This collection of documents relating to the government of the state of Rhode Island has been collected over the years from a variety of sources.
There are no restrictions on access.
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Rhode Island State Records Collection, MSS 231 SG 3, Rhode Island Historical Society.
This collection of documents relating to the government of the state of Rhode Island has been collected over the years from a variety of sources. See the Arrangement section for a detailed listing of the contents of this collection.
Of particular note are the files relating to the Rhode Island State Council of Defense. This agency was part of the federal hierarchy for civilian defense during World War II. Each state had its own council to coordinate civilian defense within its borders. The majority of the information seems to have been collected by Alfred H. Fenton who was the Manager of the Public Relations Division as well as Chief of the Information Subdivision. He served in those capacities from at least March, 1942 until December 13, 1943 when he resigned to report to the Army. The material arrived in no discernible order and has been organized into subjects. Refer to the organizational charts in folder 59 to get an overview of how all the divisions and subdivisions were related to each other in the hierarchy. War posters and large organizational charts were transferred to the Graphics Division.
Series I: General Assembly
Series II: Governor
Series III: State Agencies
Series IV: Administrative units
Series V: Courts
Where the provenance is known, the accession number is written on the item's folder. The provenance for many of the documents in the collection is not known.
Providence County Inferior Court of Common Pleas, Docket for June 1763; Transferred to: MSS 229 Providence County Records.
Summary of census data for 1755 broken down by race, gender and amount of arms and ammunition in private hands. Includes totals for 1730 and 1748 censuses broken down by white and black inhabitants ; Transferred to: MSS 231 SG2 Rhode Island State Censuses.
Index of 1777 military census for the town of Tiverton, 1777; Transferred to: MSS 231 SG2 Rhode Island State Censuses.
Collector of Revenue for the 3rd District, RI, "Statement of duties arising on Licenses for one year granted to retailers of wine Spiritous Liquors and foreign merchandise by James Helme collector."1814; Transferred to: MSS 232 SG5 United States Collector of Revenue.
Collector of Revenue for the 1st District, RI - Entries for carriages, 1-12/1817; Transferred to: MSS 232 SG5 United States Collector of Revenue.
Copy of letter from William Pitt to Governor Stephen Hopkins ordering the cessation of illegal trade with the French, August 23, 1760; Transferred to: MSS 492 Stephen Hopkins Collection.
Pay John Gardner 400 pounds to pay soldiers wages, bounties and bills and charge the same to the Colony, Committee of War to Thomas Richardson, General Treasurer, April 26, 1760; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG1 Colonial Militia Collection.
Letter written by Thomas Carlile to the Council of War, 11/29/1777; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG 2, Series 3, Subseries F Revolutionary War Records.
Order from Council of War to Town of North Providence to have Daniel Anthony, John Comstock and John Scott, Jr. pay the bounty to have men hired as soldiers in their place, Aug. 30, 1778.; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG 2, Series 4, Subseries E Revolutionary War Records.
Resolve of Council of War for Major William Perkins to leave military stores in the care of Col. Josiah Flagg, July 26, 1781; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG 2, Series 6 Revolutionary War Records.
Resolve of General Assembly that Major Perkins deliver cannon to Count Rochambeau and Assistant Deputy Quarter Master Bourn repair the Providence powder house, March 21, 1781; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG2, Series 6 Revolutionary War Records.
Resolve of Council of War for Daniel Mowry to sell cattle and sheep, Dec. 18, 1776; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG 2, Series 6 Revolutionary War Records.
Resolve of Council of War to ship 5,000 gallons rum to Hartford and then on to main Army, June 26 1781; Transferred to: MSS 673 SG 2, Series 6 Revolutionary War Records.
Court case of John Banister vs. John Brown of Newport, 1762-1765; Transferred to: MSS 919 John Banister Collection.
Naval office certificate of entry for the Sloop Bonato, Robert Furness master, importing 40,000 boards signed by William Ellery, Naval Officer, May 24, 1757; Transferred to: MSS 9001-B Bonato (Sloop).
Copy of "The humble address of the Governt. & Company of Your Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England in America" to Queen Anne regarding the preparations for an expedition against the French in Canada, May 13, 1709. Copy of the cover letter for the address to the Queen signed by Samuel Cranston, May 13 1709; Transferred to: MSS 9001-C Samuel Cranston Papers (see inventory).
Six pounds to be paid by the General Treasury to Joseph Edmonds, Sep. 18, 1758 ; Transferred to: MSS 9001-E Edmonds, Joseph.
Items transferred to Graphics: War posters and large organizational charts from the Rhode Island State Council of Defense were transferred to the Graphics Division.
A copy of the Act and Resolves was sent to each town. Many of these copies were sent to Thomas Spencer in East Greenwich. Many of the packets are incomplete and appear to be selected excerpts. (Use published transcriptions in Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England, edited by John Russell Bartlett, Providence, 1856 available in the RIHS Reading Room at Call Number F 76 .R29 1968.)
Miscellaneous Rhode Island records - arranged chronologically
Regarding regulation of public vendue in RI by requiring vendue masters and auctioneers to obtain a license from the Governor. Petition written in the hand of Welcome Arnold, signed by 238 people, n.d. [c.1785-1798]
Rhode Island Governor - correspondence/announcements received from U.S. Congress
Aircraft Warning Service - see Ground Observer Corps