Rhode Island

Rhode Island Census Research

Federal censuses in Rhode Island began in 1790.

Rhode Island is the only New England state with extensive state census records taken every ten years between 1865–1935 (1895 is missing). Similar to the federal census, the 1865 state census is microfilmed and every-name indexed at the Rhode Island Historical Society. The 1875, 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925, and 1935 census records are at Rhode Island State Archives.

Before statehood, Rhode Island took several censuses for a variety of purposes. The earliest available of these censuses is1730, for which only the Portsmouth and part of South Kingston returns have been located. For more information, see Mildred Mosher Chamberlain's article in Rhode Island Roots 7 (1981): 16–17 and 10 (1984):1.

The 1774 census has survived for nearly all towns. Only New Shoreham (Block Island) is missing. Original returns are at the Rhode Island State Archives and are published in John R. Bartlett's Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (1858; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1969).

The last census before the federal censuses begin is indexed in Jay Mack Holbrook Rhode Island 1782 Census (Oxford, Mass.: Holbrook Research Institute, 1979). Returns for some of the towns were lost. This is a reconstructed census using original manuscripts and tax lists to replace those lost records. Returns for North Providence and Smithfield are not available.

Census returns for Rhode Island are supplemented by the freemen's lists between 1747–55. The originals and a card index are at the Rhode Island State Archives, and have been published in Bruce C. MacGunnigle, Rhode Island Freemen, 1747–1755 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977).

Rhode Island Vital Records

Statewide reporting did not begin in Rhode Island until 1853. From that time, copies of vital events recorded in towns were sent to what is now the Rhode Island Division of Vital Statistics. Many records prior to 1894 are now in the state archive. Most originals are held in the clerk’s office of the town where the event was recorded.

Earlier vital records have been gathered and abstracted in James N. Arnold's Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636–1850, 21 vols. (Providence, R.I.: Narragansett Historical Publishing Co., 1891–1912.)

• Rhode Island Office of Vital Records: Holds records of births, marriages, and deaths.

Rhode Island Research Resources

The organizations listed below provide information about Rhode Island history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.

• Rhode Island State Archives
• Rhode Island State Library
• Rhode Island Genealogical Society
• Rhode Island GenWeb
• Rhode Island Historical Society
• The National Archives at Boston: This facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in Rhode Island, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records.