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 Gills (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 Gills. 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.
Gills is located in Amelia 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 Amelia County: Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Nottoway, Powhatan & Prince Edward.
Below are the counties that are near Gills. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gills:
- Amelia County (The home county of Gills)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Rodophil
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rodophil is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodophil
- Paineville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paineville is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paineville
- Amelia Court House
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lodore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lodore is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodore
- Earls
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Earls is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earls
- Masons Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Masons Corner is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masons Corner
- Ammon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ammon is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammon
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Hurtsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hurtsville is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsville
- Pamplin City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Brunswick County
- Jonesboro ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jonesboro is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Buckingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Curdsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Curdsville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curdsville
- Sheppards
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sheppards is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheppards
- Dillwyn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Enonville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Enonville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enonville
- Gravel Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gravel Hill is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Andersonville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Gold Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gold Hill is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
- Forbes ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Forbes is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forbes
- Buckingham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arvonia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Alcoma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Alcoma is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcoma
- Toga
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Toga is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toga
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Abilene
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Abilene is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abilene
- Keysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Cullen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cullen is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
- Charlotte Court House
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Drakes Branch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Winterpock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Winterpock is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterpock
- Coalboro ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Coalboro is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalboro
- Otterdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Otterdale is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterdale
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Cotton Town
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cotton Town is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Guinea Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Guinea Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guinea Mills
- Cumberland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Clinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Clinton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Trents Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Trents Mill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trents Mill
- Trenton Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Trenton Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton Mills
- Lakeside Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lakeside Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
- Dinwiddie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Wilsons
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilsons is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsons
- Hebron
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hebron is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Darvills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Darvills is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darvills
- Oldenplace ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oldenplace is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldenplace
- Lunenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Meherrin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Meherrin is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meherrin
- Nutbush
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Nutbush is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutbush
- Victoria
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Kenbridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lunenburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lunenburg is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lunenburg
- Oral Oaks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Oral Oaks is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oral Oaks
- Dundas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Dundas is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundas
- Wattsboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wattsboro is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsboro
- Lochleven
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Lochleven is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lochleven
- Nottoway County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Burkeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Crewe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Winnie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Winnie is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnie
- Spainville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spainville is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spainville
- Blackstone
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Forkland ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Forkland is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Powhatan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Belona
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Belona is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belona
- Pilkinton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pilkinton is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilkinton
- Dorset
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Dorset is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorset
- Michaux
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Michaux is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michaux
- Beaumont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Beaumont is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
- Prince Edward County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Farmville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Green Bay
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hampden - Sydney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hampden - Sydney is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden - Sydney
- Blake Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Blake Village is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake Village
- Tuggle
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Tuggle is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuggle
- Five Forks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Five Forks is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Darlington Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Darlington Heights is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington Heights
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gills, see our County-by-County Page for Gills.
Cemeteries Near Gills ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gills.
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 Gills - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gills covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Star Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ellis Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Southall Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cook Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pilgrim Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- High Bridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jamestown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Pisgah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Downs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Wards Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (192 more) ...
- Monroe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Trinity Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bagby Memorial Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Gills had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gills, with the one closest to Gills listed first.
- Deatonville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Deatonville is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deatonville
- Rice
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jennings Ordinary
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jennings Ordinary is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Ordinary
- Jetersville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Rodophil
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Rodophil is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodophil
- Stoddert
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stoddert is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoddert
- Angola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Angola is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angola
- Burkeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Paineville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Paineville is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paineville
- Crewe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oliveville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oliveville is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliveville
- Otterburn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Otterburn is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterburn
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hawk
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hawk is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawk
- Farmville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Green Bay
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gills. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gills.
Newspapers Published in Gills ...
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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gills.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gills, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gills.
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 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 Gills:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Amelia County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appomattox County
- Brunswick County
- Buckingham County
- Charlotte County
- Chesterfield County
- Cumberland County
- Dinwiddie County
- Lunenburg County
- Nottoway County
- Powhatan County
- Prince Edward 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 Gills, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Gills) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |