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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 Wells 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 Wells 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 Wells 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.

  • A typical abbreviation for Wells Crossroads: Wells Xrds.
  • While the name of this community is Wells Crossroads, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Wells Crossroads may originally have been Well's Crossroads.

    Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Wells Crossroads might be written as Well Crossroads.

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.

Wells Crossroads is located in Lee 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 Lee County: Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Kershaw & Sumter.

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

  • Lee County     (The home county of Wells Crossroads)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Elliott
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Atkins
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Atkins is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Lynchburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Manville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Manville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manville
    • Bishopville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Alcot
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Chesterfield County
    • McBee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • McBee is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McBee <2>
  • Clarendon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Turbeville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sardinia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Gable
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • New Zion
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Union Crossroads
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
    • Alcolu
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Manning
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Paxville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Silver
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Silver is located in Clarendon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Lamar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Lamar is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <2>
    • Lydia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Alexander Crossroads
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Alexander Crossroads is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Crossroads
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Syracuse
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Hartsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Pine Ridge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Prestwood Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
    • Pine Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • North Hartsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
    • Darlington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Palmetto
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
  • Florence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Cartersville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Cartersville is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
    • Sardis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Sardis is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Timmonsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Olanta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jones Crossroads
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Jones Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Crossroads
    • Cusac Crossroads
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
    • Ebenezer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ebenezer is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
    • Salem
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Salem is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Danwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Danwood is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danwood
    • Effingham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Tara Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Tara Village is located in Florence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Village
    • Coward
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Cassatt
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bethune
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Shepard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Shepard is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepard
    • Camden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Log Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Log Town is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Log Town
    • Lafayette Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lafayette Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Village
    • Spring Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Spring Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Mayesville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Oswego
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Oswego is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
    • Shiloh
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Hobbs Crossroads
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Hobbs Crossroads is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobbs Crossroads
    • East Sumter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • East Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
    • Mulberry
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mulberry is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
    • Sumter
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • South Sumter
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • South Sumter is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
    • Dalzell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Millwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Millwood is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
    • Ashley Creek Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
    • Cherryvale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Cherryvale is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryvale
  • Williamsburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wells Crossroads, with the one closest to Wells Crossroads listed first.
    • Terrell Crossroad
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
    • Moore Crossroads
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads
    • Cades
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Wells Crossroads ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wells 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 Wells Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Wells Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Sanders Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mayesville Black River Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Scarborough Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Field Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Scotts Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Coopers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hawkins Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Cartersville Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cartersville Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Cartersville.
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (243 more) ...
    • Clark Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Beulah Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Trinity UMC Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

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

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

  • Atkins
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Atkins is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
  • Lynchburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Mayesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cartersville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Cartersville is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
  • Oswego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Oswego is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oswego
  • Lamar
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Lamar is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 930 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lamar <2>
  • Shiloh
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Shiloh is located in Sumter County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
  • Bishopville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sardis
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Sardis is located in Florence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
  • Timmonsville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Oats
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Oats is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oats
  • Seloc
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Seloc is located in Clarendon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seloc
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Syracuse
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Syracuse is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Syracuse
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Lydia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Wells 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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wells Crossroads.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wells Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wells 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 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 Wells Crossroads:

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 Wells 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wells Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.