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Rhode Island Research Tips and Strategies

Rhode Island Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Rhode Island Background
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Local Research Resources

Purpose of Research Tips and Strategies Wiki Page

The Rhode Island Research Tips and Strategies page consists of links to specific research strategies for Rhode Island. It also contains general tips and other resources for finding your ancestors in this locality.

Rhode Island Research Strategies

Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Rhode Island:

Finding Rhode Island Birth, Marriage or Death Records

Finding Rhode Island Records

Rhode Island Statewide Databases

Rhode Island Research Process

Rhode Island Research Tips

These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Rhode Island:

Birth and Death information:

  • Statewide registration: Birth and Death records in Rhode Island on the state level start in 1853 and registration was generally complied with by 1915.[1]
  • Town Records: Town records starting as early as the 1630s included information about birth, marriage, and death.[2]
  • Access to records: See Rhode Island Vital Records for more information about birth, marriages, and deaths in Rhode Island.


Substitute Records:

  • Secondary source: Substitute records are used when primary sources do not exist for an event, such as birth, marriage, and deaths. Secondary sources list information about the event but they were not recorded at the time of the event and they are not an official record of the event.
  • Accuracy: Because the information about an event in substitute records was not the official recording of the event (such as, cemetery or obituary records) inaccuracy may occur. Use other substitute records to help verify information.
  • List of substitute records: See Rhode Island Substitute Records for more information.


Finding Parents:

  • Death records: Death records often include information about the deceased's birth and parents. Information was not always provided and the accuracy of the information was limited by the grieving relatives' memory.
  • Obituaries: Official obituaries can also include the names of parents and other family members. See Rhode Island Newspapers and Rhode Island Obituaries for more information.
  • Church records: Knowing the denomination of the church the family belonged to helps in locating information about the parents. See Rhode Island Church Records for more information.


Census Records:

  • Check all census years: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census to learn more about them and their family members. See Rhode Island Census Records for more information.
  • Clues to other records: There are clues in censuses regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records.
  • Finding families: Starting in 1850, all members of the household were listed in the census. By 1880, relationship to the head of household was added.

Further Rhode Island Research

References

  1. ↑ Rhode Island Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 21-22. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
  2. ↑ Rhode Island Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 21-22. (Accessed 20 Feb 2025). Online at: BYU University - Provo
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