Step-by-Step Rhode Island Research, 1850-1910

Step 1: Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History


 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2: Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Example of a census record.
 * A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
 * For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
 * Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
 * Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.





Rhode Island State Censuses
- For more information, see Rhode Island Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Try to find additional details in death certificates, Social Security, obituary and cemetery records online.
When a person dies, several records will be created: death certificates, Social Security records, obituaries, and cemetery records.
 * Death certificates can give birth information for people born before actual birth registration began. Death certificates frequently give the birth date and place, parents' names, and birth places of parents.


 * The Social Security Death Index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits. The index entries give the person's full birth date, last known residence, and residence at the time they first enrolled.


 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index provides information filed in the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names.

Example of a death index entry.
 * Cemetery records can be as simple as the information on the headstone or, in some FindAGrave records, they can report more thorough information about birth, parents, spouses, children, and siblings.



Death Indexes

 * Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission, index, incomplete.
 * , index
 * Index.
 * Rhode Island, Deaths, 1630-1930($)
 * Index.
 * U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
 * U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete, ($).
 * Online Rhode Island Death Records and Indexes

Writing for Full Death Certificates
The full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc). In the states of New England, records were created and maintained by town clerks. Most are online but can be viewed in person or requested by mail.
 * Where to Write for Rhode Island Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

U.S. Social Security Records

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

Obituary Collections

 * Online Rhode Island Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Archives.com Obituaries for Rhode Island ($)
 * Newspaper Obituary collection for Rhode Island: about 2003 to 2011 ($)
 * Ancestry.com United States Obituary Collection for Rhode Island ($)
 * Rhode Island Obituaries, index
 * — index and images
 * Search for obituaries in ProQuest Newspapers.com Library ($)

Cemeteries

 * 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



Step 4: Search for birth and marriage records online.
'''Vital records registration of births and marriages at the state level started in 1853. Prior to that the individual towns and city clerks kept some records.'''

Online Records
Births Marriages
 * Index only.
 * Rhode Island Births & Baptisms 1600-1935, index ($)
 * , index.
 * Rhode Island, Births, 1636-1930 ($)
 * , index and images.
 * Index only.
 * Rhode Island, Marriages, 1851-1920 ($)
 * Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700($)
 * Second Supplement To Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700($)
 * U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 ($)

Town Clerk Records
Vital records were first kept in Rhode Island from about 1630. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1853. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1915.
 * 1630-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1636-1850 Vital records of Rhode Island, 1636-1850: a family register for the people Links Vol. 1-21
 * 1636-1850 American Ancestors Rhode Island Vital Records, 1636–1850 ($)
 * 1636-1899 Vital record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, first series, births, marriages and deaths a family register for the people($)
 * 1636-1899 Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
 * 1671-1899 Rhode Island Church Records 1671-1899 at Findmypast - index ($)
 * Rhode Island Vital Records, index
 * 1846-1898, 1901-1953 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Order Certificates from Rhode Island Vital Records Department.
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).


 * Where to Write for Rhode Island Birth, Marriage, Death and Divorce Records

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 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.



'''Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.
- For more information and additional collections, see Rhode Island Military Records.
 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

Step 6: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



FamilySearch

 * 1600-1914 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1636-1850 Vital records of Rhode Island, 1636-1850 : a family register for the people Links Vol. 1-21
 * 1724-1916 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1802-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1639-1932 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Ancestry.com

 * 1636-1899 Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899($)
 * 1787-1922 New England, Select United Methodist Church Records, 1787-1922, index and images, incomplete. ($)
 * 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947, index and images, incomplete. ($)

Findmypast

 * 1600-1935 Rhode Island Births & Baptisms 1600-1935, index($)
 * 1671-1899 Rhode Island Church Records 1671-1899, index($)

Other Collections

 * Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk indexes church, cemetery, probate and other early New England records with links to abstracts of the records.

-
 * For help with church records kept in Rhode Island, see Rhode Island Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.



Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Rhode Island
 * Rhode Island, Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932, ($), index and images, incomplete.

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Rhode Island county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Rhode Island Counties

For more information, see Rhode Island Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.



Rhode Island Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records
 * Rhode Island Passenger Lists ($)
 * Rhode Island Passenger Lists by Maureen A. Taylor ($)
 * Browse only.

Rhode Island Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * Browse Only.
 * Rhode Island, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1802-1945, index & images ($).
 * Rhode Island, Indexes to Naturalization Records, 1890-1992 ($)
 * , images
 * , images only
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * at FamilySearch — index

For more information, see Rhode Island Emigration and Immigration and Rhode Island Naturalization and Citizenship.

Step 9: Search land records online.
These records will give the They can contain clues to
 * names of the buyer (grantee) and seller (grantor),
 * previous or new residence of the parties to the deed
 * the date they obtained the land,
 * the description of exact location of the land, sometimes mentioning neighbors.
 * family members who shared ownership of the land,
 * sold or gave land to a child, or
 * officially witnessed the sale.

Search for any ancestor's land records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Rhode Island
 * 1636-1936 (*) by John Hutchins Cady at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1638-1644 (*) Microfilm of Manuscripts in the Rhode Island State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1646-1851 (*) Rhode Island. General Assembly, & Rhode Island. Court of Trials at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1648-1696 (*) compiled by Genevieve N. Dougine at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1648-1696 (*) by Dorothy Worthington at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1648-1795 (*) Microfilm of Manuscripts from the Rhode Island State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
 * 1659-1887 (*) by John Fones - Original Records in the Rhode Island State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1686-1826 (*) by Louise Prosser Bates - Microfilm of Manuscripts in the Rhode Island Historical Society at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1700s Native Soil Manuscripts Index (Includes Rhode Island) at Ancestry - index only($)
 * 1731-1773 (*) by Richard Partridge, Joseph Sherwood, & Rhode Island. House of Commons at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1747-1750 (*) Microfilm of Manuscripts from the Rhode Island State Archives at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1786-1803 (*) Rhode Island. Grand Committee Office at FamilySearch Catalog - images only
 * 1886-1930 U.S., Department of the Interior Decisions on Pensions and Bounty-Land Claims, 1886-1930 (Includes Rhode Island) at Ancestry - index & images ($)

For more information, see Rhode Island Land and Property and United States Land and Property.

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Rhode Island; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Rhode Island" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * County and Town Histories:*Internet Archive.Use keywords "Rhode Island" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Rhode Island and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * American Biographical Library for Rhode Island ($)
 * County and Town Histories, with biographies
 * The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Rhode Island, e-book
 * Representative men and old families of Rhode Island; genealogical records and historical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the old families ... v.1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3
 * Biographical encyclopaedia of Connecticut and Rhode Island of the nineteenth century

Step 11: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
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 * Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.


 * Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

Historical Images
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

Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records
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

Step 13: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Rhode Island.
This article focused more on Rhode Island state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Rhode Island. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.