RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of South Carolina >> Hampton County >> Speaks Mill >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Speaks Mill (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 Speaks Mill. 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 Speaks Mill ...

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.

  • A typical abbreviation for Speaks Mill: Speaks Ml. (or less commonly used: Speaks Mll.)
  • While the name of this community is Speaks Mill, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Speaks Mill may originally have been Speak's Mill.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Speaks Mill might be written as Speak Mill.

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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Speaks Mill 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 Speaks Mill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Speaks Mill:

  • Hampton County     (The home county of Speaks Mill)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Estill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Hampton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Varnville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Luray
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Furman
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Gifford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Scotia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Pond Town
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
    • Brunson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Crocketville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Barkerville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Barkerville is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkerville
      • Barkerville has also been known as:
      • Haywardville
    • Early Branch
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Fairfax
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sycamore
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Allendale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Ulmer
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Martin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Ehrhardt
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Olar
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <2>
  • Barnwell County
    • Kline
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Beaufort County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Yemassee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Tomotley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tomotley is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomotley
    • Sheldon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lobeco
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Seabrook
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Dale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Laurel Bay
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Laurel Bay is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Bay
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Islandton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sniders Crossroads
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Sniders Crossroads is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sniders Crossroads
    • Ashton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Lodge
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Ruffin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Williams
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • White Hall
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • White Hall is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Walterboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Smoaks
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Drawdy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Drawdy is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawdy
    • Green Pond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Ritter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ritter is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Pineland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Tillman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Ridgeland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Effingham County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Two Sisters Ferry
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • 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
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Haddonville
      (23 miles [37 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Egypt is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
    • Springfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Screven County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Speaks Mill, with the one closest to Speaks Mill listed first.
    • Newington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Oliver
      (28 miles [45.1 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 <2>
    • Captolo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Captolo is located in Screven County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captolo
    • Sylvania
      (28 miles [45.1 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 <2>
    • Hiltonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Speaks Mill ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Speaks Mill.

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 Speaks Mill - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Ginn Family Cemetery
    • The Ginn Family Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ginn Family Cemetery
  • Nixville Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Crapse Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Live Oak Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • DeLoach Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Thames Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Winn Wynn Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Sand Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Peeples Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (175 more) ...
    • Varnville Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hampton Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Browning Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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 Speaks Mill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Speaks Mill.

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

  • Estill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Horsegall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Horsegall is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsegall
  • Almeda
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Almeda is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almeda
  • Varnville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Hampton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Luray
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Stafford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Stafford is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
  • Scotia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Cummings
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Cummings is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummings
  • Gifford
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Peeples ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Peeples is located in Hampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peeples
  • Brunson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Crocketville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Shirley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Shirley is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
    • Garnett
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Speaks Mill ...

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 17 newspapers that have been published in the area around Speaks Mill.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Speaks Mill, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Speaks Mill.

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 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 Speaks Mill:

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>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 Speaks Mill, 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 from Point A (ie- Speaks Mill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.