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 Ray (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 Ray. 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.
Ray 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 Ray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ray:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Ray)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Chalk Level
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Gretna
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sonans
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Brutus
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Sheva
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Markham
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Whittles
(5 miles [8 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
- Renan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Transco Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Riceville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Java
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Pittsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Appomattox County
- Spring Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Huddleston
(17 miles [27.4 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Moneta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Joppa Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Bellevue
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Goode
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lowry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- 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 Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Altavista
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Lynch Station
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Melrose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Gladys
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Brookneal
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Yellow Branch
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Mount Zion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Bedford Springs
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Lawyers
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Hat Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Rustburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Danville City
- Danville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Penhook
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- North Shore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Union Hall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Redwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Villa ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Burnt Chimney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Sydnorsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydnorsville
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Cody
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- 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
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Nathalie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rabat
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Elmo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Jones
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Crystal Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Sutherlin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- 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
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Leatherwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Axton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Caswell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Gatewood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Milton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Whitetown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Blanch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Providence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Providence is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Estelle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Estelle is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Pelham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ray, see our County-by-County Page for Ray.
Cemeteries Near Ray ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ray.
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 Ray - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Burch Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Midway Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pines Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- 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.
- Thomas Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Whitethorn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Neal Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chatham Burial Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest Memorial Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Jones Family Farm Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Atkinson Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Continue List (449 more) ...
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mulberry Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Ray had a population of 41 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ray, with the one closest to Ray listed first.
- Chalk Level
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Sonans
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Galveston
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Galveston is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Whittles
(5 miles [8 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
- Brutus
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Mount Airy
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Airy is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Airy
- Glenland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glenland is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenland
- Riceville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Hill Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hill Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Grove
- Pittsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Motley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Motley is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Chatham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Shockoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shockoe is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shockoe
- Level Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Level Run is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Run
- Brights
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Brights is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brights
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ray.
Newspapers Published in Ray ...
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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ray.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ray, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ray.
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 helpful 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 Ray:
- 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
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Henry County
- Madison County
- Caswell 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ray) 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 Ray, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |