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 Motley (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 Motley. 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 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.
Motley is located in Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania County: Caswell (NC), Rockingham (NC), Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, Halifax & Henry.
Below are the counties that are near Motley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Motley:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Motley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Hurt
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hurt is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hurt <1>
- Brutus
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Gretna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pittsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Chalk Level
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Renan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Sonans
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Whittles
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Whittles is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittles
- Whittles has also been known as:
- Whittle's Depot
- Whittle's Station
- Sheva
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Markham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Riceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Transco Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Amherst County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Madison Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Joshua Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Joshua Falls is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joshua Falls
- Winesap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Winesap is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winesap
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Spring Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Chap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chap is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chap
- Spout Spring
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Spout Spring is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Spring
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Huddleston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Radford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Davis Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Moneta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Bellevue
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Forest
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Goode
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lowry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Cifax
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cifax is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
- Chamblissburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Altavista
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Leesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Lynch Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Yellow Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Melrose
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Bedford Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Gladys
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Timberlake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Timberlake is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Lawyers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Powhatan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Powhatan is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
- Mount Zion
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Rustburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Abell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Aspenwall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Penhook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- North Shore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Laprades Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- Union Hall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Burnt Chimney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Redwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Villa ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Rocky Mount
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Cody
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Sign Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Rodden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Rabat
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Loftis
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Nathalie
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Elmo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Jones
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Banister Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Halifax
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lynchburg City
- The following are listed by their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Woodbine Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Lynchburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lavino Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lavino Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavino Village
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Motley, see our County-by-County Page for Motley.
Cemeteries Near Motley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Motley.
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 Motley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Motley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Old Bethany Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stone Road Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Midway Baptist Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Independence Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Altavista Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pines Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pines Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pines Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Gretna.
- Continue List (495 more) ...
- Leftwich Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Burch Family Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Thomas Family Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Motley had a population of 48 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Motley, with the one closest to Motley listed first.
- Hill Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hill Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Grove
- Leesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Brights
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brights is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brights
- Brutus
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Lynch Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Glenland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Glenland is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenland
- Level Run
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Level Run is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Run
- Perrows
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Perrows is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrows
- Pittsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Ray
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Dundee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Dundee is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Toshes
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Toshes is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toshes
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Galveston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Galveston is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Chalk Level
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Mount Airy
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Airy is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Airy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Motley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Motley.
Newspapers Published in Motley ...
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 Motley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Motley, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Motley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Motley:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Pittsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amherst County
- Appomattox County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Lynchburg City
- Madison 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 Motley, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Motley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |