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 Bells Crossroad (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 Bells Crossroad. 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 Bells Crossroad ...
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 Bells Crossroad: Bells Xrd.
- While the name of this community is Bells Crossroad, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bells Crossroad may originally have been Bell's Crossroad.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bells Crossroad might be written as Bell Crossroad.
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.
Bells Crossroad is located in Spotsylvania County.
To see how the shape of Virginia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Spotsylvania County: Caroline, Culpeper, Hanover, Louisa, Orange & Stafford.
Below are the counties that are near Bells Crossroad. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bells Crossroad:
- Spotsylvania County (The home county of Bells Crossroad)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Childs Cove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Childs Cove is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childs Cove
- Belmont
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Belmont is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Holladay
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Holladay is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holladay
- Paytes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Paytes is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paytes
- Margo
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Margo is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Margo
- Logan
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Logan is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan
- Glenora
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Glenora is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenora
- McHenry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- McHenry is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McHenry
- Lewiston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lewiston is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Post Oak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Post Oak is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Oak
- Parker
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Parker is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
- Todds Tavern
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Todds Tavern is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todds Tavern
- Brockroad
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brockroad is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brockroad
- Albemarle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Cobham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cobham is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobham
- Burnley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burnley is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnley
- Rosena
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rosena is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosena
- Gilbert
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gilbert is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert
- Keswick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Ruther Glen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bowling Green
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- New London
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- New London is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
- Olney Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Olney Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney Corner
- Stuart Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Stuart Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuart Corner
- Moss Neck
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Moss Neck is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Neck
- Burruss Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burruss Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burruss Corner
- Penola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Penola is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penola
- DeJarnette
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- DeJarnette is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeJarnette
- Samuels Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Samuels Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samuels Corner
- Culpeper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Lignum
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lignum is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lignum
- Kellys Ford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kellys Ford is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Ford
- Waylands Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Waylands Mill is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waylands Mill
- Culpeper
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Elkwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Norman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Norman is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norman
- Salem
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Salem is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Griffinsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Griffinsburg is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffinsburg
- Rixeyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rixeyville is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rixeyville
- Fauquier County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Remington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bealeton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Blackwell Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Blackwell Town is located in Fauquier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwell Town
- Midland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fluvanna County
- Kents Store
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kents Store is located in Fluvanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kents Store
- Fredericksburg City
- Fredericksburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Goochland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Hadensville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Tabscott
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tabscott is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabscott
- Caledonia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Caledonia is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Sandy Hook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sandy Hook is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Enon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Enon is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- Greene County
- Dawsonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Dawsonville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
- Hanover County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Tylers
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tylers is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tylers
- Beaverdam
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hewlett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hewlett is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewlett
- Montpelier
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Verdon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Verdon is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdon
- Goodall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Goodall is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodall
- Vontay
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Vontay is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vontay
- Doswell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Casco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Casco is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casco
- Rockville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Taylorsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Taylorsville is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Harris ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Harris is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Mineral
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pendleton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pendleton is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton
- Louisa
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bumpass
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bumpass is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpass
- Bumpass has also been known as:
- Bumpas
- Bumpass Junction
- Bumpass Station
- Bumpass Turnout
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bumpass <2>
- Cuckoo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cuckoo is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuckoo
- Trevilians
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Trevilians is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trevilians
- Green Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Green Springs is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Springs
- Vigor
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vigor is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vigor
- Meltons
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Meltons is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meltons
- Jackson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jackson is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Bells Crossroads
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bells Crossroads is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Crossroads
- Gays ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Gays is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Madison Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Madison Mills is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Mills
- Burnt Tree
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Burnt Tree is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Tree
- Radiant
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Radiant is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radiant
- Aroda
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Aroda is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aroda
- Tryme
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tryme is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryme
- Madison
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Orange County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Danton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Danton is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danton
- Vulcan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vulcan is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan
- Rhoadesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Locust Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Grassland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Grassland is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassland
- Burr Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Burr Hill is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr Hill
- Wilderness
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wilderness is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilderness
- Indian Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Indian Town is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Town
- True Blue
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- True Blue is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True Blue
- Madison Run
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Madison Run is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Run
- Orange
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Gordonsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Montpelier Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Stafford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Berea
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Berea is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berea
- Hartwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stafford Lakes Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Storck
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Storck is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Storck
- Chatham Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chatham Village is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham Village
- Falmouth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grafton Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Grafton Village is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton Village
- Hampstead Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hampstead Village is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampstead Village
- Hartwood Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Hartwood Village is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwood Village
- Cropp
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cropp is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cropp
- Falmouth Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Falmouth Village is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth Village
- Little Falls Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Little Falls Village is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls Village
- Northridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Northridge is located in Stafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northridge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bells Crossroad, see our County-by-County Page for Bells Crossroad.
Cemeteries Near Bells Crossroad ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bells Crossroad.
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 Bells Crossroad - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bells Crossroad covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Branch Fork Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- True Light Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Olivet Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Craigs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Goodhope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Little Mine Road Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Orange Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mine Road Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hebron Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (181 more) ...
- Pentecostal Evangelical Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Bells Crossroad in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bells Crossroad.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bells Crossroad, with the one closest to Bells Crossroad listed first.
- Stubbs
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Stubbs is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stubbs
- Granite Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Granite Springs is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite Springs
- Belmont
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Belmont is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Holladay
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Holladay is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holladay
- Glenora
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Glenora is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenora
- Tatum
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Tatum is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tatum
- Danton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Danton is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danton
- Mansfield ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mansfield is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield
- Vulcan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vulcan is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan
- Mine Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mine Run is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mine Run
- Lewiston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lewiston is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
- Thornhill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Thornhill is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornhill
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Post Oak
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Post Oak is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Oak
- Verdiersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Verdiersville is located in Orange County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdiersville
- Parker
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Parker is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parker
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bells Crossroad. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bells Crossroad.
Newspapers Published in Bells Crossroad ...
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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bells Crossroad.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bells Crossroad, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bells Crossroad.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Bells Crossroad:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Spotsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Albemarle County
- Caroline County
- Culpeper County
- Fauquier County
- Fluvanna County
- Fredericksburg City
- Goochland County
- Greene County
- Hanover County
- Louisa County
- Madison County
- Orange County
- Stafford County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
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> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Bells Crossroad, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Bells Crossroad) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |