Rhode Island History: Difference between revisions

The following important events in the history of Rhode Island affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements:  

'''1636: '''Religious dissenters from [[Massachusetts|Massachusetts]] founded Providence. Settlements soon followed at Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick. Each town kept deed, probate, and vital records.  

'''1663:''' A royal charter created the United Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.  

'''1747:''' Rhode Island gained the towns of Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, and Warren from Massachusetts.  

'''1790:''' Rhode Island was the last of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the Constitution and become a state.  

'''1830s-1840s: '''As the factory system developed, thousands of foreign laborers began moving into Rhode Island.  

'''1861-1865: '''During the [[United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865|Civil War]], 25,000 men from Rhode Island served in the Union armed forces.  

'''1862:''' Rhode Island gained the town of East Providence and part of the town of Pawtucket from Massachusetts. Massachusetts received Fall River, which earlier had been the northern part of Tiverton.  

A helpful source for studying the history of Rhode Island is Edward Field, ed., ''State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the Century'', Three Volumes. (Boston, Massachusetts: Mason Publishing Co, 1902; Family History Library book 974.5 H2f; film 1033776; fiche 6046716).  

A bibliography of local histories for Rhode Island is in Roger Parks, ed., ''Rhode Island: A Bibliography of Its History'' (Hanover, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 1983; FHL book 974.5 H23r).  

[[Category:Rhode_Island]]