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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 Smith Beach (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 Smith Beach. 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.

Name Variations for Smith Beach ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Smith Beach: Smith Bch.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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.

Smith Beach 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 Smith Beach. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smith Beach:

  • Northampton County     (The home county of Smith Beach)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • Eastville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Cherrystone
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Cherrystone is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrystone
    • Pat Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pat Town is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pat Town
    • Machipongo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Cheriton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Bridgetown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bridgetown is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
    • Bayview
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Bayview is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
    • Birdsnest
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cape Charles
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • 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
    • Marionville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Marionville is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
    • Nassawadox
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Accomack County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • Belle Haven
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Savage Town
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Savage Town is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage Town
    • Cats Bridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cats Bridge is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cats Bridge
    • Painter
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Keller
      (21 miles [33.8 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
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Crockett Town is located in Accomack County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crockett Town
    • Melfa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Locustville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Onancock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Onley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Gloucester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • Rowes Haven
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Rowes Haven is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Haven
    • Achilles
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Achilles is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Achilles
    • North
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Crab
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Crab is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab
    • Gloucester Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Ordinary
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Roanes
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Roanes is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanes
    • Gloucester Courthouse
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Gloucester Courthouse is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester Courthouse
    • Money
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Money is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money
    • White Marsh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Freeport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Freeport is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
    • Country Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Country Village is located in Gloucester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
  • Hampton City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach 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)
    • Newgate Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Newgate Village is located in Hampton City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newgate Village
    • 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
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • Westland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Westland is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westland
    • Ocran
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Ocran is located in Lancaster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocran
    • White Stone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Mathews County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • New Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Onemo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Onemo is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onemo
    • Peary
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Peary is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peary
    • Diggs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Beaverlett
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Beaverlett is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverlett
    • Susan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Susan is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susan
    • Mathews
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Ruff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Ruff is located in Mathews County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruff
    • Cardinal
      (21 miles [33.8 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 Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • Stingray Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Stingray Point is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stingray Point
    • Sandy Bottom ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandy Bottom is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Bottom
    • Amburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Amburg is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amburg
    • Wilton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilton
    • Hartfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Grafton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Grafton is located in Middlesex County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
  • Poquoson City
    • Poquoson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Virginia Beach City
    • Cape Henry Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cape Henry Village is located in Virginia Beach City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cape Henry Village
  • York County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smith Beach, with the one closest to Smith Beach listed first.
    • Dare
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dare is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dare
    • Yorkville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Yorkville is located in York County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Yorktown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Smith Beach ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smith Beach.

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 Smith Beach - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Whitehead Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Holland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Cape Charles Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Tomb of Custin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Phillips Place Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Belle Haven Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Morgan Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Owens - Parker Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • John Forrest Grave
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Hudgins Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Hudgins Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (105 more) ...
    • Horn Harbor Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Hurst Burial Ground
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Armistead - Hudgins Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 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 Smith Beach in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smith Beach.

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

  • Eastville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Cherrystone
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Cherrystone is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherrystone
  • Shadyside
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Shadyside is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadyside
  • Machipongo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bayview
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bayview is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
  • Bridgetown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bridgetown is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgetown
  • Cape Charles
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Seaview
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Seaview is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seaview
  • Birdsnest
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Dalbys
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Dalbys is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalbys
  • Marionville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Marionville is located in Northampton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
  • Nassawadox
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Franktown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cheapside
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Cheapside is located in Northampton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheapside
    • Capeville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Smith Beach ...

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 Smith Beach.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smith Beach, 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 Smith Beach.

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 Smith Beach:

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 Smith Beach, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Smith Beach) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.