Newport County, Rhode Island Genealogy

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

Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for the county of Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Welsh:Trefdraeth). The County is located in the east central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Newport County Courthouse 8 Washington Square Newport, RI 02840-7199 Phone: 401.841.8350 Formerly Rhode Island Co. Name changed to Newport 16 Jun 1729. 1746-7 eastern boundary adjusted under decree of the King of England) (City and Tpwn Clerks have birth, marriage, death and burial records Family and Superior Courts have divorce records; Probate Courth has probate records from 1784, District Court has court records; Recorder Deeds has land records from 1780 Newport Historical Society, 82 Truro Street, Newport, RI has early church, land and probate records) (Five towns &amp; one city in Newport County Towns Organized Before 1800; Jamestown 1678, Little Compton 1746-7, Middletown 1743, New Shoreham 1672, Portsmouth 1638, Tiverton 1746-7

There is no county government. The government is located at town and state levels.

Quick Facts
22 June 1703: Formed as Rhode Island County

16 June 1729: Renamed Newport County. Named for Town of Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales. (Welsh:Trefdraeth)

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.

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:

Cemeteries

 * Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission

Census

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

Church
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Maps

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

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1907-1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

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

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and 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.

Births

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

Marriages

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


 * 1522-1989 - Rhode Island, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1630 - 1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Deaths

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

Societies, Libraries and Museums

 * 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

Libraries

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

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
 * Clark Memorial Public Library - an affiliate library
 * David Allen Lambert Library - an affiliate library
 * Groton Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Middleborough Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Roger Williams University Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Newport County, RI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Rhode Island Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Newport County RIGenWeb Project, an member of The RIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Newport County.
 * FamilySearch Catalog for Newport County
 * Newport County RI Genealogy