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 Big Rock (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 Big Rock. 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 Big Rock ...
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.
Another variation: Bigrock.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Big Rock. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Big Rock.
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 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.
Big Rock is located in Stewart County.
To see how the shape of Tennessee's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Stewart County: Calloway (KY), Christian (KY), Trigg (KY), Benton, Henry, Houston & Montgomery.
Below are the counties that are near Big Rock. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Rock:
- Stewart County (The home county of Big Rock)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Parker Town ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Parker Town is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker Town
- Legate
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Legate is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Bumpus Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Indian Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Snider
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Snider is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Throckmorton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Throckmorton is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Throckmorton
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,692 people
- Cumberland City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Faxon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Faxon is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faxon
- Big Sandy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dickson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Slayden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Woods Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Woods Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Valley
- Dunn Chapel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn Chapel is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn Chapel
- Vanleer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Oak Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Hill is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,703 people
- Mount Vista ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Vista is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Brownsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,974 people
- Erin
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Tennessee Ridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- McKinnon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Magnolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Magnolia is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Omega ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Omega is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Halls Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Halls Creek is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Creek
- Trinity
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Trinity is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Estimated population in 2014: 625 people
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- Woodlawn
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Dotsonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dotsonville is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dotsonville
- Stryker Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Stryker Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stryker Village
- Louise Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Louise Heights is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 5,715 people
- Oakridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oakridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Estimated population in 2014: 29,303 people
- Clarksville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Louise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Louise is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Saint Bethlehem
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wingate West
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wingate West is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingate West
- Estimated population in 2014: 954 people
- Swan Lake Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Swan Lake Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Lake Village
- Liverworth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Liverworth is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liverworth
- McAllisters Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Caldwell County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Cobb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Cobb is located in Caldwell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb
- Hopson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hopson is located in Caldwell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopson
- Calloway County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- New Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Providence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- New Providence is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Providence
- Almo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Almo is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almo
- Murray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Murray is located in Calloway County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murray
- Population from the 2020 Census: 19,437 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Murray <1>
- Christian County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- LaFayette
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bennettstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- Garrettsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Garrettsburg is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garrettsburg
- Howel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Howel is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howel
- Herndon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Herndon is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Newstead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newstead is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newstead
- Oak Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Church Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Church Hill is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill
- Gracey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Gracey is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gracey
- Hopkinsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pembroke
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bainbridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bainbridge is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge
- Lyon County (KY)
- Lamasco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lamasco is located in Lyon County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamasco
- Marshall County (KY)
- Aurora
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Todd County (KY)
- Trenton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Trigg County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Caledonia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Canton is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Cadiz
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Trigg Furnace
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Trigg Furnace is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trigg Furnace
- Wallonia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wallonia is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallonia
- Cerulean
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Rock, see our County-by-County Page for Big Rock.
Cemeteries Near Big Rock ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Rock.
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 Big Rock - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Rock covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Gaston - Grantham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Keatts Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Joiner Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Taylors Chapel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Hall Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lineberry Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Williams Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Heflin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ezell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crow Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (696 more) ...
- Morgan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Taylor Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Nelums Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Big Rock had a population of 80 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Rock, with the one closest to Big Rock listed first.
- Legate
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Legate is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legate
- Bumpus Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Indian Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dover is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,578 people
- Former name for Dover:
- Monroe
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dover <1>
- Tobaccoport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tobaccoport is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobaccoport
- Snider
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Snider is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Tharpe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Tharpe is located in Stewart County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tharpe
- Oakwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Oakwood is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
- LaFayette
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Roaring Spring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Roaring Spring is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Spring
- Bellamy ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bellamy is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellamy
- Jordan Springs ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Jordan Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Springs
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bennettstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bennettstown is located in Christian County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennettstown
- Linton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Linton is located in Trigg County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linton
- Needmore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Needmore is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Rock. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Rock.
Newspapers Published in Big Rock ...
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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Rock.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Rock, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Rock.
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 websites either 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 Big Rock:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Stewart County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Dickson County
- Henry County
- Houston County
- Humphreys County
- Montgomery County
- Caldwell County
- Calloway County
- Christian County
- Lyon County
- Marshall County
- Todd County
- Trigg County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
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 Big Rock, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Big Rock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |