Providence County, Rhode Island
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | County History | County Links |

Providence County was created on June 22, 1703 and was formed as Providence Plantations County. Renamed Providence County in 1729. Providence County was named for Divine Providence.

Providence County is bordered by Norfolk County, Massachusetts (northeast), Bristol County, Massachusetts (east), Bristol County (southeast), Kent County (south), Windham County, Connecticut (west), Worcester County, Massachusetts (northwest).

Cities, towns, and villages (Villages are census division, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.) include Burrillville (villages include Harrisville, Pascoag), Central Falls, Cranston, Cumberland (villages include Cumberland Hill, Valley Falls), East Providence, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln (villages include Manville, Albion, Quinnville , Lonsdale , Saylesville, Lime Rock), North Providence, North Smithfield (villages include Branch Village , Forestdale, Primrose, Slatersville , Union Village , Waterford ), Pawtucket, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield (villages include Greenville), Woonsocket.

See Extended History for More information.

Providence County Census Records - Federal Population Schedules that exist for Providence County, Rhode Island are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

Search Rhode Island Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

The major genealogical use for counties in Rhode Island is the pursuit of court records and federal census returns. Before 1729 there were no county courts in Rhode Island. Some of the vital records have been published in “county” groups, but the records themselves exist only on a town level. Modern court records are at the superior court at the county seat; earlier ones have been moved (see Court Records).

Two counties became incorporated in 1703: Providence and Newport. By 1750 all of Rhode Island’s present counties existed, and no more developed after these were formed. Bristol became a county in 1746–47 when five towns, originally belonging to Massachusetts, were ceded to Rhode Island.

Town resources are extensive, and what follows is only a brief summary. In Rhode Island, the “town records” are usually found in the town council book or the town meeting records. Links to each town’s website can be found on the Rhode Island Historical Society webpage. Since so much of the early material is already in print, it is wise to consult those sources first. Some early records for the four original towns, Portsmouth, Providence, Newport, and Warwick are in print.

  • Burrillville Town Clerk, 70 Main Street, Harrisville, RI 02830; (401) 568-4300
  • Central Falls Town Clerk, 580 Broad Street, Central Falls, RI 02863; (401) 727-7400
  • Glocester Town Clerk, P.O. Box B, Chepachet, RI 02814
  • Cranston City Clerk, City Hall, 869 Park Ave, Cranston, RI 02910; (401) 461-1000
  • Cumberland Town Clerk, 45 Broad St, Cumberland, RI 02864; (401) 728-2400
  • East Providence City Clerk, 145 Taunton Ave, E. Providence, RI 02914; (401) 435-7596
  • Foster Town Clerk, South Killingly Rd, Foster, RI 02825; (401) 392-9200
  • Johnston Town Clerk, 1385 Hartford Ave, Johnston, RI 02919; (401) 351-6618
  • Lincoln Town Clerk, 100 Old River Rd, Lincoln, RI 02865; (401) 333-1100
  • North Providence Town Clerk, City Hall, 2008 Smith St, N. Providence, RI 02911; (401) 232-0900
  • Scituate Town Clerk, Main St, N. Scituate, RI 02857; (401) 647-2822
  • North Smithfield Town Clerk, 1 Main St, Slatersville, RI 02876; (401) 767-2200
  • Pawtucket City Clerk, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860; (401) 728-0500
  • Smithfield Town Clerk, 64 Farnum Pike, Esmond, RI 02917; (401) 233-1000
  • Woonsocket Town Clerk, City Hall, 169 Main St, Woonsocket, RI 02895; (401) 762-6400

Rhode Island State Vital Records Office, Rhode Island Dept of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Rm. 101, Providence, RI 02908-5097; (401) 222-2811. It has Birth and Marriage Records from 1899 to present and Death Records from 1949 to present (see Vital Records for more detailed information).

Please be advised that in most cases you will receive your records more quickly from the City and Town locations than from the State Office or VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

State and National Research

Statewide Information for Rhode Island Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records, Land Records, Marriage Records, Tax, Court & Probate Records, Census Records, Church & Cemetery Records, Military Records, State Genealogical and Historical Addresses.

Nationwide Information for United States Census Records, Court Records, Probate Records, Tax Records, Land Records, Military Records, Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records, Church & Cemetery Records, Immigration Records and State & County Maps.

Below is a list of online resources for Providence County Family Trees, web forums and other type information dealing with this county.

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Providence County History

 

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Providence County Links

 

Providence County Family Histroy Site Links - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher. When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide.

  • Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
  • The Rhode Island Family Group Sheets Project
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Rhode Island USGenweb Site
  • National USGenweb Main Page
  • Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
  • Family Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
  • Providence County, Rhode Island Family Books at Amazon.com

Providence County Court, Probate, Land, Immigration, and Tax Record Links - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers the State of Rhode Island. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
  • Providence County, Rhode Island Court Books at Amazon.com

Providence County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Record Links - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Arkansas obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Arkansas newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Rhode Island . Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Arkansas newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
  • Providence County, Rhode Island Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

Providence County Census Record Links - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

  • Research In American Census Records
  • U.S. Census Extraction Forms - These are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research.
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
  • Providence County, Rhode Island Census Books at Amazon.com

Providence County Military Record Links - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

  • Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.
  • Providence County, Rhode Island Military Books at Amazon.com

Providence County Church Links

  • Providence County, Rhode Island Church Books at Amazon.com

Providence County Cemetery Links - Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

Providence County Map & Atlas Links

  • Research In State Map Collections
  • Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Arkansas and other states.
  • Rotating animated maps for Rhode Island showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries .
  • Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.
  • Providence County, Rhode Island Map Books at Amazon.com

Providence County General Genealogy Links

  • Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
  • Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
  • Search the Family Tree DNA Project - Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
  • Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Rhode Island Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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