Series 38. Rhode Island (1801-1855)
Scope and Content
The series consists of six manuscript booklets related to commercial ship registry and licensing in the Bristol-Warren, Rhode Island, customs district, providing details of vessels' rig or type (sloop, bark, etc.), date and place of construction, tonnage and measurements, and names of masters and owners. A register is issued for vessels to engage in foreign trade, enrolment is issued for coasting trade and fisheries (valid for any length of time), while a license is issued for 1 year on an enrolment and specifies whether coasting trade or fisheries is to be carried out.
The individual booklets are:
Certificates of Enrolment of vessels, Bristol, Rhode Island, John Russell, collector, 1801 - May-December
Abstract of licenses to vessels under 20 tons, District of Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island, 1818-1855
Abstract of permanent and temporary registers issued and surrendered in the District of Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island, 1820-1832, which turns over to Abstract of temporary registers issued and surrendered, 1820-1833
Abstract of protections granted to American Seamen, District of Bristol, Rhode Island, 1822-1827
Abstract of Endorsement of Changes of Masters' Names on Registers, Licenses, etc. District of Bristol, Rhode Island, 1822-1855
Abstract of permanent and temporary registers issued and surrendered in the district of Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island, 1832- 1845, which turns over to the same information beginning in 1843.
The 1801 and 1832-1845 booklets are available on microfilm.
Historical Note
The Rhode Island cities on Narragansett Bay, including Providence and Newport, have a long history of the building and outfitting of naval and commercial shipping. The District of Bristol was established in 1801 and included the towns of Bristol, Warren, and Barrington. Bristol was the sole point of entry for the district and the collector resided there. In 1822 the district's name was changed to the District of Bristol and Warren, which remained unchanged until 1913, when one district was established for the entire state and the Bristol-Warren designation was abolished.