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 Brake (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 Brake. 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 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.
Brake is located in Hardy County.
To see how the shape of West 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 Hardy County: Frederick (VA), Rockingham (VA), Shenandoah (VA), Grant, Hampshire & Pendleton.
Below are the counties that are near Brake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brake:
- Hardy County (The home county of Brake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Peru
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peru is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Durgon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Durgon is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgon
- Mathias
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lost City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Moorefield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Fort Run
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Run is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Run
- Baker
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Baker is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Inkerman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Inkerman is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inkerman
- Wardensville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Dorcas
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Dorcas is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
- Seemly ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Seemly is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seemly
- Petersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pansy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pansy is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Seymourville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Seymourville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymourville
- Arthur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Arthur is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Hopeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hopeville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Lahmansville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lahmansville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lahmansville
- Maysville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Maysville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Medley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Greenland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Greenland is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Hampshire County
- Junction
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Junction is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction
- Mineral County
- Hartmansville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hartmansville is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartmansville
- Pendleton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Brushy Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Brushy Run is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Run
- Ketterman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ketterman is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ketterman
- Kline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kline is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Fort Seybert
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert
- Ruddle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ruddle is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle
- Macksville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Macksville is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksville
- Onego
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Onego is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onego
- Brandywine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Propstburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Propstburg is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propstburg
- Zigler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zigler is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zigler
- Circleville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Harperton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Harperton is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperton
- Dryfork
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Harman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Whitmer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Whitmer is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitmer
- Tucker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Canaan Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Davis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Elk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Elk is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Gladwin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Gladwin is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Coketon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coketon is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
- Thomas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rockingham County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Criders
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Criders is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Criders
- Tunis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tunis is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Fulks Run
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fulks Run is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulks Run
- Cootes Store
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store
- Turleytown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Turleytown is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turleytown
- Broadway
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Timberville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Plains Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Plains Mill is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plains Mill
- Singers Glen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Singers Glen is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Singers Glen
- Daphna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Daphna is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daphna
- Mayland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mayland is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
- Shenandoah County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Orkney Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Basye - Bryce Mountain
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jerome
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Mount Clifton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
- Columbia Furnace
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Columbia Furnace is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Furnace
- Rinkerton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
- Mount Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Edinburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- New Market
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Calvary is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary
- Willow Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Woodstock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brake, see our County-by-County Page for Brake.
Cemeteries Near Brake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brake.
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 Brake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Corbin Snyder Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corbin Snyder Cemetery
- The Corbin Snyder Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bennetts Run Cemetery
- Moyers Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Perry Moyers Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Crab Run Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Caplinger Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Martin Luther Lutheran Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Burlington Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Branch Memorial Gardens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hevener Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fitzwater Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitzwater Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Fitzwater Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the north of Fulks Run (VA).
- New Dale Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (176 more) ...
- Baldwin Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Olivet Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Brake in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brake.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brake, with the one closest to Brake listed first.
- Peru
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Peru is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Masonville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Masonville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masonville
- Seemly ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Seemly is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seemly
- Petersburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pansy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pansy is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
- Criders
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Criders is located in Rockingham County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Criders
- Mathias
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Brushy Run
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Brushy Run is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Run
- Seymourville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Seymourville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymourville
- Kline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kline is located in Pendleton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
- Moorefield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Arthur
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Arthur is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Orkney Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hopeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hopeville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
- Upper Tract
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brake.
Newspapers Published in Brake ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brake.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brake, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brake.
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 Brake:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Hardy County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Grant County
- Hampshire County
- Mineral County
- Pendleton County
- Randolph County
- Tucker County
- Rockingham County
- Shenandoah County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Brake) 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 Brake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |