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.

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

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

Places / Localities

 * Barrington
 * Bristol
 * Warren

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

Cemeteries

 * Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission

Census

 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

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

Newspapers

 * 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 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

Births

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

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 433, Greenville Public Library, 573 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828
 * Rhode Island Historical Society, 110 Benevolent St, Providence 02906-3103
 * Barrington Preservation Society, P.O. Box 178, 281 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806 TEL: (401) 247-3770
 * Bristol Historical And Preservation Society Library &amp; Museum, 48 Court Street, Bristol, RI 02809 Phone: (401) 253-7223

Libraries

 * Rhode Island State Library, State House, 2nd floor, Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 222-2473
 * Rhode Island Historical Society Library, 121 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906 TEL: (401) 273-8107
 * East Greenwich Free Library, 82 Pierce Street East, Greenwich, RI 02818
 * Lincoln Public Library, Old River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865, Phone: (401) 333-2422
 * Louttit Memorial Library, 274 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI 02817 Phone: (401) 397-3434
 * Robert H Champlin Library, 1043 Main Street, West Warwick, RI 02893, Phone: (401) 828-3750
 * Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI 02886

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