Bristol County, Rhode Island Genealogy

United States Rhode Island  Bristol County

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

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.

Quick Facts
Named for Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

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

 * Lost census: 1890

Records are kept at the town level. Please research at that level.

Places / Localities
The preceding list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

Asylums

 * History of Asylums Genealogy Trails

Biographies

 * Genealogy Trails

Mailing Lists

 * RI Bristol County Rootsweb (subscription required)

Message Boards

 * Genealogy Queries Cousinconnect
 * Bristol County Message Board Rootsweb/Ancestry Login required to post
 * 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

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

Newspapers

 * 1809 - Bristol County Register at Google News - free.
 * Genealogy Trails

Marriages

 * Marriage Announcements Genealogy Trails

Obituaries

 * Genealogy Trails

Passenger Lists

 * Genealogy Trails

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.

Births

 * Rhode Island Births, 1636-1930 Ancestry ($)

Marriages

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

Deaths

 * Genealogy Trails

Societies, Libraries and Museums
See also a List of Rhode Island Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

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.