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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 Tobys Bluff (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 Tobys Bluff. 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 Tobys Bluff ...

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 have occurred.

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

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Tobys Bluff might be written as Toby Bluff.

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 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.

Tobys Bluff is located in Colleton County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Colleton County: Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Charleston, Dorchester, Hampton & Orangeburg.

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

  • Colleton County     (The home county of Tobys Bluff)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Islandton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Ashton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
      • Ashton is located in Colleton County
    • Sniders Crossroads
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sniders Crossroads
      • Sniders Crossroads is located in Colleton County
    • Lodge
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Ruffin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Williams
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Smoaks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Walterboro
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Johnsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsville
      • Johnsville is located in Colleton County
    • Drawdy
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Drawdy have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawdy
      • Drawdy is located in Colleton County
    • White Hall
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for White Hall. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
      • White Hall is located in Colleton County
    • Ritter
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Ritter. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
      • Ritter is located in Colleton County
  • Allendale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Fairfax
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Sycamore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ulmer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Allendale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Martin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Bamberg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Ehrhardt
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Olar
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olar
      • Olar is located in Bamberg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 228 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olar <2>
    • Govan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Govan
      • Govan is located in Bamberg County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 57 people
    • Bamberg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Denmark
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Barnwell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Kline
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hilda
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Beaufort County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Yemassee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tomotley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tomotley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomotley
      • Tomotley is located in Beaufort County
    • Sheldon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lobeco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Seabrook
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Dale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Dorchester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Grover
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Reevesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint George
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Miley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Crocketville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Varnville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hampton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pond Town
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pond Town have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Town
      • Pond Town is located in Hampton County
    • Early Branch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Brunson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Barkerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkerville
      • Barkerville is located in Hampton County
      • Barkerville has also been known as:
      • Haywardville
    • Gifford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Luray
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Estill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Furman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Pineland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Ridgeland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tobys Bluff, with the one closest to Tobys Bluff listed first.
    • Branchville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sixty Six
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sixty Six
      • Sixty Six is located in Orangeburg County
  • Effingham County (GA)
    • Two Sisters Ferry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Two Sisters Ferry have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Two Sisters Ferry
      • Two Sisters Ferry is located in Effingham County (GA)
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,063 people

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

Cemeteries Near Tobys Bluff ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tobys Bluff.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Rice Path Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Gooding Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Cross Swamp Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cross Swamp Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cross Swamp Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Crocketville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Varnville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Crews Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crews Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crews Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Peniel Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Peniel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Peniel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Peniel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Adnah Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Adnah Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Adnah Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hampton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ulmer Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ulmer Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ulmer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Breland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Breland Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Breland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (176 more) ...
    • Bethel Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethel Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ashton Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ashton Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ashton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Peeples Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

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.<6>

While we didn't find Tobys Bluff in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Tobys Bluff.

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

  • Islandton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Miley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Crocketville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Varnville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Almeda
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Almeda have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almeda
    • Almeda is located in Hampton County
  • Hampton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Ashton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
    • Ashton is located in Colleton County
  • Cummings
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cummings have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cummings
    • Cummings is located in Hampton County
  • Horsegall
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Horsegall have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsegall
    • Horsegall is located in Hampton County
  • Early Branch
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Brunson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Davidson
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Davidson have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davidson
    • Davidson is located in Hampton County
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Gifford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Fairfax
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Luray
      (16 miles [25.7 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 Tobys Bluff. See our List of 1890's Communities around Tobys Bluff.

Newspapers Published in Tobys Bluff ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tobys Bluff.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Tobys Bluff, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<7>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Tobys Bluff.

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 Tobys Bluff:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Tobys Bluff. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Colleton County: www.colletoncounty.org/

The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<5>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.
<6>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 Tobys Bluff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<7>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- Tobys Bluff) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Tobys Bluff. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 32.9110, Longitude: -80.9890       In this case, the coordinates for Tobys Bluff have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025