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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 Shirley (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 Shirley. 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 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.

Shirley is located in Hampton 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 Hampton County: Effingham (GA), Screven (GA), Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Colleton & Jasper.

Below are the counties that are near Shirley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shirley:

  • Hampton County     (The home county of Shirley)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Scotia
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Garnett
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Furman
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Estill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Luray
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Gifford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Hampton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Varnville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Brunson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Pond Town
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
    • Barkerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Barkerville is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkerville
      • Barkerville has also been known as:
      • Haywardville
    • Crocketville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Fairfax
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Allendale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Sycamore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Martin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Ulmer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Beaufort County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Yemassee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Tomotley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Tomotley is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomotley
    • Hardeeville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sheldon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Colleton County
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Pineland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Tillman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Ridgeland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Bulloch County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Leefield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Leefield is located in Bulloch County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leefield
    • Hubert
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Hubert is located in Bulloch County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubert
    • Stilson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Stilson is located in Bulloch County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stilson
    • Brooklet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Brooklet is located in Bulloch County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,935 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brooklet <1>
    • Clito
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Clito is located in Bulloch County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clito
    • Statesboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Effingham County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Two Sisters Ferry
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Two Sisters Ferry is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Sisters Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,063 people
    • Clyo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Haddonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Haddonville is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haddonville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 965 people
    • Egypt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Egypt is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
    • Springfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Guyton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Guyton is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guyton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,371 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Guyton <1>
    • Rincon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Rincon is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rincon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,655 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rincon <1>
    • Marlow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Marlow is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
    • Exley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Exley is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exley
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,894 people
  • Screven County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.
    • Newington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Oliver
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Oliver is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oliver <1>
    • Captolo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
    • Sylvania
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Sylvania is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvania
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,450 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sylvania <1>
    • Cameron
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Cameron is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cameron
      • Estimated population in 2019: 5,012 people
    • Cooperville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Cooperville is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
    • Dover
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Zeigler
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Zeigler is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
    • Hilltonia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hilltonia is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilltonia
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 262 people
    • Hiltonia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ogeechee ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Ogeechee is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogeechee
      • Former name for Ogeechee:
      • Oguchee
    • Millhaven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Millhaven is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhaven

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shirley, see our County-by-County Page for Shirley.

Cemeteries Near Shirley ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shirley.

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 Shirley - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shirley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.

  • Davis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Horse Pond Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Solomons Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Breeler Field Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Millpond Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Lawtonville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Bostic Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Black Swamp Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lawtonville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Eneck Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (200 more) ...
    • Coursey Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Black Swamp Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Dugger Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)

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 Shirley had a population of 30 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Shirley, with the one closest to Shirley listed first.

  • Brighton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Brighton is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
  • Scotia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Garnett
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Eneck ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Eneck is located in Screven County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eneck
  • Estill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Stafford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Stafford is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
  • Peeples ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Peeples is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peeples
  • Oaky
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oaky is located in Effingham County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky
  • Luray
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Clyo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Gifford
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Oliver
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oliver is located in Screven County (GA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliver
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oliver <1>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Egypt
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Egypt is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
    • Horsegall
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Horsegall is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsegall
    • Captolo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shirley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shirley.

Newspapers Published in Shirley ...

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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shirley.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shirley, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shirley.

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 Shirley:

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 Shirley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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- Shirley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.