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 Williamsville (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 Williamsville. 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 and 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.
Williamsville is located in Bath 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 Bath County: Alleghany, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Greenbrier (WV) & Pocahontas (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Williamsville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Williamsville:
- Bath County (The home county of Williamsville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Burnsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Bolar
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bolar is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
- Yost
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Bath Alum
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Millboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Warm Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchelltown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Mountain Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Healing Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Carloover
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carloover is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Griffith
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Clifton Forge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Iron Gate
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Selma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Augusta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Deerfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Deerfield is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Marble Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Marble Valley is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Craigsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- West Augusta
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- West Augusta is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Augusta
- Pond Gap ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pond Gap is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
- Chapin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Chapin is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Newport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Newport is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Middlebrook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Churchville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Arbor Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Parnassus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Parnassus is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
- Stokesville ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Stokesville is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokesville
- Spottswood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spottswood is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
- Highland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Clover Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clover Creek is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- McDowell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buckeye is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Meadowdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Meadowdale is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
- Monterey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hightown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hightown is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Possum Trot
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Possum Trot is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
- Palo Alto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Palo Alto is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Goshen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Brownsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kerrs Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
- Davis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Davis is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Fairfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- East Lexington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Marlbrook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
- Riverside
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Staunton City
- Staunton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pendleton County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Harper
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Harper is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Moyers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Moyers is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers
- Sugar Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Dry Run
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dry Run is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
- Zigler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Zigler is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zigler
- Pocahontas County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Frost
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Frost is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Arbovale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Green Bank
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sitlington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Cass
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Huntersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Thorny Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Thornwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornwood
- Frank
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frank is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
- Durbin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Edray
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Marlinton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Onoto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Williamsville, see our County-by-County Page for Williamsville.
Cemeteries Near Williamsville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williamsville.
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 Williamsville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Williamsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Burnsville Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Big Valley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Mary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stony Run Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Green Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Griffin Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cleek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Doyle Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Lightner Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Craigsville Memorial Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bratton Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- West Augusta Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (79 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Sively Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Warm Springs Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Williamsville had a population of 96 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Williamsville, with the one closest to Williamsville listed first.
- Burnsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Clover Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clover Creek is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- Bolar
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Bolar is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
- Armstrong
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Armstrong is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Green Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Green Valley is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Marble Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Marble Valley is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Deerfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Deerfield is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Yost
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- McDowell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Gap
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mill Gap is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Gap
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Buckeye is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Vanderpool
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Vanderpool is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderpool
- Bath Alum
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Craigsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Williamsville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Williamsville.
Newspapers Published in Williamsville ...
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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williamsville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williamsville, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williamsville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Williamsville:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Bath County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alleghany County
- Augusta County
- Highland County
- Lexington City
- Rockbridge County
- Staunton City
- Pendleton County
- Pocahontas 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 Williamsville, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Williamsville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |