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 Porters Creek (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 Porters Creek. 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 Porters Creek ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Porters Creek: Porters Crk. (or less commonly used: Porters Ck. or Porters Cr.)
- While the name of this community is Porters Creek, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Porters Creek may originally have been Porter's Creek.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Porters Creek might be written as Porter Creek.
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 southeast 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 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.
Porters Creek is located in Hardeman 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 Hardeman County: Alcorn (MS), Benton (MS), Tippah (MS), Chester, Fayette, Haywood, Madison & McNairy.
Below are the counties that are near Porters Creek. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Porters Creek:
- Hardeman County (The home county of Porters Creek)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Middleton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hornsby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hornsby is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornsby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Essary Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Essary Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essary Springs
- Rogers Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rogers Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Springs
- Bolivar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shandy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shandy is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shandy
- Saulsbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saulsbury is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
- Hickory Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hickory Valley is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
- Toone
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Toone is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toone
- Population from the 2020 Census: 336 people
- Newcastle
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Newcastle is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newcastle
- Teague
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Teague is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teague
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,181 people
- Whiteville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Vildo
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Vildo is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vildo
- Chester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Masseyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Masseyville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyville
- Silerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Silerton is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Deanburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Deanburg is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deanburg
- Estimated population in 2014: 7,395 people
- Montezuma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Montezuma is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montezuma
- Henderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sweet Lips
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sweet Lips is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Lips
- Enville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Enville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 189 people
- Jacks Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Grand Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- La Grange
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- La Grange is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Fayette Corners
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette Corners is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette Corners
- Forty Five
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Forty Five is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forty Five
- Somerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Williston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Williston is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 373 people
- Moscow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Hardin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Shiloh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Crump
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg Landing Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg Landing Ferry is located in Hardin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg Landing Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 555 people
- Haywood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Hillville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hillville is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillville
- Eurekaton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Eurekaton is located in Haywood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eurekaton
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Medon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Parkburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Parkburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkburg
- Estimated population in 2014: 10,156 people
- Pinson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mercer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mercer is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Cisco Indian Village ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cisco Indian Village is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco Indian Village
- Denmark
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Malesus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Malesus is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malesus
- McNairy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Rose Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Creek is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Creek
- Falcon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Falcon is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
- Ramer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Chewalla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Chewalla is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewalla
- Selmer
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Bethel Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eastview
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eastview is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 702 people
- Guys
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Guys is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guys
- Population from the 2020 Census: 430 people
- Purdy
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Purdy is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Finger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Caffey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Caffey is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caffey
- Michie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stantonville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stantonville is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stantonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 259 people
- Alcorn County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Kossuth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Allentown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Allentown is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allentown
- Corinth
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hightown
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hightown is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Biggersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Biggersville is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biggersville
- Farmington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Farmington is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,160 people
- Searcy Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Searcy Town is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searcy Town
- Glens
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glens is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glens
- Benton County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Canaan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Canaan is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Michigan City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ashland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Snow Lake Shores
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Snow Lake Shores is located in Benton County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake Shores
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Prentiss County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Pisgah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pisgah is located in Prentiss County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Jumpertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Jumpertown is located in Prentiss County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumpertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Tippah County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Walnut
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Tiplersville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Tiplersville is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiplersville
- Falkner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Whitten Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Whitten Town is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten Town
- Ripley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Gravestown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gravestown is located in Tippah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravestown
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Porters Creek, see our County-by-County Page for Porters Creek.
Cemeteries Near Porters Creek ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Porters Creek.
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 Porters Creek - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Porters Creek covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Bass Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Grantham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Stanley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Sandy Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sasser Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Eureka Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mosses Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- McCalips Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hatchie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Harris Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Moore Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (481 more) ...
- Kirk Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Old Bethlehem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<3>
While we didn't find Porters Creek in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Porters Creek.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Porters Creek, with the one closest to Porters Creek listed first.
- Middleton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pocahontas
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Essary Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Essary Springs is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essary Springs
- Rose Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Creek is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Creek
- Bolivar
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Walnut
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Shandy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shandy is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shandy
- Pine Top
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Pine Top is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Top
- Masseyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Masseyville is located in Chester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masseyville
- Middleburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Middleburg is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
- Saulsbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saulsbury is located in Hardeman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
- Cuba
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cuba is located in Alcorn County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Chewalla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Chewalla is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chewalla
- Ramer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Falcon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Falcon is located in McNairy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falcon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Porters Creek. See our List of 1890's Communities around Porters Creek.
Newspapers Published in Porters Creek ...
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 86 newspapers that have been published in the area around Porters Creek.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Porters Creek, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Porters Creek.
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 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 Porters Creek:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Hardeman County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chester County
- Fayette County
- Hardin County
- Haywood County
- Madison County
- McNairy County
- Alcorn County
- Benton County
- Prentiss County
- Tippah County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Tennessee
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Porters Creek, 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- Porters Creek) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |