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 Browntown (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 Browntown. 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 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.
Browntown is located in Amherst 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 Amherst County: Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, Lynchburg City, Nelson & Rockbridge.
Below are the counties that are near Browntown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Browntown:
- Amherst County (The home county of Browntown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Sandidges
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sandidges is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandidges
- Allwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Allwood is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allwood
- Monitor
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Monitor is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monitor
- Forks of Buffalo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forks of Buffalo is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks of Buffalo
- Pleasant View
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Pedlar Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pedlar Mills is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pedlar Mills
- Amherst
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sweet Briar Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sweet Briar Station is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Briar Station
- Lowesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Coolwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Coolwell is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolwell
- Winesap
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Winesap is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winesap
- New Glasgow
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- New Glasgow is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glasgow
- Alto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Alto is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Beckham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beckham is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckham
- Mineral ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral
- Bent Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bent Creek is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Spout Spring
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Spout Spring is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Spring
- Appomattox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Evergreen
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Augusta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Steeles Tavern
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Spottswood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Spottswood is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
- Greenville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Newport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Newport is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Sherando
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sherando is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherando
- Lipscomb
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Middlebrook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stuarts Draft
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lyndhurst
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Abert
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Abert is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abert
- Coleman Falls
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coleman Falls is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman Falls
- Waugh
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Waugh is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
- Boonsboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Boonsboro is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonsboro
- Forest
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Cifax
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cifax is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
- Bellevue
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Goode
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lowry
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Peaksville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Peaksville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Rocky Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rocky Point is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Point
- Buchanan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Buckingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Manteo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Manteo is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manteo
- Toga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Toga is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toga
- Buena Vista City
- Buena Vista
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Mount Athos ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Athos is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Athos
- Powhatan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Powhatan is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
- Timberlake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Timberlake is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Bedford Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Lawyers
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Concord
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rustburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Yellow Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Mount Zion
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lynchburg City
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Lavino Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lavino Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavino Village
- Lynchburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Woodbine Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Nelson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Massies Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Massies Mill is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massies Mill
- Colleen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Colleen is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colleen
- Arrington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Jonesboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jonesboro is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Buffalo Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Buffalo Springs is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Springs
- Bryant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bryant is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Tyro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gladstone
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Norwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Norwood is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Shipman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Shipman is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shipman
- Old Myndus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Myndus is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Myndus
- Adial
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Adial is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adial
- Nellysford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Riverside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Buffalo Forge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
- Glasgow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Marlbrook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
- East Lexington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Greenlee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Greenlee is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Fairfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Fancy Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Zollman ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
- Davis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Davis is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Natural Bridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Longwood ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Red Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Red Mills is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mills
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Browntown, see our County-by-County Page for Browntown.
Cemeteries Near Browntown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Browntown.
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 Browntown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Browntown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Hicks Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Burford Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Henley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dodd Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gatewood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hudson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Higginbotham Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Grant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Watts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mays Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hudson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (185 more) ...
- Williams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harrison Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Parr Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Browntown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Browntown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Browntown, with the one closest to Browntown listed first.
- Sandidges
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sandidges is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandidges
- Allwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Allwood is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allwood
- Pleasant View
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Forks of Buffalo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forks of Buffalo is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks of Buffalo
- Gidsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Gidsville is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gidsville
- Willow
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Willow is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow
- Pedlar Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pedlar Mills is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pedlar Mills
- Elon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elon is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Salt Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Salt Creek is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Creek
- Coolwell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Coolwell is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolwell
- Clifford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Clifford is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Oronoco
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Oronoco is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oronoco
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Lowesville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Abert
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Abert is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abert
- Pearch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pearch is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearch
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Browntown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Browntown.
Newspapers Published in Browntown ...
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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Browntown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Browntown, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Browntown.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Browntown:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Amherst County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appomattox County
- Augusta County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Botetourt County
- Buckingham County
- Buena Vista City
- Campbell County
- Lexington City
- Lynchburg City
- Nelson County
- Rockbridge 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> | 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 Browntown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Browntown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |