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 Freewill (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 Freewill. 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 hospitals 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.
Freewill is located in Bradley 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 Bradley County: Murray (GA), Whitfield (GA), Hamilton, McMinn, Meigs & Polk.
Below are the counties that are near Freewill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Freewill:
- Bradley County (The home county of Freewill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Hopewell Estates
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
- Countryside Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Countryside Village is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
- Hopewell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hopewell is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Bent Tree Acres
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- East Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- East Cleveland is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
- Etola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Etola is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etola
- South Cleveland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Cleveland is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
- Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
- Bellefounte
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bellefounte is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefounte
- McDonald
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wildwood Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wildwood Lake is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Lake
- Population from the 2010 Census: 3,124 people
- Mineral Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mineral Park is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Park
- Bledsoe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Brayton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Brayton is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brayton
- Summer City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Summer City is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer City
- Pailo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pailo is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pailo
- Brockdell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brockdell is located in Bledsoe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockdell
- Pikeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hamilton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Birchwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lakewood is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
- Estimated population in 2011: 2,336 people
- Harrison Ferry
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Harrison Ferry is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Ferry
- Population from the 2010 Census: 7,769 people
- Lakesite
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lakesite is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesite
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,866 people
- Soddy Lake Heights
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Soddy Lake Heights is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soddy Lake Heights
- Estimated population in 2014: 13,190 people
- Ooltewah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Dweller
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Lake Dweller is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Dweller
- Collegedale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Harrison
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Caramel Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Caramel Village is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caramel Village
- Daisy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Daisy is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daisy
- Middle Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Middle Valley is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Valley
- Marion County
- Condra
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Condra is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Condra
- McMinn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Lamontville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lamontville is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamontville
- Calhoun
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Luskville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Luskville is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luskville
- Claxton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Claxton is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claxton
- Riceville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Goodsprings
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Goodsprings is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodsprings
- Etowah
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Athens
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Grady
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Grady is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Englewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mecca
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mecca is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecca
- Manila
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Manila is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manila
- Meigs County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- East View
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- East View is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
- Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
- Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
- Beta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Beta is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beta
- Goodfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Goodfield is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodfield
- Calico
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Calico is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
- Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
- Decatur
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cute ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cute is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
- Sewee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sewee is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewee
- Akeman Crossroad
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Akeman Crossroad is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akeman Crossroad
- Polk County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Ocoee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chestuee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Chestuee is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestuee
- Benton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Oldfort
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oldfort is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfort
- Parksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Parksville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parksville
- Ball Play
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ball Play is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ball Play
- Delano
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Chable ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Chable is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chable
- Archville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Archville is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archville
- Servilla
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Servilla is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Servilla
- Rymers ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rymers is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rymers
- Rhea County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Graysville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Graysville is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graysville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,570 people
- Bryan Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bryan Hill is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryan Hill
- Dayton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Spring
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Spring is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Spring
- Ogden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ogden is located in Rhea County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogden
- Sequatchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Center Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Center Point is located in Sequatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Point
- Dunlap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Daus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Daus is located in Sequatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daus
- Cartwright
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Cartwright is located in Sequatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,261 people
- Catoosa County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Mount Vernon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mount Vernon is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vernon
- Estimated population in 2019: 2,371 people
- Graysville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Catoosa Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Catoosa Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catoosa Springs
- Indian Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Indian Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Springs
- Ringgold
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dafron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dafron is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dafron
- Estimated population in 2019: 7,294 people
- Ellie Spring
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ellie Spring is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellie Spring
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,714 people
- Newnan Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Newnan Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newnan Springs
- Estimated population in 2019: 41,581 people
- Boynton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Boynton is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
- Lakeview
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Poplar Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Poplar Springs is located in Catoosa County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Springs
- Fort Oglethorpe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Murray County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Tennga
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gregory
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gregory is located in Murray County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregory
- Population from the 2010 Census: 7,432 people
- Cisco
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Temple Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Temple Grove is located in Murray County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple Grove
- Estimated population in 2019: 4,795 people
- Sumac
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Sumac is located in Murray County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumac
- Crandall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Eton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Walker County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- John Ross Estates
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- John Ross Estates is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for John Ross Estates
- Estimated population in 2018: 84,310 people
- Rossville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dewberry Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dewberry Town is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewberry Town
- Park City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Park City is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park City
- Fairview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fairview is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Orchard Hills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Orchard Hills is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchard Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 232 people
- Warren Terrace
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Warren Terrace is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Terrace
- Estimated population in 2019: 1,720 people
- Lookout Mountain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lytle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lytle is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lytle
- Population from the 2010 Census: 37,115 people
- Rock City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rock City is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Fantasy Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fantasy Hills is located in Walker County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fantasy Hills
- Estimated population in 2019: 316 people
- Flintstone
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Whitfield County (GA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Red Clay
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Red Clay is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Clay
- Parrett Crossing
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Parrett Crossing is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrett Crossing
- Estimated population in 2019: 136 people
- Cohutta
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Varnell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Plainview
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Plainview is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
- Estimated population in 2019: 318 people
- Ruralvale
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ruralvale is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruralvale
- Tunnel Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Waring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Waring is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waring
- Crow ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Crow is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow
- Rocky Face
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Trickum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Trickum is located in Whitfield County (GA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trickum
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Freewill, see our County-by-County Page for Freewill.
Cemeteries Near Freewill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Freewill.
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 Freewill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Freewill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Beaty Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Funderburg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Barger Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Carr Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lee Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- White Oak Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Seaborn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Goodner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hinkle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (679 more) ...
- Fletcher Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Chambers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Freewill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Freewill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Cleveland
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Tasso
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Tasso is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
- Etola
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Etola is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etola
- Snow Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Black Fox
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Black Fox is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Fox
- McDonald
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brittsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brittsville is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brittsville
- Climer
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Climer is located in Bradley County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climer
- Igous Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Igous Ferry is located in Hamilton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Igous Ferry
- Charleston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lamontville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lamontville is located in McMinn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamontville
- Calhoun
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Big Spring
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Big Spring is located in Meigs County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Spring
- Ooltewah
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ocoee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Freewill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Freewill.
Newspapers Published in Freewill ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Freewill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Freewill, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Freewill.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Freewill:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Bradley County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bledsoe County
- Hamilton County
- Marion County
- McMinn County
- Meigs County
- Polk County
- Rhea County
- Sequatchie County
- Catoosa County
- Murray County
- Walker County
- Whitfield 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> | 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 Freewill, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Freewill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |