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Step-by-Step Rhode Island Research, 1880-Present



Step-by-Step Rhode Island
Research 1880--to the present
1. Contact living relatives.
2. Online census records.
3. Births, marriages, and deaths online.
4. Obituary, cemetery and Social Security records online.
5. Military records online.
6. Church records.
7. Wills and probate.
8. Immigration records.
9. Printed local histories or biographies.
10. Historical or genealogical societies.
11. FamilySearch tools.
12. County records.


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Some online records have restrictions, due to contractual agreements, allowing them to be used only at FamilySearch Centers or FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This pop-up warning has links to lists of addresses of the many affiliate libraries that are available throughout the world.

Subscription websites such as Ancestry.com, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage and many others offer complimentary service at these affiliate libraries and at most local libraries.

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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.

Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?

In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :

What documents should be collected or copied?

Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

  • Announcements of births, weddings,
    and anniversaries
  • Baby and wedding books
  • Certificates
  • Deeds, and property records
  • Family Bibles
  • Family reunion notices and records
  • Fraternal or society records
  • Insurance policies
  • Journals and diaries
  • Letters and cards
  • Licenses (business, marriage,
    fishing, driving)
  • Naturalization documents
  • Newspaper clippings and obituaries
  • Medical records
  • Military service and pension documents
  • Occupational awards
  • Passports
  • Personal histories and biographies
  • Photograph albums
  • Printed Notices and Announcements
  • Programs (graduation, award ceremonies, funerals)
  • School records
  • Scrapbooks
  • Wills and trusts


Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.

  • A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
  • For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
  • Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
  • Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.

Using clues to lead to census record searches.

This obituary clipping, found in old home papers, gives clues as to when and where to begin searching census records for the Grant family.

  • Apparently, Ralph W. Grant and Hazel Skinner are possibly natives of Valley Falls, Pawtucket, or Central Falls, Rhode Island, even though she died in New Jersey.
  • The family chose to hold the funeral in Rhode Island and to bury her there.
  • She was 50 years old at the time of death, but the clipping has no date. To be 50 years old, she had to have been born in 1960 or earlier.
  • The first step is to search for Ralph W. Grant and wife, Hazel, in the 1940 census, as it is the most recent census available. They could be in New Jersey or Rhode Island.
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Although Hazel Grant is living in Clifton, New Jersey, in 1940, the town where she died, the census states that she was born in Rhode Island.

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In 1930 in Clifton, New Jersey, Ralph W. Grant is still alive, with his wife, Hazel Grant. He was also born in Rhode Island

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Finding the next earlier generation.



Indexes did not find the family in the 1925 or 1920 census, but in 1915, 1910, and 1900, find Ralph W. Grant is living in the home of his parents, William S. and Mary H. Grant. He was born in April 1894, in Rhode Island. Throughout this time period, the family is living in Central Falls, Rhode Island, as predicted.

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Finding yet another earlier generation.

Here is William S. Grant in 1880 and 1875 living with his parents Joseph J. and Lydia B. Grant in Lincoln, Providence, Rhode Island, about 3.5 miles from Central Falls.

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Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.

Rhode Island State Censuses

Year Type of Census Links
1935 State, all household members at Rhode Island, State Census 1935

at Ancestry

1925 state, all household members at Rhode Island, State Census, 1925

at Ancestry

1915 State, all household members at Rhode Island, State Census, 1915

at Ancestry

1905 State. all household members at Rhode Island, State Census, 1905
1885 State, all household members at Rhode Island, State Census 1885

at Ancestry

1875 State, all household members at Ancestry
1865 State, all household members at Ancestry
1774 State, head of household at Ancestry

For more information, see Rhode Island Census and United States Census.

Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.

States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.

  • In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
  • A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
  • A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.


Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.

Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.

Example of indexed birth entry.
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Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.

Finding marriage records can:

  • establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
  • find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.



Example of marriage index including parents of the bride and groom.

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Using the census clues to lead to a death certificate.

Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:

  • birth date and place of the deceased
  • maiden name of the wife
  • names of the deceased's parents
  • birth places of the deceased's parents.



Example of death record index showing parents of the deceased.

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The examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. In some cases, the image of the original is found online. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate in other cases.
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Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.

How to Find the Records

There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:

  • online databases
  • writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
  • purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov

Online databases, usually indexes, with some images

Also, see How to Find Rhode Island Birth Records.

Also, see How to Find Rhode Island Marriage Records.

Also, see How to Find Rhode Island Death Records.


Birth County Marriages Death
Earliest 1630s 1630s 1630s
Statewide Registration 1853 1853 1853
General Compliance 1915 1915 1915

Town Clerk Records

Vital records were first kept in Rhode Island from about 1630. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1853. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1915.

Order Certificates from Rhode Island Vital Records Department.

Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Rhode Island, see How to Find Rhode Island Birth Records, How to Find Rhode Island Marriage Records, and How to Find Rhode Island Death Records.

Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.

There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Example of an obituary.


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Example of a FindAGrave Record.


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Example of a Social Security Record.


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Obituary Collections

Cemeteries

For more information, see Rhode Island Obituaries and Rhode Island Cemeteries.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.

There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.

Example of a World War I draft card.
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Example of a World War II draft card.
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Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.



For more information and additional collections, see Rhode Island Military Records.

Step 6: Look for church records online.

Church records function as vital records.

  • An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
  • Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
  • Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.

Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.

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Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.


FamilySearch

Ancestry.com

Findmypast

Other Collections

Step 7: Search for online wills and probate packets.

  • County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
  • In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
  • Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.


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Search these indexes and images for probate records.



Probate Information in County Wiki Articles

Each Rhode Island county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Rhode Island Counties

For more information, see Rhode Island Probate Records and United States Probate Records.

Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.

The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.


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Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.



Rhode Island Immigration Records

Rhode Island Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

For more information, see Rhode Island Emigration and Immigration and Rhode Island Naturalization and Citizenship.

Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.

Local Histories

  • Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
  • Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Rhode Island; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

  • Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
  • In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
  • A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections

  • American Biographical Library at Ancestry — index ($)
  • Biographical Encyclopaedia of Connecticut and Rhode Island of the Nineteenth Century, New York: Metropolitan Publishing and Engraving Co., 1881. Online at: HathiTrust
  • County and Town Histories, Rhode Island at LearnWebSkills — index & images
  • Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island; Genealogical Records and Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Old Families, Chicago: J. H. Beers and Co., 1908. Online at: Vol. 1, Pt. 1 - HathiTrust; Vol. 1, Pt. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 2 - HathiTrust; Vol. 3 - HathiTrust
  • The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island, Providence: National Biographical Publishing Co., 1881. Online at: HathiTrust

Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.

  • Historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
  • Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
  • Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the area.
  • Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia.
  • Find the society on the internet, and they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, one of their members can be hired to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.

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Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.

Historical Images

Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.


Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records

Search any other online records listed in Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Rhode Island Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.


Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Rhode Island.

This article focused more on Rhode Island state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Rhode Island. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.

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