Genealogy in the Ocean State

Genealogy in Rhode Island is unique, much like Rhode Island itself. For the smallest state with the longest name (the full name is "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations"), we have our share of quirks and weirdness. Quahogs, cabinets, grinders and Del's lemonade are all indigenous to the Ocean State. So are some fabulous resources for genealogists, if you know where to find them. We have almost 400 years of family history to delve into and explore, and I hope to acclimate folks to how things work and where to find the best resources here in "Rogue's Island." Some topics that I'll explore in future posts include repositories and libraries, societies, newspapers, court records, ethnic groups and other resources that are available to researchers tracking family history. I'll also be putting together a list of the best websites to explore Rhode Island genealogical data, stay tuned for more!