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 Watch Hill (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 Watch Hill. 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 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.
Watch Hill 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 Watch Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Watch Hill:
- Washington County (The home county of Watch Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Avondale
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Avondale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Westerly
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Westerly is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
- Population from the 2020 Census: 22,328 people
- Westerly
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Westerly is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
- Langworthy Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Langworthy Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy Corner
- Weekapaug
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Weekapaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weekapaug
- Bradford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Ashaway
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
- Burdickville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burdickville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
- Hopkinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,095 people
- Hopkinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Alton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Alton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Charlestown
(11 miles [17.7 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
- Charlestown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- West Greenwich
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- Greene
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Greene is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Gortons Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- Coventry
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Rice City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rice City is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice City
- East Greenwich
(28 miles [45.1 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- Coventry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Spring Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Quidnick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- Newport County
- The following are listed by their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Clarks Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Jamestown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Brenton Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brenton Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
- Jamestown
(29 miles [46.7 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
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Middlesex County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Crowley Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Crowley Corner is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley Corner
- Fenwick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Fenwick is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
- Old Saybrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Old Saybrook is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Saybrook
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,028 people
- Old Saybrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Essex
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Plum Bank Beach
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Plum Bank Beach is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Bank Beach
- Saybrook Manor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Saybrook Manor is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook Manor
- Centerbrook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Essex
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Essex is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,634 people
- Deep River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Haddam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- East Haddam is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Haddam
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,956 people
- Ivoryton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- New London County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Clarks Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Wequetequock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Wequetequock is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetequock
- Stonington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pawcatuck
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Stonington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stonington is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,566 people
- Mystic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Old Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Noank
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- West Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- North Stonington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Groton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Groton is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 38,258 people
- Poquonock Bridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Poquonock Bridge is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poquonock Bridge
- Long Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Long Hill is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Hill
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Ekonk
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Plainfield Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Plainfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oneco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Plainfield
(26 miles [41.8 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
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Almyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Canterbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Canterbury is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canterbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,088 people
- Canterbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Moosup
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sterling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Central Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Westminster
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Westminster is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westminster
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Watch Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Watch Hill.
Cemeteries Near Watch Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Watch Hill.
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 Watch Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Watch Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Davis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- River Bend Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Wequetoquock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Sebastian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Robinson Burial Ground
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Miner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Michael Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hilliard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hopkinton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dennison Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (504 more) ...
- Mason Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brown - Randall Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Watch Hill had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Watch Hill, with the one closest to Watch Hill listed first.
- Stonington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- White Rock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- White Rock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Mystic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Quonochontaug
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Quonochontaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quonochontaug
- Potter Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Potter Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Hill
- Old Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- West Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Noank
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- North Stonington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ashaway
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
- Poquonock Bridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Poquonock Bridge is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poquonock Bridge
- Hopkinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Clarks Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Clarks Falls is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Falls
- Charlestown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Wood River Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wood River Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood River Junction
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Watch Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Watch Hill.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Watch Hill ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Watch Hill.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Watch Hill. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Watch Hill and those printed in the larger area surrounding Watch Hill.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<3> of Watch Hill.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Watch Hill:
- Websites specific to Rhode Island
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Newport County
- Middlesex 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> | 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 Watch Hill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Watch Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |