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 Messongo (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 Messongo. 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.
Messongo is located in Accomack 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 Accomack County: Somerset (MD), Lancaster, Middlesex, Northampton & Northumberland.
Below are the counties that are near Messongo. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Messongo:
- Accomack County (The home county of Messongo)
- The following are listed by their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Withams
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Withams is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Withams
- Hallwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hallwood is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Groton Town
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Groton Town is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groton Town
- Saxis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Saxis is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 230 people
- Temperanceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bloxom
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Mappsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Atlantic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wattsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Hopeton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hopeton is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeton
- Nelsonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Nelsonia is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonia
- Gargatha
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gargatha is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gargatha
- Northampton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Exmore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wardtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wardtown is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardtown
- Pleasant Cove Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Cove Village is located in Northampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Cove Village
- Somerset County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Rehobeth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Tulls Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tulls Corner is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulls Corner
- Annemessix Towne ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Annemessix Towne is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annemessix Towne
- Lawsonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lawsonia is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonia
- Costen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Costen is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Costen
- West Pocomoke
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- West Pocomoke is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pocomoke
- Daugherty Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Daugherty Town is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daugherty Town
- Kingston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kingston is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
- Crisfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Westover
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Fairmount
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fairmount is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
- Manokin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Manokin is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manokin
- Wicomico County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Allen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Allen is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
- Capitola
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Capitola is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capitola
- Green Hill Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Green Hill Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill Village
- Twiggs Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Twiggs Corner is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twiggs Corner
- Fruitland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Nanticoke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nanticoke is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nanticoke
- Dogwood Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dogwood Village is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogwood Village
- Whiton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Whiton is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiton
- Jesterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jesterville is located in Wicomico County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesterville
- Salisbury
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bivalve
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tyaskin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Worcester County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Pocomoke City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pocomoke City is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocomoke City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,095 people
- Former names for Pocomoke City:
- New Town
- Stevens Landing
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pocomoke City <1>
- Stockton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Girdletree
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Girdletree is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girdletree
- Snow Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedartown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cedartown is located in Worcester County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedartown
- Newark
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Messongo, see our County-by-County Page for Messongo.
Cemeteries Near Messongo ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Messongo.
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 Messongo - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Messongo covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Wessells Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bloxom Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. James Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pitts Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Liberty Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mt. Sinai Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Trinity Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (96 more) ...
- Landford Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Quindocqua Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Messongo had a population of 29 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Messongo, with the one closest to Messongo listed first.
- Sanford
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sanford is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Belinda
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Belinda is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belinda
- Mearsville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mearsville is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mearsville
- Hallwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hallwood is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 199 people
- Horsey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Horsey is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horsey
- Bloxom
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Temperanceville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Guilford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Guilford is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford
- Marumsco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Marumsco is located in Somerset County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marumsco
- Mappsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hopeton is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeton
- Nelsonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Nelsonia is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsonia
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Atlantic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wattsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wattsville is located in Accomack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- New Church
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Messongo. See our List of 1890's Communities around Messongo.
Newspapers Published in Messongo ...
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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Messongo.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Messongo, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Messongo.
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 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 Messongo:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Accomack County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Northampton County
- Somerset County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester 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> | 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 Messongo, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Messongo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |