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 Smiths Tavern (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 Smiths Tavern. 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 Smiths Tavern ...
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.
While the name of this community is Smiths Tavern, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Smiths Tavern may originally have been Smith's Tavern.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Smiths Tavern might be written as Smith Tavern.
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 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.
Smiths Tavern is located in Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg County: Polk (NC), Rutherford (NC), Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens & Union.
Below are the counties that are near Smiths Tavern. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smiths Tavern:
- Spartanburg County (The home county of Smiths Tavern)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Roebuck
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Moore
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pauline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hub City Courts
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hub City Courts is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hub City Courts
- Camp Croft
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Camp Croft is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Croft
- Saxon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Saxon is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Spartanburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Franklin Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Franklin Village is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Village
- Drayton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Arcadia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fairforest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Johnson City is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Cherokee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Macedonia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Chesnee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gaffney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Gaffney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Gaffney is located in Cherokee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gaffney
- Blacksburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chester County
- Cabal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cabal is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabal
- Greenville County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Five Forks
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Five Forks is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Pelham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Pelham is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Greer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Fountain Inn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Woodland Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Village
- Simpsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chick Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Chick Springs is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chick Springs
- East Gate Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- East Gate Village is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Gate Village
- Taylors
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- O'Neal
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- O'Neal is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Neal
- Mauldin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wade Hampton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wade Hampton is located in Greenville County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wade Hampton
- Laurens County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Tylersville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Tylersville is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylersville
- Gray Court
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Pond
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Green Pond is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Pond
- Laurens
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Clinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dover ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Dover is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Renno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Renno is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renno
- Simpson ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Simpson is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Lisbon ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lisbon is located in Laurens County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Colerain
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Colerain is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colerain
- Jonesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bonham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bonham is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonham
- Buffalo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop Town ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop Town
- Kelly
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Kelly is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelly
- Union
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sedalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sedalia is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedalia
- Bailey Town ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bailey Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
- Lockhart
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Meador ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Meador is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
- Red Town ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Red Town is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Town
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Hopewell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hopewell is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Hickory Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cleveland County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Byersville ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Byersville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byersville
- Cliffside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cliffside is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Erwinsville ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Erwinsville is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwinsville
- Flint Hill ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Flint Hill is located in Cleveland County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Hill
- Boiling Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Polk County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Tryon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Columbus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn is located in Polk County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn
- Rutherford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Harris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Harris is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Holly Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Holly Springs is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Henrietta
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Henrietta is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrietta
- Caroleen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Caroleen is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caroleen
- Sandy Mush
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sandy Mush is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Mush
- Shiloh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Six Points
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Six Points is located in Rutherford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Points
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smiths Tavern, see our County-by-County Page for Smiths Tavern.
Cemeteries Near Smiths Tavern ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smiths Tavern.
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 Smiths Tavern - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smiths Tavern covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Lee Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cathcart Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Trail Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fleming Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Seay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cedar Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Spring Cemetery
- The Cedar Spring Cemetery has also been known as:
- Barnett Cemetery
- Cedar Spring Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2328569 <3>
- Lancaster Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Oeland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Foster Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cemetery Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (427 more) ...
- Old City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City Cemetery
- The Old City Cemetery has also been known as:
- Freemans Cemetery
- New Colored Cemetery
- Nazareth Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Springs Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 Smiths Tavern in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smiths Tavern.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smiths Tavern, with the one closest to Smiths Tavern listed first.
- Moore
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Golightly
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Golightly is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golightly
- Walnut Grove
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Walnut Grove is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Switzer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Switzer is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
- Glenn Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glenn Springs is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Springs
- Spartanburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fairforest
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Glendale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Whitney
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Whitney is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Reidville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Woodruff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dutchman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dutchman is located in Spartanburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchman
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- West Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Springs is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Springs
- Pacolet
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Clifton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smiths Tavern. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smiths Tavern.
Newspapers Published in Smiths Tavern ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smiths Tavern.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smiths Tavern, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smiths Tavern.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Smiths Tavern:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Spartanburg County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cherokee County
- Chester County
- Greenville County
- Laurens County
- Union County
- York County
- Cleveland County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Smiths Tavern, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Smiths Tavern) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |