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 Natal (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 Natal. 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.
Natal 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 Natal. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Natal:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Natal)
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Brutus
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Renan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Chalk Level
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Gretna
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hurt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Markham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Sonans
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Riceville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Sheva
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Whittles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Java
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Pittsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal 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
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Huddleston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Radford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Davis Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Moneta
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bellevue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Forest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Goode
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lowry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Joppa Mill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Goodview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chamblissburg
(30 miles [48.3 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 Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Altavista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lynch Station
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Leesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Melrose
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Gladys
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brookneal
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Yellow Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Mount Zion
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Lawyers
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Bedford Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Hat Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Rustburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Abell ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Aspenwall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Phenix
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Rough Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Danville City
- Danville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Fluvanna County
- Scottsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Penhook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- North Shore
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Union Hall
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Redwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Cody
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Sign Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Rodden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Loftis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Rabat
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Nathalie
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Crystal Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Elmo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Jones
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Banister Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Clays Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clays Mill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Mill
- Lynchburg City
- The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Woodbine Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Lynchburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(22 miles [35.4 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 Natal, see our County-by-County Page for Natal.
Cemeteries Near Natal ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Natal.
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 Natal - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Natal covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Midway Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burch Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Pines Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- 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.
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mulberry Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Thomas Family Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Whitethorn Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Neal Family Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Continue List (396 more) ...
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Altavista Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Atkinson Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Natal in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Natal.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
- Brutus
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Glenland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Glenland is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenland
- Ray
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ray is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Chalk Level
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Hill Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hill Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Grove
- Mount Airy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Airy is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Airy
- Level Run
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Level Run is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Run
- Straightstone
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Straightstone is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straightstone
- Galveston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Galveston is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Sonans
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Motley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Motley is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Riceville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Whittles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Cody
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Cedar Forest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Forest is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Forest
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Natal. See our List of 1890's Communities around Natal.
Newspapers Published in Natal ...
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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Natal.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Natal, 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 Natal.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Natal:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Pittsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appomattox County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Danville City
- Fluvanna 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Natal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Natal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |