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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 Friedens (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 Friedens. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Friedens is located in Rockingham 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 Rockingham County: Albemarle, Augusta, Greene, Page, Shenandoah, Hardy (WV) & Pendleton (WV).

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

  • Rockingham County     (The home county of Friedens)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Cross Keys
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • North River
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • North River is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
    • Goods Mill
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Goods Mill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goods Mill
    • Mount Crawford
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Massanetta Springs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Massanetta Springs is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massanetta Springs
    • Montevideo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Montevideo is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevideo
    • Keezletown
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bridgewater
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dayton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Dayton is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dayton <1>
    • McGaheysville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Massanutten
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Coakley Town
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Coakley Town is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coakley Town
    • Rushville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Rushville is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
  • Albemarle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Boonesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Boonesville is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonesville
    • Mountfair
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
    • Cedarmere
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedarmere is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • White Hall
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • White Hall is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Crozet
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Foothill Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Foothill Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foothill Village
    • Free Union
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Yancey Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
    • Decca ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Decca is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decca
    • Batesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Earlysville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Ivy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Logan Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Logan Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Village
  • Augusta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Weyers Cave
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Grottoes
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Solon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Sampson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Verona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Crimora
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Parnassus
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Parnassus is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
    • Stokesville ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Stokesville is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokesville
    • Dooms
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Dooms is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
    • Brand
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Brand is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
    • Churchville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Fishersville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Jolivue
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jolivue is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolivue
  • Charlottesville City
    • Locust Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Locust Grove is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Cedarmere ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedarmere is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Amicus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Amicus is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
    • Kinderhook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Kinderhook is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
    • Stanardsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Quinque
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Quinque is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
    • Dawsonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dawsonville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
  • Harrisonburg City
    • Harrisonburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Highland County
    • Palo Alto
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Palo Alto is located in Highland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Hood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Wolftown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Ruth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ruth is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Afton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Durrett Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Onan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Onan is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
    • Greenfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Lodebar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lodebar is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Shenandoah
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Verbena
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Verbena is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Stanley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Leaksville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Leaksville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
    • Marksville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Marksville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
  • Shenandoah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • New Market
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Clifton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
    • Orkney Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Rinkerton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
    • Mount Jackson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Pendleton County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Friedens, with the one closest to Friedens listed first.
    • Sugar Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Sugar Grove is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
    • Brandywine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Propstburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Propstburg is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propstburg
    • Moyers
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Moyers is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers
    • Fort Seybert
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert

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

Cemeteries Near Friedens ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Friedens.

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

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

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

  • Friedens UCC Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friedens UCC Cemetery
    • The Friedens UCC Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Friedens Church Cemetery
  • Whitesels United Brethren Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • St. Jacob's Spader Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Whitmer Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Cross Keys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Keys Cemetery
    • The Cross Keys Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Massanutten Cross Keys Cemetery
  • Byerly Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Shady Grove United Brethren Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Pirkey Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pirkey Family Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Pirkey Family Cemetery is located outside and to the northeast of Cross Keys.
  • Naked Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Rockingham County Alms House Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Melanchthon Lutheran Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Sellers Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (366 more) ...

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Friedens had a population of 17 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Cross Keys
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Pleasant Valley
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasant Valley is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
  • Peach Grove ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Peach Grove is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Grove
  • North River
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • North River is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
  • Goods Mill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Goods Mill is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goods Mill
  • Mount Crawford
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Weyers Cave
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Massanetta Springs
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Massanetta Springs is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massanetta Springs
  • Port Republic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Montevideo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Montevideo is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevideo
  • Keezletown
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Dayton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dayton is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dayton <1>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bridgewater
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Stonewall
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stonewall is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
    • Lynnwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lynnwood is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynnwood

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

Newspapers Published in Friedens ...

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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Friedens.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Friedens, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Friedens.

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 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 Friedens:

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 Friedens, 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' (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- Friedens) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.