Genealogy Help & History Resources
Also see “Smithfield Families” on our “Historic Documents” page.
The Historical Society of Smithfield frequently receives requests from people researching their family roots as they pertain to the Town of Smithfield, and we would like to assist in any way we can.
To that end, we’d like to make researchers aware of the following information.
1) The Town of Smithfield was incorporated in 1730. Prior to that, what is today Smithfield was considered the “outlands” of Providence. Therefore, any vital records pre-dating 1730 are kept in the Providence City Archives, not in Smithfield.
2) When the Town of Smithfield was incorporated in 1730, the town was much larger, and included the present-day municipalities of North Smithfield, Lincoln, Central Falls, and a portion of Woonsocket south of the Blackstone River. Therefore, the birth place and burial site of an ancestor may today be located in one of these other municipalities that are no longer a part of present-day Smithfield.
3) The Town of Smithfield was divided in 1871, and the new municipalities of North Smithfield, (Originally incorporated as the Town of Slater), and Lincoln were established. Additionally, a portion of land in the northern part of the town was deeded over to Woonsocket. Central Falls remained a village of Lincoln when the town was divided.
At the time of the division, Central Falls was considered “down town” Smithfield, and was where the Smithfield Town Hall was located. After the division, a new Smithfield Town Hall was established in what is present-day Smithfield.
Therefore, any vital records pertaining to Smithfield that date between 1730 and 1870 are kept at the Central Falls City Hall, and not in Smithfield. Any vital records from 1871 forward are kept at the Smithfield Town Hall, not at the Historical Society.
4) Central Falls separated from the Town of Lincoln in 1895, and incorporated as its own municipality. It is no longer part of Smithfield or Lincoln.
Researchers need to be aware of these four points to alleviate confusion, for it’s possible that an ancestor was born, and later died, in the same house, but in different towns.
Further Help for Researchers
Those not native to Rhode Island may not be aware that Rhode Island’s towns were made up of mill villages, and Rhode Islander’s have traditionally identified themselves with these villages.
For example, when a person is asked where they live, they might respond with a village name instead of the name of the town the village is located in. When these village names are found in old records it can lead to confusion for the researcher.
The following are village names associated with the municipalities that were once part of Smithfield prior to the town division in 1871.
Central Falls
Lincoln
North Smithfield
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Smithfield
Woonsocket – South of the Blackstone River
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Smithfield History Resources
The Historical Society of Smithfield maintains an archival collection of varied materials relating to Smithfield history which includes photographs, written documents, and limited genealogical information. As time permits, we have been digitizing our collection and adding it to our website. (See Historic Photos and Historic Documents pages under “Smithfield History”) This is an ongoing project, as new material is always being added.
There is also a page on our website dedicated to local history articles that may be helpful to researchers.
Please feel free to e-mail us with any questions.
The Greenville Public Library and the East Smithfield Public Library both contain reference material relating to local history.
Books About Smithfield History
“History of the Town of Smithfield From Its Organization, In 1730-1, To Its Division, In 1871” by Thomas Steere, 1881 This was the first written history of the town and contains the names of many early town officials, as well as excerpts of old town records, and extensive information about Smithfield’s early manufacturing villages. This book is out of print, but copies can be found at local libraries. |
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“Vital Records of Rhode Island – 1636 to 1850” (Vol. 3, Part IV) (Smithfield) By James N. Arnold Narragansett Historical Publishing Co., Providence, R. I., 1892 Contains birth, marriage, and death records pertaining to early settlers of Smithfield. This book is out of print. Check local libraries for availability.
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“Remembering Smithfield, Sketches of Apple Valley” by Jim Ignasher Published by The History Press, 2009. This book covers topics not discussed in Thomas Steere’s book such as Native American inhabitants, the lost settlements of Hanton City and Fountain Spring, the poor farm scandal, the apple industry, railroad and aviation history, the origin of the police and fire departments, and other information. This book can be found at local public libraries, bookstores, or it can be ordered through The History Press website More books below |
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“Images of America – Smithfield” by Ken Brown, Jim Ignasher, and Bill Pilkington Published through Arcadia Press in 2008. This book contains vintage photographs relating to the town. This book is also available through local public libraries, bookstores, or through the Arcadia Publishing website. |
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“History of Rhode Island – with illustrations, 1636-1878” Hoag, Wade & Co., Philadelphia, C. 1878. Book contains state history, as well as individual histories of all cities and towns, as well as illustrations Book is out of print, but can be found at local libraries in the reference sections. |
Websites:
Town of Smithfield website: Town of Smithfield History: A Brief History of Smithfield
Historical & Architectural Resources of Smithfield R.I. http://www.preservation.ri.gov/pdfs_zips_downloads/survey_pdfs/smithfield.pdf
The Rhode Island Historic Cemeteries website. (Search by name, town, or cemetery.) Enter the name of your ancestor and see where they are buried. http://rihistoriccemeteries.org/webdatabase.aspx