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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 Willtown 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 Willtown 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 Willtown 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 occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Willtown Bluff: Willtown Blf. (or less commonly used: Willtown Bluf.)

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 doctors and 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.

Willtown Bluff is located in Charleston 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 Charleston County: Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester & Georgetown.

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

  • Charleston County     (The home county of Willtown Bluff)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willtown Bluff, with the one closest to Willtown Bluff listed first.
    • Adams Run
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Canady Landing ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Canady Landing is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canady Landing
    • Hollywood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Meggett
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ravenel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Edisto Island
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Rockville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Rockville is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 138 people
    • Wadmalaw Island
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Seabrook Island
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Johns Island
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Kiawah Island
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Essex Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Essex Village is located in Charleston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex Village
  • Beaufort County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willtown Bluff, with the one closest to Willtown Bluff listed first.
    • Dale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Frogmore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Frogmore is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogmore
    • Lobeco
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Beaufort
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sheldon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Polk Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Polk Village is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polk Village
    • Sangster Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Sangster Village is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangster Village
    • Seabrook
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Tomotley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Tomotley is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomotley
    • Burton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Fripp Island
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Yemassee
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Berkeley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willtown Bluff, with the one closest to Willtown Bluff listed first.
    • Ladson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Caromi Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Caromi Village is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caromi Village
    • Hanahan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Camelot Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Camelot Village is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot Village
    • Goose Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Highland Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Village is located in Berkeley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
  • Colleton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willtown Bluff, with the one closest to Willtown Bluff listed first.
    • Jacksonboro
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Green Pond
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Edisto Beach
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Edisto Beach is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edisto Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 402 people
    • Ritter
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Ritter is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
    • Drawdy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Drawdy is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawdy
    • White Hall
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • White Hall is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Cottageville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Drigger Crossroads
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Drigger Crossroads is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drigger Crossroads
    • Round O
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Walterboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sidney
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Sidney is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
    • Canadys
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Dorchester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willtown Bluff, with the one closest to Willtown Bluff listed first.
    • Flowertown Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Flowertown Village is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowertown Village
    • Chandler Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Chandler Village is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler Village
    • Brownsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownsville is located in Dorchester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Summerville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ridgeville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Hampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willtown Bluff, with the one closest to Willtown Bluff listed first.
    • Barkerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Barkerville is located in Hampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkerville
      • Barkerville has also been known as:
      • Haywardville
    • Early Branch
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Willtown Bluff ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willtown 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.

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 Willtown Bluff - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Prices Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Community Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Adams Run Baptist Church Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Gun Bluff Plantation Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Buzzard Roost Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Haynes Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Isaac Hayne Tomb
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • White Meeting Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Rose Hill at Laurel Springs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (130 more) ...
    • Sanders Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • White Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Church Hill Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)

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

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

  • Jacksonboro
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Ashepoo
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ashepoo is located in Colleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashepoo
  • Green Pond
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Ritter
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ritter is located in Colleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
  • Drawdy
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Drawdy is located in Colleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawdy
  • White Hall
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • White Hall is located in Colleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
  • Dale
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Cottageville
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Hendersonville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Hendersonville is located in Colleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendersonville
  • Frogmore
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Frogmore is located in Beaufort County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogmore
  • Walterboro
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Sheldon
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Coosaw
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Coosaw is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosaw
    • Beaufort
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Salkehatchie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Salkehatchie is located in Colleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salkehatchie

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

Newspapers Published in Willtown 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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willtown Bluff.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willtown Bluff, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willtown Bluff.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Willtown Bluff:

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>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.
<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 Willtown Bluff, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Willtown Bluff) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.