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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 Simpkins (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 Simpkins. 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 and 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.

Simpkins is located in Northampton County.

To see how the shape of Virginia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

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

  • Northampton County     (The home county of Simpkins)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Eastville
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Pat Town
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Pat Town is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pat Town
    • Cheriton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayview
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Bayview is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
    • Cherrystone
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Cherrystone is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrystone
    • Machipongo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Cape Charles
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Birdsnest
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bridgetown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Bridgetown is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
    • Sheps End
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Sheps End is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheps End
    • Cheapside
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Cheapside is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheapside
    • Marionville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Marionville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
    • Nassawadox
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Accomack County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Belle Haven
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Savage Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Savage Town is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage Town
    • Cats Bridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Cats Bridge is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cats Bridge
    • Painter
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Keller
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Locust Mount
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Locust Mount is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Mount
    • Wachapreague
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Crockett Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Crockett Town is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett Town
    • Melfa
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Locustville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Onancock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Onley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Tasley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Gloucester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Achilles
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Achilles is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Achilles
    • Rowes Haven
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Rowes Haven is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Haven
    • North
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Crab
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Crab is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab
    • Gloucester Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Hampton City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Buckroe Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Buckroe Beach is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckroe Beach
    • Phoebus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Phoebus is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoebus
    • Hampton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Chapel Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Chapel Village is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Chapel Village
  • Lancaster County
    • Westland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Westland is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
  • Mathews County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • New Point
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Onemo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Onemo is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onemo
    • Peary
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Peary is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peary
    • Diggs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Beaverlett
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Beaverlett is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverlett
    • Susan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Susan is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susan
    • Ruff
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Ruff is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruff
    • Mathews
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Cardinal
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Cardinal is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardinal
  • Middlesex County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Sandy Bottom ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandy Bottom is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
    • Stingray Point
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Stingray Point is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stingray Point
    • Amburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Amburg is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amburg
    • Wilton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
  • Poquoson City
    • Poquoson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Virginia Beach City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Cape Henry Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Cape Henry Village is located in Virginia Beach City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape Henry Village
    • North Virginia Beach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • North Virginia Beach is located in Virginia Beach City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Virginia Beach
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpkins, with the one closest to Simpkins listed first.
    • Yorkville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Yorkville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Dare
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Dare is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dare

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

Cemeteries Near Simpkins ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simpkins.

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

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

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

  • Whitehead Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Holland Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Cape Charles Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Tomb of Custin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Phillips Place Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Belle Haven Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
  • John Forrest Grave
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Hudgins Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Hudgins Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Stuart Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (92 more) ...
    • Owens Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Horn Harbor Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Borum Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)

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>

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

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

  • Eastville
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Cherrystone
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Cherrystone is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrystone
  • Bayview
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Bayview is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
  • Seaview
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Seaview is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaview
  • Cape Charles
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Machipongo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Shadyside
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Shadyside is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside
  • Dalbys
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Dalbys is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalbys
  • Cheapside
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Cheapside is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheapside
  • Capeville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Birdsnest
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Bridgetown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bridgetown is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Marionville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Marionville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
    • Nassawadox
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Franktown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Simpkins ...

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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simpkins.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simpkins, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Simpkins.

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 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 Simpkins:

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 Simpkins, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Simpkins) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.