragansett
- Kingston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Bridgetown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bridgetown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
- Kingston Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston Station
- Jerusalem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jerusalem is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerusalem
- Point Judith
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Point Judith is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Judith
- Perryville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Perryville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Bristol County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Bristol
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 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
- Annawomscutt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Annawomscutt is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annawomscutt
- Barrington
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Coggeshall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Coggeshall is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coggeshall
- Barrington
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Warren
(23 miles [37 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
- Warren
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Warren is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- East Greenwich
(13 miles [20.9 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
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- West Greenwich
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- West Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greenwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,418 people
- East Greenwich
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- East Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
- Kitts Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- Buttonwoods
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Buttonwoods is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buttonwoods
- Coventry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Cowesett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Cowesett is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowesett
- Quidnick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- Spring Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Apponaug
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Apponaug is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apponaug
- Oakland Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Oakland Beach is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Beach
- Gortons Corner
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- Newport County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Clarks Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Jamestown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Brenton Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Brenton Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
- Jamestown
(9 miles [14.5 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
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Newport East
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newport East is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport East
- Middletown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Lawtons
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lawtons is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawtons
- Middletown
(13 miles [20.9 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Melville is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
- Portsmouth
(15 miles [24.1 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Prudence Island is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudence Island
- Sakonnet
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sakonnet is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sakonnet
- Providence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Oaklawn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Oaklawn is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklawn
- Sockanosset
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Sockanosset is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sockanosset
- Garden City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Garden City is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Kent ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Meshanticut
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Meshanticut is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshanticut
- Bellefonte
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bellefonte is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefonte
- Cranston
(23 miles [37 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Knightsville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knightsville
- Richmond ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Riverside
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Riverside is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Ashland ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Kent Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Kent Corner is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent Corner
- Thornton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Thornton is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- New London County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Pawcatuck
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Clarks Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Voluntown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Voluntown is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voluntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,500 people
- North Stonington
(19 miles [30.6 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wequetequock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wequetequock is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetequock
- Voluntown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Glasgo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Stonington
(21 miles [33.8 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
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Griswold
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Griswold is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,660 people
- Mashantucket
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mystic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Ekonk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Oneco
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sterling
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Sterling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Moosup
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield
(27 miles [43.5 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Plainfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Central Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- South Killingly
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Killingly is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Killingly
- Wauregan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Canterbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bristol County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Acoaxet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Acoaxet is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acoaxet
- Westport Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Westport Point is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport Point
- Central Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Central Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Village
- Globe Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Globe Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
- Westport
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Westport is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,097 people
- Fall River
(25 miles [40.2 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
- Flint Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Flint Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Village
- Gidleys Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gidleys Corner is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gidleys Corner
- Ocean Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ocean Grove is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Grove
- Seekonk
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seekonk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,851 people
- North Westport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Westport is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Westport
- Oak Grove Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove Village
- 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
- Dukes County (MA)
- Cuttyhunk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Cuttyhunk is located in Dukes County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuttyhunk
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wakefield, see our County-by-County Page for Wakefield.
Cemeteries Near Wakefield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wakefield.
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 Wakefield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wakefield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Riverside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Riverside Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in South Kingstown.
- The Riverside Cemetery has also been known as:
- Riverside Cemetery - Wakefield
- Jump to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission: RIHCC ID #SK043 <2>
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #104475 <3>
- Brown Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Robinson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Tower Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adams-Sweet Lot
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Champlin Lot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Champlin Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Rose Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sherman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Fernwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- OLiver Gardiner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Arnold - Shearman Lot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (610 more) ...
- Henry Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Potter Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Wakefield had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Peace Dale
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Peace Dale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peace Dale
- Gould
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Gould is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Rocky Brook
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Rocky Brook is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Brook
- Narragansett
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Narragansett is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narragansett
- Kingston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Kingston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Perryville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Perryville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Matunuck
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Matunuck is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matunuck
- Point Judith
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Point Judith is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Judith
- West Kingston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Kingston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Kingston
- Kingston Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston Station
- Green Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Green Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- Kenyon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Kenyon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Jamestown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Allenton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Allenton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allenton
- Usquepaug
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Usquepaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Usquepaug
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wakefield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wakefield.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wakefield ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wakefield.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wakefield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wakefield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wakefield.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4> of Wakefield.
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 websites either 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 Wakefield:
- 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
- Windham County
- Bristol County
- Dukes 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> | 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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wakefield) 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 Wakefield, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |