Your Guide to Researching
Rhode Island Ancestors

Family History Library:
- Rhode Island Historical Background
  (note you can print off a .pdf copy, upper right corner)
Learn about Rhode Island at Wikipedia
- List of counties in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is a New Endland state, so see also New England Research Guide, this website

* General Guides * Maps * Statewide Genealogy Websites * Societies, Libraries and Archives *
* Finding and Using Records * Queries & Help * More Links *

General Guides to Rhode Island Research

First, bookmark or print out the Family History Library Rhode Island Research Outline.
Sperry. Rhode Island Sources for Family Historians and Genealogists. 1986. (find in a library)
"Genealogical Research in Rhode Island" in NGS Quarterly vo. 88 no. 1 (March, 2000) p. 5-31 (find NGS Quarterly in a library)
Rhode Island Roots, quarterly journal of the Rhode Island Genealogical Society, published since 1974, includes both source material and compiled genealogy (find in a library).
Fiske.
- A practical strategy for Rhode Island research.
- Less obvious sources for Rhode Island research
Audiotapes of lectures taped at genealogy conferences with the word "Rhode Island " in the title.

All of the three reference books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state. (note: some libraries may have earleir editions; those are usable)

Handybook for Genealogists ( 11th edition) (find in a library)
Ancestry's Redbook (you'll want the 3rd edition) (find in a library)
The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogical Research (find in a library)

Atlases, Maps & Gazateers

For more information on finding and using maps, see Your Guide to Atlases, Maps and Gazateers.

Good state maps are available in the Handybook or Redbook mentioned above. If you are printing a copy of the map out at your local library, spend a few dimes more and print out the few pages of state information. You will find it a very vaulable reference.
Bookmark or print out this map of Rhode Island counties.
1895 Atlas for Rhode Island (see also map for each county)
Print out a Rhode Island county outline map (.pdf) -- shows present day counties.
Perry Costaneda Map Collection for Rhode Island
U Alabama Historical Maps of Rhode Island
Each of the county pages in Wikipedia will have a link to a township map -- First, click on the county name in the chart on this page, then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click the small image once to bring it up on a separate screen, then click it again to make it a full page map.

Statewide Genealogy Websites

Next, see what is available for your counties of interest at at one of these statewide sites. For each, use the county selection list to find out what is available for the various counties. Content will vary.

Rhode Island Gen Web
ALHN Rhode Island Page (American Local History Network)
Rhode Island Trails

Societies, Libraries and Archives

For more information on using libraries and archives, see genealogy guides to Libraries and Archives

The Rhode Island State Archives website doesn't contain information helpful to the genealogical researcher, but there is a Secretary of State page Resources for Genealogists and Historians that outlines what is available.
The Rhode Island Historical Society - see especially their Reference Services page.
- A Guide to Genealogical Materials at the Rhose Island Historical Society Library. 1985 (out of print) (find in a library)
Rhode Island Genealogical Society ; Find other Genealogical Societies in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Historical Records Directory -- a brief summary of what is held in some local historical societies; follow link to website for more information for each.Major U or Gen Libs
Rhode Island is served by the National Archives ___ Region, which is housed in Rhode Island
Visit the website of the Rhode Island local library in the area you are researching to see what genealogy information and services are provided by that library. A few public libraries in Rhode Island hold major genealogical collections.
Providence

Finding and Using Records: cemetery, census, church, court & legal,directories,histories, military, land and property, naturalizations, newspapers, probate, vital.

Use the catalog at the FHL to find out what has been filmed covering the state Rhode Island ; Click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the county you are researching and once there click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the township or city. You will want to check for resources in all three jurisdictions, although most people check the county holdings first, township next and state last.

Consult the Family History Library's Guide to Rhode Island Statewide Indexes and Collections ; you might also consult the FHL's Rhode Island Research Guidance, although frankly, I find navigation of that section confusing.

Cemetery: For general informaton, see guide to cemetery records, this website

Census: For general inforamtion, see guide to census records, this website.
First extant federal census: 1790; there are also colonial and state census records for Rhode Island for the years 1774, 1777, 1782, (partial), 1865, 1875, 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935. .

RIHS Overview of available census records.
1774 Census of the Colony of Rhode Island -- transcription available online
1790 Rhode Island Census --transcription available online
1840 census of pensioners in Rhode Island
An index to the 1915 state census is now available at Family Search Record Pilot (no images)
These websites try to keep up with census records that are available for free online
- Rhode Island GenWeb census links (to a few online transcriptions)
- Census links: Rhode Island
- CensusFinder Rhode Island
- CensusOnline Rhode Island
- Access Genealogy Rhode Island
- U.S. GenWeb Census Project. U.S. GenWeb Census Project Census Researchers FAQ gives information for using this site.
- Rootsweb.com census records (goes into U.S.Genweb)

Church: For general information, see guide to church records, this website.

Fiske. A bibliography of abstracted church records.

County and Local Directories: for general information, see guide to city and county directories, this website.

Check the Rhode Island City Directories site to see if one exists for a city you are interested in -- but don't rely on this. It is neither a comprehensive list of what exists nor a complete record of where it is held.

County and Local Histories : For general informaton, see guide to county histories, this website

Court & Legal: For general information, see guide to law libraries, this website

Blacksheep Rhode Island ancestors may have been in trouble with the legal system!
Pre 1900 judiciary records at the Archives of the Judicial Records Center -- include criminal, civil, divorce and naturalization, with links to forms that can be used to request the records.

Land & Property:For general informaton , see guide to land records, this website.

Rhode Island is a state land state.

Military; For general inforamtion, see guide to military records, this website

Finding Rhode Island Military Records -- a RIHS Library source sheet
Family Search Wiki on Rhode Island Military Records

Naturalizations; For general informaton, see guide to naturalizations, this website

Where to obtain Naturalization records of Rhode Island residents

Newspapers: For general information, see guide to newspapers, this website

Rhode Island Newspaper Project
Helpful information about Rhode Island newspapers from the Rhode Island Historical Society
Chronicling America list of newspapers published in Rhode Island -- click a title to get more information
A list of Rhode Island newspapers, past and present (with links to those still publishing)
Obituary Look up Volunteers: Rhode Island

Probate: For general inforamtion, see guide to probate records, this website. Remember, Rhode Island is a New England state, so probates will be found in th town records.

List of addresses of Rhode Island probate courts

Vital: For general inforamtion, see guide to vital records, this website. Statewide birth, death and marriage records begin 1853 (Individual towns will have earlier vital records. )

Where to obtain your Rhode Island vital records
Rhode Island Vital Records (official)
Vitalrec Rhode Island Page

Queries & Help

Check the XXX Genweb county page for look up volunteers for each county.
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindnes: Rhode Island
Genealogy.com Boards
Ancestry/Rootsweb message boards

Your Guide to Researching Rhode Island Ancestors