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Rhode Island Marriage, Death, Birth Records

Although many vital events before 1853 were not recorded, those that were are fairly easy to locate. The general assembly mandated that marriage intentions be recorded beginning in 1647, although the law was not enforced. More often, marriages were reported by ministers to town clerks. Births were often recorded in family groups at different times in a family's life. Not all births were recorded even when some in the family were. The volumes can usually be located at major research libraries holding New England resources and are in the FHL collection. Births, deaths, and marriages (both bride and groom listed separately) are recorded from the earliest settlement to 1850 and are organized according to county and town. More information is often given under the groom's entry. Some of the rest of the volumes contain vital events from sources other than the town records (see Church Records), although individual entries are documented, making it possible to check the original source. Towns, for the most part, still hold all of these originals in the clerk's office (see Town Resources).

Arnold stops in 1850, and statewide reporting did not begin until 1853. For the three years, 1850–53, vital events must be searched for in town records.

Copies of vital events recorded in towns beginning in 1853 were sent to the Rhode Island Division of Vital Statistics, Department of Health, Cannon Building, Room 101, 75 Davis Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02908. The records for this time period have been stored at the Records Center, 1 Capitol Hill, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, although births are still at the Health Department along with the indexes for both births and deaths. There are computerized indexes to marriages and deaths to 1900 at the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Using probates and gravestones, Beaman supplements Arnold with information on vital events not found in the town's vital records. This is an alphabetical arrangement for an entire county, with the town of residence indicated. Washington, Newport, and Kent counties are included in what has already been published.

Vital records for Providence from 1850–1945 are in print in thirty-two volumes, usually available at research centers with good New England collections or on microfilm.

Divorces were granted through all of the courts. Those granted before 1962 are at the various county superior courts. After 1962 records can be obtained—with some restrictions—from Family Court, 22 Hayes Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02908, or by writing the Supreme Court Judicial Records Center (see Court Records).

Choose A County in Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Vital Records Office, Rhode Island Dept of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Rm. 101, Providence, RI 02908-5097; (401) 222-2811. It has:

Event: Birth and Marriage 1899 to present; Cost of copy: $15.00
Event: Death 1949 to present; Cost of copy: $15.00

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 or Order Birth and Death Records Online using Vital Chek Services! .

Rhode Island State Archives, 337 Westminster Street, Providence, RI, 02903; The repository maintains the original statewide manuscript filings for birth and marriage for the period 1852 - 1898; deaths 1853 - 1948. Alphabetical indices for these records include 1852 - 1900 (birth and marriage); 1853 - 1945 (deaths). Additionally, there are also original reported out-of-state deaths recordings for the period 1900 - 1948 (alphabetical index available) and records of delayed birth filings, 1846 - 1898 (index available). Aside from these original manuscripts the archives also maintains an extensive collection of pre-1852, municipal vital record filings (microfilm copies) dating from the earliest recordings in Providence, Westerly, Protsmouth, etc.

Family History Center, Church Latter Day Saints, 1000 Narragansett Blvd, Warwick RI, 02888; (401) 463-8150; The Family History Center has all vital records on microfilm from the colonial times to the present except divorce records, Arnold's Vital Record of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Historical Society, 121 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906, (401)331-8575. It has Event: Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce 1853 - ~1900; Cost of copy: Varies

Event: Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce since colonial periods
Cost of copy: Varies
Remarks: contact town clerk's office in the town where the event occurred

Event: Divorce prior to 1962
Cost of copy: Contact Court
Remarks: Providence College Archives, Providence, RI

Event: Divorce 1962 to present
Cost of copy: Contact Court
Remarks: Divorces were granted through all of the courts. Those granted before 1962 are at the various county superior courts. After 1962 records can be obtained-with some restrictions-from Family Court, Garrahy Judicial Complex, 1 Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903

Copies of vital events recorded in towns beginning in 1853 were sent to the Rhode Island Division of Vital Statistics. The records for this time period have been stored at the Records Center, although births are still at the Health Department along with the indexes for both births and deaths. There are computerized indexes to marriages and deaths to 1900 at the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Click Here to Search Rhode Island Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Below is a list of online resources for Rhode Island Vital Records.