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 Wakefield (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 Wakefield. 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 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.
Wakefield is located in Surry 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 Surry County: Charles City, James City, Prince George, Southampton & Sussex.
Below are the counties that are near Wakefield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wakefield:
- Surry County (The home county of Wakefield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Claremont
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Claremont is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Spring Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Grove is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Scotland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Scotland is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Surry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Carsley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Carsley is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsley
- Beachland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beachland is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachland
- Dendron
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Homewood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Homewood is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Itata
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Itata is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Itata
- Charles City County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Charles City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ruthville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ruthville is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthville
- Westover
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Westover is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
- Kimages
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kimages is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimages
- Roxbury
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Roxbury is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Chesterfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Bermuda Hundred ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bermuda Hundred is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda Hundred
- Screamersville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Screamersville is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamersville
- Meadowville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Meadowville is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowville
- Braebrook Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Braebrook Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braebrook Village
- Ettrick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bollinger Estates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bollinger Estates is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bollinger Estates
- Chester
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Matoaca
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Matoaca is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matoaca
- Bellwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bellwood is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Centralia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Centralia is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralia
- Colonial Heights City
- Colonial Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Dinwiddie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Grant Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Grant Village is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Village
- Maitland Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Maitland Village is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maitland Village
- Rowanta
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rowanta is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowanta
- Addison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Addison is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Gloucester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Clay Bank
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clay Bank is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Bank
- York View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- York View is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York View
- Country Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Country Village is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Belroi
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Belroi is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belroi
- Crab
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Crab is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab
- Gloucester Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ordinary
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- White Marsh
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ark is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ark
- Adner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adner is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adner
- Roanes
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roanes is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanes
- Gloucester Courthouse
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gloucester Courthouse is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester Courthouse
- Money
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Money is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money
- Hampton City
- Newgate Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newgate Village is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newgate Village
- Hanover County
- Westwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westwood is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Henrico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Elko
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elko is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elko
- Glendale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Glendale is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Deep Bottom
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Deep Bottom is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep Bottom
- Windsor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Windsor is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Currituck Farms
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Currituck Farms is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Currituck Farms
- Turner Woods
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Turner Woods is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner Woods
- Green Meadows
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Green Meadows is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Meadows
- Varina Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Varina Grove is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varina Grove
- Varina
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Varina is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Varina
- Fort Lee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Lee is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lee
- Lee Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lee Park is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Park
- Fair Oaks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fair Oaks is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
- Sandston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hopewell City
- Hopewell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Isle of Wight County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Rushmere
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Rushmere is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmere
- Raynor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Raynor is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynor
- Magnet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Magnet is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Smithfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Zuni
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Zuni is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zuni
- Rescue
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rescue is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rescue
- Windsor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- James City County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Jamestown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Norge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- King and Queen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Mattaponi
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Plain View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Plain View is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plain View
- King William County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- West Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Romancoke
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Romancoke is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romancoke
- Lanesville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lanesville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
- New Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- New Kent
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Plum Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Plum Point is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plum Point
- Tunstall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Tunstall is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunstall
- Newport News City
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Lee Hall
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lee Hall is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Hall
- Red Hill Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Red Hill Village is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill Village
- Newport News
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Bernard Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Bernard Village is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernard Village
- Hilton Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hilton Village is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Petersburg City
- Petersburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Prince George County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Burrowsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Burrowsville is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Newville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Newville is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Garysville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Garysville is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garysville
- Derby ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Derby is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Talpa ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Talpa is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talpa
- Southampton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Ivor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Berlin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Berlin is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Doles Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Doles Crossroads is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doles Crossroads
- Sedley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sedley is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedley
- Sussex County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Waverly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wakefield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sussex
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sussex is located in Sussex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sussex
- Williamsburg City
- Williamsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Barlows Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Barlows Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlows Corner
- Oaktree
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oaktree is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaktree
- Charles Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Charles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles Corner
- Rochambeau Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rochambeau Village is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochambeau Village
- Lackey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lackey is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey
- Yorktown
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Dare
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dare is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dare
- Yorkville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Yorkville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wakefield, see our County-by-County Page for Wakefield.
Cemeteries Near Wakefield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wakefield.
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 Wakefield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wakefield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- St. Annes Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Brandon Plantation Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wier Neck Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Swanns Point Plantation Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Brandon Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Salem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gwaltney Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mapsico Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Eiam Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Travis Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Newville Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (178 more) ...
- Chapel Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Moores Swamp Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Menoah Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Wakefield in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wakefield.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wakefield, with the one closest to Wakefield listed first.
- Tettington
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Tettington is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tettington
- Claremont
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Claremont is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Brandon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brandon is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Spring Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Grove is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Savedge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Savedge is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savedge
- Burrowsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Burrowsville is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Scotland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Scotland is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Weyanoke
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Weyanoke is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyanoke
- Carsley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Carsley is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsley
- Moorings
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Moorings is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorings
- Jamestown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Holdcroft
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Holdcroft is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holdcroft
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Alliance
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Alliance is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alliance
- Newville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Newville is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newville
- Ruthville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ruthville is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruthville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wakefield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wakefield.
Newspapers Published in Wakefield ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wakefield.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wakefield, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wakefield.
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 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 Wakefield:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Surry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Charles City County
- Chesterfield County
- Colonial Heights City
- Dinwiddie County
- Gloucester County
- Hampton City
- Hanover County
- Henrico County
- Hopewell City
- Isle of Wight County
- James City County
- King and Queen County
- King William County
- New Kent County
- Newport News City
- Petersburg City
- Prince George County
- Southampton County
- Sussex County
- Williamsburg City
- York 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> | 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 Wakefield, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wakefield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |