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 Belser Crossroads (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 Belser Crossroads. 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 Belser Crossroads ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Belser Crossroads: Belser Xrds.
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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Belser Crossroads is located in Clarendon County.
To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clarendon County: Berkeley, Calhoun, Florence, Orangeburg, Sumter & Williamsburg.
Below are the counties that are near Belser Crossroads. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belser Crossroads:
- Clarendon County (The home county of Belser Crossroads)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Summerton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Panola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Panola is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Silver
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Silver is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
- Davis Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Paxville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jordan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Shad Moss village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Shad Moss village is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shad Moss village
- Manning
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alcolu
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Gable
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sardinia
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- New Zion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Crossroads
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
- Berkeley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Eadytown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Eadytown is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eadytown
- Region Town ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Region Town is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Region Town
- Cross
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Judge Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Judge Town is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judge Town
- Pineville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sandridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sandridge is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandridge
- Russellville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Stephen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Creston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Creston is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Cameron
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cameron is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Saint Matthews
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dorchester County
- Harleyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Orangeburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Parler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Parler is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
- Santee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Vance
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Elloree
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ferguson ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ferguson is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Eutawville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Green Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Green Town is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Town
- Possum Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Possum Town is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Town
- Wells
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wells is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells
- Holly Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bowman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jamison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Jamison is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamison
- Wren Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Wren Village is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren Village
- Richland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Eastover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gadsden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Weston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Weston is located in Richland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Pinewood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Privateer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Privateer is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
- Lakewood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lakewood is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Ashley Creek Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
- Sumter Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Sumter Junction is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumter Junction
- Cane Savannah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
- Millwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Millwood is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
- South Sumter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- South Sumter is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
- Wedgefield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Sumter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- East Sumter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- East Sumter is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
- Mulberry
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mulberry is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Cherryvale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
- Williamsburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Greeleyville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lane
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lane is located in Williamsburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lane <1>
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belser Crossroads, see our County-by-County Page for Belser Crossroads.
Cemeteries Near Belser Crossroads ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belser Crossroads.
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 Belser Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belser Crossroads covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Brown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Butler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Richardson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Calvary & Zion Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary & Zion Hill Cemetery
- The Calvary & Zion Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
- Zion Hill Cemetery
- Fellowship Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bell Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Home Branch Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (169 more) ...
- Reynolds Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Jerusalem Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Santee First Baptist Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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 Belser Crossroads in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Belser Crossroads.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belser Crossroads, with the one closest to Belser Crossroads listed first.
- Saint Paul
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Paul
- Summerton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Panola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Panola is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Silver
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Silver is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
- Davis Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Rimini
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rimini is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rimini
- Parler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Parler is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
- Jordan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Elloree
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vance
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Manning
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Felderville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Felderville is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felderville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Alcolu
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dantzler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dantzler is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dantzler
- Harvin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Harvin is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belser Crossroads. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belser Crossroads.
Newspapers Published in Belser Crossroads ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belser Crossroads.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belser Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belser Crossroads.
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 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 Belser Crossroads:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Clarendon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berkeley County
- Calhoun County
- Dorchester County
- Orangeburg County
- Richland County
- Sumter County
- Williamsburg County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
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 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. |
| <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 Belser Crossroads, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 drawn from Point A (ie- Belser Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |