Rhode Island Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.

Federal Censuses State Censuses

- For more information on census records, see Rhode Island Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration or vital records, were kept in Rhode Island statewide beginning in XXXX, although counties may have kept earlier records. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however. In some states, church records were gathered to provide earlier certificates.


 * 1630-1945: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1636-1850: Vital record of Rhode Island: a family register for the people, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6, Vol. 7, Vol. 8, Vol. 9, Vol. 10, Vol. 11, Vol. 12, Vol. 13, Vol. 14, Vol. 15, Vol. 16, Vol. 17, Vol. 18, Vol. 19, Vol. 20, Vol. 21, Vol. 22 at FamilySearch; eBook; Also At: American Ancestors ($)
 * 1636-1899: Rhode Island Vital Extracts at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1846-1953: at FamilySearch; index & images

Births
 * 1600-1914: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1600-1935: Rhode Island Births & Baptisms at Findmypast; index only ($)
 * 1636-1930: Rhode Island Birth Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1639-1932: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1800-1855: Rhode Island and Pawtucket, Massachusetts Birth Index at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1819, 1852-1900: at FamilySearch; index & images

Marriages
 * 1522-1989: US Marriages at Findmypast; index & images ($)
 * 1724-1916: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1851-1920: Rhode Island Marriages Index at Ancestry; index only ($)

Deaths 
 * 1628-1930: Rhode Island Deaths & Burials at Findmypast; index only ($)
 * 1630-1930: Rhode Island Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1639-1932: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1802-1950: at FamilySearch; index only

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Rhode Island, see How to Find Rhode Island Birth Records, How to Find Rhode Island Marriage Records, and How to Find Rhode Island Death Records.

Step 3: '''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before XXXX. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers. - Obituaries Cemeteries
 * 1980-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Online Rhode Island Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Archives.com Obituaries for Rhode Island ($)
 * Newspaper Obituary collection for Rhode Island: about 2003 to 2011 ($)
 * ProQuest Obituaries for Rhode Island($)
 * Ancestry.com United States Obituary Collection for Rhode Island ($)
 * Rhode Island Obituaries, index
 * Findagrave.com
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * Rhode Island Cemeteries at The Cemetery Site
 * Rhode Island Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Rhode Island Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Rhode Island Cemetery Records at New Horizons Genealogy
 * Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries at American Ancestors ($)
 * Rhode Island, Historical Cemetery Commission Index, 1647-2008 at Ancestry
 * Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Search at Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission
 * Rhode Island Historical Gravestone Pictures at RootsWeb.com
 * Rhode Island Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Rhode Island Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * Jewish Cemeteries in Rhode Island at Find-A-Grave
 * Rhode Island Jewish Cemetery Project at International Jewish Cemetery Project

For more information, see Rhode Island Obituaries and Rhode Island Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants..
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Rhode Island, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Rhode Island, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records