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 Mechanicsville (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 Mechanicsville. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Mechanicsville 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 Mechanicsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mechanicsville:
- Rockingham County (The home county of Mechanicsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Timberville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Plains Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Plains Mill is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plains Mill
- Broadway
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Tunis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tunis is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Cootes Store
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store
- Mayland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mayland is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
- Turleytown
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Turleytown is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turleytown
- Daphna
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Daphna is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daphna
- Fulks Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fulks Run is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulks Run
- Cherry Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Lacey Spring
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lacey Spring is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Spring
- Edom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edom is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
- Linville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Linville is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Albemarle County
- Cedarmere
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Cedarmere is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
- Augusta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Grottoes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Weyers Cave
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mount Solon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stokesville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stokesville is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokesville
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Kinderhook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kinderhook is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
- Cedarmere ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Cedarmere is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
- Harrisonburg City
- Harrisonburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Syria
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Peola Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Peola Mills is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peola Mills
- Hood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Page County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Leaksville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Leaksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
- Shenandoah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stanley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Verbena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Verbena is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Luray
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Marksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Marksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
- Kimball
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kimball is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
- Rileyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rappahannock County
- Sperryville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Shenandoah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- New Market
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Clifton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
- Orkney Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rinkerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
- Basye - Bryce Mountain
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Jackson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jerome
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Jerome is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Columbia Furnace
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia Furnace is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Furnace
- Edinburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Calvary
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Calvary is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary
- Woodstock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Fountains
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Fountains is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Fountains
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Overall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Overall is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overall
- Bentonville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Limeton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Limeton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limeton
- Grant County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Seemly ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Seemly is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seemly
- Dorcas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dorcas is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
- Pansy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pansy is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Petersburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hardy County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Mathias
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lost City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Peru
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Peru is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Baker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Baker is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Durgon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Durgon is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgon
- Fort Run
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Fort Run is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Run
- Moorefield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wardensville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pendleton County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Fort Seybert
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert
- Brandywine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kline
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kline is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Propstburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Propstburg is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propstburg
- Brushy Run
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brushy Run is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Run
- Ruddle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ruddle is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle
- Ketterman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ketterman is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketterman
- Franklin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mechanicsville, see our County-by-County Page for Mechanicsville.
Cemeteries Near Mechanicsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mechanicsville.
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 Mechanicsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mechanicsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Stoner Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Rader Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rader Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Rader Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the northwest of Timberville.
- The Rader Cemetery has also been known as:
- Rader Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #227340 <3>
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Timberville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Driver / Rife Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Homan Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Broadway Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Billheimer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Thomas Family Cemetery #2
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (312 more) ...
- Flat Rock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Riddle Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ashenfelter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<4>
While we didn't find Mechanicsville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mechanicsville.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mechanicsville, with the one closest to Mechanicsville listed first.
- Timberville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Broadway
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cootes Store
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store
- New Market Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Market Station is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market Station
- Forestville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Forestville is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Mayland
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mayland is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
- Tenth Legion
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tenth Legion is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenth Legion
- New Market
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Quicksburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hepners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hepners is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hepners
- Fulks Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Fulks Run is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulks Run
- Cherry Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mauzy
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mauzy is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauzy
- Mount Clifton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
- Lacey Spring
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lacey Spring is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Spring
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mechanicsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mechanicsville.
Newspapers Published in Mechanicsville ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mechanicsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mechanicsville, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mechanicsville.
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 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 Mechanicsville:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Rockingham County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Albemarle County
- Augusta County
- Greene County
- Harrisonburg City
- Madison County
- Page County
- Rappahannock County
- Shenandoah County
- Warren County
- Grant County
- Hardy County
- Pendleton 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 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Mechanicsville) 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 Mechanicsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |