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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 Blackwater (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 Blackwater. 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 doctors 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.

Blackwater is located in Mathews 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 Mathews County: Gloucester & Middlesex.

Below are the counties that are near Blackwater. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blackwater:

  • Mathews County     (The home county of Blackwater)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Cardinal
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Cardinal is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardinal
    • Mathews
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Ruff
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Ruff is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruff
    • Beaverlett
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Beaverlett is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverlett
    • Susan
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Susan is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susan
    • Diggs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Onemo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Onemo is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onemo
    • Peary
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Peary is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peary
    • New Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Gloucester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • North
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Money
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Money is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money
    • Roanes
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Roanes is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanes
    • Gloucester Courthouse
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Gloucester Courthouse is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester Courthouse
    • White Marsh
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Freeport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Freeport is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
    • Rowes Haven
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Rowes Haven is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Haven
    • Ordinary
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ark
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Ark is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ark
    • Achilles
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Achilles is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Achilles
    • Belroi
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Belroi is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belroi
    • Country Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Country Village is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
  • Hampton City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Newgate Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Newgate Village is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newgate Village
    • Buckroe Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Buckroe Beach is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckroe Beach
    • Chapel Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Chapel Village is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Village
    • Aberdeen Gardens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Aberdeen Gardens is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen Gardens
    • Greenwood Farms
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Greenwood Farms is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Farms
    • Hampton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Phoebus
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Phoebus is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoebus
    • Pine Chapel Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Pine Chapel Village is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Chapel Village
  • Isle of Wight County
    • Rushmere
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rushmere is located in Isle of Wight County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmere
  • James City County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Norge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Jamestown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • King and Queen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Plain View
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Plain View is located in King and Queen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain View
    • Mattaponi
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • King William County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • West Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Romancoke
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Romancoke is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romancoke
  • Lancaster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Westland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Westland is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
    • Weems
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Weems is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weems
    • White Stone
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Irvington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Ocran
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Ocran is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocran
    • Millenbeck
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Millenbeck is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millenbeck
    • Kilmarnock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Ottoman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Ottoman is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottoman
    • Merry Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Merry Point is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merry Point
    • Richtown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Richtown is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richtown
    • Griffins Landing
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Griffins Landing is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Landing
    • Monaskon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Monaskon is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monaskon
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Wilton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Wilton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
    • Amburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Amburg is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amburg
    • Hartfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Sandy Bottom ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Sandy Bottom is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
    • Grafton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Grafton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
    • Stingray Point
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Stingray Point is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stingray Point
    • Harmony Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Harmony Village is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Village
    • Locust Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Saluda
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Urbanna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Remlik
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Nesting
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Nesting is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesting
  • New Kent County
    • Plum Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Plum Point is located in New Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Point
  • Newport News City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Lee Hall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Lee Hall is located in Newport News City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Hall
    • Red Hill Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Red Hill Village is located in Newport News City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill Village
    • Newport News
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Bernard Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Bernard Village is located in Newport News City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernard Village
    • Hilton Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Hilton Village is located in Newport News City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
  • Northampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Cherrystone
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cherrystone is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrystone
    • Cape Charles
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgetown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Bridgetown is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
    • Cheriton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Eastville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bayview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayview is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
    • Jamesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Jamesville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
    • Pat Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pat Town is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pat Town
    • Pleasant Cove Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Pleasant Cove Village is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Cove Village
    • Machipongo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Cheapside
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cheapside is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheapside
    • Birdsnest
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Northumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Lynhams
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lynhams is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynhams
    • Remo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Remo is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remo
    • Fleeton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Fleeton is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleeton
    • Blackwells
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Blackwells is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwells
    • Reedville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Lara
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Lara is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lara
  • Poquoson City
    • Poquoson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Richmond County
    • Simonson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Simonson is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonson
  • Surry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Homewood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Homewood is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
    • Scotland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Scotland is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
  • Williamsburg City
    • Williamsburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.
    • Yorktown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lackey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lackey is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey
    • Dare
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Dare is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dare
    • Charles Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Charles Corner is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles Corner
    • Rochambeau Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rochambeau Village is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochambeau Village
    • Oaktree
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Oaktree is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaktree
    • Barlows Corner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Barlows Corner is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlows Corner
    • Yorkville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Yorkville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blackwater, see our County-by-County Page for Blackwater.

Cemeteries Near Blackwater ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackwater.

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 Blackwater - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blackwater covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.

  • Emmaus Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Providence Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Pole Bridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Sibley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Perkins Springs Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Ruff Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mickelborough Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Poplar Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Christ Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (164 more) ...
    • Spring Hill Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Locust Grove Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • First Baptist Church Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)

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.<2>

While we didn't find Blackwater in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blackwater.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Blackwater, with the one closest to Blackwater listed first.

  • Ware Neck
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ware Neck is located in Gloucester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware Neck
  • Bohannon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bohannon is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bohannon
  • Port Haywood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hudgins
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hudgins is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudgins
  • Blakes
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Blakes is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
  • Cobbs Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Laban
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Laban is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laban
  • Fitchetts
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Fitchetts is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchetts
  • Cricket Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cricket Hill is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket Hill
  • Roanes
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Roanes is located in Gloucester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanes
  • Diggs
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Gloucester Courthouse
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Gloucester Courthouse is located in Gloucester County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester Courthouse
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • White Marsh
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • New Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Wilton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Wilton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blackwater. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blackwater.

Newspapers Published in Blackwater ...

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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackwater.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackwater, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackwater.

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 Blackwater:

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>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 Blackwater, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Blackwater) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.