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 Williams (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 Williams. 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 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.
Williams is located in Macon 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 Macon County: Allen (KY), Monroe (KY), Clay, Jackson, Smith, Sumner & Trousdale.
Below are the counties that are near Williams. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williams:
- Macon County (The home county of Williams)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Frog Pond
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Frog Pond is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frog Pond
- Lafayette
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Meadorville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Meadorville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadorville
- Red Boiling Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mill Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Town is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Walnut Shade
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Walnut Shade is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
- Gibbs Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gibbs Crossroads is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Crossroads
- Green Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Green Grove is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Grove
- Siloam
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Siloam is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Jenkins Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Jenkins Village is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jenkins Village
- Hermitage Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hermitage Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermitage Springs
- Clementsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Clementsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clementsville
- Boles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Boles is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
- Moss
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Moss is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Butlers Landing ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Butlers Landing is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butlers Landing
- Celina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Free Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Free Hill is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Hill
- Cave Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cave Springs is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Springs
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- North Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- North Springs is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Springs
- Haydenburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Haydenburg is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydenburg
- Whitleyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Whitleyville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitleyville
- Rough Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rough Point is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Point
- Columbus Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Columbus Hill is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus Hill
- Estimated population in 2014: 36,071 people
- Gainesboro
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nameless
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nameless is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nameless
- Burristown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burristown is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burristown
- Mayfield ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mayfield is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Pekin ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pekin is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pekin
- Estimated population in 2014: 2,114 people
- Lafayette
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette
- Estimated population in 2014: 4,962 people
- Robertson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Black Jack
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Black Jack is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
- Mitchell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mitchell is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
- Estimated population in 2014: 198 people
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Pleasant Shade
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dixon Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Dixon Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon Springs
- Difficult
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Difficult is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Difficult
- Estimated population in 2014: 14,993 people
- Defeated
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Defeated is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Defeated
- Monoville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Monoville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monoville
- Carthage
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Rock City is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- South Carthage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- South Carthage is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Carthage
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,406 people
- Bluff Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Bluff Creek is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Creek
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,734 people
- Gordonsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Shaver Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Shaver Town is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaver Town
- Chestnut Mound
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Chestnut Mound is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Mound
- Sumner County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Westmoreland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bledsoe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Bledsoe is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Bransford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bransford is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bransford
- Population from the 2010 Census: 170 people
- Sugar Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Chipman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chipman is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipman
- Bethpage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Rogana
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rogana is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogana
- Fairfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fairfield is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Castalian Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rock Bridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Rock Bridge is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Bridge
- Corinth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Corinth is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Sengtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sengtown is located in Sumner County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sengtown
- Trousdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Johntown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Johntown is located in Trousdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johntown
- Hartsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Centerville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Estimated population in 2014: 3,595 people
- Saulsbury
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saulsbury is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Estimated population in 2014: 96 people
- Possum Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Possum Town is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Town
- Commerce
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Commerce is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Linwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Linwood is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
- Lebanon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Laguardo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laguardo is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laguardo
- Estimated population in 2014: 132 people
- Greenwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood is located in Wilson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Allen County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Holland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Holland is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Oak Forest
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Forest is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Forest
- Adolphus
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Petroleum
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Petroleum is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petroleum
- Scottsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cedar Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Cedar Springs is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Springs
- Red Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Red Hill is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill
- Halfway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Halfway is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
- Halifax
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Halifax is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halifax
- Pope
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pope is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pope
- Yesse
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Yesse is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yesse
- Meador
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Meador is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meador
- Barren County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Austin
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Austin is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
- Etoile
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Etoile is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etoile
- Lucas
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Nobob
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Nobob is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nobob
- Rocky Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rocky Hill is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Hill
- Haywood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Haywood is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood
- Eighty Eight
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eighty Eight is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eighty Eight
- Beckton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Beckton is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckton
- Kino
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kino is located in Barren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kino
- Metcalfe County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Summer Shade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beaumont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beaumont is located in Metcalfe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
- Monroe County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Akersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Akersville is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akersville
- Fountain Run
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Gamaliel
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mud Lick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mud Lick is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mud Lick
- Boles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Boles is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boles
- Mount Hermon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Hermon is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hermon
- Tompkinsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forkton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Forkton is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkton
- Hestand
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Hestand is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hestand
- Meshack
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Meshack is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshack
- Martinsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Martinsburg is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsburg
- Simpson County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Gold City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gold City is located in Simpson County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold City
- Black Jack
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Black Jack is located in Simpson County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Jack
- Warren County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Claypool
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Claypool is located in Warren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool
- Martinsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Martinsville is located in Warren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Alvaton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Drake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Drake is located in Warren County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williams, see our County-by-County Page for Williams.
Cemeteries Near Williams ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williams.
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 Williams - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williams covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Pirtle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Freeman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bradley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- David Blankenship Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- King Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Vester Crowder Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Crowder Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- J M Marshall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Holland - Cothron Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Roark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Marshall - Selley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Continue List (507 more) ...
- Jesse West Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Chamberlain - Carter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lafayette City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 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 Williams in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Williams.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
- Lafayette
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Long Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Long Creek is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Creek
- Meadorville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Meadorville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadorville
- Haysville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Haysville is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haysville
- Hillsdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hillsdale is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Eulia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Eulia is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eulia
- Akersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Akersville is located in Monroe County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Akersville
- Red Boiling Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Holland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Holland is located in Allen County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Gibbs Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gibbs Crossroads is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbs Crossroads
- Walnut Shade
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Walnut Shade is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Shade
- Willard
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Willard is located in Trousdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Barefoot
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barefoot is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barefoot
- Pleasant Shade
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Willette
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Willette is located in Macon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willette
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williams. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williams.
Newspapers Published in Williams ...
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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williams.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williams, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williams.
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 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 Williams:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Macon County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Jackson County
- Putnam County
- Robertson County
- Smith County
- Sumner County
- Trousdale County
- Wilson County
- Allen County
- Barren County
- Metcalfe County
- Monroe County
- Simpson County
- Warren 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 Williams, 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 from Point A (ie- Williams) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |