Rhode Island

New England Indians

Tribal Territories Southern New England

It is lamentable to reflect that in the primitive dealings between the venturous Europeans and aborigines of America, the kindly welcome and the hospitable reception were the part of the savage, and treachery, kidnapping, and murder too frequently that of the civilized and nominally Christian visitor. It appears to have been matter of common custom among these unscrupulous adventurers to seize by force or fraud on the persons of their simple entertainers, and to carry them off as curiosities to the distant shores of Europe. Columbus, with kindly motives, brought several of the West Indian natives to the Spanish court; … Read more

Pequot War 1634-1638

In 1634 the the Pequot Tribe initiated peace negotiations with the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They wanted the English to re-establish trade and arbitrate a peace settlement with the Narragansetts. The Bay Colony responded with demands for exorbitant tribute (1000 fathoms of wampum) and the surrender of the killers, something the Pequots were not prepared to do. In the same year, John Stone was murdered by the Pequots on the Connecticut River. It may be that he was thought to be a Dutchman, and one of the murderers of Tatobem. Stone was known to the Bay Colony authorities as a privateer … Read more

Newport County, Rhode Island Census

1790 Newport County, Rhode Island Census Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1790 Newport County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1790 Census Index Surname A-G Surname H-S Surname T-Y Jamestown Town Little Compton Town Middletown Town Newport Town New Shoreham Town Portsmouth Town Tiverton Town Free 1790 Census Transcription Town of Newport, 1 of 2 Town of Newport, 2 of 2 Town of Portsmouth Town of Jamestown Town of Middletown Town of Tiverton Town of Little Compton Town of New Shoreham Free 1790 Census Images All Counties Hosted at Census Guide … Read more

Providence County, Rhode Island Census

  1790 Providence County, Rhode Island Census Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1790 Providence County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1790 Census Index Cranston Town Cumberland Town Foster Town Glocester Town Johnston Town North Providence Town Providence Town Scituate Town Smithfield Town Free 1790 Census Images All Counties Hosted at Census Guide 1790 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Providence County, Rhode Island Census Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1800 Providence County, Census (images and index) $ Hosted at Census Guide 1800 U.S. … Read more

Washington County, Rhode Island Census

1790 Washington County, Rhode Island Census Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1790 Washington County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1790 Census Index Charlestown Town Exeter Town Hopkinton Town North Kingstown Town Richmond Town South Kingstown Town Westerly Town Free 1790 Census Images All Counties Hosted at Census Guide 1790 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Washington County, Rhode Island Census Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1800 Washington County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1800 Census Index Index to Online Images Hosted at … Read more

Bristol County, Rhode Island Census

1790 Bristol County, Rhode Island Census Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1790 Bristol County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1790 Census Index Barrington Town Bristol Town Warren Town Free 1790 Census Transcription Barrington Town, Heads of Families Bristol Town, Heads of Families Warren Town, Heads of Families Free 1790 Census Images All Counties Hosted at Census Guide 1790 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Bristol County, Rhode Island Census Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1800 Bristol County, Census (images and index) $ Hosted … Read more

Kent County, Rhode Island Census

1774 Kent County, Rhode Island State Census Free 1774 Census Index Coventry Town East Greenwich Town Warwick Town West Greenwich Town 1790 Kent County, Rhode Island Census Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial 1790 Kent County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1790 Census Index Coventry Town East Greenwich Town Warwick Town West Greenwich Town Free 1790 Census Images All Counties Hosted at Census Guide 1790 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Kent County, Rhode Island Census Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial  1800 Kent County, … Read more

Rhode Island Census Records

Rhode Island was one of the original thirteen colonies organized into a state. It’s county structure has remained the same since it’s colonial days, allowing each of the counties to have been enumerated every 10 years since 1790. Rhode Island is also unique in that it has also performed state enumerations between 1865 and 1935. Unfortunately, one of the most pivotal census, the 1895 (because it would help close the gap on information lost from the 1890 federal census) is missing. Only the 1915 Rhode Island state census has been placed online and is available within the county links below. … Read more

Rhode Island Cemetery Records

Rhode Island Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the Rhode Island county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. There is presently a massive ongoing effort by various societies to record all of Rhode Island cemeteries into one large database. This is a very successful project covering most of the cemeteries in Rhode Island. Any cemetery listed below, not linked to, can be searched using the following link.  

Biography of Isaac T. Goodnow

Isaac T. Goodnow. There are certain names that should be preserved in the annals of Kansas with testimonials of pride and admiration, and one of these is Isaac T. Goodnow, who was a member of a notable group of liberty-loving men whose efforts had much to do with making Kansas a free state and opening the way for her to become the great and prosperous commonwealth she is now. He assisted in the founding of educational and religious institutions, he co-operated with others for business expansion and in every way during a long and singularly useful life displayed those qualities … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles H. Mason

HON. CHARLES H. MASON. – Mr. Mason was born at Fort Washington, on the Potomac river, Maryland, in 1830. At the age of seven, with his widowed mother, he removed to Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated in 1850 with distinguished honors at Brown University, and was admitted to the bar of Rhode Island in 1851. On the election of President Pierce, he was recommended by the Rhode Island bar for the office of United States district attorney for that state. On the declination of the secretaryship of Washington Territory by Major Farquaharson, in September, 1853, Mr. Mason received the appointment … Read more

Biography of H. McDonald

H. McDONALD – Mr. McDonald, who arrived in San Francisco in August, 1849, in the ship Hopewell of Warren, Rhode Island, and reached Portland the first time in August, 1850, on the brig Joaquina of San Francisco, was one of the earliest residents of Portland and of our state, and in the capacity of architect and stair-builder has done some of the most creditable work on our coast. One of his more recent successes, and something of a test of his skill, were the plans and specifications for the buildings for the Indian school at Chemawa, which were preferred to … Read more

Biography of William H. McDonald

WM. H. McDONALD – Mr. McDonald, long known as purser on the old Oregon Steam navigation Company’s steamers, and now cashier of the La Grande National Bank, is one of the Oregon educated men who are a credit to the state. He is the son of Mr. H. McDonald, the well-known architect and pioneer, and was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1848, coming around Cape Horn on the clipper Hurricane in 1851. His education was gained at the Portland Academy at the Pacific University of Forest Grove, and the Willamette University of Salem. While still young, he entered the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Captain Edward Richmond

(II) Captain Edward Richmond, son of John Richmond, was born about 1632. He married (first) Abigail, daughter of James Davis, and (second) Amy, daughter of Governor Henry and Elizabeth Bull. He died in November, 1696. He had a share in Westerly, Rhode Island, 1661. He was general solicitor in 1667-69-70-72; was lieutenant in 1676, and he and his men captured seven Indians in King Philip’s war; clerk of a court martial that condemned to death some Indians; was one of the grantees of East Greenwich in 1677; attorney-general 1677-78-79-80; deputy 1678-79; selectman, 1683-85-89-90; captain in 1690. He was a member … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Colonel Silvester Richmond

(III) Colonel Silvester Richmond, son of Captain Edward Richmond, was born at Little Compton, formerly Dartmouth, Massachusetts, now (1910) Rhode Island, in 1672. He married, in 1693, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Pabodie or Peabody) Rogers, granddaughter of John Rogers, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, great-granddaughter of John and Priscilla (Molines or Mullins) Alden, who came in the “Mayflower.” She was born in 1672, and died October 23, 1724. He married (second), February 18, 1728, Deborah, widow of Thomas Loring, and daughter of John and Sarah (Hawks) Cushing. She was born in September, 1674. He died November 20, 17$4, and his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge William Richmond

(IV) Judge William Richmond, son of Colonel Silvester Richmond, was born in Little Compton, October 10, 1694; married, July 8, 1720, Anna Gray, born January 29, 1702, died at Bristol, Rhode Island, October 9, 1762. He died February 22, 1770. She was a daughter of Thomas and Anna Gray. He was one of the assistants of the governor, 1753-55; judge; town clerk, 1731. Children, born at Little Compton: Barzillai, April 13, 1721; Ephraim, May 5, 1723; Elizabeth, February 26, 1725; William, August 20, 1727; Perez, mentioned elsewhere; Ichabod, October 18, 1731; Thomas, December 13, 1733; Mary, December 26, 1735; Sarah, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge Perez Richmond

(V) Judge Perez Richmond, son of judge William Richmond, was born at Little Compton, October 13, 1728-29, and died November 23, 1800-01. He married, February 3, 1754, Mercy Church, born September 18, 1734, died October 24, 1813, daughter of Thomas and Edith (Woodman) Church. He was appointed to enlist minutemen in Little Compton, June, 1775. He held various town offices, and was a leading and influential citizen; auditor of town accounts; moderator of town meetings six years; judge of probate court, and president of the town council. He was a mild old gentleman, fond of children and popular. He lived … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Hathaway

(VI) Isaac (2), son or nephew of Isaac (1) Hathaway, was born October 28, 1955, in Rhode Island. He was one of the pioneers in Farmington, New York, and was doubtless with the settlers who went from Rhode Island to Adams, Massachusetts, and thence to central New York after the revolution. He married, in 1784, Jemima Comstock, born 1760, daughter of Nathan Comstock, born 1735, granddaughter of John, son of Samuel. Soon after their marriage his wife rode on horseback from Rhode Island, using a poplar sprout for a whip, and she planted it near the log house in which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Francis Brayton

Francis Brayton, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1612, and settled in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he was received as an inhabitant and propounded for a lot of land in 1643. In 1655 he was freeman; in 1662-63, commissioner; in 1669-70-71-79-84, deputy, in 1688, a member of the grand jury. August 10, 1667 he enlisted in a troop of horse; January 6, 1671 he made an agreement with his son-in-law, Joseph Davol. by which the latter in behalf of his daughter, Mary Davol, was to pay her five pounds, at fifteen years of age, said sum to be … Read more