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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 Ruark (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 Ruark. 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 doctors 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.

Ruark is located in Middlesex 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 Middlesex County: Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, Lancaster & Mathews.

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

  • Middlesex County     (The home county of Ruark)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Sandy Bottom ‑ Historic
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Sandy Bottom is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
    • Amburg
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Amburg is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amburg
    • Stingray Point
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Stingray Point is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stingray Point
    • Wilton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Wilton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
    • Hartfield
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Grafton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Grafton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
    • Harmony Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Harmony Village is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Village
    • Locust Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Urbanna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Saluda
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Remlik
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Nesting
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Nesting is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nesting
  • Accomack County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Tangier
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Belle Haven
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Savage Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Savage Town is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage Town
    • Cats Bridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cats Bridge is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cats Bridge
    • Crockett Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Crockett Town is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett Town
    • Painter
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Essex County
    • Bowlers Wharf
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Bowlers Wharf is located in Essex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlers Wharf
  • Gloucester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • North
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Freeport
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Freeport is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
    • Gloucester Courthouse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Gloucester Courthouse is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester Courthouse
    • Money
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Money is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money
    • Ark
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ark is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ark
    • Glenns
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Glenns is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenns
    • Roanes
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Roanes is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanes
    • Adner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Adner is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adner
    • Rowes Haven
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Rowes Haven is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Haven
    • Belroi
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Belroi is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belroi
    • White Marsh
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ordinary
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Achilles
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Achilles is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Achilles
  • James City County
    • Norge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • King and Queen County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Plain View
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Plain View is located in King and Queen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain View
    • Mattaponi
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • King and Queen Court House
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • King William County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • West Point
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Romancoke
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Romancoke is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romancoke
  • Lancaster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Westland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Westland is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
    • Ocran
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Ocran is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocran
    • White Stone
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Irvington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Weems
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Weems is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weems
    • Kilmarnock
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Millenbeck
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Millenbeck is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millenbeck
    • Ottoman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Ottoman is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottoman
    • Merry Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Merry Point is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merry Point
    • Richtown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Richtown is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richtown
    • Lankford Corner
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Lankford Corner is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lankford Corner
    • Griffins Landing
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Griffins Landing is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffins Landing
    • Monaskon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Monaskon is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monaskon
  • Mathews County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Mathews
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cardinal
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Cardinal is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardinal
    • Diggs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Beaverlett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Beaverlett is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverlett
    • Ruff
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ruff is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruff
    • Onemo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Onemo is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onemo
    • Peary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Peary is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peary
    • Susan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Susan is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susan
    • New Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • New Kent County
    • Plum Point
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Plum Point is located in New Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Point
  • Newport News City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Lee Hall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lee Hall is located in Newport News City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Hall
    • Red Hill Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Red Hill Village is located in Newport News City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill Village
  • Northampton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Jamesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Jamesville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamesville
    • Pleasant Cove Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Pleasant Cove Village is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Cove Village
    • Bridgetown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bridgetown is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
    • Cherrystone
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cherrystone is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrystone
    • Machipongo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Wardtown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Wardtown is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wardtown
    • Eastville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Birdsnest
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Nassawadox
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Cheriton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Marionville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Marionville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
    • Bayview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayview is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
    • Cape Charles
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Northumberland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Lynhams
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Lynhams is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynhams
    • Remo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Remo is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remo
    • Fleeton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Fleeton is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleeton
    • Reedville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Blackwells
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Blackwells is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwells
    • Sunnybank
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sunnybank is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnybank
    • Lara
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Lara is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lara
    • Ophelia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Heathsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Rainswood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Rainswood is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainswood
    • Bundick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Bundick is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bundick
    • Coan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Coan is located in Northumberland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coan
  • Poquoson City
    • Poquoson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Richmond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Simonson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Simonson is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonson
    • Downings
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Downings is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downings
    • Farnham
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Farnham is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farnham
    • Simons Corner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Simons Corner is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simons Corner
    • Emmerton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Emmerton is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emmerton
  • Surry County
    • Homewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Homewood is located in Surry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
  • Williamsburg City
    • Williamsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ruark, with the one closest to Ruark listed first.
    • Yorktown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Barlows Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Barlows Corner is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlows Corner
    • Lackey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lackey is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey
    • Oaktree
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Oaktree is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaktree
    • Charles Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Charles Corner is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles Corner
    • Dare
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Dare is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dare
    • Rochambeau Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Rochambeau Village is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochambeau Village
    • Yorkville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Yorkville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville

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

Cemeteries Near Ruark ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ruark.

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

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

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

  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mathews Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Smither Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Hudgins Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Powell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Marchant Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Gwynns Island Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Spring Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mathews Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Gosehn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Locust Grove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (151 more) ...
    • First Baptist Church Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Lower UMC Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Emmaus Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)

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.<5>

While we didn't find Ruark in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ruark.

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

  • Grinels
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Grinels is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grinels
  • Sandy Bottom ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Sandy Bottom is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
  • Blakes
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Blakes is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakes
  • Wilton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Wilton is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
  • Cobbs Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Cricket Hill
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Cricket Hill is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cricket Hill
  • Bushy
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bushy is located in Middlesex County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bushy
  • Hudgins
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hudgins is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudgins
  • Westland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Westland is located in Lancaster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
  • Fitchetts
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fitchetts is located in Mathews County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchetts
  • White Stone
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Diggs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Harmony Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Harmony Village is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Village
    • New Upton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • New Upton is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Upton
    • Irvington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Ruark ...

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 Ruark.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ruark, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ruark.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Ruark:

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>To help visualize the location of the cemetery, we've drawn a straight line between the communities of Grafton and Hartfield. The cemetery can be found near that line and roughly halfway between the two communities. Remember that this is just an approximate location.
<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 from Point A (ie- Ruark) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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.
<5>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 Ruark, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.