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 Bestland (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 Bestland. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Bestland is located in Essex 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 Essex County: Caroline, King and Queen, King George, Middlesex, Richmond & Westmoreland.
Below are the counties that are near Bestland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bestland:
- Essex County (The home county of Bestland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Millers Tavern
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Millers Tavern is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Tavern
- Dunnsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Minor
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Minor is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor
- Bowlers Wharf
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bowlers Wharf is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlers Wharf
- Tappahannock
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dunbrooke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Dunbrooke is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbrooke
- Beazley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beazley is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beazley
- Lloyds
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lloyds is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloyds
- Occupacia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Occupacia is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occupacia
- Layton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Layton is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton
- Loretto
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Loretto is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Central Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Central Point is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Point
- Sparta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sparta is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- DeJarnette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- DeJarnette is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeJarnette
- Penola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Penola is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penola
- Burruss Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Burruss Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burruss Corner
- Bowling Green
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Port Royal
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Charles City County
- Roxbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Roxbury is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Gloucester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Glenns
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Glenns is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenns
- Adner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adner is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adner
- Freeport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Freeport is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
- Ark
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ark is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ark
- Hanover County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Westwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Westwood is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Hanover
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Mechanicsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Atlee Station
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Atlee Station is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
- Henrico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Green Meadows
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Green Meadows is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Meadows
- Windsor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Windsor is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Currituck Farms
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Currituck Farms is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Currituck Farms
- Elko
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Elko is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Fair Oaks
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fair Oaks is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
- Highland Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lee Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lee Park is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Park
- Sandston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- James City County
- Norge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- King and Queen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Crouch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crouch is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crouch
- Contra
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Contra is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contra
- Cumnor
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cumnor is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumnor
- Bruington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bruington is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruington
- King and Queen Court House
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Walkerton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Walkerton is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerton
- Cauthornville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cauthornville is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cauthornville
- Mattaponi
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Plain View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Plain View is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain View
- King George County
- Port Conway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Port Conway is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Conway
- King William County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Rumford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rumford is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford
- Lanesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Lanesville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
- Romancoke
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Romancoke is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romancoke
- Manquin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beulahville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Beulahville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulahville
- West Point
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Enfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Enfield is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
- Tuck Fork
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Tuck Fork is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuck Fork
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Monaskon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Monaskon is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monaskon
- Alfonso
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Alfonso is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfonso
- Griffins Landing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Griffins Landing is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Landing
- Ottoman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Ottoman is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottoman
- Merry Point
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Merry Point is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merry Point
- Richtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Richtown is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richtown
- Millenbeck
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Millenbeck is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millenbeck
- Lankford Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lankford Corner is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lankford Corner
- Weems
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Weems is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weems
- Irvington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kilmarnock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- White Stone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ocran
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ocran is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocran
- Middlesex County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Nesting
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Nesting is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesting
- Remlik
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Saluda
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Urbanna
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Locust Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony Village is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Village
- Grafton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Grafton is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
- Hartfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- New Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Tunstall
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Tunstall is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunstall
- New Kent
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Plum Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Plum Point is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Point
- Northumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Rainswood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rainswood is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainswood
- Lara
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lara is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lara
- Morrisons Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Morrisons Corner is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisons Corner
- Lodge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lodge is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodge
- Heathsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bundick
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Bundick is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bundick
- Coan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Coan is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coan
- Blackwells
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Blackwells is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwells
- Remo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Remo is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remo
- Lynhams
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Lynhams is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynhams
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Simons Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Simons Corner is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simons Corner
- Naylors
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Naylors is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naylors
- Emmerton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Emmerton is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmerton
- Warsaw
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Simonson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Simonson is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonson
- Downings
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Downings is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downings
- Farnham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Farnham is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnham
- Tallent Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tallent Town is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallent Town
- Newland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Newland is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newland
- Rich Neck
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Neck is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Neck
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Nomini Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nomini Grove is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nomini Grove
- Montross
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Griffiths Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Griffiths Corner is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffiths Corner
- Machodoc
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Machodoc is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machodoc
- Chiltons
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chiltons is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiltons
- Hinnom
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hinnom is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinnom
- Leedstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Leedstown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leedstown
- Kinsale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Baynesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Baynesville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baynesville
- Tucker Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Tucker Hill is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tucker Hill
- Bryant Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bryant Town is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant Town
- Potomac Mills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Potomac Mills is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac Mills
- Nash Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nash Town is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Saint Mary's County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Coltons Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Piney Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tall Timbers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bestland, see our County-by-County Page for Bestland.
Cemeteries Near Bestland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bestland.
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 Bestland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bestland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Smyrna Christian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Exol Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exol Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Exol Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the east of Crouch.
- The Exol Cemetery has also been known as:
- Exol Baptist Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #50179 <2>
- Taylor Brizendine Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rappahannock Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rappahannock Christian Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bruington Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Glebe Landing Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Milden Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- St. James Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Union Shiloh Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (139 more) ...
- Bethel Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cobham Park Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hermon Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bestland had a population of 48 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bestland, with the one closest to Bestland listed first.
- Howertons
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Howertons is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howertons
- Upright
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Upright is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upright
- Powcan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Powcan is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powcan
- Crouch
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Crouch is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crouch
- Contra
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Contra is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contra
- Millers Tavern
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Millers Tavern is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Tavern
- Pauls Crossroads
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pauls Crossroads is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pauls Crossroads
- Ozeana
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ozeana is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ozeana
- Dunnsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stevensville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Stevensville is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevensville
- Cumnor
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Cumnor is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumnor
- Ino
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ino is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ino
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Minor
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Minor is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor
- Bruington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bruington is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruington
- Brays
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Brays is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brays
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bestland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bestland.
Newspapers Published in Bestland ...
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 8 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bestland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bestland, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bestland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Bestland:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Essex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caroline County
- Charles City County
- Gloucester County
- Hanover County
- Henrico County
- James City County
- King and Queen County
- King George County
- King William County
- Lancaster County
- Middlesex County
- New Kent County
- Northumberland County
- Richmond County
- Westmoreland County
- Saint Mary's County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bestland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Bestland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |