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 Benchley (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 Benchley. 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 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.
Benchley is located in Robertson County.
To see how the shape of Texas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Robertson County: Brazos, Burleson, Falls, Leon, Limestone, Madison & Milam.
Below are the counties that are near Benchley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benchley:
- Robertson County (The home county of Benchley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Mumford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Wheelock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hearne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elliot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elliot is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Franklin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- New Baden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Calvert
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Owensville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Owensville is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owensville
- Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ridge is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
- Hammond
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Brazos County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Rye ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rye is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rye
- Tabor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tabor is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Bryan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wixon Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Wixon Valley is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wixon Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
- Boonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Boonville is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonville
- Stone City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stone City is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone City
- Kurten
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- College Station
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Edge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Edge is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edge
- Wellborn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Millican
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Allen Farm
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Allen Farm is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Farm
- Burleson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Cooks Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cooks Point is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Point
- Tunis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Tunis is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Snook
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Merle ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Merle is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merle
- Caldwell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chriesman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clay
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lyons
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Frenstat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Frenstat is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenstat
- Scofield ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Scofield is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
- San Antonio Prairie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- San Antonio Prairie is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Antonio Prairie
- Birch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Birch is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birch
- Deanville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grimes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Iola
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bedias
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Leon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Wealthy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wealthy is located in Leon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wealthy
- Hilltop Lakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Normangee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- North Zulch
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Zulch ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Zulch is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zulch
- George
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- George is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for George
- Milam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Gause
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Port Sullivan ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Port Sullivan is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Sullivan
- Branchville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Branchville is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branchville
- Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crossroads is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crossroads
- Milano
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Maysfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Prairie
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Prairie is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Prairie
- Marlow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Marlow is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlow
- Baileyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Baileyville is located in Milam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileyville
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Independence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Quarry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Quarry is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarry
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benchley, see our County-by-County Page for Benchley.
Cemeteries Near Benchley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benchley.
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 Benchley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benchley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Gilmore Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Walker Settlement Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Rest Ever Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rest Ever Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Rest Ever Memorial Park is located outside and to the northwest of Bryan.
- The Rest Ever Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Rest Ever Memorial Cemetery
- Henry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Henry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Galloway Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mumford Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Reed Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Canaan Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (219 more) ...
- Grandview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kizer Cemetery
- The Kizer Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kizer Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #4653 <2>
- New Bethlehem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Benchley had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Benchley, with the one closest to Benchley listed first.
- Tabor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tabor is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
- Sutton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sutton is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutton
- Mumford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bryan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- College Station
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kurten
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wheelock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Harvey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Harvey is located in Brazos County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Hearne
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cooks Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cooks Point is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooks Point
- Tunis
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Tunis is located in Burleson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Elliot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elliot is located in Robertson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Gause
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wellborn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benchley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benchley.
Newspapers Published in Benchley ...
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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benchley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benchley, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Benchley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Benchley:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Robertson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Brazos County
- Burleson County
- Grimes County
- Leon County
- Madison County
- Milam County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
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 Benchley, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Benchley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |