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 Wills Chapel (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 Wills Chapel. 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 Wills Chapel ...
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.
While the name of this community is Wills Chapel, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Wills Chapel may originally have been Will's Chapel.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Wills Chapel might be written as Will Chapel.
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 northeast 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 north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Wills Chapel is located in Humphreys 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 Humphreys County: Benton, Dickson, Henry, Hickman, Houston & Perry.
Below are the counties that are near Wills Chapel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wills Chapel:
- Humphreys County (The home county of Wills Chapel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Hurricane Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Grandmother Ford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Grandmother Ford is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandmother Ford
- Estimated population in 2014: 307 people
- Buffalo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Bethpage
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bethpage is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethpage
- Population from the 2010 Census: 288 people
- Bakerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bakerville is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerville
- Waverly
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- McEwen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Pigeon Roost
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pigeon Roost is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon Roost
- Estimated population in 2014: 6,132 people
- Plant
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Plant is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant
- Hustburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hustburg is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustburg
- New Johnsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Trinity
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Trinity is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Estimated population in 2014: 625 people
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Brevards Ferry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brevards Ferry is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brevards Ferry
- Estimated population in 2014: 40,982 people
- Coxburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Coxburg is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coxburg
- Wildlife Cove Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Camden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Chaseville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Chaseville is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaseville
- Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Crossroads is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossroads
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,728 people
- Faxon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Faxon is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faxon
- Sandy Point
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sandy Point is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Point
- Big Sandy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Carroll County
- Bruceton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Oakview ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Oakview is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakview
- Sugar Tree
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sugar Tree is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Tree
- Jeannette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jeannette is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette
- Parsons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur Springs ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sulphur Springs is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
- Dickson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Tennessee City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tennessee City is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tennessee City
- Water Valley ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Water Valley is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Valley
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,516 people
- Pond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pond is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond
- Dickson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pomona
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pomona is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
- Tidwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Tidwell is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tidwell
- Abiff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Abiff is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abiff
- Burns
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Vanleer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Charlotte
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spencers Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Spencers Mill is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencers Mill
- Slayden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Slayden is located in Dickson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Henderson County
- Poplar Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Poplar Springs is located in Henderson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Springs
- Hickman County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Only
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Whitehouse
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Whitehouse is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
- Salt Lick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Salt Lick is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Lick
- Estimated population in 2014: 508 people
- Whitfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whitfield is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- Graham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Graham is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Nunnelly
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Nunnelly is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nunnelly
- Centerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasantville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Pleasantville is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Lyles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wrigley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wrigley is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrigley
- Population from the 2010 Census: 281 people
- Hornertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hornertown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hornertown
- Estimated population in 2014: 412 people
- Graytown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Graytown is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graytown
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,528 people
- Houston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Omega ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Omega is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Magnolia
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Magnolia is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia
- Erin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Tennessee Ridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- McKinnon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- McKinnon is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinnon
- Brownsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Brownsville is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Estimated population in 2014: 9,974 people
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Kimmins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Kimmins is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimmins
- Hohenwald
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Maury County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Chartersville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Chartersville is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chartersville
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,494 people
- Greenfield Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greenfield Bend is located in Maury County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield Bend
- Estimated population in 2014: 15,035 people
- Perry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Lobelville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Beardstown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Beardstown is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beardstown
- Linden
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mousetail ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mousetail is located in Perry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mousetail
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wills Chapel, see our County-by-County Page for Wills Chapel.
Cemeteries Near Wills Chapel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wills Chapel.
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 Wills Chapel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wills Chapel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Taylor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Larkin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Baker Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rushing Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wright Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pruett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bryant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rogers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Young Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Foster Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (913 more) ...
- McClanahan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pruett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Potter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
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 Wills Chapel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wills Chapel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wills Chapel, with the one closest to Wills Chapel listed first.
- Bold Spring
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bold Spring is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bold Spring
- Hurricane Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Only
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Buffalo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Bakerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bakerville is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakerville
- Waverly
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gorman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Gorman is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gorman
- Lobelville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Whitfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whitfield is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitfield
- McEwen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Plant
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Plant is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plant
- Vernon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Pinewood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pinewood is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinewood
- Hustburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hustburg is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hustburg
- Goodrich
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Goodrich is located in Hickman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodrich
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wills Chapel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wills Chapel.
Newspapers Published in Wills Chapel ...
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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wills Chapel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wills Chapel, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wills Chapel.
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 Wills Chapel:
- Websites specific to Tennessee
- Pages specific to Humphreys County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Carroll County
- Decatur County
- Dickson County
- Henderson County
- Hickman County
- Houston County
- Lewis County
- Maury County
- Perry 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 Wills Chapel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wills Chapel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |