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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Freewill is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Clay, Macon, Overton, Putnam & Smith.
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:
- Jackson County (The home county of Freewill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Mayfield ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Dodson Branch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Dodson Branch is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson Branch
- Population from the 2010 Census: 1,074 people
- Gainesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Burristown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Burristown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burristown
- Columbus Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Columbus Hill is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 36,071 people
- Nameless
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nameless is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nameless
- Rough Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rough Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Point
- Whitleyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Whitleyville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitleyville
- Haydenburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haydenburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydenburg
- North Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- North Springs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Springs
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Butlers Landing ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Butlers Landing is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Landing
- Celina
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Cave Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cave Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Springs
- Free Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Free Hill is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Hill
- Jenkins Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jenkins Village is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins Village
- Moss
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Moss is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Boles
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Boles is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
- Hermitage Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hermitage Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermitage Springs
- Clementsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Clementsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clementsville
- Thompsons Store
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Thompsons Store is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsons Store
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,180 people
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Neverfail ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Neverfail is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neverfail
- Pleasant Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 558 people
- DeKalb County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Johnsons Chapel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Johnsons Chapel is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnsons Chapel
- Temperance Hall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Temperance Hall is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temperance Hall
- Population from the 2010 Census: 5,791 people
- Philippi
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Philippi is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philippi
- Smithville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Young Bend
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Young Bend is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Young Bend
- Estimated population in 2014: 279 people
- Dowelltown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Alexandria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Population from the 2020 Census: 330 people
- Youngblood ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Youngblood is located in DeKalb County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngblood
- Fentress County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Wilder
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wilder is located in Fentress County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilder
- Cooper
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cooper is located in Fentress County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,385 people
- Macon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Gibbs Crossroads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gibbs Crossroads is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Crossroads
- Mill Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mill Town is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Red Boiling Springs
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Shade
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut Shade is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
- Frog Pond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frog Pond is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Pond
- Meadorville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meadorville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadorville
- Lafayette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Overton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Duncan's Chapel ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Duncan's Chapel is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan's Chapel
- Oak Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Oak Hill is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Livingston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Beaver Hill is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Hill
- Grey ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Grey is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grey
- Bushing ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bushing is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushing
- Garretts Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Garretts Mill is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garretts Mill
- Qualls ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Qualls is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Qualls
- Free Communion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Free Communion is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Communion
- Oakley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakley is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Oak Dale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Oak Dale is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Dale
- Estimated population in 2014: 222 people
- Hanging Limb
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hanging Limb is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Limb
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Avoton ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Avoton is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avoton
- Bangham Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bangham Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bangham Village
- Estimated population in 2014: 504 people
- Park Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Park Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Village
- Baxter
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Algood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cookeville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,962 people
- Jeremiah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jeremiah is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeremiah
- Shennon Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shennon Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shennon Village
- White Plains
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- White Plains is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,231 people
- Boma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Boma is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boma
- Pekin ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pekin is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,114 people
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Chestnut Mound
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chestnut Mound is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Mound
- Difficult
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Difficult is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Difficult
- Estimated population in 2014: 14,993 people
- Defeated
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Defeated is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defeated
- Carthage
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Gordonsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bluff Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bluff Creek is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,734 people
- Monoville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Monoville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monoville
- Pleasant Shade
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- South Carthage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- South Carthage is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Carthage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
- Hickman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hickman is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Dixon Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dixon Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon Springs
- Rock City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rock City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Trousdale County
- Johntown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Johntown is located in Trousdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johntown
- White County
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Macedonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Macedonia is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Fanchers Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Fanchers Mills is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fanchers Mills
- Cherry Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Creek is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
- Peeled Chestnut
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Peeled Chestnut is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peeled Chestnut
- Drop ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Drop is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drop
- Sparta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Darkey Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Darkey Springs is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darkey Springs
- Methodist ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Methodist is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Methodist
- Ravenscroft
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ravenscroft is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenscroft
- Pollard ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pollard is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollard
- Clarktown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clarktown is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarktown
- Estimated population in 2014: 146,806 people
- Doyle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Doyle is located in White County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doyle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 587 people
- Wilson County
- Commerce
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Commerce is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Monroe County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Freewill, with the one closest to Freewill listed first.
- Boles
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Boles is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
- Hestand
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hestand is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hestand
- Martinsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Martinsburg is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Gamaliel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tompkinsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Meshack
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Meshack is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshack
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.
- Hensley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Chaffin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Chaney Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Birdwell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Young Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gentry Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Zion Church of Christ Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Byers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Young Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Twelve Corners Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Dudney Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pharris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (671 more) ...
- Stafford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stafford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mayberry Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
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.
- Mayfield ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Gainesboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Waterloo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Waterloo is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Nameless
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Nameless is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nameless
- Selby ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Selby is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selby
- Flynns Lick
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Flynns Lick is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynns Lick
- Double Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Double Springs is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Springs
- Miranda ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Miranda is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miranda
- Crawford ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Crawford is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Rough Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rough Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Point
- Cookeville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jeremiah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jeremiah is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeremiah
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Whitleyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Whitleyville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitleyville
- Windle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Windle is located in Overton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windle
- Hilham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
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 28 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 10 miles [16.1 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 visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Cumberland County
- DeKalb County
- Fentress County
- Macon County
- Overton County
- Putnam County
- Smith County
- Trousdale County
- White County
- Wilson County
- Monroe 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 '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- Freewill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |