Providence County, Rhode Island

Societies and Family History Resources ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣ County Genealogy Links

Providence County was established on June 22, 1703 as an Original County

The Providence County Seat is situated in Providence.

Areas adjoining Providence County are Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Kent County, Windham County, Connecticut, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Providence County vital records can be found at the Rhode Island Office of Vital Records which has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Rhode Island for current fees and application process. Please be advised that in most cases you will receive your records more quickly from the City and Town locations than from the State Office

You can search online for Providence County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Rhode Island Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.

Providence County includes Federal Census Schedules to guide in looking into your family tree. Federal government Population Schedules are available for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Providence Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Providence Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Providence Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890. You will discover free down loadable in addition to printable census forms to aid with your research.

Providence County Society and Family History Resources

A list of Providence County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• Rhode Island Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
• Rhode Island State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Audubon Society of Rhode Island, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917; TEL: (401) 949-5454
• Blackstone Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 125, 1873 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865; TEL: (401) 725-2847
• Burrillville Historical and Preservation Society, Box 93, Old Bridgeton School, 16 Laurel Hill Avenue, Pascoag, RI 02859; TEL: (401) 568-8534
• Cranston Historical Society, 1351 Cranston St, Cranston, RI 02920; ph: 401-944-9226
• East Providence Historical Society and Museum, P.O. Box 4774, Hunts Mills Road, East Providence, RI 02916; TEL: (401) 438-1750
• Elizabeth J. Johnson Pawtucket History Research Center, 30 Fruit St., Pawtucket, RI 02860; TEL (401) 725-2490
• Foster Preservation Society, Box 51, Foster Police Station, Howard Hill Road, Foster, RI 02825; TEL: (401) 647-2178
• Glocester Heritage Society, 1181 Main St., P.O. Box 269, Chepachet, RI 02814; 401-568-8967
• Historical Society of Smithfield, 220 Stillwater Road, Smithfield, RI 02917; TEL: (401) 231-7363
• Johnston Historical Society, 101 Putnam Pike Johnston, RI 02919; TEL: (401) 231-3380
• North Smithfield Heritage Association, c/o John J. Faricy, President. 802 Pound Hill Road, North Smithfield, RI 02896; Street address: 190 School Street, North Smithfield, RI 02896; TEL: (401) 766-0701
• Providence City Archives, City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903; (401) 421-7740; Early Providence Vital Records
• Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, 65 Weybosset Street, 2nd floor, Suite 29, Providence, RI 02903; TEL: (401) 751-3490
• Rhode Island State Library, State House, 2nd floor, Providence, RI 02903; Phone: (401) 222-2473
• Rhode Island Historical Society Library, 121 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906; TEL: (401) 273-8107
• Woonsocket Historical and Preservation Society, 42 South Main Street, Garden Level, Woonsocket, RI 02895; TEL: (401) 356-0067
• Providence County, Rhode Island Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Providence County, Rhode Island Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
• USGenWeb Archives for Providence County (usgwarchives.net)

Providence County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers frequently overlook the importance of Providence County court, probate, and land files as a resource of genealogy information. Hidden away in Rhode Island courthouses and archives everywhere are often the ambitions and frustrations of the many Rhode Island men and women.

The chances are very good that your chosen ancestors and forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least a number of elements of their lives in the Providence County court records. Even if your forebears is not brought up in a Court case, take into consideration all of the other methods that could have lead to him or her appearing in court records.

• Burrillville Town Clerk
• Central Falls Town Clerk
• Cranston Town Clerk
• Cumberland Town Clerk
• East Providence Town Clerk
• Foster Town Clerk
• Glocester Town Clerk
• Johnston Town Clerk
• Lincoln Town Clerk
• North Providence Town Clerk
• North Smithfield Town Clerk
• Pawtucket Town Clerk
• The City of Providence Town Clerk
• Scituate Town Clerk
• Smithfield Town Clerk
• Woonsocket Town Clerk

Providence County Links

The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources related to Providence County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a cost. This is simply a directory that has been gathered or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to furnish your own most popular Providence County genealogy or family history associated sites.

Providence Co. RI Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Rhode Island Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Rhode island historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Rhode Island (1732–1921) (genealogybank.com)
• Semi-centennial of the Providence journal : January 3, 1870.  (search.ancestry.com)
• Providence County, Rhode Island Books (amazon.com)
• Search Rhode Island Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
• Providence County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)

Providence Co. RI Birth, Marriage & Death Records

• Rhode Island Vital Records Research Guide
• Rhode Island, Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950 (familysearch.org)
• Rhode Island, Marriages, 1724-1916 (familysearch.org)
• Rhode Island, Births and Christenings, 1600-1914 (familysearch.org)
• Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com)

Providence Co. RI Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

• Rhode Island Court Records Research Guide
• The early records of the town of Providence  (search.ancestry.com)
• Providence Early Town Records  (search.ancestry.com)
• List of persons, copartnerships, and corporations assessed in the city tax ordered by the city council of the city of Providence  (search.ancestry.com)
• A list of persons assessed in the city tax of $90,170 58  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tax lists of the town of Providence : during the administration of Sir Edmund Andros and his council, 1686-1689 : together with  (search.ancestry.com)
• Index to The early records of the town of Providence, volumes I- XXI : containing also a summary of the contents of the volumes  (search.ancestry.com)
• BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov)

Providence Co. RI Census Records

• Rhode Island Census Records Research Guide
• Providence County, RI Census Records Links
• State Census Records (familysearch.org) 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935
• Rhode Island Census, 1740-1890  (search.ancestry.com)
• Providence County, RI Census QuickFacts

Providence Co. RI Cemeteries & Church Records

• Rhode Island Cemetery Research Guide
• Providence Co., Rhode Island Graves (findagrave.com)
• Providence County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Providence Co., Rhode Island Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Providence County, Rhode Island
• Providence Co., Rhode Island Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Rhode Island Church & Bible Research Guide
• Topographic Church List and Map for Providence County, Rhode Island
• Providence County, Rhode Island Church Books (amazon.com)

Providence Co. RI Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Genealogies of Rhode Island Families, Vol. I  (search.ancestry.com)
• Seventeenth century place-names of Providence plantations  (search.ancestry.com)
• Rhode Island Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Providence Co. RI General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Rhode Island
• Providence County, Rhode Island Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• A Modern city : Providence, Rhode Island and its activities  (search.ancestry.com)
• King’s pocket-book of Providence, R.I.  (search.ancestry.com)
• History of Providence County, Rhode Island  (search.ancestry.com)
• Annals of the town of Providence : from its first settlement to the organization of the city government in June, 1832  (search.ancestry.com)
• Laphams in America : thirteen thousand descendents including descendents of John from Devonshire, England, to Providence, R.I.,  (search.ancestry.com)
• An illustrated history of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and vicinity : a narrative of the growth and evolution of the community  (search.ancestry.com)
• Providence County, Rhode Island Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Providence Co. RI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Providence County, Rhode Island (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Rhode Island – Counties – Providence (cyndislist.com)
• Providence County Rhode Island (genealogytrails.com)
• Providence Co. RIGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Providence County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Providence Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Providence Co. RI Immigration & Naturalization

• See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for Rhode Island
• Register of Seamen’s Protection Certificates from the Providence, Rhode Island Customs District, 1796-1870  (search.ancestry.com)

Providence Co. RI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Rhode Island Links and Information
• 1895 Providence County Map (livgenmi.com)

Providence Co. RI Military Records

• Rhode Island Military Records Research Guide
• Proceedings at the dedication of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Providence : to which is appended a list of the decea  (search.ancestry.com)
• Rhode Island Military Records (fold3.com) gives you access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Rhode Island men and women which served. Great for Providence County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.

Providence Co. RI Schools & Directories

• Providence, Rhode Island Directory, 1890  (search.ancestry.com)
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island Directories, 1890-92  (search.ancestry.com)
• Woonsocket, Rhode Island Directories, 1890-93  (search.ancestry.com)
• Johnston, Rhode Island Directory, 1892  (search.ancestry.com)
• Rhode Island City Directories  (search.ancestry.com)
• Directory of churches and religious organizations of Rhode Island  (search.ancestry.com)