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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 Westham (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 Westham. 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.

Westham is located in Henrico 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 Henrico County: Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, New Kent & Richmond.

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

  • Henrico County     (The home county of Westham)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Tuckahoe
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Dumbarton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Dumbarton is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumbarton
    • Laurel Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Laurel Village is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Village
    • Lakeside
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakeside is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
    • Laurel
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Laurel is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
    • Lorraine
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Lorraine is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorraine
    • Tuckahoe Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Tuckahoe Village is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe Village
    • Glen Allen
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Short Pump
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chamberlayne
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Chamberlayne is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlayne
    • Longdale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Longdale is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale
    • Quail Walk
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Quail Walk is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Walk
    • East Highland Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • East Highland Park is located in Henrico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Highland Park
  • Amelia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Masons Corner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Masons Corner is located in Amelia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masons Corner
    • Ammon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ammon is located in Amelia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammon
    • Lodore
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Lodore is located in Amelia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodore
    • Amelia Court House
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Caroline County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Burruss Corner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Burruss Corner is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burruss Corner
    • Ruther Glen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Penola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Penola is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penola
    • DeJarnette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • DeJarnette is located in Caroline County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeJarnette
  • Charles City County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Roxbury
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Roxbury is located in Charles City County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
    • Kimages
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Kimages is located in Charles City County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimages
    • Westover
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Westover is located in Charles City County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westover
    • Charles City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Chesterfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Bon Air
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Chesterfield Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Chesterfield Village is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield Village
    • Robious
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Robious is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robious
    • Midlothian
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Ampt Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Ampt Hill is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ampt Hill
    • Bensley Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bensley Village is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bensley Village
    • Bensley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Bensley is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bensley
    • Beulah Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Beulah Village is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah Village
    • Drewrys Bluff
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Drewrys Bluff is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drewrys Bluff
    • Bellwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bellwood is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
    • Otterdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Otterdale is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterdale
    • Chesterfield Court House
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Centralia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Centralia is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralia
  • Colonial Heights City
    • Colonial Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
  • Dinwiddie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Addison
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Addison is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
    • Grant Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Grant Village is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Village
    • Maitland Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Maitland Village is located in Dinwiddie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maitland Village
    • Sutherland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Goochland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Oilville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Thorncliff
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Thorncliff is located in Goochland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorncliff
    • Goochland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Maidens
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Sandy Hook
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Sandy Hook is located in Goochland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
    • Enon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Enon is located in Goochland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
    • Hadensville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fife
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Hanover County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Atlee Station
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Atlee Station is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
    • Mechanicsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Hylas
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hylas is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hylas
    • Gwathmey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Gwathmey is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwathmey
    • Ashland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Casco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Casco is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casco
    • Rockville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Goodall is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodall
    • Hanover
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Vontay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Vontay is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vontay
    • Taylorsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Taylorsville is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
    • Montpelier
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Doswell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Hopewell City
    • Hopewell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • King and Queen County
    • Walkerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Walkerton is located in King and Queen County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerton
  • King William County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Enfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Enfield is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
    • Manquin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Tuck Fork
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tuck Fork is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuck Fork
    • Rumford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Rumford is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford
    • Beulahville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Beulahville is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulahville
    • Lanesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Lanesville is located in King William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
  • Louisa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Willowbrook
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Willowbrook is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowbrook
    • Shelfar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Shelfar is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelfar
    • Jackson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Jackson is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Gays ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Gays is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
    • Bumpass
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bumpass is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpass
      • Bumpass has also been known as:
      • Bumpas
      • Bumpass Junction
      • Bumpass Station
      • Bumpass Turnout
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bumpass <1>
  • New Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Tunstall
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Tunstall is located in New Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunstall
    • New Kent
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Petersburg City
    • Petersburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Powhatan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Huguenot
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Huguenot is located in Powhatan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguenot
    • Dorset
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dorset is located in Powhatan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorset
    • Pilkinton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pilkinton is located in Powhatan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilkinton
    • Beaumont
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Beaumont is located in Powhatan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
    • Michaux
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Michaux is located in Powhatan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michaux
    • Belona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Belona is located in Powhatan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belona
  • Richmond City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Richmond
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Montrose Heights
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Montrose Heights is located in Richmond City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose Heights
  • Richmond County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Westham, with the one closest to Westham listed first.
    • Chippenham Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Chippenham Village is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippenham Village
    • Cherry Gardens
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cherry Gardens is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Gardens
    • Walmsley Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Walmsley Village is located in Richmond County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walmsley Village

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

Cemeteries Near Westham ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Westham.

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

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

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

  • Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery is located outside of Richmond
    • The Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Ridge Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #202767 <2>
  • Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the northwest of Richmond.
    • The Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bethlehem Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #980524 <2>
  • Mt. Vernon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Vernon Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Vernon Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<3> to the northwest of Richmond.
  • Gravel Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Bolton Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Westhampton Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Emmanuel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ford Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Deep Run Baptist Church
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep Run Baptist Church
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Deep Run Baptist Church is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> to the northwest of Richmond.
    • The Deep Run Baptist Church has also been known as:
    • Deep Run Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1974477 <2>
  • Cottrell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (234 more) ...
    • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Riverview Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hollywood Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)

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 in 1895, Westham had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Dumbarton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Dumbarton is located in Henrico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumbarton
  • Lorraine
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Lorraine is located in Henrico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorraine
  • Bon Air
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Laurel
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Laurel is located in Henrico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
  • Erin Shades
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Erin Shades is located in Henrico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Shades
  • Brook Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Brook Hill is located in Henrico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Hill
  • Glen Allen
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Robious
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Robious is located in Chesterfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robious
  • Gayton ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Gayton is located in Henrico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gayton
  • Vinita
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Vinita is located in Goochland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinita
  • Midlothian
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ellerson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Ellerson is located in Hanover County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerson
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Atlee Station
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Atlee Station is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
    • French Hay
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • French Hay is located in Hanover County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Hay
    • Manakin
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Manakin is located in Goochland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manakin

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

Newspapers Published in Westham ...

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 463 newspapers that have been published in the area around Westham.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Westham, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Westham.

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 Westham:

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- Westham) 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 Westham, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.