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 Desha (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 Desha. 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 and hospitals 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.
Desha 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 Desha. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Desha:
- Essex County (The home county of Desha)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Tappahannock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Dunbrooke
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dunbrooke is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbrooke
- Millers Tavern
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Millers Tavern is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Tavern
- Dunnsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Minor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Minor is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor
- Lloyds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lloyds is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloyds
- Beazley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Beazley is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beazley
- Occupacia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Occupacia is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occupacia
- Bowlers Wharf
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bowlers Wharf is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlers Wharf
- Layton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Layton is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton
- Loretto
(13 miles [20.9 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 Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Central Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Central Point is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Point
- Sparta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sparta is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Port Royal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- DeJarnette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- DeJarnette is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeJarnette
- Penola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Penola is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penola
- Samuels Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Samuels Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samuels Corner
- Bowling Green
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- New London
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- New London is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
- Stuart Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Stuart Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuart Corner
- Burruss Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Burruss Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burruss Corner
- Moss Neck
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Moss Neck is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Neck
- Ruther Glen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gloucester County
- Glenns
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glenns is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenns
- Hanover County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Westwood
(25 miles [40.2 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 southwest)
- Doswell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Taylorsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Taylorsville is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
- King and Queen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Cauthornville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cauthornville is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cauthornville
- Bruington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bruington is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruington
- Crouch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crouch is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crouch
- Contra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Contra is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contra
- Cumnor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cumnor is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumnor
- Walkerton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Walkerton is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerton
- King and Queen Court House
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Mattaponi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- King George County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Port Conway
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Port Conway is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Conway
- Shiloh
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Ninde
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ninde is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ninde
- Alden
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Alden is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alden
- Edgehill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Edgehill is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgehill
- King George
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dahlgren
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Arnolds Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Arnolds Corner is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnolds Corner
- Weedonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Weedonville is located in King George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weedonville
- King William County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Beulahville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Beulahville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulahville
- Rumford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rumford is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford
- Manquin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tuck Fork
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tuck Fork is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuck Fork
- Enfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Enfield is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
- Lanesville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Lanesville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
- Romancoke
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Romancoke is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romancoke
- West Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lancaster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Monaskon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Monaskon is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monaskon
- Alfonso
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Alfonso is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alfonso
- Griffins Landing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Griffins Landing is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Landing
- Ottoman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ottoman is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottoman
- Merry Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Merry Point is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merry Point
- Richtown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Richtown is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richtown
- Lankford Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lankford Corner is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lankford Corner
- Millenbeck
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Millenbeck is located in Lancaster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millenbeck
- Middlesex County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Nesting
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nesting is located in Middlesex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesting
- Remlik
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Urbanna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Saluda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Tunstall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Tunstall is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunstall
- New Kent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Plum Point
(28 miles [45.1 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 Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Morrisons Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Morrisons Corner is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisons Corner
- Rainswood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rainswood is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainswood
- Lodge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lodge is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodge
- Lara
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lara is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lara
- Bundick
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bundick is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bundick
- Coan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Coan is located in Northumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coan
- Heathsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Naylors
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Naylors is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naylors
- Warsaw
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Newland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Newland is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newland
- Tallent Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tallent Town is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallent Town
- Emmerton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Emmerton is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmerton
- Simons Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Simons Corner is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simons Corner
- Rich Neck
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Rich Neck is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Neck
- Downings
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Downings is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downings
- Farnham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Farnham is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnham
- Simonson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Simonson is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonson
- Westmoreland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Nomini Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Nomini Grove is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nomini Grove
- Montross
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Leedstown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Leedstown is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leedstown
- Chiltons
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Chiltons is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiltons
- Baynesville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Baynesville is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baynesville
- Hinnom
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hinnom is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinnom
- Machodoc
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Machodoc is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machodoc
- Bryant Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bryant Town is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant Town
- Potomac Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Potomac Mills is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac Mills
- Griffiths Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Griffiths Corner is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffiths Corner
- Nash Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Nash Town is located in Westmoreland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash Town
- Oak Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Charles County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Cobb Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rock Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Rock Point is located in Charles County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Point
- Morgantown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Morgantown is located in Charles County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgantown
- Mount Victoria
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mount Victoria is located in Charles County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Victoria
- Saint Mary's County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Coltons Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Avenue
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Abell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Breton Beach
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Breton Beach is located in Saint Mary's County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breton Beach
- Blakistone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Blakistone is located in Saint Mary's County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakistone
- Milestown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Milestown is located in Saint Mary's County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milestown
- Tall Timbers
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bushwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Compton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Compton is located in Saint Mary's County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Compton
- Piney Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Drayden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Lee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Lee is located in Saint Mary's County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Lee
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Desha, see our County-by-County Page for Desha.
Cemeteries Near Desha ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Desha.
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 Desha - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Desha covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Hermon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Trinity UMC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Upper Essex Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rappahannock Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rappahannock Christian Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Smyrna Christian Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Taylor Brizendine Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cobham Park Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clarksville Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (142 more) ...
- Menokin Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Welcome Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Bruington Baptist Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
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 Desha in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Desha.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Desha, with the one closest to Desha listed first.
- Mount Landing
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mount Landing is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Landing
- Brays
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brays is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brays
- Tappahannock
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Pauls Crossroads
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pauls Crossroads is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pauls Crossroads
- Rexburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rexburg is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexburg
- Naylors
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Naylors is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naylors
- Minor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Minor is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor
- Millers Tavern
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Millers Tavern is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Tavern
- Howertons
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Howertons is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howertons
- Dunnsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Neck
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Indian Neck is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Neck
- Bestland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bestland is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bestland
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Wares Wharf
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wares Wharf is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wares Wharf
- Lloyds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lloyds is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloyds
- Upright
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Upright is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upright
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Desha. See our List of 1890's Communities around Desha.
Newspapers Published in Desha ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Desha.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Desha, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Desha.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Desha:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Essex County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caroline County
- Gloucester County
- Hanover County
- King and Queen County
- King George County
- King William County
- Lancaster County
- Middlesex County
- New Kent County
- Northumberland County
- Richmond County
- Westmoreland County
- Charles 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 '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- Desha) 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 Desha, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |