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 Coles Ferry (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 Coles Ferry. 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 Coles Ferry ...
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.
While the name of this community is Coles Ferry, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Coles Ferry may originally have been Cole's Ferry.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Coles Ferry might be written as Cole Ferry.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Coles Ferry. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Coles Ferry.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Coles Ferry is located in Halifax 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 Halifax County: Caswell (NC), Granville (NC), Person (NC), Campbell, Charlotte, Mecklenburg & Pittsylvania.
Below are the counties that are near Coles Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Coles Ferry:
- Halifax County (The home county of Coles Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Rabat
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Nathalie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Crystal Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Loftis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Clays Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Clays Mill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Mill
- Clover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Midway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Midway is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Cody
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Banister Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Halifax
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Leda
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Rodden
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Chap
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Chap is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chap
- Spring Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Pamplin City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Evergreen
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Evergreen is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Appomattox
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Spout Spring
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Spout Spring is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Spring
- Hurtsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hurtsville is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsville
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Brookneal
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hat Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Melrose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Gladys
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Rustburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Concord
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Yellow Branch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Altavista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lynch Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Lawyers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Mount Athos ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Athos is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Athos
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Aspenwall
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Abell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Phenix
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Rough Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Charlotte Court House
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Drakes Branch
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cullen
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cullen is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
- Wylliesburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Keysville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Abilene
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Abilene is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abilene
- Fluvanna County
- Scottsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lunenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Pleasant Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Meherrin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Meherrin is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meherrin
- Nutbush
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Nutbush is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutbush
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Finneywood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Finneywood is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finneywood
- Orgainville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Orgainville is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orgainville
- Chase City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jeffress
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jeffress is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffress
- Skipwith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Skipwith is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipwith
- Averett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Averett is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averett
- Nelson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Nelson is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Clarksville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Finchley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Finchley is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchley
- Henrico
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henrico is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
- Mill Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Village is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Pittsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Riceville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Renan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Henrys Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Henrys Mill is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mill
- Markham
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Java
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Lucks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lucks is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucks
- Brutus
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Chalk Level
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Hurt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hurt is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hurt <2>
- Sonans
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Laurel Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Gretna
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Prince Edward County
- The following are listed by their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Darlington Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Darlington Heights is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington Heights
- Five Forks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Five Forks is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Blake Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blake Village is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake Village
- Hampden - Sydney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hampden - Sydney is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden - Sydney
- Tuggle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tuggle is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuggle
- Green Bay
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Coles Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Coles Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Coles Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Coles Ferry.
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 Coles Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Coles Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Ellis Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Providence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cub Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Henry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hunting Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Laurel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Wickliff - Rush Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Catawba Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Martin Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (165 more) ...
- Childrey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rodgers Chapel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Crystal Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
While we didn't find Coles Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Coles Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Coles Ferry, with the one closest to Coles Ferry listed first.
- Aspenwall
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Terryville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Terryville is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terryville
- Clarkton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Clarkton is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkton
- Martins Store
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Martins Store is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Store
- Abell ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Nathalie
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lennig
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lennig is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lennig
- Mount Laurel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mount Laurel is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Laurel
- Baileyville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Baileyville is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileyville
- Brookneal
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Loftis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Crystal Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Randolph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Saxe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Volens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Volens is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volens
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Coles Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Coles Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Coles Ferry ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Coles Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Coles Ferry, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Coles Ferry.
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 either 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 Coles Ferry:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Halifax County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appomattox County
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Fluvanna County
- Lunenburg County
- Mecklenburg County
- Pittsylvania County
- Prince Edward 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> | 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 Coles Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Coles Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |