Foster, Providence County, Rhode Island Genealogy

Town Information

Description

Foster, Rhode Island at Wikipedia

Parent Towns

Populated Places

Includes Neighborhoods, Villages, Unincorporated Communities,
Districts, and Census-Designated Places:

Adjacent Towns

Town Records

In New England most original vital records of birth, marriage, and death can be found at the town clerk's office

Foster Town Clerk

Vital Records

Births

1636-1850 Rhode Island: Vital Records, 1636-1850 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
1639-1932 Rhode Island Town Births and Baptisms Index, 1639-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1852-1900 Rhode Island, State Births Index, 1819, 1852-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriages

1636-1850 Rhode Island: Vital Records, 1636-1850 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
1639-1932 Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Deaths

1636-1850 Rhode Island: Vital Records, 1636-1850 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
1639-1932 Rhode Island Town Deaths and Burials Index, 1639-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1852-1946 Rhode Island U.S., Death Registrations and Records, 1852-1946 at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Divorce

For more resources see:

Town Reports

Resources

For more County and State resources see:

Cemeteries

1647-2000 Rhode Island: Historical Cemeteries, 1647-2000 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)

Foster Cemeteries at FamilySearch Catalog
Foster Cemeteries List at Find a Grave
Providence County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Catalog
Providence County Cemeteries at FamilySearch Places

Church Records

Historically, the largest religious groups in Rhode Island were the Congregational, Baptist, Roman Catholic, and Methodist churches. For general information about Vermont denominations, view the New Hampshire Church Records wiki page.

To see the churches in TOWN, visit.

Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. The following are church records available online for the town of TOWN:

1636-1899 Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
1639-1932 Rhode Island Town Births and Baptisms Index, 1639-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1639-1932 Rhode Island Town Deaths and Burials Index, 1639-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
1671-1899 Rhode Island Church Records 1671-1899 at Findmypast - index ($)
Rhode Island Church Records

City Directories

Land Records

1646-1851 Proceedings of the General Assembly, 1646-1851 (Includes Land Transfers, & Grants)(*) Rhode Island. General Assembly, & Rhode Island. Court of Trials at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
Rhode Island Land and Property

Deeds, mortgages and record of personal estate 1781-1924 https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/50839

Libraries and Historical Societies

Maps

This selection incudes town, county, state, and historical maps

Boundary Map of Foster at HomeTownLocator
Foster at FamilySearch Places
Foster at Google Maps
Foster at Mapcarta
McConnell's Historical Maps of the United States at Library of Congress
Old Maps of Rhode Island at Old-Maps.com
Rhode Island Maps State Page

Military

United States Military Records

Some Records are Searchable by Town

Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

For more Revolutionary War Military Records see:

Civil War, 1861-1865

For more Civil War Military Records see:

World War I, 1917-1918

For more World War I Military Records see:

World War II, 1941-1945

For more World War II Military Records see:

Newspapers

Other Town Records

In Rhode Island, most records are kept at the town level and generally began being kept at the founding of the town. These records may include the following:

Births
Marriages
Deaths
Burials
Cemetery records
Appointments
Earmarks
Estrays (stray animals)
Freemens' oaths (men eligible to vote)
Land records
Mortgages
Name changes
Care of the poor
School records
Surveys
Tax lists
Town meeting minutes
Voter registrations
Warning outs (of town)

Council records 1781-1893 https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/86941
Foster Town Records Collection at Rhode Island Historical Society http://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss198.htm

Probate Records

In Rhode Island, most probate records are kept at the town level. The following are online probate records for the town of Foster:

1582-1932 Rhode Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
Rhode Island Probate Records

Probate records 1781-1915 (Foster, Rhode Island)https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/51776

Research Facilities

Libraries

Museums

Nearest FamilySearch Center

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Franklin Massachusetts FamilySearch Center
Providence Rhode Island FamilySearch Center
American French Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Clark Memorial Public Library - an affiliate library
Newport Public Library - an affiliate library
Roger Williams University Library - an affiliate library