Bristol County, Rhode Island Genealogy

Guide to Bristol County, Rhode Island ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records

Description
Bristol County is located in the east-central area of the state. . The county was named for its "shire town" (county seat) - Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

County Courthouse
Bristol County Courthouse 1 Dorrance Plaza Warren, RI 02885-4369 Phone: 508.823.6588 There is no Co Clk in Bristol Co; Twn &amp; City Clks have birth, marriage, death and probate records; Clerk District Court has court records Four twns in Bristol County) Towns Organized Before 1800: Barrington 1717, Bristol 1681, Warren 1746-7

There is no county government. Government level is at town and state levels.

Parent County
17 February 1746: Created from land gained from Bristol County, Massachusetts after resolution of a boundary dispute between the two colonies.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Rhode Island County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Rhode Island County Boundary Maps" (1643-1963) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Places / Localities

 * Barrington
 * Bristol
 * Warren

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Asylums

 * History of Asylums Genealogy Trails

Biographies

 * Genealogy Trails

Cemeteries

 * Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission

Census

 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Mailing Lists

 * RI Bristol County Rootsweb (subscription required)

Message Boards

 * Genealogy Queries Cousinconnect
 * GenForum Login required to post

History

 * Sowams: with ancient records of Sowams and parts adjacent; illustrated. Warren is current name for Sowams. 
 * Building histories
 * Landmark sites LandmarkHunter

Maps

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military History and Records

 * List of Pensioners as of January 1, 1883

Revolutionary War

 * Newspaper account, 1823 (Genealogy Trails)

World War I

 * World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Ancestry ($)
 * Awards of Distinguished Service Cross Medal Genealogy Trails

World War II

 * Army Enlistments A-L Genealogy Trails
 * Army Enlistments M-Z Genealogy Trails
 * Honor List of Dead and Missing and Army Air Force Personnel Genealogy Trails
 * Honor List of Dead and Missing and Army Air Force Personnel Access Genealogy

Korean Conflict

 * List of Military personnel who died from hostile action, including missing and captured, 1950-1957 Genealogy Trails

Vietnam

 * Casualties, Including Missing and Captured Declared Dead, 1957-1995 Genealogy Trails

Mines, Mining and Mineral Resources

 * Mining Sites Mindat.org

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1907-1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1809 - Bristol County Register at Google News - free.
 * Genealogy Trails

Marriages

 * Marriage Announcements Genealogy Trails

Obituaries

 * Genealogy Trails

Passenger Lists

 * Genealogy Trails

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1582 – 1932 Rhode Island Wills and Probate Records 1582-1932 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Vital Records
See also How to order Rhode Island Vital Records, order electronically online or download an application for Rhode Island Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.


 * 1630 - 1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Births

 * Rhode Island Births, 1636-1930 Ancestry ($)
 * 1800-1855 Rhode Island and Pawtucket, Massachusetts Birth Index, 1800-1855 at Ancestry - index and images ($)

Marriages

 * 1522-1989 - Rhode Island, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * Genealogy Trails
 * Rhode Island Marriages, 1636-1930 Ancestry ($)

Deaths

 * Genealogy Trails

Societies, Libraries and Museums

 * Rhode Island Genealogical Society P.O. Box 211 Hope, RI 02831 Email: [mailto:info@rigensoc.org info@rigensoc.org] Website
 * Rhode Island Historical Society 110 Benevolent St Providence, RI 02906 Phone: 401-331-8575 Website
 * Bristol Historical and Preservation Society Library & Museum 48 Court Street Bristol, RI 02809 Phone: 401-253-7223 Email: [mailto:info@bhps.necoxmail.com info@bhps.necoxmail.com] Website

Libraries

 * Rhode Island State Library State House, 2nd floor 82 Smith Street, Room 208 Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-222-2473 Website
 * Rhode Island Historical Society Library 121 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 Phone: 401-273-8107 Ext. 410 Email: [mailto:reference@rihs.org reference@rihs.org] Website
 * East Greenwich Free Library 82 Pierce Street East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: 401-884-9510 Website
 * Greenville Public Library 573 Putnam Pike Greenville, RI 02828 Phone: 401-949-3630 Website
 * Lincoln Public Library 145 Old River Road Lincoln, RI 02865 Phone: 401-333-2422 Website
 * Louttit Memorial Library 274 Victory Highway West Greenwich, RI 02817 Phone: 401-397-3434 Email: [mailto:louttitlibrary@gmail.com louttitlibrary@gmail.com] Website
 * Robert H Champlin Library 1043 Main Street West Warwick, RI 02893 Phone: 401-828-3750
 * Warwick Public Library 600 Sandy Lane Warwick, RI 02889 Phone: 401-739-5440 Website

Family History Centers

 * North Dartmouth Massachusetts Family History Center
 * Providence Rhode Island Family History Center


 * American French Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Clark Memorial Public Library - an affiliate library
 * David Allen Lambert Library - an affiliate library
 * Groton Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Middleborough Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Otis Library of Norwich, Connecticut - an affiliate library
 * Roger Williams University Library - an affiliate library
 * Waterford Public Library - Connecticut - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Bristol County, RI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Rhode Island Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Rhode Island Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Linkpendium
 * Genealogy Trails
 * The Bristol County RIGenWeb Project, part of The RIGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project back up site
 * FamilySearch Catalog for Bristol County
 * Bristol County Genealogy