RHODE ISLAND VITAL RECORDS

Books about Rhode Island

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Unless otherwise indicated, all books in this list are in sound, usable condition ("very good"), in the original cloth binding and are 8vo. (approximately 6" X 9" in size.) Most are not new; however, previous owners' names, bookplates, stamps and other marks of ownership are not noted unless such markings are disfiguring. Bindings on older books will usually show normal signs of wear and use relative to the age of the book. Excessive wear or damage is noted in the description. Books whose condition is above average are also noted.

601031 Vital Records of Rhode Island 1636-1850, First Series: Births, Marriages and Deaths, Volume 1-19 [lacks volumes 9, 20 and 21], by James N. Arnold. Published by the Narraganset Historical Publishing Company, Providence, RI, 1891-1910.  This set was acquired by its previous owner over time from a variety of sources. Some volumes are ex-library and are rebound (Volumes 2 and 3 have been bound together as have volumes 5 and 6); some volumes are in the original black cloth, and a few volumes have been covered with a canvas-type cloth. All volumes are 4to., and have up to 900 pages per volume. Conditions vary from very good to poor. See details and images below. Each volume has a map of Rhode Island (some in better condition than others).

The author of this massive compilation, James Newell Arnold (1844-1927), was an indefatigable documenter of Rhode Island’s genealogical past. In addition to abstracting births, marriages, and deaths found in town records, Arnold sought out church records, wills, and even newspapers. The first six volumes cover each Rhode Island county broken down by town; volume seven focuses on Quaker records and ministers; volumes eight through eleven contain abstracted church records; volume twelve includes the names of Revolutionary War soldiers and the beginning of newspaper records that continued to volume twenty-one. He attempted to cover all the cities and towns of Rhode Island from their founding until the beginning of civil registration in 1850. While the coverage varies between volumes, the Arnold set is generally considered to cover the period 1636 to 1850. However, some volumes have records as late as 1897.

New users should consult the notes in volume one (under the heading “Please Observe”) to understand the format. Each town has a separate surname-only index and separate pagination as well as a few details about the community. Each index contains three sections: “Names occurring in their natural order,” “Names occurring promiscuously,” and “Places mentioned in the text.”

The author presented names “as they stand on the record, when they are not too far wrong.” That means that he changed some spellings. To enable researchers to check listings against the original document, Arnold included the volume and page where each citation was found in the town records. Researchers searching for marriages need to be aware that the full citation only appears under the groom’s name; the bride’s entry contains just the name, date of the event, and volume and page of the record.

This mostly complete set is being offered “as is”, with all faults. While it has some cosmetic issues, it is still quite serviceable for the serious genealogist.

The set of 16 books $1200.00