Genealogical Research in Rhode Island PZ Horton May 31, 2015

Religion Catchall R.I. was never governed by Congregationalists (Puritans) Baptists / Antinomian 1636 Gortonists 1638 Jews 1658 Church of England (Episcopal) 1698 Quakers 1699

Governing Timeline 1636 – Providence Plantations founded by Roger Williams 1638 – Pocasett settled by Anne Hutchinson group (now Portsmouth) 1642 - Shawomet Purchase Samuel Gorton (now Warwick) 1644 – Chartered as English Colony 1663 – Royal Charter with religious freedom and own Governor 1686 – 1691 – Province under Dominion of New England 1691 – 1775 – Reverted to Royal Charter with Governor 1776 – Rebel Colony 1790 – Ratification of Statehood

Cities Formed before 1700 1636 – Providence 1638 – Portsmouth * 1639 – Newport 1642 – Warwick 1669 – Westerly * 1672 – New Shoreham * (Block Island) 1674 – North Kingston * 1677 – East Greenwich * 1678 – Jamestown * * = Township

Counties Formed in Rhode Island 1636 – 1702 – City government 1703 Providence Plantation (1729 changed to Providence) Rhode Island (dissolved 1729) 1729 Kings (1781 changed to Washington) Newport 1747 Bristol (from Massachusetts) 1750 Kent Counties have no formal government

Tips History is town based; no county records; look in neighboring towns Old histories may have flaws; double-source your work Look for family histories Look for topic specific sources; i.e., shipping, military, religious

Books – New England A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England; Farmer, John A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England; Savage, James Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research; 5th Edition, Leclerc, Micheal New England Marriages Prior to 1700; Torrey, Clarence (and supplements) New Englanders in the 1600s; Hollick, Martin Book in GRHGC Library * = ebook on TNGS server

Books – New England Founders of Early American Families; Colket, Meredith New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial; Cutter, William New England Historical and Genealogical Register (some volumes) The Great Migration; Anderson, Robert The Great Migration Begins; Anderson, Robert Book in GRHGC Library * = ebook on TNGS server

Books – Rhode Island History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; Arnold, Samuel G * The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island; Austin, John The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; Bicknell, Thomas * Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; Bartlett, John * Vital Records of Rhode Island: 1636-1850; Arnold, James N The Narragansett Historical Register; Arnold, James N * Book in GRHGC Library * = ebook on TNGS server

Books – Rhode Island Documentary History of Rhode Island; Chapin, Howard * Rhode Island Roots Spirit of ‘76 in Rhode Island; Cowell, Benjamin Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1774; Bartlett, John Book in GRHGC Library * = ebook on TNGS server

Societies / Libraries New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston http://www.americanancestors.org/home.html Rhode Island Genealogical Society http://www.rigensoc.org/ Rhode Island Historical Society http://www.rihs.org/ Rhode Island State Archives http://sos.ri.gov/archives/researchers/ Rhode Island State Library http://sos.ri.gov/library/ Rhode Island Historical Records Advisory Board http://sos.ri.gov/rihrab/direct.html

Historical Societies in Rhode Island Burrillville Historical and Preservation Society Charlestown Historical Society Cranston Historical Society East Providence Historical Society Jamestown Historical Society Johnston Historical Society Little Compton Historical Society Newport Historical Society Pawtuxet Valley Historical Society Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Tiverton Historical Society on FaceBook Westerly Historical Society

Websites RI Historical Cemetery Commission http://www.rihistoriccemeteries.org/Default.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_early_settlers_of_Rhode_Island Vital Records http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/rhode_island.htm