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 French Hay (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 French Hay. 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 and hospitals 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.
French Hay is located in Hanover 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 Hanover County: Caroline, Goochland, Henrico, King William, Louisa, New Kent & Spotsylvania.
Below are the counties that are near French Hay. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to French Hay:
- Hanover County (The home county of French Hay)
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Gwathmey
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gwathmey is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwathmey
- Atlee Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Atlee Station is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
- Ashland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hanover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mechanicsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Taylorsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Taylorsville is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
- Hylas
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hylas is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hylas
- Doswell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Goodall
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Goodall is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodall
- Casco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Casco is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casco
- Rockville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Verdon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Verdon is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdon
- Montpelier
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Amelia County
- Masons Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Masons Corner is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masons Corner
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Burruss Corner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Burruss Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burruss Corner
- Ruther Glen
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Penola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Penola is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penola
- DeJarnette
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- DeJarnette is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeJarnette
- Sparta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sparta is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Bowling Green
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Central Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Central Point is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Point
- Charles City County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Roxbury
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Roxbury is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Kimages
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kimages is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimages
- Chesterfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Bon Air
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Chesterfield Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield Village
- Robious
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Robious is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robious
- Ampt Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Ampt Hill is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ampt Hill
- Bensley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Bensley is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bensley
- Midlothian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bensley Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bensley Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bensley Village
- Drewrys Bluff
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Drewrys Bluff is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drewrys Bluff
- Bellwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bellwood is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Beulah Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Beulah Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah Village
- Centralia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Centralia is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralia
- Chesterfield Court House
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Otterdale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Otterdale is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterdale
- Colonial Heights City
- Colonial Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Essex County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Beazley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Beazley is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beazley
- Minor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Minor is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor
- Millers Tavern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Millers Tavern is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Tavern
- Goochland County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Oilville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Thorncliff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Thorncliff is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorncliff
- Maidens
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Goochland
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Sandy Hook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sandy Hook is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Enon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Enon is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- Hadensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Henrico County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Quail Walk
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Quail Walk is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Walk
- Longdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Longdale is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale
- Glen Allen
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hunton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Hunton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunton
- Laurel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Chamberlayne
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chamberlayne is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlayne
- Laurel Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Village is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Village
- Lakeside
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lakeside is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Dumbarton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dumbarton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumbarton
- East Highland Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Highland Park is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Highland Park
- Tuckahoe
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Short Pump
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Wyndham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Wyndham is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyndham
- Hopewell City
- Hopewell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- King and Queen County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Walkerton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Walkerton is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerton
- Cauthornville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cauthornville is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cauthornville
- Bruington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bruington is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruington
- King William County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Enfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Enfield is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
- Tuck Fork
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tuck Fork is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuck Fork
- Manquin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Beulahville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beulahville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulahville
- Rumford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rumford is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford
- Lanesville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lanesville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Willowbrook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Willowbrook is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowbrook
- Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Shelfar
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shelfar is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelfar
- Bumpass
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bumpass is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpass
- Bumpass has also been known as:
- Bumpas
- Bumpass Junction
- Bumpass Station
- Bumpass Turnout
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bumpass <1>
- Gays ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gays was located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
- Harris ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Harris was located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Cuckoo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cuckoo is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuckoo
- New Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Tunstall
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Tunstall is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunstall
- New Kent
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Powhatan County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Huguenot
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Huguenot is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguenot
- Dorset
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dorset is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorset
- Beaumont
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beaumont is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
- Michaux
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Michaux is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michaux
- Pilkinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pilkinton is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilkinton
- Richmond City
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Richmond
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Montrose Heights
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Montrose Heights is located in Richmond City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose Heights
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Chippenham Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Chippenham Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippenham Village
- Cherry Gardens
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cherry Gardens is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Gardens
- Walmsley Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Walmsley Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walmsley Village
- Spotsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Partlow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Marye
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Marye is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marye
- Arcadia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Arcadia is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Lewiston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lewiston is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to French Hay, see our County-by-County Page for French Hay.
Cemeteries Near French Hay ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of French Hay.
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 French Hay - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for French Hay covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Schermerhorn Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Glen Allen Baptist Churchyard
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Allen Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lewiston Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Ford Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hungary Road Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cool Spring Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Winns Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the west of Glen Allen.
- The Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2262421 <3>
- Bolton Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Vernon Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Vernon Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<2> to the northwest of Richmond.
- Continue List (202 more) ...
- Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<2> to the northwest of Richmond.
- The Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bethlehem Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #980524 <3>
- Emmanuel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that French Hay had a population of 27 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from French Hay, with the one closest to French Hay listed first.
- Glen Allen
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Ashcake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ashcake is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcake
- Atlee Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Atlee Station is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
- Peaks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Peaks is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaks
- Ashland
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Brook Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Brook Hill is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Hill
- Ellerson
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ellerson is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerson
- Dumbarton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dumbarton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumbarton
- Cady
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cady is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cady
- Erin Shades
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Erin Shades is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Shades
- Pole Green
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pole Green is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pole Green
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Farrington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Farrington is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farrington
- Westham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Westham is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westham
- South Anna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- South Anna is also located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Anna
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around French Hay. See our List of 1890's Communities around French Hay.
Newspapers Published in French Hay ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around French Hay.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of French Hay, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for French Hay.
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 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 French Hay:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Hanover County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amelia County
- Caroline County
- Charles City County
- Chesterfield County
- Colonial Heights City
- Essex County
- Goochland County
- Henrico County
- Hopewell City
- King and Queen County
- King William County
- Louisa County
- New Kent County
- Powhatan County
- Richmond City
- Richmond County
- Spotsylvania 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- French Hay) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 French Hay, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |