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 Westerly (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 Westerly. 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 doctors and hospitals 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.
Westerly 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 Westerly. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Westerly:
- Washington County (The home county of Westerly)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- Westerly
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Westerly is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westerly
- Avondale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Avondale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Langworthy Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Langworthy Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langworthy Corner
- Ashaway
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
- Bradford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bradford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradford
- Weekapaug
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Weekapaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weekapaug
- Burdickville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Burdickville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
- Alton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Hopkinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,095 people
- Hopkinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Charlestown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,836 people
- Charlestown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Canonchet
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Canonchet is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canonchet
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- West Greenwich
(20 miles [32.2 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
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- Greene
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Greene is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Gortons Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- 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
- Rice City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rice City is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice City
- Shippee Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- 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
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,141 people
- Spring Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Coventry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Quidnick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- 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
- Phenix
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Phenix is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Newport County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- Clarks Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Jamestown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Brenton Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brenton Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
- Jamestown
(26 miles [41.8 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
(28 miles [45.1 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
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newport East is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport East
- Middletown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Lawtons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lawtons is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawtons
- Providence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- Clayville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Clayville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayville
- Richmond ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Kent ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kent is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Foster
(30 miles [48.3 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
- Rockland ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rockland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Middlesex County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- Crowley Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crowley Corner is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley Corner
- Fenwick
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fenwick is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
- Old Saybrook
(28 miles [45.1 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
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Essex
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Plum Bank Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Plum Bank Beach is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Bank Beach
- Saybrook Manor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Saybrook Manor is located in Middlesex County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saybrook Manor
- Centerbrook
(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
- Essex
(30 miles [48.3 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
- New London County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- Pawcatuck
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Clarks Village
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Wequetequock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wequetequock is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetequock
- Stonington
(3 miles [4.8 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
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Stonington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mystic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Old Mystic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- North Stonington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- 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
- West Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Noank
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mashantucket
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Groton
(10 miles [16.1 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
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- Ekonk
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Plainfield Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Oneco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Plainfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Canterbury
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Plainfield
(23 miles [37 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
(23 miles [37 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
- Sterling
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Almyville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Canterbury
(24 miles [38.6 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
- Central Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Moosup
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Westminster
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- 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 Westerly, see our County-by-County Page for Westerly.
Cemeteries Near Westerly ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westerly.
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 Westerly - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Westerly covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- St. Sebastian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- River Bend Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- St. Michael Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Wequetoquock Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Davis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hopkinton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson Burial Ground
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Nathaniel Cook Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Brown - Randall Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (574 more) ...
- Hilliard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Miner 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.<4>
While we didn't find Westerly in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Westerly.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Westerly, with the one closest to Westerly listed first.
- White Rock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- White Rock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Watch Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Watch Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watch Hill
- Potter Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Potter Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potter Hill
- Stonington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ashaway
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ashaway is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashaway
- North Stonington
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Quonochontaug
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Quonochontaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quonochontaug
- Clarks Falls
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clarks Falls is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Falls
- Old Mystic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mystic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hopkinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hopkinton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkinton
- Laurel Glen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Laurel Glen is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Glen
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- West Mystic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Noank
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Wood River Junction
(8 miles [12.9 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 Westerly. See our List of 1890's Communities around Westerly.
Newspapers Published in Westerly ...
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 94 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westerly.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westerly, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westerly.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Westerly:
- Websites specific to Rhode Island
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kent County
- Newport County
- Providence 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> | 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> | 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 Westerly, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Westerly) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |