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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 Possession (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 Possession. 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 northeast 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 north.

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 north 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.

Possession is located in Island County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Island County: Jefferson, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit & Snohomish.

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

  • Island County     (The home county of Possession)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Possession, with the one closest to Possession listed first.
    • Clinton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Bay View
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bay View is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Langley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Freeland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Diana
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Camp Diana is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Diana
    • Greenbank
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Camano
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Juniper Beach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Juniper Beach is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniper Beach
    • Coupeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • San de Fuca
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • San de Fuca is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
    • Oak Harbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clallam County
    • Blyn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Blyn is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Possession, with the one closest to Possession listed first.
    • Port Ludlow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Beaver Valley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Beaver Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Valley
    • Marrowstone
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Nordland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Port Hadlock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Chimacum
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Irondale ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Irondale is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
    • Port Hadlock - Irondale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Adelma Beach
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Adelma Beach is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelma Beach
    • Port Townsend
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Leland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Leland is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
    • Quilcene
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Gardiner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Possession, with the one closest to Possession listed first.
    • Richmond Highlands
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Richmond Highlands is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Highlands
    • Silver Firs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Silver Firs is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Firs
    • Lake Forest Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • North City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • North City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
    • Shoreline
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Northwest Snohomish
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Northwest Snohomish is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest Snohomish
    • Evergreen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Evergreen is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
    • Sheridan Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Sheridan Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan Beach
    • Spring Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Spring Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Beach
    • Kenmore
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bothell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Lake City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Day City ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Day City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day City
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Possession, with the one closest to Possession listed first.
    • Hansville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Kingston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Port Gamble
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Indianola
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lofall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lofall is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lofall
    • Suquamish
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Port Madison
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Port Madison is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Madison
    • Poulsbo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rolling Bay
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Rolling Bay is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Bay
    • Keyport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Pearson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Pearson is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
    • Manitou Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Manitou Beach is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manitou Beach
    • Yeomalt
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Yeomalt is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeomalt
  • Skagit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Possession, with the one closest to Possession listed first.
    • Lake McMurray
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Lake McMurray is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake McMurray
    • Conway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Possession, with the one closest to Possession listed first.
    • Nelsons Corner
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Nelsons Corner is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsons Corner
    • Mukilteo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Harbour Pointe
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Harbour Pointe is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbour Pointe
    • Paine Field - Lake Stickney
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Picnic Point - North Lynnwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Stickney
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Stickney is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Stickney
    • Edmonds
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Alderwood Manor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Alderwood Manor is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderwood Manor
    • Lynnwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Martha Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Martha Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martha Lake
    • Lowell
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Lowell is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
    • Esperance
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Esperance is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esperance
    • Mill Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Possession ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Possession.

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

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

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

  • Eglon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Cypress Lawn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Hansville Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Swedbergs Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Floral Hills Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floral Hills Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Floral Hills Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Lynnwood.
    • The Floral Hills Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Greenland Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #210822 <2>
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Buena Vista Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kingston Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Holyrood Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Abbey View Memorial Park
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Mission Beach Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Machzikay Hadath Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Machzikay Hadath Cemetery
    • The Machzikay Hadath Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Seattle Sephardic Brotherhood Cemetery
  • Continue List   (56 more) ...
    • Woodlawn Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Acacia Memorial Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acacia Memorial Park
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Acacia Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<3> to the north of Lake City.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #76695 <2>
    • Gar Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)

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>

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

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

  • Mukilteo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Edmonds
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Langley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Lowell
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Lowell is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
  • Kingston
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Everett
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Everett is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 112,482 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Everett <1>
  • Port Gamble
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Tulalip
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Tulalip is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip
  • Snohomish
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Bothell
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Cathcart
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Cathcart is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathcart
  • Marysville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Wayne
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wayne is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayne
    • Woodinville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Day City ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Day City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day City

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

Newspapers Published in Possession ...

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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Possession.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Possession, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Possession.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Possession:

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' (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- Possession) 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 Possession, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.