Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island Genealogy

United States

Rhode Island

Providence County

Providence

Modern town borders of Providence in Providence County, Rhode Island.

Town Information

Description

Providence, Rhode Island at Wikipedia

Populated Places

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

Town Records

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

Vital Records

• 1636-1930 Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1636-1930 at American Ancestors - index ($)
• 1931-1940 Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1931-1940 at American Ancestors - index & images ($)

Births

• 1636-1930 On American Ancestors ($): Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1636-1930.
• 1636-1850 Rhode Island: Vital Records, 1636-1850 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 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
• 1931-1940 On American Ancestors ($): Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1931-1940.

Marriages

• 1636-1930 On American Ancestors ($): Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1636-1930.
• 1636-1850 Rhode Island: Vital Records, 1636-1850 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1639-1932 Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1932 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
• 1931-1940 On American Ancestors ($): Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1931-1940.

Deaths

• 1636-1850 Rhode Island: Vital Records, 1636-1850 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
• 1636-1930 On American Ancestors ($): Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1636-1930.
• 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 ($)
• 1931-1940 On American Ancestors ($): Providence, RI: Alphabetical Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1931-1940.

Divorce

For more resources see:

Resources

For more County and State resources see:

Cemeteries

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

• Providence Cemeteries List at Find a Grave
• Providence Cemeteries at FamilySearch Catalog
• 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 Providence:

• 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

• Baptist

• Providence, RI: Catalog of the Members of the First Baptist Church at American Ancestors — index($)

• Catholic
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Congregationalist
• Episcopal
• Methodist
• Presbyterian
• Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Community of Christ)
• Society of Friends (Quakers)
  • Smithfield Monthly Meeting
  • Providence Monthly Meeting
• Unitarian-Universalist

City Directories

• 1861-1924 - Fold3 ($) has Providence City Directories 1861-1924 available online.
• 1895-1935 - Providence House Directories at Providence City Archives website - free. 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919-1920, 1921-1922, 1923-1924, 1925-1926, 1927-1928, 1929-1930, 1931-1932, 1933-1934, 1935.

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

There are several different kinds of land records available for Providence. The earliest records begin in 1636. Deeds and mortgages are available beginning in 1677.

Maps

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

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

• Rhode Island Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
• United States Military Records - Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Civil War, 1861-1865

For more Civil War Military Records see:

• Rhode Island Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865
• United States Military Records - Civil War, 1861-1865

World War I, 1917-1918

For more World War I Military Records see:

• Rhode Island Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918
• United States Military Records - World War I, 1917-1918

World War II, 1941-1945

For more World War II Military Records see:

• Rhode Island Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945
• United States Military Records - World War II, 1941-1945

Newspapers

• 1800-1802 - The Impartial Observer (Providence, R.I.) at Google News - free.

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)

Online Resources

• Thomas and Nicholas Harris of Providence, RI at American Ancestors — index & images ($)

Probate Records

• 1582-1932 Rhode Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
• Rhode Island Probate Records
• 1646-1899 Providence, RI: Index to Probate, 1646-1899 at American Ancestors — index($)
• Guardianship Records
• Intestate Records
• Will Records

Research Facilities

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
• North Dartmouth 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