Washington County, Rhode Island Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for George Washington. The County is located in the south area of the state.

County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse 4800 Tower Hill Road Wakefield, RI 02879-2239 Phone: 401-782-4121 Washington County Courthouse

Records are kept on the town level and not the county level. Town and City Clerks have birth, marriage, death, probate and land records.

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:

Biographies

 * Exeter
 * North Kingstown
 * Richmond
 * South Kingstown
 * Westerly

Census Records

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

Church Records
Religious Records in Rhode Island

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

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1907-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1582-1932 Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 at Ancestry ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * Richmond Tax Book 1855 provided through USGenweb.org.
 * Richmond Tax Book 1872 provided through USGenweb.org.
 * Richmond Tax Book 1883 provided through USGenweb.org.

Birth

 * 1630-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1636-1930 Rhode Island Births, 1636-1930 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * 1800-1855 Rhode Island and Pawtucket, Massachusetts Birth Index, 1800-1855 at Ancestry - index and images ($)

Marriage

 * 1522-1989 Rhode Island, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($)
 * 1630-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1636-1930 Rhode Island Marriages, 1851-1920 at Ancestry - ($)
 * 1851-1920 Rhode Island Marriages, 1851-1920 Ancestry ($)

Death

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

Family History Centers

 * Groton Connecticut Family History Center
 * North Dartmouth Massachusetts Family History Center
 * Providence Rhode Island Family History Center
 * American French Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
 * Newport Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Otis Library of Norwich, Connecticut - an affiliate library
 * Roger Williams University Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Rhode Island State Library State House, 2nd floor 82 Smith Street, Room 208 Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-222-2473 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

Societies

 * 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
 * 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

Websites

 * The Washington County RIGenWeb Project, an member of The RIGenWeb Project
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Washington County.
 * Washington County RI Genealogy
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.