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 Wilson (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 Wilson. 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.
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 doctors 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.
Wilson is located in Clarendon 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 Clarendon County: Berkeley, Calhoun, Florence, Orangeburg, Sumter & Williamsburg.
Below are the counties that are near Wilson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wilson:
- Clarendon County (The home county of Wilson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Manning
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jordan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Alcolu
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shad Moss village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shad Moss village is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shad Moss village
- Davis Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gable
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sardinia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Union Crossroads
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Union Crossroads is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Crossroads
- New Zion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Silver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Silver is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
- Summerton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Paxville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Berkeley County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Region Town ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Region Town is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Region Town
- Judge Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Judge Town is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Judge Town
- Eadytown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Eadytown is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eadytown
- Pineville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Russellville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Stephen
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cross
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Harris Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Harris Town is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Town
- Bonneau
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Alvin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alvin is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvin
- Pinopolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sandridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sandridge is located in Berkeley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandridge
- Calhoun County
- Creston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Creston is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Florence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Olanta
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wren Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wren Village is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren Village
- Sardis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sardis is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
- Salem
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Salem is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Scranton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cartersville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cartersville is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartersville
- Cusac Crossroads
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cusac Crossroads is located in Florence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cusac Crossroads
- Coward
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Atkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Atkins is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
- Lynchburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Elliott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Orangeburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Ferguson ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Ferguson is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferguson
- Eutawville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Green Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Green Town is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Town
- Possum Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Possum Town is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Town
- Vance
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Santee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Parler
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Parler is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parler
- Elloree
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Holly Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wells
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wells is located in Orangeburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells
- Sumter County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Lakewood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Shiloh
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- East Sumter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Sumter is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sumter
- Privateer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Privateer is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Privateer
- Pinewood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Ashley Creek Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ashley Creek Village is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley Creek Village
- South Sumter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Sumter is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Sumter
- Sumter
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mayesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Millwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Millwood is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millwood
- Mulberry
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mulberry is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulberry
- Cane Savannah
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cane Savannah is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Savannah
- Williamsburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Greeleyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Salters
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kingstree
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lane
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lane is located in Williamsburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 443 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lane <1>
- Terrell Crossroad
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Terrell Crossroad is located in Williamsburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrell Crossroad
- Moore Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Moore Crossroads is located in Williamsburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Crossroads
- Cades
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wilson, see our County-by-County Page for Wilson.
Cemeteries Near Wilson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wilson.
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 Wilson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wilson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Lees Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Biggers AME Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brewington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Manning Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Trinity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ridgill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rehoboth Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hodges Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Keels Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (206 more) ...
- Easley Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Easley Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the east of Greeleyville.
- The Easley Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bradshaw Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2484801 <2>
- Richmond Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Home Branch Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Wilson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wilson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wilson, with the one closest to Wilson listed first.
- Foreston
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Foreston is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foreston
- Manning
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jordan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Alcolu
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Greeleyville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Harvin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harvin is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvin
- Sardinia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mouzon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mouzon is located in Williamsburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouzon
- Summerton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- New Zion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Brogdon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brogdon is located in Sumter County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brogdon
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Silver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Silver is located in Clarendon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver
- Salters Depot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Salters Depot is located in Williamsburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salters Depot
- Salters
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wilson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wilson.
Newspapers Published in Wilson ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wilson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wilson, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wilson.
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 Wilson:
- Websites specific to South Carolina
- Pages specific to Clarendon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berkeley County
- Calhoun County
- Florence County
- Lee County
- Orangeburg County
- Sumter County
- Williamsburg County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for South Carolina
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wilson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Wilson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |