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 Bray (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 Bray. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Bray is located in Hancock 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 Hancock County: Claiborne, Grainger, Hawkins, Lee (VA) & Scott (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Bray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bray:
- Hancock County (The home county of Bray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Xenophon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Xenophon is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
- Yount Town
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Yount Town is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yount Town
- Duck Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Duck Creek is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Creek
- Sneedville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Trent Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Trent Valley is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,157 people
- Alanthus Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
- Kyles Ford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Willis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Willis is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
- Estimated population in 2014: 387 people
- Claiborne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Caney Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Caney Valley is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney Valley
- Evans Ferry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Evans Ferry is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans Ferry
- Population from the 2010 Census: 293 people
- Raven Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Raven Hill is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven Hill
- Springdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Springdale is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Tazewell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lone Mountain
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lone Mountain is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Mountain
- New Tazewell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Head of Barren
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Head of Barren is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head of Barren
- Sandlick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sandlick is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandlick
- Harrogate
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shawanee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shawanee is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawanee
- Big Barren
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Big Barren is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Barren
- Goin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Goin is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goin
- Cocke County
- Bybee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Grainger County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Beans
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Beans is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,084 people
- Bean Station
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Thorn Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thorn Hill is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorn Hill
- Wyatt Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wyatt Village is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt Village
- Marshalls Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Marshalls Ferry is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshalls Ferry
- Bowen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bowen is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Rutledge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wa-Ni Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wa-Ni Village is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wa-Ni Village
- Lulaville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lulaville is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lulaville
- Washburn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Washburn is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washburn
- Massengill Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Massengill Mill is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massengill Mill
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,600 people
- Oakland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,316 people
- Dyers Ferry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dyers Ferry is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dyers Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 16,839 people
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Beulah
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beulah is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Marvin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marvin is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvin
- Romeo
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Romeo is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romeo
- Warrensburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Warrensburg is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrensburg
- Morelock ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Morelock is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morelock
- Midway
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Albany
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Albany is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
- Mosheim
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Baileyton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ottway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ottway is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottway
- Little Chucky ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Little Chucky is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Chucky
- Bright Hope
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bright Hope is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright Hope
- Hamblen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Bright ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bright is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bright
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,942 people
- Casablanca
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Casablanca is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casablanca
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,223 people
- Morristown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- East Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Village is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Village
- Whitesburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Silver City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Silver City is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Collons Ferry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Collons Ferry is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collons Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 986 people
- Monte Vista Estates
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Monte Vista Estates is located in Hamblen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monte Vista Estates
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,860 people
- Hawkins County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Mooresburg Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mooresburg Springs is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooresburg Springs
- Population from the 2010 Census: 941 people
- Mooresburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Galbraith Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Galbraith Springs is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galbraith Springs
- Red Bridge Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Red Bridge Ferry is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bridge Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,135 people
- Eidson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eidson is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eidson
- Rogersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bulls Gap
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Persia
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Persia is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Persia
- Amis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Amis is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amis
- Strahl
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Strahl is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strahl
- Kepler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Kepler is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kepler
- Surgoinsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Greenland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Greenland is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Talbott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Rock Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock Town is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Town
- Edna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Edna is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna
- White Pine
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jefferson City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leadvale
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Leadvale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadvale
- Alena ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Alena is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alena
- Baneberry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Flat Gap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Flat Gap is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Gap
- New Market
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dandridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rocky Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rocky Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,771 people
- Piedmont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Piedmont is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piedmont
- Knox County
- Zacharytown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zacharytown is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zacharytown
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Haynes ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Haynes is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Luttrell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Luttrell is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luttrell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,088 people
- Maynardville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Loo ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Loo is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loo
- Braden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Braden is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braden
- Estimated population in 2014: 277 people
- Phebe ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Phebe is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phebe
- Bell County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Middlesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Calvin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Calvin is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvin
- Stony Fork Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stony Fork Junction is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Fork Junction
- Varilla
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Varilla is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varilla
- Miracle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Miracle is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miracle
- Premier
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Premier is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Premier
- Yellow Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Yellow Creek is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Creek
- Callaway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Callaway is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaway
- Edgewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Edgewood is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Jenson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jenson is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenson
- Kettle Island
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kettle Island is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kettle Island
- Wasioto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wasioto is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasioto
- Capito
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Capito is located in Bell County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capito
- Harlan County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Mary Alice
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mary Alice is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Alice
- Pathfork
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pathfork is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pathfork
- Twila
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Twila is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twila
- Bobs Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bobs Creek is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobs Creek
- Cawood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cawood is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cawood
- Cranks
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cranks is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranks
- South Wallins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- South Wallins is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wallins
- Coldiron
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Wallins Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Wallins Creek is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallins Creek
- Estimated population in 2016: 146 people
- Harlan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Loyall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Loyall is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Ages
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ages is located in Harlan County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ages
- Baxter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bray, see our County-by-County Page for Bray.
Cemeteries Near Bray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bray.
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 Bray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Bray Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Johnson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- McCoy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Adams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mills Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hensley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Frazier Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Antrican Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Barnard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Coffey Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lawson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Seal Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (913 more) ...
- Helton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greene Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Collins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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>
While we didn't find Bray in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bray.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bray, with the one closest to Bray listed first.
- Xenophon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Xenophon is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Xenophon
- Tate Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Tate Springs is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tate Springs
- Luther
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Luther is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luther
- Thorn Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thorn Hill is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorn Hill
- Bean Station
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yellow Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yellow Springs is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Springs
- Mooresburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Noeton ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Noeton is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noeton
- Marshalls Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Marshalls Ferry is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshalls Ferry
- Ritchie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Ritchie is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritchie
- Bowen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bowen is located in Grainger County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Galbraith Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Galbraith Springs is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galbraith Springs
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sneedville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alanthus Hill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Alanthus Hill is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alanthus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,498 people
- Lee Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Lee Valley is located in Hawkins County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Valley
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bray.
Newspapers Published in Bray ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bray.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bray, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bray.
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 Bray:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Hancock County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Claiborne County
- Cocke County
- Grainger County
- Greene County
- Hamblen County
- Hawkins County
- Jefferson County
- Knox County
- Union County
- Bell County
- Harlan 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 Bray, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |