Arnold’s Rhode Island Vital Records through 1850
Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, First Series: Births, Marriages and Deaths is a series of 21 volumes compiled by James N. Arnold. These books were published prior to 1923 and are no longer under copyright.
The volumes have been digitized and I have managed to find all of them available for free on the internet. Some of the copies are poor quality, however, they may be better than nothing if you are far from a library that holds these. I own a couple of these on paper so if you get stuck with an unreadable page, or, if you find another copy online that is clearer, please leave a comment. The links, below, will download the books from the sites that are hosting them. Google Books require a “captcha” first.
Arnold was sometimes photographed with his crutches. 3-59, “Photographs, James N. Arnold”, James N. Arnold Collection, Rhode Island Collection, Providence Public Library.
Here are the volumes linked from where they can be downloaded. IF you have the Firefox browser, the pdf may try to preview within the browser – something that is slow and faulty for a large book. To change that setting and open all pdf’s in Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to TOOLS – OPTIONS – scroll down to Portable Document Format and use the pull down to choose Acrobat Reader.
Tips for using “Arnold”
- For volumes 1 – 6, pagination begins with each town SECTION, so for a citation, you need to cite the volume AND section, plus page; for the later volumes, volume and page are enough.
- For marriages, the bulk of the information is given under the male name, so when a female name is located, check the male name as well.
- Many vital events in Rhode Island were NEVER recorded by the town before 1851; it’s not that the records are lost, but that the families did not have the event recorded. In Arnold’s own words:
The compiler believes that not more than a quarter of what should have been placed on the Records has been placed there from the year 1790 to 1850. Before that time probably more than half of the matter was recorded. Vital Record of Rhode Island, vol. 1, v.
- Remember, ultimately, Arnold created not vital records but an INDEX to vital records; use these volumes to seek the original record book (or images of the original pages).
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.1 (opens the pdf link to the FamilySearch.org download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 1 contains:
- Vol. 1, Part I. WARWICK Marriages (p. 1-136), Births and deaths (p. 137-218)
- Vol. 1, Part II. EAST GREENWICH Marriages (p. 1-93), Births and deaths (p. 94-173)
- Vol. 1, Part III. WEST GREENWICH Marriages (p. 1 – 59), Births and deaths (p. 60-104)
- Vol. 1, Part IV. COVENTRY Marriages (p. 1-60), Births and deaths (p. 61-96)
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.2 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 2 contains:
- Vol. 2, Part I. PROVIDENCE Marriages (p. 1 – 206) Births (p. 207-259), Deaths (p. 260-278)
- Vol. 2, Part II. CRANSTON Marriages (p. 5-29), Births and deaths (p. 30-36)
- Vol. 2, Part III, JOHNSTON Marriages (p. 5-20), Births and deaths (p. 21-30)
- Vol. 2, Part IV, NORTH PROVIDENCE Marriages (p. 5-45), Births and deaths (p. 46-53)
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.3 (opens the pdf link to the FamilySearch download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 3 contains:
- Vol. 3, Part I. GLOCESTER Marriages (p. 5-42), Births and deaths (p. 43-68)
- Vol. 3, Part II. BURRILVILLE Marriages (p. 5-16), Births and deaths (p. 17-23)
- Vol. 3, Part III. SCITUATE Marriages (p. 5-36), Births and deaths (p. 37-52)
- Vol. 3, Part IV. FOSTER Marriages (p. 5-32), Births and deaths (p. 33-42)
- Vol. 3, Part V. CUMBERLAND Marriages (p. 5-71), Births and deaths (p. 72-135)
- Vol. 3, Part VI. SMITHFIELD Marriages (p. 5-83), Births and deaths (p. 84-123)
Title page, Vital Record of Rhode Island, volume 3
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.4 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 4 contains:
- Vol. 4, Part I. PORTSMOUTH Marriages (p. 3-48), Births and deaths (p. 49-105)
- Vol. 4, Part II. NEWPORT Marriages (p. 3-79), Births and deaths (p. 80-124)
- Vol. 4, Part III. MIDDLETOWN Marriages (p. 5-20), Births and deaths (p. 21-42)
- Vol. 4, Part IV. NEW SHOREHAM Marriages (p. 7-21), Births and deaths (p. 22-37) See also corrections and additions ON THIS SHEET.
- Vol. 4, Part V. JAMESTOWN Marriages (p. 5-15), Births and deaths (p. 16-30)
- Vol. 4, Part VI. LITTLE COMPTON Intention and Marriages (p. 5-75), Births and deaths (p. 76-200)
- Vol. 4, Part VII. TIVERTON Intentions and Marriages (p. 5-58 [58 is mis-numbered as 68]), Births and deaths (p. 59-117)
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.5 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 5 contains:
- Vol. 5, Part I. NORTH KINGSTOWN Marriages (p. 5-52), Births and deaths (p. 53-112)
- Vol. 5, Part II. SOUTH KINGSTOWN Marriages (p. 5-36), Births (p. 37-60) Deaths (p. 61-63)
- Vol. 5, Part III. EXETER Marriages (p. 5-37), Births and deaths (p. 38-64)
- Vol. 5, Part IV. WESTERLY Marriages (p. 5-71), Births and deaths (p. 72-146)
- Vol. 5, Part V. CHARLESTOWN Marriages (p. 5-16), Births and deaths (p. 17-28)
- Vol. 5, Part VI. RICHMOND Marriages (p. 5-22), Births and deaths (p. 23-36)
- Vol. 5, Part VII. HOPKINTON Marriages (p. 5-29), Births and deaths (p. 30-54)
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.6 (opens the pdf link to the FamilySearch.org download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 6 contains:
- Vol. 6, Part I. BRISTOL Intention and marriages (p. 5-60), Births (p. 61-113), Deaths (p. 114-175)
- Vol. 6, Part II. WARREN Marriages (p. 5-42), Births (p. 43-96), Deaths(p. 97-101)
- Vol. 6, Part III. BARRINGTON Intentions and marriages (p. 5-19), Births and deaths (p. 20-38)
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.7 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 7 contains:
- Rhode Island Friends, p. 1
- Narragansett Friends, p. 131
- Smithfield Friends, p. 160
- Kings Towne Friends, p. 202
- Providence Friends, p. 235
- Swansey Friends p. 277
- MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
- Rev. Gardiner Thurston’s Marriages, p. 330
- Elder John Gorton’s Marriages, p. 375
- Elder Samuel Littlefield’s Marriages, p. 394
- Rev. James Wilson’s Publishments and Marriages, p. 406
- Rev. Stephen Gano’s Marriages, p. 476
- Rev. Nathan B. Crocker’s Marriages, p. 514
- Elder James A. McKensie’s Marriages, p. 525
- Rev. Thomas Sheperd’s Marriages, p. 586
- The United Brethren, BMD, p. 616.
- Elder James Wilson’s Record of Deaths, p. 620
- The Sabbattarian Church of Newport, p. 623
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.8 (opens the pdf link to the Google Books download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 8 contains:
- BARRINGTON Congregational Church, p. 69
- BRISTOL
- Congregational Church, p. 239
- Dr. Shepard’s record of deaths, 1834-1857, p. 481
- First Baptist Church, p. 515
- Rev. Henry Wight’s Records, p. 270
- St Michaels Church (Episcopal), p. 145
- State Street Methodist Church, p. 565
- LITTLE COMPTON United Congregational Church records, p. 1
- NEWPORT
- Dr. Ezra Styles’ Record, p. 430
- First Congregational Church, p. 400
- Second Congregational Church, p. 439
- NORTH KINGSTOWN First Baptist Church, p. 598
- SOUTH KINGSTOWN First Baptist Church, p. 616
- TIVERTON
- Congregational Church, p. 49
- Free Baptist Church, p. 495
- WAKEFIELD Church of the Ascension, p. 577
- WARREN
- First Baptist Church, p. 531
- St Marks Church (Episcopal), p. 95
- Methodist Church, p. 559
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.9 (opens the pdf link to the Google Books download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 9 contains:
- SEEKONK
- Marriages and Intentions, 1
- Intentions, 147
- Births, 189
- Deaths, 247
- PAWTUCKET
- Marriages and Intentions, 297
- Births, 371
- Deaths, 421
- Newman Congregational Church
- Membership, 459
- Baptisms, 491
- Marriages, 529
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.10 (opens the pdf link to Family History Books (familysearch.org) for immediate download download).
Volume 10 contains:
- BARRINGTON First Congregational Church
- Marriages, 1728-1740, p. 231
- Baptisms, 1728-1740, p. 235
- Members in Full Communion, 1728-1740 p. 241
- Owned the Covenant, p. 243
- COVENTRY Maple Root Baptist Church, p. 245
- CRANSTON Marriages performed by Rev. Otis W. Potter, 1833-1852, p. 299
- EAST GREENWICH Third Six Principle Baptist Church of East Greenwich, 291
- EAST PROVIDENCE First Baptist Church , p. 117
- EXETER Baptist Church, p. 399
- HOPKINTON First Sabbatarian Church to 1785. p. 93
- NARRAGANSETT St. Paul’s Church , 1718-1775, p. 333
- NEWPORT Trinity Church , p. 427
- Marriages, p. 433
- Births and Baptisms, p. 477
- Deaths and Burials, p. 537
- NORTH KINGSTOWN, Six Principle Baptist Church of North Kingstown
- Elder Albro’s Covenant, p. 285
- Elder Wightman’s Covenant, p. 287
- Elder Pendleton’s Covenant, p. 289
- Present Membership, p. 290
- PAWTUCKET
- Intentions and Publishments, 1828 to 1843, p. 1
- Marriages, 1828 to 1843, p. 43
- Births, p. 61
- Marriages performed by Rev. David Benedict, p. 310
- PROVIDENCE
- First Congregational Church Marriages, p. 155, Deaths, p. 177
- Marriages of King Church (now St. John’s) , p. 135, Burials, p. 147
- Westminster Congregational Church, Marriages, p. 185, Deaths, p. 191
- Congregational Church, west side of river, Marriages, p. 197, Deaths, p. 227
- RICHMOND Marriages performed by Edward Perry-Justice of Peace, p. 305
- SMITHFIELD Second Freewill Baptist Church, p. 297
- SOUTH KINGSTOWN
- Narragansett Baptist Church , p. 545
- Queen’s River Baptist Church , p. 387
- WEST GREENWICH West Greenwich and Exeter Union Church, Baptist, p. 279
- WESTPORT
- Record of Friend’s Marriages, 63
- Births and Deaths, 75
- WICKFORD First Baptist Church, p. 553
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.11 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 11 contains:
- CHARLESTOWN, First Baptist Church, Cross Mills, p. 261
- EAST GREENWICH
- Baptist Church, p. 437
- Methodist-Episcopal Church, p. 457
- St. Luke’s Church, p. 517
- HOPKINTON Rockville Seventh Day Baptist Church, p. 373
- NEWPORT Sabbatarian Baptist Church, p. 297
- NORTH KINGSTOWN
- Quidnessett Baptist Church, p. 419
- Marriages performed by Joshua Babcock, Justice, p, 339
- PROVIDENCE Westminster Congregational Church, Members, p. 323
- RICHMOND
- First General Baptist Church, p. 387
- Second Baptist Church, p. 239
- SOUTH KINGSTOWN Second Baptist Church, p. 265
- STONINGTON, CONN
- Pawcatuck Congregational Church, p. 347
- Pawcatuck Sabbatarian Baptist Church, p. 273
- WESTERLY
- Christ Church, Marriages, p. 1, Births and Baptisms, p. 51, Confirmations, p. 89, Communicants, p. 109, Deaths and Burials, p. 129
- First Baptist Church, Members, p. 205
- First Christian Church, p. 309
- Grace Church, Marriages, p. 145, Members, p. 179
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.12 (opens the pdf link to the FamilySearch download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 12 contains:
- Cowell’s Spirit of 76, Index to, p. 91
- NEWPORT
- Newport Herald, 1787-1790, Deaths, p. 81
- Newport Herald, 1787-1790, Marriages, p. 73
- Newport Mercury, 1758-1799, Deaths, p. 37
- Newport Mercury, 1758-1799, Marriages, p. 3
- PROVIDENCE Providence Journal Deaths, 1820-1829. A-R, p. 397
- Rhode Island Officers and Pensioners of the Revolution
- Rhode Island Officers of the War of the Revolution, Killed, Died of Disease, or Pensioned. p. 301
- Rhode Island Pensioners. List of Names on the Pension Role of 1820. p. 303
- Rhode Island Pensioners. List of Names on the Pension Role of 1835. p. 313
- Rhode Island Pensioners. List of Names on the Pension Role of 1840. p. 375
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.13 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 13 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Providence Journal Deaths, 1820-1829. S-Z, p. 19
- PROVIDENCE Providence Gazette Deaths, 1762-1825. A – J, p. 101
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.14 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 14 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Providence Gazette Deaths, 1762-1825. K-Z, p. 21
- PROVIDENCE Providence Gazette Marriages, 1762-1825. A-C, p. 457
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.15 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 15 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Providence Gazette Marriages, 1762-1825. D-Z, p. 21
- PROVIDENCE United States Chronicle Deaths, 1784-1804. p. 467
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.16 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 16 contains:
- PROVIDENCE American Journal Deaths, 1779-1782, p. 129
- PROVIDENCE American Journal Marriages, 1779-1782, p. 140
- PROVIDENCE Impartial Observer Deaths, 1801-1802, p. 145
- PROVIDENCE Impartial Observer Marriages, 1801-1802, p. 151
- PROVIDENCE Providence Journal Deaths, 1799-1801, p. 153
- PROVIDENCE Providence Journal Marriages, 1799-1801, p. 179
- PROVIDENCE Providence Journal (Semi-weekly) Marriages, 1820-1829, p. 199
- PROVIDENCE United States Chronicle Marriages, 1784-1804, p. 17
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.17 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 17 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Providence Phoenix, Providence Patriot and Columbian Phenix, 1802-1832. Marriages, A-R, p. 23
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.18 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 18 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Providence Phoenix, Providence Patriot and Columbian Phenix, 1802-1832. Deaths, A-M p. 209
- PROVIDENCE Providence Phoenix, Providence Patriot and Columbian Phenix, 1802-1832. Marriages, S-Z, p. 23
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.19 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 19 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Providence Phoenix, Providence Patriot and Columbian Phenix, 1802-1832. Deaths, M-Z, p. 23
- PROVIDENCE Rhode Island American (also R.I. American Statesman & Gazette, Microcosm American & Gazette), 1808-1834, Marriages, A-G, p. 269
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.20 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 20 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Rhode Island American (also R.I. American Statesman & Gazette, Microcosm American & Gazette), 1808-1834, Deaths, A-B, p. 503
- PROVIDENCE Rhode Island American (also R.I. American Statesman & Gazette, Microcosm American & Gazette), 1808-1834, Marriages, H-Z, p. 21
Arnold Rhode Island VR v.21 (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
Volume 21 contains:
- PROVIDENCE Rhode Island American (also R.I. American Statesman & Gazette, Microcosm American & Gazette), 1808-1834, Deaths, C-S, p. 21
Arnold Vital Record of Rehoboth, 1642-1896 [Massachusetts] (opens the pdf link to the Internet Archive download, or, browse book online and download from this page).
The REHOBOTH volume contains:
- Marriages and Intentions, p. 3
- Intentions whose marriage was Solemnized in other towns, p. 417
- Births, p. 517
- Deaths, p. 789
- Supplement Containing the Record of 1896, p. 893
- Colonial Returns, p. 897
- (beginning p. 910) Lists of the Early Settlers, Purchasers, Freemen, Inhabitants, the Soldiers Serving in Philip’s War and the Revolution.
Diane,
In your description of Vol 4 Part 4 you mention a section of additions and corrections in an introduction. I was unable to find that section. I’m trying to resolve an ambiguity where Robert Hull is shown marrying Mary Weeden In the New Shoreham part while Edward Hull is shown in the Jamestown section. Both parts have the date 18 Nov 1762 and both parts show the same names and dates for husband and wife. I’m hoping that issue has been noticed and resolved.
Thanks,
Paul Vodola
Hi. Such a great question! It took me a while to figure it out. I have, in my files, a pdf of volume 4 which has faint type. It also has an errata page for Vol 4, New Shoreham section. Evidently I found, at some point, a clearer copy and uploaded that, not realizing it didn’t have that sheet. I am going to have to upload the sheet separately on this web page. So look for it there.
But your question really has a different answer. It was not unusual for the marriage to be entered at the home location of the bride AND the groom. Likely, that’s what you’re seeing here. The corrections for Arnold are usually limited to bad transcriptions or missing entries, and this is very unlikely to have been a mistake on Arnold’s part. The record evidently existed in both locations. And we should never think that entries were somehow evaluated and “corrected” in any way; that really wasn’t Arnold’s job. Transcribing what he found was his job.
Thank you for this detailed explanation, description with links to the free sources, very helpful.
Just something minor: Volume 13 also includes Providence Gazette Deaths A-J, but this was omitted from your description.
Thanks so much for the heads up. I will fix that.
Thanks again. I actually went through the whole thing and cleaned some things up, clarified other things.
Thank you for the well presented births, Marriages, and deaths. Joseph Cary was admitted a Freeman at General Assembly in Newport and lived in Gloucester in 1736. Sadly, none of his children’s births are listed.
Anita Schmidt Sept. 7, 2018
Hi Diane, just wanted to add my 2c of gratitude for this awesome resource. I appreciate your comment earlier, you spent 10-15 hours locating this stuff and wanted to save someone else the time. I appreciate that so MUCH!!
Thank you again
Thanks Loretta! Best of luck with your research!
I’m coming very late to the game here, but THANK YOU Diane for putting this page together. I have only recently downloaded all vols. to my laptop, including your excellent Table of Contents (this page), and including the typed compiled town TOC document you link here. This page implies it by the use of page numbers from vol. 7 onward, but from a citation standpoint, it’s important to note that vols. 1-6 use section-specific pagination, while the remainder have continuous pagination. I have also haven’t found a copy of vol. 3 online which has the whole-volume title page (it just starts with the Glocester section TP). Again, THANKS! — Nat Taylor, Barrington
Such excellent advice, Nat, thank you. I will work the page numbering clarification back into my text. I have recently acquired several of the early volumes in paper, out of frustration with the bad reproductions online. I will see about that missing title page, which would be helpful for citations.
Basically, I spent 10 or 15 hours seeking these out online and never wanted anyone to have to do that again. Glad it helped you.
really enticing for the genealogy buff There is never a complete Library and
one is never to have a completed genealogy. Thank you
Thank you so much for providing this wonderful resource! I found many of my Ancestors names so now I have my work cut out for me in sorting them out!!
Thank you, thank you for all your hard work!!
I’m trying to find the marriage record of William Champlain and Susannah Carpenter married in 1779 at her father,, Daniel Carpenters home in North Kingston.. He was a Rev War soldier. His parents were Jeffrey Champlin and Mary Gardiner. All supposedly from Exeter RI..I can find a birth? date of a William 1756, I had that he was born in 1758 but this could be him…and his son Jeffrey was born in 1785, i did find a Jeffrey born in 1783,William died in Exeter in 1826 according to the Rev War pension files. I am trying to connect Williams son Jeffrey with my ggg grandfather Jeffrey who died in Laurel County Ky in the early 1800’s I think William was given a land grant for Iredell Co, NC as so many soldiers were, and Jeffrey came out that way. So appreciate this site…what a wealth of information.
I believe the dauighter of my ancestor, Stukely Westcott, named Demaris married an Arnold – maybe Benedict. Would I find that record here? Just came upon this.
Hi. The Arnolds were wealthy and powerful in that era and may have been among the first to leave vital records. Yes, try these compilations. You might find Arnolds in Providence, Warwick or Newport (among other places) in that era. Also see my post “Meet the Arnolds” to find some of the books published on the Arnolds. There are two Arnold families … you do not want the Smithfield Arnolds, you want the other one, sometimes called Pawtuxet Arnolds.
There is information regarding Stukley Westcott in Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stukely_Westcott. Damaris is shown as marrying one of the Benedict Arnolds. There are several references to the Arnold family.But you’ve probably searched there and on Google.
Bill
But of course, Bill, we both want Anonymous to find reliable information. What’s floating around on websites is often unsourced and not reliable. Since he or she is talking about a fairly well known branch of the Arnolds, it will be detailed in several of the books I led her to. Oh, these Arnolds. Wish there was a really good book on them.
Diane
I am well aware of the validity of much of what we find on the web. But it’s always worth repeating.
One thing that I found in the Wikipedia article on Stukley Westcott was a good sized Bibliography and References as you can see in the *screen capture* below. I wonder if Anon. might find the Society of Stukley Westcott, and the /History and Genealogy of the Ancestors and some Descendants of Stukley Westcott/ book which is downloadable from Google books at https://books.google.com/books?id=qIxYAAAAMAAJ of interest.
Happy Thanksgiving, Bill
Those suggestions sound great. thanks!
I am a descendant of Damaris Westcott and Benedict Arnold(1st governor of RI) by their daughter Damaris who married John Bliss. Please note: the genealogy of the ancestors of Benedict Arnold being a descendant of royalty has been proven to be false. Benedict (William, Nicholas) has been proven to be correct.
Thanks for noting that, Carolyn.
Hello – looking for information on Henry Champlin who owned a property in Warren RI. Was a ship captain and built my families house on Miller Street. Would love to know more about him and a picture would be great. I think one of his children married the child of the people that owned the building which is now the George Hail Free Library on Main Street in Warren RI.
thank you,
Hi Geri. Sounds like you live in a historic house! Perhaps someone will see your query and have something to tell you, but generally, learning about the folks that came before us is all about doing our own research – a trip to the library, looking at deeds at the town hall, that sort of thing. I wish you success in your search! Diane
Hi, Diane. Am ‘working’ on James Arnold. DOB 9-30, 1719 R.I. but no town. He married, Freelove Burlingtame DOB July 7, 1725 also no town. Am trying to see if James is related to a , John Arnold who was the jailer at Salem and also, Boston during the Witch Trials. Am also trying to find out if James had an ancestor related to any of the Mayflower passengers. The Arnold’s came here in, 1635. James Arnold had a son named, George DOB 1754 married, Sep.7, 1782 to a Mary Hopkins DOB 1760. Am hoping to find George was with the, Pawtuxet Rangers in the Am. Rev. War. Anything is a help from any one. Thanks, Allan.
Allen, see my post, “Meet The Arnolds.” There are two Arnold families in Rhode Island. They are unlikely to have Mayflower roots although any family could have married in so anything is possible. If you have one ancestor from the Revolutionary war era, you must have many, you should learn about sources for such information in each state they lived in. No way around that anyway since if you applied for membership in a lineage society you would need plenty of documentation. I doubt any Rhode Islanders were related to Salem residents in the late 1600s except as distant cousins. Arnold is an extremely common name and James Arnold even more so – there would have been a dozen or two in ANY decade in R.I. To learn more about any Rhode Island militia during the Revolutionary War, try to access the bibliography for R.I. published recently by the DAR. It will tell you where to find resources. This stuff is not easy and won’t be found on the web. Wish you a lot of success with the Arnolds.
I am having trouble with Volume 8. It keeps coming up empty even with I go to another site for download. Any ideas?
Hi Frances. Thanks for visiting. I get this question from time to time. I’m no computer expert, but the problem may be that you have downloaded a bunch of items today, and somehow filled up your short term memory or something. Try completely shutting down and re-starting your computer. Or try again tomorrow. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this – I have gone as far back as John Arnold (1763-1843) from Cranston and then it just gets too confusing, I think everyone in my branch named their son John. I plod along . . . but this is a wonderfule resource – Thanks again, Alison Arnold
Thanks for commenting, Alison. Don’t miss this post on the Arnolds: http://onerhodeislandfamily.com/2014/01/27/meet-the-arnolds/
Good luck with your Arnold research!
Diane. Thank you so, so much for this generous gift for all of us who have Rhode Island ancestors. What a labor of love. You are a gem!. I’m looking forward to the Conference in April.
Martha-Lee from New York State.
Diane, Thank you for this wonderful and easy-to-use resource.
Diane, Rhode island Rocks! Thanks for saving me from making calls to the blue-haired babes. Sayles & Rice families… Great Job!
Thank you so very much! What a labor of love you’ve accomplished. I’ll be enjoying your site and all the great info you’ve gathered for quite some time as I find my Brown ancestors.
Beth G. Decatur, GA
Thank You! Thank You! Diane, this is wonderful! So much lost info I have been looking for!!! Catherine P. in Mandeville, LA. Formerly of Hopkinton, RI.
Thank you so much for the Arnold pdfs, Records of the Colony of Rhode Island, and the Providence Index! I go back to 17th century Rhode Island and Massachusetts families and it’s wonderful to be able to get pdfs and not have to save each individual page from Ancestry! Thank you, so very much!
I don’t understand why in Volume 4 all pages have to open at once in order to see them. 1400 some pages?
Hi. Volume 4 is 1388 pages (it’s an old volume there every other page is blank). I notice, lately, that Firefox (if that’s what you’re using) tries to open pdf’s in the browser – VERY slowly – but you should see a choice, up top, to switch to another method (which should be Adobe Reader) – use that. I have been irritated by the exact same problem for about a week now.
Thank you Diane!
Mickey
You’re welcome! Thanks for visiting!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you. My husband has deep roots in RI. I appreciate your time to do this.
B. Jay Van Alstyne, TX
Thanks Bev – and Jean – hope it helps!! — Diane
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I live in New Mexico with roots in Rhode Island. It’s impossible to locate the actual books way out west. This is wonderful.
Thank you so much from another researcher, whose family also goes back many hundreds of years!
Thanks its a great help
Glocester is spelled that way, no? Folks using a search engine won’t find it.
Randy, it is indeed correct as you have it. I corrected my page. Many thanks, I really want this to be right.
Thank you for this wonderful resource, Diane!
Linda J. from Sacramento, CA