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State of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Census Records • Rhode Island Vital Records • Rhode Island Court Records
Rhode Island Church Records • Rhode Island Cemetery Records • Rhode Island Land Records
Rhode Island Military Records • Rhode Island Archives & Societies • Rhode Island Publications
Searching for Rhode Island Genealogy Data
Tiny and yet full of history, the State of Rhode Island makes an abundance of genealogical material available. From websites to local organizations, it will be easy to track down records or details about your Native American, Colonial, Revolutionary War, and contemporary relations through the materials you will find online or in the state.
Beginning a Search for Rhode Island Genealogy Information
As you start looking for Rhode Island genealogy data, you will be able to get a lot of materials before you even leave home. This is because the so many of the state’s organizations have already digitized information of interest to those searching for Rhode Island genealogy information. It is important to remember, however, that there may also be a need to make a few trips to physical locations as well.
Before getting too involved in the research for Rhode Island genealogy projects you may want to familiarize yourself with the online tools that can spare you from making unnecessary trips. Consider that you may discover in a search for Rhode Island genealogy data that you can use the Internet to request copies of documents that you thought you had to travel to retrieve!
A Good Method for Rhode Island Genealogy
It is best to begin with the most frequently digitized items used for Rhode Island genealogy, and these are the public records described in the following categories:
- Local Records – traditionally, a state research project begins with a visit to a county clerk’s office or website. Then you will probably need to visit local genealogical societies, small local libraries, historical societies, and school or college libraries for Rhode Island genealogy information. These are items that are usually offline and viewable by appointment or special arrangement.
- Vital Records – these describe the birth, marriage, divorce and death records from county, state, and national archives. They can also include immigration and naturalization details, cemetery or obituary information, census records, newspaper items, military records, and passenger lists and records as well. These tend to be available as online or offline resources for Rhode Island genealogy.
- State Records – this group includes probate information, private manuscripts, surname lists, newspapers, state census information, marriage details, military or veterans information, land records, maps, estate information, genealogical folders, death records, deeds, birth certificates, cemetery information and more. These are available as online and offline resources for Rhode Island genealogy.
Important Tools for Rhode Island Genealogy
All researchers learn about their best resources for Rhode Island genealogy work, and below are some of the finest for Rhode Island genealogy that we have found:
- RI Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Room 101, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908-5097; Website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/rhode_island.htm. This is the place for birth, death, marriage and divorce records, and where you can get copies via a written request or even online.
Additional state and local records can be found at the:
- State Archives of Rhode Island, This website contains links to all of their records programs, and is found at: http://sos.ri.gov/archives/
Also, consider using the resources available through the comprehensive Rhode Island Genealogical Society’s website at: http://www.rigensoc.org/rigenresources.htm.
The links below will give you access to a lot of state-specific data essential those in search of facts for Rhode Island genealogy projects.
- The USGenWeb Project - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/;
- State census records at Genealogy Research Guides - http://www.researchguides.net/census/state.htm; and
- Genealogy Today - http://www.genealogytoday.com/genealogy/states/rhode_island.html
List of Rhode Island Counties
Select a county from the table below to to view more information on genealogical information & records pertaining to each county.
Rhode Island Town Resources
No other state has the emphasis on the town that Rhode Island enjoys. Town resources are extensive, and what follows is only a brief summary. In Rhode Island, the “town records” are usually found in the town council book or the town meeting records. Brigham’s inventory (see Court Records), Fiske’s article , and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Historical Records Survey for the state all contain excellent summaries of what records are available for each town.
Town resources are extensive, and what follows is only a brief summary. In Rhode Island, the “town records” are usually found in the town council book or the town meeting records. Links to each town’s website can be found on the Rhode Island Historical Society webpage. Since so much of the early material is already in print, it is wise to consult those sources first. Some early records for the four original towns, Portsmouth, Providence, Newport, and Warwick are in print.
Two counties became incorporated in 1703: Providence and Newport. By 1750 all of Rhode Island’s present counties existed, and no more developed after these were formed. Bristol became a county in 1746–47 when five towns, originally belonging to Massachusetts, were ceded to Rhode Island.
