RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Virginia >> Brunswick County >> Octagon >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Octagon (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 Octagon. 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 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.

Octagon is located in Brunswick 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 Brunswick County: Warren (NC), Dinwiddie, Greensville, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg & Nottoway.

Below are the counties that are near Octagon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Octagon:

  • Brunswick County     (The home county of Octagon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Alberta
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Alberta is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 265 people
    • Jonesboro ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jonesboro is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
    • Dolphin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Dolphin is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolphin
    • Lawrenceville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Edgerton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Edgerton is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Netta ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Netta is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Netta
    • Callaville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Callaville is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaville
    • Ezell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Ezell is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ezell
    • Totaro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Totaro is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Totaro
    • Brodnax
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Gholsonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Gholsonville is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gholsonville
    • Powellton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Powellton is located in Brunswick County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
  • Amelia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Ammon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Ammon is located in Amelia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammon
    • Earls
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Earls is located in Amelia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earls
    • Amelia Court House
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Dinwiddie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Oldenplace ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Oldenplace is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldenplace
    • Darvills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Darvills is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darvills
    • McKenney
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Borthwick ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Borthwick is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borthwick
    • Wilsons
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Wilsons is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsons
    • Hebron
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Hebron is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Laird ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Laird is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laird
    • Waldemar ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Waldemar is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldemar
    • Rowanta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Rowanta is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowanta
    • Sutherland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Addison
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Addison is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
  • Emporia City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Emporia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • White City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • White City is located in Emporia City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
  • Greensville County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Radium
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Radium is located in Greensville County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radium
    • Jarratt
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Skippers
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Lunenburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Dundas
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Dundas is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundas
    • Lochleven
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Lochleven is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lochleven
    • Kenbridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Bagleys Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Bagleys Mills is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagleys Mills
    • Oral Oaks
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Oral Oaks is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oral Oaks
    • Victoria
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Lunenburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Lunenburg is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lunenburg
    • Wattsboro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Wattsboro is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsboro
    • Nutbush
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Nutbush is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutbush
    • Pleasant Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pleasant Grove is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
    • Meherrin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Meherrin is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meherrin
  • Mecklenburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • La Crosse
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • South Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Opie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Opie is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opie
    • Ogburn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Ogburn is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogburn
    • Hagood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hagood is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hagood
    • Marengo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Marengo is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
    • Union Level
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Union Level is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Level
    • Dunns Corner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunns Corner is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunns Corner
    • Wightman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Wightman is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wightman
    • Bracey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Palmer Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Palmer Springs is located in Mecklenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer Springs
  • Nottoway County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Forkland ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Forkland is located in Nottoway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
    • Blackstone
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Winnie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Winnie is located in Nottoway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnie
    • Spainville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Spainville is located in Nottoway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spainville
    • Crewe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Crewe is located in Nottoway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crewe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Crewe <1>
    • Burkeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Prince Edward County
    • Green Bay
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Spotsylvania County
    • Brokenburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Brokenburg is located in Spotsylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brokenburg
  • Sussex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.
    • Stony Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Henry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Henry is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
    • Grizzard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Grizzard is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grizzard
    • Mason
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Mason is located in Sussex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
  • Northampton County (NC)
    • Henrico
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Warren County (NC)
    • Church Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Church Hill is located in Warren County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Church Hill

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Octagon, see our County-by-County Page for Octagon.

Cemeteries Near Octagon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Octagon.

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 Octagon - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Octagon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.

  • Stewart Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Elmore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Flinn Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Bragg Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Stainback Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Winn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Jones Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Laffoon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Daniels Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (245 more) ...

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 in 1895, Octagon had a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Octagon, with the one closest to Octagon listed first.

  • Edmunds Store
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Edmunds Store is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmunds Store
  • Ordsburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Ordsburg is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ordsburg
  • Sturgeonville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Sturgeonville is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgeonville
  • Barrows Store
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Barrows Store is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrows Store
  • Jonesboro ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jonesboro is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
  • Meredithville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Meredithville is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredithville
  • Oldenplace ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Oldenplace is located in Dinwiddie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldenplace
  • Lochleven
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lochleven is located in Lunenburg County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lochleven
  • Forkland ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Forkland is located in Nottoway County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
  • Westboro ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Westboro is located in Dinwiddie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westboro
  • Lawrenceville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Edgerton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgerton is located in Brunswick County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Darvills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Darvills is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darvills
    • Irby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Irby is located in Nottoway County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irby
    • Non Intervention ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Non Intervention is located in Lunenburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Non Intervention

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Octagon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Octagon.

Newspapers Published in Octagon ...

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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Octagon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Octagon, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Octagon.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Octagon:

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 Octagon, 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- Octagon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.