Guide to the Providence Voter Lists , 1770-1848


Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-751-7930
email: reference@rihs.org

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Providence Voter Lists
Date range: 1770-1848
Creator: Providence Electoral
Extent: 0.25 linear feet
Language of materials: English
Repository: Rhode Island Historical Society
Collection number: MSS 214 sg 14

Scope & content


Access Points

Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series.

Historical note

Freemen were owners of land who, unlike the proprietors of the town, were not entitled to any share in the division of common lands. Proprietors and freeholders, together with their eldest sons, constituted the voting class of the town of Providence. In order to qualify to vote, the freeman's land had to be worth a certain amount of money which varied from time to time. Eventually the value amount became fixed at $134.00, and only those meeting the set amount of value, and their eldest sons, were qualified to vote. Inhabitants on rare occasions could be admitted freemen "by courtesy." In his history Town and City Government in Providence, George Wilson stated that "A careful record was kept after a time of those admitted 'by producing deed' and as 'eldest son'"; and he quoted another historian's observation that the freeman system "...attached the franchise, 'not to the inhabitant,' but to the soil; and as a wrong principle always leads to error, it fostered family pride by a distant imitation of the English law of progeniture."

The freeholder system of voting changed in the decade after Providence was incorporated as a city (1832). The restrictions in the voting system meant that only about one-third of the male population over 21 years of age was qualified to vote. The estimation that only one-third of this group actually voted meant that the affairs of the city were controlled by merely one-ninth of those who, under more liberal qualifications, would be eligible to have a say. The city's population slowly grew after its incorporation, but many young men migrated out because of the restricted franchise. A conflict between the existing body of government and those who wanted to expand the voting franchise led to the Dorr War, which in turn led to a more liberal constitution. This constitution granted limited voting rights to any male qualified by residence and age, regardless of property ownership: upon payment of a $1.00 registry tax, they could vote for civil officers of state and towns, but those who did not own property valued at a minimum of $134.00 could not vote for Providence city council, propositions to impose taxes, or expenditure of money in any town or city.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access.
Use of the materials: 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.
Preferred citation: Providence Voter Lists, MSS 214 sg 14, Rhode Island Historical Society.
Contact information: Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Tel: 401-273-8107
Fax: 401-751-7930
email: reference@rihs.org

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The 1840 list of freemen who voted at the presidential election was donated in 1873 by Henry T. Beckwith. The John Brown Barton list of Providence voters, dated 1825, was donated in 1890 by Albert Barton, and the 1770 list of east-side freemen was donated by Mary Rivers in 1900.
Processing information: The papers were placed in archival boxes and folders. The provenance of the collection was researched and an inventory was compiled.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Robin Flynn.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Mark Chepkwony 2009 June 22
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Bibliography:
  • Wilson, George. Town and City Government in Providence (Providence, Tibbitts & Preston, 1889).
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    Inventory

    Box 1, Folder 1 List of freemen on east side of the river
    		 1770
    Box 1, Folder 2 List of freemen who voted for representatives for U. S. Congress
    		 1814
    Box 1, Folder 3 List of Republicans and Federalists
    		 1818
    Box 1, Folder 4 List of Providence voters (compiled by John Brown Barton)
    		 1825
    Box 1, Folder 5 List of persons proxed for L. H. Arnold
    		 1832 May 16
    Box 1, Folder 5 List of subscribers who donated to cost of presidential election
    		 1832
    Box 1, Folder 5 List of freemen, Ward 2
    		 1832 Jul 18
    Box 1, Folder 6 List of the freemen of the City of Providence who voted at the Presidential election
    		 1840
    Box 1, Folder 7 List of Providence voters
    		 1842
    Box 1, Folder 8 Copy of the Third Ward register up to December 31, 1842
    		 1842 Dec 31
    Box 1, Folder 9 List of voters in Pawtuxet district
    		 1848
    Box 1, Folder 10 Name list