Rick Stattler, June 24, 2004
The historical study of marginalized groups always presents a challenge to the researcher. The ruling classes leave behind great masses of letters, diaries, business records, books, and newspapers, and store them in their sturdy attics and counting houses for the benefit of future generations. Those on the outside are less likely to be literate, less likely to leave a written record, and much less likely to pass down that written record through several generations. Researchers looking for the diaries and memoirs left by the early Narragansett people will be disappointed. No diaries of Rhode Island slaves are known to survive, if they ever existed at all. In some ways, however, these stories can be told through the distorting lens of the records left by the ruling classes. Many thousands of passing references in account books, court records, letters and diaries are waiting for careful interpretation by the historian.
This guide describes a variety of sources in the R.I.H.S. Manuscripts Division relating to people of color. These sources include references to individuals identified as being of African, American Indian or Asian descent, as well as general discussions of broader topics such as slavery or racial discrimination.
These sources have not been gleaned in an systematic manner. Essentially, the Manuscripts Division staff has taken note of anything relating to people of color that they noticed in the course of their work, and collected these notes in a single document. Harold Kemble began assembling these notes in the 1980s, and subsequent staff have expanded upon his work. Many of these early references are now difficult to find because the documents have been recataloged. In 1998, Amy Lappin attempted to track down each of these documents, and record its proper current catalog number. In a few cases, she was unable to find the document that Kemble referred to, which is noted in the text. Those documents may have been miscataloged in the intervening years, or perhaps some of the original descriptions were inaccurate.
The guide is laid out alphabetically by collection name, using the last name when it is the collection of a family or an individual. When papers are part of the miscellaneous manuscripts collection the name is written last name, first name. The "MSS" number is the catalog number, which should help the staff locate the original document. The dates following the collection name indicate the span of years the collection encompasses. Dates following a person's name and in parentheses are birth and death dates.
This guide should be considered a working draft.
| Call # | Title | Location | Document Type | Date | Description |
| Mss NEYM | Abolition Society Abolition Society's Book | Providence | Yearly Meeting of Friends for New Eng. | 1789-1793, 1821-1823 | Minutes of the meetings of the Abolition Society, including the constitution, membership lists, summaries of business against slavery and the slave trade and legal intervention on behalf of free African-Americans and other people of color. |
| Mss 252 | Joshua Melancton Addeman Papers, 1863-1893. | Fort Butler - Donaldsonville, LA | Letter | 21 Jul 1865 | Addeman was a captain in 14th Regiment, R.I. Heavy Artillery (Colored). His papers include an excellent letter dated 7/21/1865 regarding one of his soldiers, Private General Green, being used as a servant without authorization. |
| Mss 9001-A | African Union Society | Newport | Proceedings | 10 Nov 1796 | Proceedings of a "meeting held by free Africans and other free people of colour in the Town and county of Newport and state of Rhode Island on the tenth of November AD 1796 at the house occupied by Mr. Abraham Casey to hear an addendum from the convention of Deputies from the Abolition Society in the United States read...." Records identify a committee made up of Newport Gardner, Zingo Stevens, Prince Amy formed to raise money to buy books and appoint a clerk to record all births, marriages and deaths of free blacks and other people of color in the town of Newport. |
| Mss 938 sg 3 | Winthrop W. and Harriet Aldrich Papers, 1902-1974 | Providence | Letters | 1963 & 1965 | The Aldrichs' papers include letters from their son Alexander Aldrich (white) dated 9/3/1963 (box 1, folder 14) and 4/7/1965 (box 1, folder 16) detailing his experiences in civil rights marches. The 1965 letter mentions meeting Martin Luther King Jr. These letters are in box 1, folders 14 & 16. |
| Mss 9001-A | Allen, Benjamin (1652-1723) | Rehoboth | Bill of sale | 7 Jun 1704 | Sale of "one Negro boy," Felix from Benjamin Allen of Rehoboth to Thomas Allen of Swansey. On the back of the bill of sale is Benjamin Allen's deed for sale of Felix (dated June 9, 1704). |
| Mss 9001-A | Allin, Thomas | Barrington | Papers | 1790 & 1795 | Receipt, January 26, 1790. Payment for punishing Nathaniel Smith's Ceasar as "Allin thought fitt." Appointment, July 16, 1795. Document appointing Allin as administrator of the estate of Jack Allen, "a free negro man." |
| Mss 254 | Zachariah Allen Papers, 1767-1946 | Providence | Note | 10 Dec 1854 | A note in the correspondence file (box 1, December 10, 1854) reads in its entirety "Ponto died this morning-age about l4 years. A good and faithful friend and servant." The collection also includes several letters and manuscripts dated 1877-1881 relating to his publication of an essay on Treatment of Indians. |
| Mss 254 | Zachariah Allen Papers, 1767-1946 | Providence | Accounts | 1817-1833 | Series 7 also includes an account book, 1817-1833, in which Eliza Allen records the sums she paid her servants. |
| Mss 254 | Zachariah Allen Papers, 1767-1946 | Providence | Diary | 1837 | The diary of Eliza Arnold Allen is included in Series 7 (box 8, folder 5). The bulk of the 1837 section was written while visiting her brother's plantation in Georgia. "I took my Bible and walked to the plantation as it is called, the rows of negro houses. Today one can see them all as they are in the field in the morning of week days and towards evening they are at work for themselves. I first read to Mam Kate an excellent old woman and as I explained to her the passages of the Bible I felt that I could learn much more from her than I could impart. She is humble, contented and cheerful, and constantly relies upon her heavenly father for every blessing & feels that she has many..." [4/16/1837]. Several visits like this are made. |
| Mss 9001-A | Allen, Capt. Zachariah | Providence | Receipt | 1 Oct 1796 | Payment from Newport Tew for his services in burying Capt. Joseph Crawford. |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Records | 1789-1900 | This collection of records of the yarn manufacturing firm probably includes many references to people of color which could be found through careful examination. Examples of the types of references include: |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Accounts | 1791-1792 | Accounts, Vol. l. Entries of accounts for Cudge (Brown) March 27, 1792 and July 16, 1791, Bristol Rhodes (July 13, 1791), and Primus Brown. |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Accounts | 1793-1794 | Accounts, Vol. 4, 1793-1794. Blotter shows "spining Milles Dr. to paid S. Slater's order given to John Bucklins black man for work at Pawtucket" (February 26, 1794) |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Accounts | 1789-1790 | Accounts, Vol. 25, 1789-1790. Record of payment to "Sylvester Daby, a black man for baskets" (December 1789), payment to Samuel Slater (October 1790), for hire of "the black man who turned [provided power] for him." |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Accounts | 1785-1790 | Accounts, Vol. 67, 1785-1790. Accounts of store purchases and services, include the names of Primus Hopkins, Brister Rhodes (he & wife spin yarn), PhillisAlderedy, wife of Prince for an agreement to spin warps, Prince Cushing, Marcy Alderedy, Cudge Brown and others. |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Accounts | 1789 | Accounts, Vol. 74, 1789. Accounts for spinning contain the names of people of color including Marcy Alderedy, Phebey Shaw, and Providince Brown, among others. |
| Mss 29 | Almy & Brown Records, 1789-1846. | Providence | Letter | 1800 | Letter, September ll, 1800. From Benjamin Hadwen which mentions that "a black man in thy employ with no legs has a considerable sum of money due from Archibald Crary..." |
| Mss 9001-A | Almy, Job | Bedford | Agreement | 24 Aug 1773 | "An agreement made between Job Almy & John Burden on the one Part & Samson Amos an Indian Man on the other Part, the said Samson agrees to Whale for sd. Almy & Burden on consideration of their paying him after the Rate of Six Dollars per month, During the Voyage to the Coast of Africa; on Board the Sloop Bellisle James Howland Master, Wages Commencing on said Samson entering on Board, & to Cease on the Return of said Sloop, One Half Part of sd. Wages or thereabouts being Eighteen Dollars to be paid down immediately on entering on Board as Witness my Hand the above amount being Recd. by me Samson Amos X his mark Test. Thomas Bourland |
| Mss 9001-A | Almy, Samuel | Tiverton | Will | 27 Sep 1763 | To his wife Mary Almy: six female slaves named Fillis [Phyllis], Rose, Flower, Vilet [Violet], Hull, and Fillis the second [Phyllis]. To his sons Peleg and Job: two male slaves and one female slave named Zippo, Perow and Jenny. |
| Mss 9001-A | Almy, William | Providence | Letter | 30 Jul 1793 | To the Corresponding Committee of the Abolition Society in New York from William Almy and James Ellis concerning "sending Delegates to form a Convention to consider the cause of the opposed Africans and to solicit Congress for their relief in such a way and manner as may appear most eligible..." |
| Mss 9001-A | Almy, William | Providence | Letters | 12 & 13 Dec 1796 | To Andrew Herr pertaining to efforts by the Abolition Society to free Jack Johnson, "If he proves before competent authority that he is really free, he will not stand in need of thy aid to establish his freedom." |
| Mss 257 | American Citizenship Campaign Records, 1917-1919 | Rhode Island | Lists (Boxes 1 and 2) | 1917-1919 | The American Citizenship Campaign began at the outbreak of World War I in an attempt to move aliens towards naturalization. Lists of alien men of voting age were created by nationality and residence, including several lists of Chinese-Americans. Finding aid available. |
| Mss 927 | American Tract Society Records, 1832-1835 | Providence | Records | 1832-1835 | Records visits to the homes of blacks and others to distribute religious tracts. |
| Mss 9001-A | Andrews, John | Providence | Accounts | 1753 | Settles accounts with John Mannings for charges including labor of Mannings' servant Sharper (Nov. 4, 1749). |
| Mss 261 | John Andrews Papers Series I, Andrews, Zephaniah | Providence | Accounts | 1776 | Accounts for hospital boarding of patients including Binah Cook, Primas Brown, Patience Brown, Patience Foster, Jackson - Negro girl, and Nimbel Nightingale. |
| Mss 261 | John Andrews Papers Series II Eddy & Andrews | Providence | Day Book | 1 Sep 1809 | Page 233 Sept. 1, 1809 "Black Body to 1/2 peck lime 12 1/2 [cents] " |
| Mss 9001-A loose vol. | Angell, James | North Providence | Account Book | 1816-1821 | Includes accounts with Royal Cesar, Peter Ceaser, Samuel Ceaser, Charles Ceaser and others. |
| Mss 9001-A loose vol. | Angell, John | North Providence | Account Book | 1722-1723 | Accounts include Peter Negro and Jack Negro. |
| Mss 262 | Ann Eliza Club Records, 1885-1934. | Providence | Records | 15 Apr 1886 | Records of the art and literary society include a copy of a paper (indexed as no. 25) read by Edward Mitchell Bannister, a famous African-American artist from Rhode Island, titled The Artist and His Critics. Bannister was a club member and appears frequently in the body of the records. The records also include several lectures that pertain to the Narragansetts, most of them satirical. They include #46, A Sojourn in the Narragansett Country, by G.A. Buffum, September 29, 1887; #209; The Land of the Ninigrets, by F.W. Easton, January 18, 1894; #229, The Wants of Ninigret, by E. Field, June 21, 1894; and "The Tale of Ninigret," unsigned, 1898 (in box 6, folder 8). |
| Mss 9001-A | Anna, Phillis | Glocester | Report | 21 Apr 1804 | Report of Coroner's inquest titled "Inquisition on a black woman" concerns the death of the wife of Cuffe Anna finding that she died "in a natural way." |
| Mss 9001-A | Anthony, Abraham | Portsmouth | Accounts | 1742-1806 | References to people of color are scattered throughout the papers including accounts for making and mending of shoes for "black Sara" and payments recorded to various laborers. |
| Mss 9001-A | Appollo (Brigatine) | Newport | Accounts | 1764-1767 | Accounts of cash disbursements include payments to various owners of slaves for labor. Slaves are not named individually. "To Hannah Manton's Negro 2 days......5-" |
| Mss 1128 | Armington Family | Diary | 24 Jan 1852 | Diary of Hamlin Johnson. - "Went to Mr. DeHuffs gave runaway slave - 20" | |
| Mss 1128 | Armington Family | Memorand-um | undated (c1789-1867) | Memorandum by Asa W[atson] Armington (c1789-1867), undated. "I have heard him speak of Col. Harmon (or "Harrison" A.H.A.), he had some very bad scars about the side and breast which was once shown me, and which injured his health while he lived. He was taken captive by the Indians in some one of these battles and would have been sacrifieced but for an old squaw's adopting him for her son, as she had lost one in the battle; he was taken by them far inland into the interior of Canada, and there kept for a number of years, when his old Indian mother went down to Montreal she would bring him a little salt tied up in a corner of her nether garment. He suffered much and after being released from the Indians returned to Phila. blind, brought on by hardship among the snows &c. His eyes were operated on in Philadelphia and then gained his sight, came to this place again and married my aunt." | |
| Mss 1128 | Armington Family | Rhode Island | Memorand-um | undated (c1789-1867) | "After this my grandfather [Joseph Armington (1731-1817)] lived on a farm directly over India Bridge since known as the Lion Farm at that time belonging to a man of that name formerly a shipmaster from Newport, RI. My grandfather was superintendent of this farm for 4 years until it was sold. It was managed by hired help and by slaves. The owner Capt. Lion was then part owner in a large sloop with Capt. Hallet who commanded her and in a passage from Africa to Virginia the slaves became sickly and the sloop came into this river to refit and for supplies and the slaves were landed on the south shore of this farm on Watchemoket Bay on the high bank, . . . |
| Mss 1128 | Armington Family | Rhode Island | Memorand-um | . . .and a tent made from the sails of the sloop adn there kept a number of months and secreted (and my grandmother says one female slave taken out of the lot named Quassiby for Mrs. Lyon's house servant) then in the fall they were reshipped in the same sloop and sent to Virginia and sold. I have heard this from both my grandparents with a number of anecdotes respecting the slaves, their history &c.&c. Among the slaves was a man named Ceasar of which I have head them speak as a man of talent for a slave." | |
| MSS 265 | Elijah Armstong Papers | Glocester | Account | 20 Oct 1791 | "Condition of Sail [sic] for Selling Samuel Joseph a Negro Boy who was convicted for Stealing two Horses from Asa Willmarth and ordered to be sold by Timothy Willmarth & Samuel Winsor Esqr. Who was the Justice that Sat on the Cort [sic] and ordered the Said Samuel Joseph to be Sold to pay the Cost & Damage which is taxed at 12:0:5 the condition of Sail [sic] is that the Person who will bid the aforsaid [sic] sum for the smallest term of time shall be the Purchaser who shall take lawful Possession." Proceedings of a Vandue [sic] Samuel Joseph sold to Timothy Willmarth |
| Mss 9001-A | Arnold Family and Greene Family | Rhode Island | Vital records | 21 Dec 1828 | A book listing births, deaths and marriages, mostly Arnold and Greene families, includes the "death of Cola, wife of Cuff Waterman, slaves." Age approximately 90. |
| Mss 862 | Frances Rogers Arnold Papers, 1790-1916. Bulk 1820-1865. | Providence | Biographical Sketch | 1898 | Biographical sketch (1898) of Cornelia E. A. Green includes reference (p. l50-) to 1856 incident in which their manservant, Daniel went mad and assaulted Chloe the chambermaid. Daniel was the son of their cook. Chloe had a family in Fall River. The sketch also identifies William Forrest who was brought north as Tristam Burges' servant and worked for the Arnold family for thirty years. |
| Mss 267 | Arnold-Holden Family Papers, 1680-1882. Arnold, William | Smithfield | Papers | 1761 | These papers include two documents relating to William Arnold's servant, Dinah. A coroner's jury ruling (February 5, 1761) indicates that William Arnold's servant Dinah's infant died by accident. And a bill of sale for Dinah to William Dean of Glocester (March 4, 1761). |
| Mss 9001-A | Arnold, Israel | Warwick | Accounts | 1810-1811 | Daybook includes accounts with Pero Cheese (April 23, 1811) and Cato Waterman (July 27, 1811). |
| Mss 9001-A | Arnold, James | Cranston | Farm Account Book | 1799 | Farm accounts including payments to Cesar Lockwood (March 17, 1798 - January l, 1799) for cutting wood. |
| Mss 83 | James N. Arnold Papers, ca.1900. | Providence | Manuscript | 1879-1896 | A copy of a manuscript by Arnold titled, "The Honor of a State; or the Faithless Guardian, a Story of Monstrous Wrong," a narrative account of efforts of developers to swindle land from the Narragansett nation from 1879-1896. |
| Mss 9001-A loose vol. | Arnold, James U. | Providence | Accounts | 1799-1836 | Ledger accounts with John Williams, James Low, Tour Humphrey, Prime Rhodes (accounts credited for his wife's washing), and Cato Mumford. |
| Mss 9001-A | Arnold, Oliver | Providence | Judgement | 22 Jan 1768 | Judgement against Sarah Pero "alias Sarah Prince Molatto Woman and Sarah Green for stealing about seven pounds weight of Indigo of the value of Forty Shillings." |
| Mss 74 | Perry Greene Arnold Papers, 1794-1821. | Exeter/Tiverton/East Greenwich | Papers | 1802-1821 | Justice of the Peace warrant for arrest of John Brusto for desertion from brigatine Betsey (November 29, 1802) and a bill to Jack Brusto for shoes and stockings purchased by Arnold (February 28, 1803). Certificate of apprenticeship (indenture) "to put and bind as an apprentice a Black Man called Zebida Briggs to Capt. Perry G. Arnold" (November 19, 1804). In book titled "Account Labour" (1818-1821) is a record of payment to Jack Gardiner for "3/4 wall on bur(y)ing Ground" (September 30, 1820) and "2 days on high way Warwick"(September 28 and 29, 1821) along with records of payments made to other men. |
| Mss 9001-A | Arnold, Richard (d. 1710) | Providence | Will | 8 Jun 1708 | In his last will and testament (June 8, 1708), his "Negro servent" Toby is bound to his son, Thomas until age 25 at which time the son is to free him. Instructions for setting Toby free are also indicated. |
| Mss 32 | Richard James Arnold Papers, 1819-1870 | Providence and Georgia | Papers | 21 Oct 1838 | Papers of a Rhode Islander who bought a plantation in Bryan County, Georgia in 1823, and spent his winters there until his death in 1873. A full biography of Arnold was published in 1988: North by South: The Two Lives of Richard J. Arnold by Charles and Tess Hoffman (University of Georgia Press). The papers include frequent commentary on southern slave life, and at least one letter by a female slave who was working in Tallahassee, Florida. See the letter dated October 21 1838 from "your obedient servant Jenny" to "my Master." Comments on religion, sends greetings to "Mistress," also writes "Samson, George, Abram & Morris, remember to serve the Lord, you know you have to die, remember my love to the whole Plantation of People... Prince use me well." |
| Mss 32 | Richard James Arnold Papers, 1819-1870 | Providence and Georgia | Letters | 1841-1854 | Another slave, Amos Morel, wrote from Savannah on August 22 1841. In part: "I wants to beg you to get me a watch for about ten or twelve dollars... when you return I will settle with you... Mr. Harris has paid two months wages since you left." Morel writes again on 7/18/1843: "Dear Master I have made up my mind to take a wife and partner for life and I would ask your consent. I have the consent of both the girl and her mistress. Mrs. Ward is the lady to whom she belongs, her name is Mary... If you would buy her she is a good house made and a very good seamstress. I have been employed by the Iron St. Bo Co about 2 weeks but I cannot tell how long it will last." |
| Mss 32 | Richard James Arnold Papers, 1819-1870 | Providence and Georgia | Letters | 1841-1854 | Morel writes again from Savannah on 8/29/1845, asking not to be sent back to plantation work: "if I was for to go out in the country I would have no chance whatever dear Master for to provide for myself and family... Cousin Sam is as capable of running the mill as I am." Adds that he is convinced his brother Tom did not steal money from Arnold. On 6/20/1852, he wrote from Arnold's plantation, "I have had to break William of his drivership and have given him his hoe... [William] gets along very badly with his work on account of having too many favorits in the field. I have put big Peter in his place to drive... The carpenters are getting along very badly with their work, they have not got the flat house done as yet. I am satisfied that it would be to your interest to get some white person to take charge of the work... am fearful that the mill will not be repaired time enough to receive the rice." Other letters from Morel are dated 6/22/1852, 6/2/1853, 10/9/1853, 5/7/1854, 6/17/1854. |
| Mss 75 | Stephen Arnold Papers, 1785-1824. | East Greenwich | Labor Accounts | 1805-1821 | Pay to farm laborers including Cuf Spencer and Jack Gardiner. |
| Mss 75 | Stephen Arnold Papers, 1785-1824. | East Greenwich | Labor Accounts | 1816-1822 | Wharf book includes record of payments to Jack Gardner, Nat Moore and others. |
| Mss 75 | Stephen Arnold Papers, 1785-1824. | East Greenwich | Labor Accounts | 1823 | Ledger account with Rachel Budlong, "a colerd woman." |
| Mss 75 | Stephen Arnold Papers, 1785-1824. | East Greenwich | Accounts | Jan 1820 | Accounts with Howland Greene settled in 1820 include charge for passage on brigatine Lydia and Margaret of Perry Greene Arnold's "black boy" accompanying Sarah Arnold from East Greenwich to Tiverton and back in 1817. |
| Mss 75 | Stephen Arnold Papers, 1785-1824. | East Greenwich | Bill | 1821-1842 | (in 1824-1827 estate file). Receipted bill July 6, 1824 from J. Miller includes "pair of shoes for your black woman." |
| Mss 75 | Stephen Arnold Papers, 1785-1824. | East Greenwich | Estate Inventory | 1734 | Inventory of his estate includes "one negro girl" |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1776-1788 | Ledger accounts include: Prince Greene, Prince Hammon, Jack Gardner, Pomp Mumford, Yorke Champlin, Peter Daley, Titus Peirce, Newport Champlin, Lamon? Hall, Samuel Allen, Ruben Spencer, Plato Vandoren |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1783-1816 | Store ledger accounts with Julious Fry, John Gardner (1811-1814), Prince Ingraham (1784), Philer Philips (1789-93), Prince Hammon (1785-88), Plato Vandoram (1784-85) |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1786-1807 | Arnold's ledger has accounts with Prince Greene for purchases including violin strings. Black Tom Arnold bought rum (1798). Also mentions Ben Lippitt (1799-1803) buying strings. |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1790 | Unbound materials include a settlement of accounts with Pomp Mumford who must have been a crew person on a fishing boat. |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Papers | Sep 1796, Feb 1797, May 1797 | Sloop Providence papers for voyage to West Indies with crew including Samuel Sambo and possibly Freeborn Johnson is black |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Bill | Feb 1797 | Portlege bill in Providence includes Samuel Sambo, crewman |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1797 | Settlement of accounts with Sam Sambo for sundry goods and cash |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1799 | James Sweet settles accounts for shoes made for Moses, Ace, Margaret and others |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1799-1801 | In his business journal he records store charges against Black Tom Arnold |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Receipt | Jul 1809 | Receipt for payment to Drinham & Hawkins for advertising notice of his "runaway servant" |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1811 | Accounts of spinners, naming John Gardner, November 26, 1811 and Mary black woman, October 29, 1811 |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1811-1813 | Daybook of innkeeper, accounts with Abraham Pero, 1812 and Jack Gardner, 1812 |
| Mss 71 | William Arnold Papers, 1752-1816. | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1819 | Accounts with laborers working on their ship Commodore Perry, names Cato Northrup |
| Mss 19 | Jacob Babbit Papers, 1798-1838. | Bristol | Papers | 1790-1810 | Babbitt, a Bristol native who invested heavily in the slave trade between about 1790 and 1810. His papers include correspondence and financial records. Finding aid available in the Manuscripts division. |
| Mss 9001-B | Bailey, William M. | Providence | Memorand-um | May 1882 | Note apparently written by his mother, Jane Keeley, grandaughter of Providence blacksmith Jacob Whitman, idenitifies Whitman's slaves including Prince (Priney no Nose), Cato, Pomp, Sisser, Card, Amy, Tullis, Nancy, and Dorcas. |
| Mss 9001-B | Baley, Thomas | Newport | Indenture | 20 Jul 1768 | Indenture of Bathsheba Kim, to Baley from William Coddington of the Town Council. |
| Mss 919 | John Banister Account Books, 1746-1753. | Newport | Accounts | 1747-1750 | Both volumes include some documentation of Banister's dealings in slaves. No explicit reference was found to an entire shipload of slaves being imported from Africa, although ships named the Affrican and the Angola suggest that Banister was interested in the cross-Atlantic slave trade. However, Banister sometimes purchased one or two slaves at a time in the West Indies and sold them in New England. The daybook documents the purchase and Connecticut sale of a "Negro boy named Fortune" in 1747, the purchase of "a Negro man named Cesar" from a ship captain in 1747, and the purchase of two unnamed slaves in 1749/50. Banister also detailed the clothing expenses of Banister's slaves, and the profits he gained from loaning out their labor. "Negro Anthony" or "Tony" appears nine times in the daybook from 1747-1750, mostly for work done in preparing ships for journeys. "Negro Mingo" and "Cato" are also mentioned. Detailed abstracts of all of these entries can be found in the guide to the Banister Papers. |
| Mss 9001-B | Barber, Reynolds | Exeter | Deed | c.1780 | One half of deed for sale of "Prince." |
| Mss 1099 | John Rowland Barker Papers | South Pacific during World War II | Letter | 13 Aug 1944 | A letter from J. Rowland Barker to his parents, Aug. 13, 1944 "A few nights ago we had a stage show here put on by a Negro Engineers outfit which was pretty good." |
| Mss 1099 | John Rowland Barker Papers | South Pacific during World War II | Letter | 2 Aug 1944 | A letter from George Barker in Derby, England to J. Rowland Barker, Aug. 2, 1944 "They are opening two U.S. clubs in the town now: one for white troops and one for coloured troops. I see that a coloured choir will be soon singing at the Salvation Army H.Q." |
| MSS 283 | William Barker Account Books | Providence | Account Book | 14 May 1793 | An entry in William Barkers account with Brown & Francis on 14 may 1793 for the making or sale of a tray for a Negro. Entry reades "To tray dl Negro" |
| MSS 187 | Barrington Town Records Collection | Barrington | 1798 Direct Tax, List C | 1 Oct 1798 | List C of the 1798 Direct Tax valuation - Particular list of slaves owned by, or under the care of on the first day of October 1798, within the assessment district [blank] in the State of Rhode Island. One sheet for Barrington listing 4 individuals each owning 1 slave: Edward Bosworth, Nathaniel Smith, Ebenezer Tiffaney, Matthew Watson. The names of the slaves are not given. |
| Mss 9001-B | Bayley, William | Middletown | Will | 10 Jan 1770 | In his last will and testament, Bailey manumits Prince when his youngest son reaches the age of twenty one. In the inventory of his estate, Prince is valued at L l5-0-0. |
| Mss 292 | Harriet F. Bennett Diaries, 1/1/1872-12/31/1872. | Pawtucket | Diary | 24 Jan 1872 | Diary entry by white Pawtucket woman includes a long description of her reaction when an African-American man boarded her bus, and then a meditation on the evil of her prejudice. "Is it possible that I am so narrow, mean, and petty that I am not willing to ride in the same car as a Negro, and he a clearly well-dressed, well-mannered one?" [1/24/1872] |
| Mss 294 | Bernon Papers, 1652-1946. Bulk 1687-1885 | Rhode Island | Letter | 8 Dec 1714 | Letter to Gabriel Bernon from James Honeyman re: Bernon's gift of a black woman to his daughter Sarah; with notes in French by Bernon. |
| Mss 9001-B | Bicknell, Japheth | North Kingstown | Land deeds | 1788-1791 | Three deeds to Sampson Gardner alias Samson Chaucum, a free black man. |
| Mss 9001-B | Bicknell, Joseph | Warren | Promissory Note | 5 Jul 1819 | Promise to pay Nimmo and Churchill "Twenty dollars for Value Recvd." |
| Mss 9001-B | Bishop, Phanuel E. | Rhode Island | Diary | 18 Dec 1862 - 30 Jun 1864 | Diary of white lieutenant in 14th Regiment, R.I. Heavy Artillery (Colored) in the Civil War. |
| Mss 233 | Blackstone Valley Community Action Program Records, 1967-1973. | Pawtucket | Records | 1967-1973 | Records of federally funded anti-poverty organization based in Pawtucket, with a substantial number of Afro-American staff and clients. 0.5 linear feet. |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | Washington, D.C. | Letter | 28 Mar 1862 | Letter March 28, 1862 to Dave - " I went down to the Capitol a few days ago and attended a session of the Senate . . . and was entertained with a spicy debate of the District Emancipation Bill during which it was asserted that one of the Vice Presidents of the U.S. from the South had nortoriously lived with a negro wench and had children by her, and that another Southern Senator's negro children were at school in the State of Ohio. The Senator from Iowa proceeded to state that there were but three cases of white men marrying negroes in his own State and all three of these gentlemen came from Slave States and probably formed their peculiar interests there. I noticed that the Senators from Del. and Maryland spoke of slavery as a doomed institution while senators from Ky made no remarks in opposition." |
| Bliss, George N. | Virginia | Letter | 1 May 1862 | Letter May 1, 1862 to Dave - "Niggers don't appear to find anything congenial in me, the first one I had died and the one I employed here is now sick with small pox. We have a large number of runaway slaves in camp who act as servants for officers, etc., most of them I find left their masters through fear of being forced to labor on the rebel fortifications." | |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | Virginia | Letter | 7 Apr 1863 | Letter April 7, 1863 to Gerald - "There is a [illegible] of a fuss about niggers and if anyone advocates using niggers on our side he is a "nigger worshipper" fearful epithet, it once had power but after one has become acclimated to rebel shells he dosn't [sic] much fear copperhead bomb shells. I believe in using the nigger to subdue the rebels as I would use my sabre or horses or a jackass, if he will fight use him as a soldier, if he will work let him dig the trenches and drive the teams. I believe the Eman. Pro. to be a good war measure and that this summer will demonstrate same." |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | New Haven, Conn. | Letter | 9 Dec 1863 | Letter December 9, 1863 to Gerald - "Recruits are coming in regularly from the state of Conn. We have about 200 niggers and 300 white volunteer recruits now in camp." |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | New Haven, Conn. | Letter | 23 Dec 1863 | Letter December 23, 1863 to Gerald - "We have 500 niggers here now and I have sent over 300 recruits to Washington. . ." |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | New Haven, Conn. | Letter | 9 Mar 1864 | Letter March 9, 1864 to Gerald - "We are trying a Capt. Of the colored regiment here which regiment is under marching orders. . ." |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | Virginia | Letter | 14 Aug 1864 | Letter August 14, 1864 to Gerald - "One of your assertions is totally false i.e. 'negroes will not fight' and I am at a loss as to how you could have been so entirely mistaken on a mere question of facts, the negroes have fought well, much better than we expected and better than the average of white troops with the same experience, this has been owing in a great degree to the fact that their officers are much better than those that came out with new white regiments the offices of negro troops come principally from veteran white regiments and the examination they are obliged to pass requires more than average education. The uniform testimony of all officers and soldiers who have seen the negroes in action and with whom I have had an opportunity of conversing is that the negroes fight better than they expected. You say wherever negroes have 'been tried in action it has resulted in failure;' how can you stultify yourself by such statements in face of the fact that Genl Baldy Smith (who did not believe in negro soldiers) complimented in General Orders the negro regiments of this command for their gallantry in the successful charge which resulted in the capture of the formidable works at Petersburg with many cannon[s] and prisoners." |
| Mss 298 | Bliss, George N. | Maryland | Letter | 24 Aug 1864 | Letter Augusts 24, 1864 to Gerald - "Now for the negroes. I personally have not seen them under fire but one of my men Private Spalding Toop B was Orderly for Genl Getty last July and saw a negrow regiment go into action near the Chicahoming he says they charged across an open field and took a rebel battery and that he saw one negor knowch a rebels brains out with a clubbed musket, this regiment was obliged to fall back without bringing off the guns because they were not properly supported (A common fault in our army) but is shows negroes will fight. . ." |
| Mss 9001-B | Borden, Benjamin | Tiverton | Letters and receipts | 1785-1789 | Borden's papers contain references to the buying and selling of slaves, traveling to the West Indies and selling molasses and rum. |
| Mss 9001-B | Borden, John | Tiverton | Letter | 28 Nov 1802 | From Edwin Snow, concerning a black girl named Lucy Durfee alias Chace who is to be sold the following day. |
| Mss 924 | Simeon Borden Accounts, 1758-1813. | Freetown | Account Book | 1795 | Borden credits Joseph Read with "half your black boy's voyage a whaling." |
| Mss 9001-B | Bosworth, Benjamin | Sailing orders | 1806 | There are only two undated single-page documents in this collection. Both are unsigned drafts of sailing orders to a Capt. Bosworth for voyages to Africa, and give detailed instructions regarding contacts and procedures for procuring slaves. One describes a certain point on the coast where "you will discover a signal pole at [Seallem?] Point & if the Factory is not destroyed th will be a flage posted white with a cross." The captain was instructed to "trade by ounces, price from 3 to 4 ounces pr. head", probably in gold. The orders are believed to have been issued for the 1806 voyage of the brig Lark, which is the only slaving voyage Coughtry cites for any Capt. Bosworth. | |
| Mss 9001-B | Bourne, Aaron | Bristol | Ledger | 1729-1749 | Physician's accounts with slave-owners whose servants he has treated: Capt. John Newton, Thomas Kinnicutt, Deacon Benjamin Cary, Nathaniel Paine, others. Some send their servants to work for Bourne to pay off debts, William Walker and others. Jack Munro appears to be a free person as he has an account in his own name (p.91). There are also long accounts with "Danel Tungit? Indion" (1739, p.11), "Simon Indian" (1729, p.40), who paid 10 pounds in cash; "Abraham Truck Indion" (1733, p.53), who paid with "your & mothers Negros mowing". |
| Mss 11 | Benjamin Bourne Papers, 1774-1843. | Bristol | Bill of sale | 31 Jan 1786 | Financial records include a bill of sale from Silas Talbot for Dimbo, his wife, Sarah and three children (January 31, 1786). Also included in the sale are the articles of clothing and furniture in their house. |
| Mss 11 | Benjamin Bourne Papers, 1774-1843. | Bristol | Letter | 4 Jan 1795 | A letter (January 4, 1795) from Arthur Fenner to Benjamin Bourne introducing Christopher Harry, a Narragansett Indian, as one of agents appealing to Congress concerning encroachments on Indian lands in New York. |
| Mss 301 | Bowen Family Papers, 1754-1894. Bowen, Ephraim | Providence | Papers | 1754 | Papers and accounts kept as the executor of the estate of Peter Mawney include many references to the blacks owned by Mawney. A 1754 inventory names the slaves as Primus, Jenny, Prince, Cato, Pero, Rose, and Patience. |
| Mss 301 | Bowen Family Papers, 1754-1894. Bowen, Ephraim | Providence | Letter | 4 Jan 1795 | Ephraim Bowen's accounts as Deputy Quartermaster General include payments to Samboy for painting wagons (July 16, 1777). |
| Mss 9001-B | Briggs, Nathaniel | Tiverton | Papers | 1758-1804 | Throughout the accounts and letters are many references to slaves. Examples include, but are not limited to charges against sloop Union for wages of Paul Cuff and Newport (January 1776), Elisha Lawton's accounts for mending shoes for Briggs' servants (May 3, 1773), and an account of the sloop L'amiable which documents 8 negros being paid to help unload the ship (1776). |
| Mss 9001-B | Bristol Insurance Company | Bristol | Requests | 1800-1801 | The insurance industry was an integral part of the transatlantic slave trade, though from a discreet distance. This volume contains copies of approved requests for insurance by shipowners, covering only 1800 and 1801. The requests usually give some information on the proposed itinerary, and the expected value of the cargo; many are for voyages to Africa. |
| Mss 109 | Beriah Brown Papers, 1696-1874 | Kings/Washington County | Family Papers | 1746-1792 | Papers of Beriah Brown, who served as sheriff of Kings/Washington County from 1746 to 1792. Includes an extensive case from 1779, in which a John Rice of North Carolina bought four slaves in Narragansett, only to discover it was illegal to move them out of state, at which point Brown was charged with selling them on Rice's behalf. There is also a large scrap of paper filed under 1778, on which Brown drafted a letter to the new government regarding Sipio, his slave, who had enlisted in the army. Brown claimed to be "willing to serve his country" but "wants his boy back". |
| Mss 109 | Beriah Brown Papers, 1696-1874 | Kings/Washington County | Family Papers | 1746-1792 | In 1785, Brown drafted an advertisement for his runaway slave Pomp. A scrap note from 1786 indicates that Pomp worked in Scituate that year; he was presumably captured. Other items include an undated suit regarding a slave purchased by one Joshua Holmes, who later proved to be free; a deed dated 3/19/1785 from Beriah Brown Jr. to Beriah Brown Sr. of "one certain Negro named Pero aged about thirty-eight years"; a slave named Jim auctioned off in the estate of Charles Slocum in 1777; a receipt for "a Negro man named Jack" purchased by the sheriff in 1774; a 1765 reference to a slave that Beriah Brown Jr. received; and a 1761 mention of a writ to arrest a "Negro man named Quacco"; a July 4 1771 warrant against Seaser, a Negro, suspected of assault; and a mention on March 11, 1771, of Henry Harry, Indian; a 1770 sentence of Hannah Sias, "Indian Woman", to be whipped for stealing; and an interesting 1780 case involves an "Indian woman" pauper named Abigail Westcott from Block Island. A careful review of the entire collection would undoubtedly yield more. |
| Mss 9001-B | Brown, Joseph E. | Rhode Island | Pension File | no date | Pension file of African-American sailor in Civil War |
| Mss 9001-B | Brown, Ceasar | East Greenwich | Promissory note | l4 Apr 1816 | Pay to Ephraim Spencer |
| Mss 1031 sg 4 | Henry A.L. Brown Deposit | Rhode Island | Letter | 10 Sep 1854 | Box 8, Folder 124: Letter from Harvey Dodge of Worcester, Mass. to John Brown Francis as officer of the Rhode Island Society for Encouragement of Domestic Industry. Reads in part, "Our Negro folks held their convention last week in Worcester & nominated Th. Coble Wilson for Gov. & changed their name from Free Soil to National Republicans. . . We are in great fear lest they will steal our negro before the election is over. Had it not been for that southern devil that came on last summer for bonus the free soilers could have starved to death before now. I hope the next one that comes will be shot before he finds his slave. . . No good master would even think of coming here to hunt up a poor negro." |
| Mss 1031 sg 4 | Henry A.L. Brown Deposit | Rhode Island | Letter | 7 Jan 1836 | Box 8, Folder 124: Letter from W.S. Church of N.Y. to John B. Francis, re John Brown Tract in Adirondack mountains. In part: "The case of the black man on No. 3 I perfectly recollect as his is the only black family on the whole tract and I think it would be decidedly to your interest to get rid of him as soon as is possible without distressing his family." |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Letters | 1753-1836 | In addition to being a prominent Rhode Island citizen and businessman, one of Moses Brown's most valuable contributions was as an outspoken opponent of slavery. Brown worked to educate and influence others to the immorality of slavery.
This collection of Brown's papers contains thousands of letters. Slavery and blacks are addressed in many of the letters and some of the correspondence is with formers slaves. Series II, the subject files, contains four folders titled "Anti-slavery." Series IV (bound volumes) includes account books which contain references to people of color. Excerpts of some of the letters of the collection are highlighted. Finding aid available in manuscripts. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Description | 1723 | Box 6, Folder 175: Description of the yellow fever epidemic in 1723 and its effect on the native population in RI. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Letter | 18 Jan 1762 | Box 7, Folder 18: (Document #165) Letter of Administration for the estate of Fortin Wiate, Jan. 18, 1762 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Inventory | 8 Mar 1762 | Box 7, Folder 18: (Document #166) "An Inventory of Fortin Wiate free Negro Mans Estate. . ." which was worth in pounds 189 - 7 - 0. Approved by the Town Council March 8, 1762. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 10 Sep 1777 | Page 8 - entry for "Tom negro" - "By 1/4 his Wages from the 10th of 11th Mo. 1773 when I gave him a Manumission of 1/4 - to ye 10th of 9th mo. 1777 when the Business at the Works Ceased is 3 years 10 mo and as Somethings are Chd Since paper Money came in use I take out no Loss Time but ye allow the Whole of 70 Dol . . ." On the same page also appear entries for two other men named Yarrow and Newport who are connected to Tom through their wages. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 9 May 1774 | Page 10 - "1774 9 mo. 5 - Notes gave negros - 226 pd and took up". |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1818-1819 | Page 18 - Sally or Sarah Holden Cold Woman, 1818-1819. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1763-1765 | Page 23 - Prime Burden Negro, 1763-1765. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1820-1821 | Page 42 - Marge Samuel Cold Woman, 1820-1821. |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1763-1786 | Page 44 - Toney Crawford Indian, 1763-1786 "Toney being Poor I dont propose to Demand the Balance Due for Rent." |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1812-1814 | Page 47 - Stephen Ceaser colourd Man, 1812-1814 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1812-1825 | Page 47 - Faney or Bethany a Coloured Woman, 1812-1825 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1821-1822 | Page 50 - Margery Sam Cold Woman, 1821-1822 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1809 | Page 51 - Richard Williams blk Man, 1809 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1825-1827 | Page 54 - Faney a Colourd Woman or Bethana or Phaney, 1825-1827 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1832-1834 | Page 57 - Bethany a Colourd Woman, 1832-1834 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1763 | Page 57 - Yokway Fenner Negro, 1763 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1779-1812 | Page 61 - Cudge Negro, 1779-1812 "I paid Doc Barrows for his Doctrine of Cudge in his last Sickness" |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1802 | Page 64 - Anthony Browning blk Man, 1802 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1778-1779 | Page 77 - Tom negro, 1778-1779 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1778-1779 | Page 77 - Yarrow negro, 1778-1779 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1797 | Page 77 - Jacob blackman, 1797 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1803-1824 | Page 80 and 234 - Joseph Dailey Indian, 1803-1824 "Joseph being deceased I Balance this acct without Calling on his family or Land" |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1785 | Page 183 - Charles (Negro), 1785 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1785 | Page 183 - Cloe Angell, negro, 1786-1800 |
| Mss 313 | Moses Brown Papers, 1753-1836 | Providence | Ledger | 1816 | Page 183 - Susan Carr, Colourd Woman, 1816 [There are many more entries for people of color in the ledger than listed] |
| Mss 315 | Obadiah Brown I (1712-1762) Papers, 1719-1762. Bulk 1740-1762. | Providence | Papers | 1740-1762 | Obadiah Brown I (1712-1762), a mercantile trader, was directly involved with the slave trade on two occasions. Brown was master of sloop Mary, owned by his brother, James Brown II (1698-1739). The sloop Mary made a trip to Africa in 1736 becoming Rhode Island's first slave ship. This voyage was not profitable and was never repeated by the Browns.
In 1759, Obadiah Brown's firm, Obadiah Brown & Co. made a second attempt at the slave trade sending the ship Wheel of Fortune to Africa. The ship was captured by French privateers.
Most of Brown's papers relate to his business ventures including trade in the West Indies and the operation of a rum distillery. Unfortunately, there is nothing in this collection relating to the 1736 voyage of Mary and there are only a few incidental accounts relating to the 1758 fitting out of Wheel of Fortune (see "Ledger No. 5", p.122).
Upon the death of Obadiah Brown in 1762 the following document was drawn up: "Inventory of the Household Furniture & other Goods at the Spermaceti Works, the half of which belongs to the Estate of Capt. Obadiah Brown deceased; The Quarter part of which is sold by Mary Brown the Widow and Executor of said deceased to Nicholas, Joseph & John Brown of Providence Merchants by Bill of Sale hereunto annexed" Listed on the inventory are: 1 Negro Man named Yarrow 1050 1 Ditto do Reuben 1100 1 ditto do Tom 1250 1/2 a Negro Girl named Tulip [unreadable] Finding aid available. |
| Mss 9001-B | Browne, Esther | Newport | Declaration of Freedom | 5 Jan 1781 | Notice that with the payment of $40 from her husband, Sam, Peggy Easton is released from service and no longer under any obligation to Esther Browne or her heirs. |
| Mss 64 | Joseph Bucklin Family Papers | Rehoboth, MA | Account Book | 1847-1865 | Entry Sep 4, 1860 "By amt paid colored man for watering streets 7 weeks $1.75" Entry Oct 2, 1860 "By amt paid colored man for watering streets in full $1.00" |
| Mss 9001-B | Budlong, Rebecca | Providence | Letter | 21 May 1858 | Anonymous letter from Providence to Thomas Kenney, the editor of the Newark Advertiser in Newark, N.J., regarding Rebecca Budlong, who was "in the habit of visiting a colored barbers shop, a place of rendezvous for prostitutes," 5/21/1858. |
| Mss 321 | Burnside, Ambrose E. | Rhode Island | Correspond-ence | 4 Apr 1864 | Correspondence sent by Major General Burnside during his service in the Civil War. Three telegrams sent circa April 4, 1864 to the Adjutant Generals in Columbus, OH; Springfield, IL; and Indianapolis, IN requesting information about the status of the colored regiments and whether the officers had been mustered into service. See also the list of correspondence relating to people of color as part of the inventory to his papers. They often use the term "contraband" in reference to slaves who escaped or were liberated by advancing Union troops. Those individuals were technically still the property of their owners and so were contraband goods just as other types of "liberated" household goods were contraband. The list gives the volume and page number and the date of the letter or telegram. |
| Mss 325 | Butler Family Papers, 1753-1846 | Providence | Accounts | 1789-1800 | Ledger entries with accounts with Quacco Butler from p. 8 forward. |
| Mss 9001-C | Caesar, John | Cranston | Deed | 1821 | Deed for sale of property from Caesar's estate to sons Benjamin, Charles C., Peter, Stephen, John and daughter Rhobe Lippitt. |
| Mss 9001-C loose vol. | Cahoone, Charles | Newport | Passenger Lists | 1781-1787 | Cahoone operated a packet boat to and from Providence. Records his passengers, including a few blacks. |
| Mss 369 | Paul Campbell Research Notes, ca. 1976-1985 | Rhode Island | Research Notes | c.1976-1985 | In 1975, the Narragansett Indian Tribe filed suit to regain land in southern RI which they claimed was illegally taken from them in 1880. In 1976, Paul Campbell was hired by the RI Attorney General's office as historian for the defense and along with his research partner, Glenn LaFantasie, he began photocopying documents ranging from 1524-1979. This collection contains many of Campbell's research notes on the Narragansetts as well as some of LaFantasie's. The notes are mainly photocopies of primary and secondary sources, trial documents, handwritten notes, drafts and correspondence regarding publishing. Finding aid is available. |
| Mss 1140 | Card Family | Newport | Papers | 1758-1768 and undated | Folder 1: A 1758 bill from Sarah Bull for labor of her "negor man.", A 1768 account of paying Thomas Townsend for making a coffin for his "negro girl" An undated receipt for paying a "Black man going with a letter to Senegal 4 1/2 gallons Brandy.." |
| Mss 1140 | Card Family | Newport | Papers | 1758-1768 and undated | Folder 2: March 4, 1758, James Card pays Sarah Bull seven pounds for work done on his sloop by her Negor man." January 29, 1760, receipt for payment to Howard Pool for making 2 pairs of shoes for Card's "negroes." February 20, 1761, receipt for payment from Jonathan Paine to whom Card delivered a "neagor boy" from Boston. October 16, 1763, receipt for two slaves a boy, Nicholaw and a girl, Present from Oliver Ring Warner, a merchant, who buys and sells slaves through Card. Letters, 1770. In several copies of letters from James Card to Oliver Ring Warner, Card discusses the probability of his being able to recapture Ring's slave "Newport" who appears to have run away in Honduras. |
| Mss 9001-C | Carder, Randall | Warwick | Estate | 29 Aug 1804 | Papers of the estate of Timothy Dailey, a black man. Claimants against the estate include Bristol Rhodes, Joseph Daily and others. |
| Mss 9001-C loose vol. | Carew, Zabdiel | Providence | Accounts | 12 Nov 1782 | Charge to Nathaniel Green for making a coffin "for his Negro woman". Accounts are written on the back of pages in one of Carew's orderly book/morning report journals, possibly by someone other than Carew. |
| Mss 9001-C | Carr, Caleb d.1805 | Newport | Labor records and receipts | 1758-1759 | Supervising construction of Ft. George, pays Captain William Mumford for labor of Tom, pays John Brown, Jr. for labor of George, and charges the colony for work of his own negro. |
| Mss 9001-C | Carr, Mary | Newport | Inventory | 17 Dec 1746 | Her estate inventory names "1 Negro man named Tom, 1 Negro woman named Phillis and Negro child named Violet." |
| Mss 9001-C | Carr, Robert | Warwick | Order | 18 Dec 1666 | Order to "Humfumchag Subbondonset, Ehachabbin Quoanoscit" and their associates (formerly associates of Pomham) to cease planting within boundaries of Warwick Plantation. Checked by RDS, 2004 |
| Mss 333 | Carrington Papers | Providence | Accounts | 1815-1835 | In Seaman's Ledger includes accounts with black crewman. |
| Mss 333 | Carrington Papers Series 5 | Providence | Accounts | 1815-1822 | Ledger books for labor done on ships and at Edward Carrington's estate include the names of Anthony Randall, John Stout, Pero, Prince, Prime Bowen, Cupid Bowen, Thomas, Ned, Talbot, Francis, John and others. |
| Mss 333 | Carrington Papers Series 5 | Providence | Accounts | 1817-1818 | Ships's Laborer Ledger. A listing for work done by "Chinese, the white one" for 3 1/2 days for which he was paid $3. |
| Mss 333 | Carrington Papers Series 1, Subseries 1 - Incoming Correspondence (Box 12) | Providence | Letters | 1806-1809 | Letter from Benjamin Hoppin & Sons to Edward Carrington written June 4, 1807 and received by Carrington in Canton Dec. 14, 1807 "Benjamin Clifford mentions to our BH Jr. the other day the situation of your property on the Coast of Africa it requires immediate attention or it will be lost as in a very short time our African trade will be entirely at an end & your demand we understand is pay[able?] in slaves." |
| Mss 336 | Carter-Danforth Papers, 1722-1929. Bulk 1790-1840. | Providence | Account Books | 1790-1840 | Several account books in this collection mention people of color. |
| Mss 336 | Carter-Danforth Papers, 1722-1929. Bulk 1790-1840. | Providence | Accounts | 1768-1775 | Lists accounts with subscribers to the Providence Gazette including Tony Kinnicutt (p. 272), Negro Greenwich (p. 272, 429), and Prince Keen (p. 31) |
| Mss 336 | Carter-Danforth Papers, 1722-1929. Bulk 1790-1840. | Providence | Journal | 1789-1828 | Journal of Job Danforth. Entries include a charge against Jacob Whitman for building "a bunk for Prince to sleep in" (p.57), accounts with Quacco Butler (p. 83), a felt hat for Hopestill McNeal's Scipio (p. 87), a coffin for an unidentified blackman of J. Whitman's (p. l45), and an account for making a coffin for the wife of John Hicks (p.177). |
| Mss 336 | Carter-Danforth Papers, 1722-1929. Bulk 1790-1840. | Providence | Accounts | 1817 | Ledger A includes an account kept with John Rogers (black man). |
| Mss 9001-C | Cary, Nathaniel | Bristol | Accounts | 15 Dec 1752 and 25 Jul 1754 | Settles accounts with William Bradford for goods delivered to "yr negro" (December 15, 1752) and accounts with the estate of Nathan Miller including "To your order by Primus" (July 25, 1754). |
| Mss 1002 | Elizabeth Buffum Chace Papers, 1858-1890, 1932. | Rhode Island | Papers | 19 Aug 1862 | Papers of a famous abolitionist whose home served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. These papers, however, shed little light on these activities, and consist mostly of correspondence with her children. There are several passing mentions of anti-slavery meetings, and of a visit to abolitionist Wendell Phillips. One letter dated 8/19/1862 reads: "Gen. Hunter has disbanded his Negro regiment. How strange that such blindness prevails. That white men must go by hundreds of thousands...but the colored man must be saved! ...the country will ere long be inhabited by women and children and negroes. Oh! how I long to hear the right word spoken, that of Universal Freedom which would so soon put an end to this War! When will it come?" |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Papers | 1700-1761 | Champlin was a Newport merchant who invested occasionally in the slave trade. These records include records for supplying the slave schooner Adventure from 1763-1774; labor accounts for slaves hired out by Champlin to other masters; and the 1762 bill of sale of a slave named Bristow Rhodes. There are also several folders of deeds and depositions dated 1700-1761 relating to an estate dispute among the Narragansetts, for which Champlin served as Thomas Ninigret's trustee. |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Deed | 4 Dec 1712-18 Jun 1731 | "Deed of land to Christopher Champlin from the Committee Appointed to Assist Ninnegret in Disposing Some of his Lands." |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Deposition | 18 Oct 1752 | Deposition of Jonathan Kinyon of Charlestown, Richmond, regarding a deed of land from George Ninegrett. |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Estate | 1754-1755 | Accounts with the estate of Thomas Ninigret with renters listed, including "Negro William" and William Mustee |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Accounts | 1757 | Privateer brigatine George accounts with Joseph Hull, Cuff Godfrey, Prince Lillibridge. Crew list includes "negro amas," Thomas Atwood's "negro Scipio," and James Tosh |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Crew lists | 1758 | Privateer Brigatin George crew list includes Obediah Cezar, Ebenezer Cezar, Ned Stoddard, Cezar Steven, Boston Malbone, Jack Bowler, Cezar Malbone, Ben Negro, Prince Gould |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Account | 10 Jul 1760 | Peleg Thurston's accounting of includes charge for labor of "my negro" |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Letter | 29 Oct 1762 | Samuel Moss to Capt. John Peck, Newport. Re: slaving voyage. |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Letter | 8 Nov 1762 | "Saml Chace to Mr Champlin." Re: shares in the Privateer Speedwell due Chace via. his servant Cesar Chase or Cesar Fry. |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Crew List | 1766 | "Bristol Champlin, slave" appears on crew lists, schooner Adventure |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Account | 1770 | Jeremiah Phillips account includes making shoes for "Your negro woman" |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Crew List | 1771 | "Tosh" (or Tack) Sisson appears on crew list for sloop Adventure |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Account | 1773 | "Ephraim Meves--Mulatto seaman" is carreid in account books of sloop Adventure. I also see "Frank, servant to Doctor Eyres" same volume. |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Letter | 25 Dec 1774 | Prince Miller, runaway, staved away on a ship to Philadelphia. See Henry Gardner's letter of December 25, 1774 |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Accounts | 1775 | Accounts of his ship Peggy, includes names of Hicks, James Carr and Sirlone Jepson |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Crew List | 1794 | Quash Vernon appears on crew list snow Elizabeth |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Manumissi-on | 11 Jun 1796 | George, Irish - Manumission of Will June 11, 1796 Will, a black man, bought his freedom. |
| Mss 20 | Christopher Champlin Papers, 1700-1840. | Newport | Deed | 11 Aug 1762 | Deed from Simon Rhodes of Stonington Conn. to Christopher Champlin of Newport, August 11 1762, of "one certain negro man about thirty years of age known by the name of Bristow Rhodes." In "Financial Records, Misc." folder in box 9. |
| Mss 341 | Channing-Ellery Papers, 1694-1819. | Newport | Papers | 22 Oct 1773 | Vol. l, p. 175 : William Ellery of Newport settles accounts with Samuel Hully for "cutting yr Negro a Jackitt" |
| Mss 341 | Channing-Ellery Papers, 1694-1819. | Newport | Papers | 23 Jun 1786 | Vol. 3, p. 109: As commissioner of the Continental Loan Office, William Ellery sold certificates to Prince Bent, Jehu Quaco and others. |
| Mss 341 | Channing-Ellery Papers, 1694-1819. | Newport | Papers | Aug 1790 | Vol. 4, p. 127: Manne Green is identified in a deposition as a laborer. |
| Mss 341 | Channing-Ellery Papers, 1694-1819. | Newport | Papers | 13 Aug 1790 | Vol. 4, p. 129: Judgement re James Sampson, Indian, of South Kingstown. |
| Mss 341 | Channing-Ellery Papers, 1694-1819. | Newport | Papers | 25 Jan 1802 | Vol. 6, p. 51: Letter from David Howell to William Ellery, mentioning "Black woman Belinda (and) Hammond Tanner a Black man." |
| Mss 341 | Channing-Ellery Papers, 1694-1819. | Newport | Papers | 1799-1819 | Vol. 6, pages 35, 37, 43, 71; vol. 7, page 251: Also correspondence of Newport customs collector William Ellery, discussing slave trade in letters dated 10/15/1799, 11/1/1799, 1/3/1801, 3/4/1805. Letters dated 9/4 and 9/5/1819 discuss a Portuguese schooner caught near Bristol which was fitted out for the slave trade. |
| Mss 191 | Charlestown Town Papers | Charlestown | Bond | 7 Jan 1793 | "Bond as guardian to James Davis Negro and his Estate to leting up two notifications for all that have any tradings with said James, to come to us for settlement, and to trade with James no more." |
| Mss 9001-C | Christ Church (Episcopal) | Providence | Records | 1841-1851 | One of the first African-American Episcopal churches in the country. A June 1849 letter from Prince Loveridge questions the placing of a white clergyman in the church. He writes, " ...that a Colored minister would do more for that people than the most talented white man that can be found. " |
| Mss 1127 | Clark/Church Family Papers | Rhode Island | Letter | 26 Feb 1807 | Letter from Joseph Clark to his wife Mary (Foster) Clark dated Feb. 26, 1807 from Savannah: "My Sailors & Cook have letters from their friends - My Mate Mr. Hopkins found a letter here from his Wife, all my people - even my cook, although he is a very Dark sind Man had a letter." |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Account Book | 1771-1779 | Vol. 1, Account book, 1771-1779: Accounts with Ethan Clarke include Quaco Ward of Westerly (p.101), James Shote - Indian soldier, (p.143) and possibly other people of color. |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Diary | 1829 | Box 1, Diary of Celia Clarke, 1829 : Includes extensive descriptions of work done by servants, who were undoubtedly Afro-American. Their names included John, Prince, Judy and Caesar. |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Crew list | 1796 | Box 2, Clarke, Peleg & Audley, Crew list, 1796: Owners of a slaver, the brigatine Sally. A copy of the crew list includes name of Pero Nichols and Jack Rogers (cook). |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Accounts | 1785-1786 | Box 3, Accounts, 1785-1786: Ethan Clarke's factory ledger records hire of and accounts with blacks. |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Accounts | 1792-1795 | Box 3, Account book, 1792-1795: Ethan Clarke's accounts with Clarke & Hammond include pay to Sampson. |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Accounts | 1797-1798 | Box 3, Accounts, 1797-98: Ethan Clarke's journal records hire of "Mr. Hamilton's negro." |
| Mss 351 | Clarke Family Papers, 1676-1914. | Newport | Records | 1662 | Box 4, Westerly town record book with copies of town meetings including deeds and agreements with Narragansett Indians on pages 8-12 dated 1662. |
| Mss 350 | Clarke Indian Manuscripts | Deed | All Deeds | ||
| Mss 9001-C | Coggeshall, Elisha | Newport | Will | 1803-1805 | In his will, he manumits Jane and makes provision for Mark. |
| Mss 9001-C | Coggeshall, Thomas | Newport | Will | 31 Mar 1762 | Last will and testament willing various unnamed negroes to family members. |
| Mss 9001-C | Collins, James | Newport | Will | 1758 | In his last will, he leaves Brislow, Pegg, Phillis, and Violet to his children. |
| Mss 9001-C | Committee of Defence [sic] | Providence | Records | 1814 | Minutes of the meetings of the Committee of Defence which was an organization created by the citizens of Providence to defend Rhode Island against attack by the British during the War of 1812. On the inside front cover is a tally of the number of days of labor contributed by various groups toward the building of fortifications around Providence and surrounding towns. One of the groups was the "Free People of Color" who contributed a total of 96 days of labor. The minutes for Oct. 1, 1814 document that a letter was received by the "Free People of Color" offering their services. On Oct. 2, 1814 the committee assigned Wednesday [Oct. 5, 1814] as the day they would labor on the fortifications. |
| Mss 9001-C | Congdon, Benjamin | North Kingston | Inventory | 1756 | Estate inventory which includes "Old Tom and Old Jeana," Cuff, Binah, Tent and her four children, and Janna. |
| Mss 363 | Congdon Family Papers, 1811-1884. | East Greenwich | Diary | 1841 | Includes diary of Cynthia Sprague Congdon of East Greenwich, the white wife of a sea captain, with the following entries: "Ma went to the schoolhouse to a Negro meeting" (presumably Abolitionist) [2/27/1841]. "I am going to the Indians meeting this PM... Heard the Indians preach again, the house was crowded I do not think I seen such an assemblage since I visited the Masonic Hall. They talked extremely well and it was really wonderful to hear them speak of the Bible and bring forward their illustrations. Ignorant and unlearned as they were, one of them could not read a word he was the best speaker and one to have heard him would have supposed him well versed in the language of scripture." [3/21/1841 |
| Mss 363 | Congdon Family Papers, 1811-1884. | East Greenwich | Diary | 1854 | Diary of daughter Mary R. Congdon, including the following on a visit to New Orleans: "Passed several sugar plantations. First you would see the sugar mill then the masters house surrounded by orange trees then the slave houses which are all built along in a row they are very nice little houses. Each has its barrel before it to catch rain... One poor slave woman came on board [the ship] wanted washing." [12/25/1854] |
| Mss 9001-C | Congdon, Francis | North Kingston | Inventory | 21 Aug 1775 | Estate inventory which values Desire, Tom and Toney. |
| Mss 9001-C | Congdon, Joseph | Providence | Accounts | 1777-1779 | Accounts with saltworks name Yerrow (Yarrow) Simms, Primas, and William Sims. |
| Mss 936 | Congdon Street Baptist Church Records, 1875-1994 | Providence | Records | 1875-1994 | This collection includes minutes, reports, programs, newspaper clippings, historical notes, and memorabilia of one of Rhode Island's leading African- American churches. Finding aid is available. |
| Mss 9001-C | Cook, Thomas, Sr. | Tiverton | Papers | 1721, 1760 | Cook's papers include a 1721 bill of sale for Experience and his 1760 will in which she is manumitted. |
| Mss 365 | Nicholas Cooke Collection, 1764-1778. Bulk 1775-1777. | Providence | Complaint | 30 Jan 1771 | Complaint by Walter Burke of Newport against Captain Joseph Cooke for illegal sale of Joseph Manwaring's Tom on Antigua . |
| Mss 365 | Nicholas Cooke Collection, 1764-1778. Bulk 1775-1777. | Providence | Deed of sale | 18 Sep 1771 | Sale of Prince to Cooke from Josias Lyndon. |
| Mss 365 | Nicholas Cooke Collection, 1764-1778. Bulk 1775-1777. | Providence | Letter | 1 Jul 1775 | "Gov. Cook to the Sachems, Warriors, and female Governesses of Oneida," Draft of a letter attempting to secure the neutrality of the Oneida tribe in the war with Britain. |
| Mss 1058 | Cool Moose Party Records, 1982-2000. | Rhode Island | Correspond-ence | 1998 | Federal discrimination suit, "Black Owners/Investors of Broad St. Car Wash, Inc. vs. State of Rhode and Lincoln Almond and et als." Correspondence and supporting documents, 1998. Box 4, folder 49. |
| Mss 366 | Cooper Family Papers, 1720-1835. | Glocester | Bill of sale | 1751 | Bill of sale from Stephen Arnold of "Jack" |
| Mss 366 | Cooper Family Papers, 1720-1835. | Glocester | Papers | 1764-1766 | Papers concerning Moses Cooper's complaint against Daniel Bartlett for persuading Jack to run away. |
| Mss 982 | Joseph Crawford Papers, 1737-1796. | Providence | Payment | 1779 | Paid Prince Keen for shoeing horses. |
| Mss 982 | Joseph Crawford Papers, 1737-1796. | Providence | Accounts | 1761 | Settles accounts with Samuel Wall. |
| Mss 982 | Joseph Crawford Papers, 1737-1796. | Providence | Crew Lists | c. 1776-1781 | List includes the name of Lepard Angel "negro boy." This crew was probably on a military ship, possibly a privateer during the Revolutionary War. |
| Mss 9001-C | Crawford, Joseph Jr. | Providence | Accounts | Mar 1770 | Settles accounts with Benjamin Coates for "mending for Antoney." |
| Mss 9001-C loose vol. | Cushing, Benjamin | Providence | Account Book | 1769-1797 | Accounts with William Mingo (August 26, 1771) p. 43, Franscisco (September 20, 1771) p. 46, and William Cesar (October 14, 1771) p. 49. |
| Mss 9001-C | Cushing, Benjamin | Providence | Will | 1773 | In his will, he leaves to his daughter "My Negrowoman who is already living with her" (1773). |
| Mss 9001-D | Daggett, Israel, Jr. | Bristol | Bill of sale | 31 May 1768 | Sale of "one Negro Boy Named Quom about Eighteen Months Old" to Israel Daggett, Sr. |
| Mss 965 | DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), Records, 1986-1996. | Providence | Records | 1986-1996 | Community organization founded in 1986, based in South Providence, with largely African-American membership. Also addresses Latino and Asian-American concerns. The collection includes records of DARE's campaigns during its first ten years of existence. In addition, there are some administrative records, including minutes, grant applications, fundraising, and intern records. |
| Mss 9001-D | Dauchy, Marie | Providence | Diary | 1836 | Diary of a white woman passing through Providence in 1836, who described a celebration in honor of the 200th anniversary of Roger Williams' landing in Providence: We were told that all the Indians in the state would be gathered, and dinner prepared of corn, beans, fish, venison and such like as was used by the natives and first English inhabitants. |
| Mss 629 sg 11 | Davis Family Papers | North Kingstown | Records | 1835 | Records of a family who manufactured Negro cloth. Jeffrey Davis (1780-1854) and Ezra Davis (1779-1863) were partners in a successful woolen mill, E. & J. Davis. William Dean Davis, Jeffrey's son, joined the business in 1835. One of the products made at the mill was a durable and inexpensive fabric called "Negro Plain" which was sold to southern plantation owners to outfit their slaves. |
| Mss 629 sg 11 | Davis Family Papers | North Kingstown | Exercise book | c. 1795-1802 | Contains transcription of "dialogue of the dead" between an Englishman and a Mohawk "savage" who have both died of wounds inflicted via actions they took under the laws of their respective cultures (1796 entry) |
| Mss 629 sg 11 | Davis Family Papers | North Kingstown | Letter | 25 Sep 1831 | Letter to William Dean Davis from Abby Davis, 9/25/1831, mentions Providence race riots. |
| Mss 629 sg 11 | Davis Family Papers | North Kingstown | Letter | 1 May 1840 | Letter to William Dean Davis from his brother George A. Davis describing the execution of a "negro" in Matanzas for "killing his wife and the overseer on the estate of his master." |
| Mss 378 | Deed Book Collection | Cranston | Receipt | 6 Jun 1785 | Vol. 2, p. 97: Obadiah Brown receipt for a slave bought from William Allen at public sale of the estate of John Andrews. |
| Mss 378 | Deed Book Collection | Providence | Receipt | 13 Jul 1780 | Vol. 2, p. l35: Receipt given by Henry Bacon who agrees to hold for Mingo Bentley "free negroman of Providence" the amount of his soldier's bounty. |
| Mss 378 | Deed Book Collection | Providence | Will | c. 1780 | Vol. 2, p. l36: Last will and testament of Mingo Bentley of Providence who leaves everything to his wife Finda Sweeting, servant of Job Sweeting. |
| Mss 378 | Deed Book Collection | Providence | Deposition | 5 Jan 1758 | Vol. 4: Deposition given about Thomas Angel's Violet which also mentions Primus and Prince |
| Mss 378 | Deed Book Collection | Providence | Deed | 2 Oct 1717 | Deed of sale from John Crawford to Jeremiah Whipple for a negro boy about 10 years of age named Lhazper. |
| Mss 382 | DeWolf Family Papers, 1751-1864. | Rhode Island | Papers | 1751-1864 | A large collection of papers from Rhode Island's most notorious slave-trading family. Though these papers do not go into the slave trade in any great depth, there are several lists of slaves sold, and the trade is mentioned periodically throughout the correspondence. They also include accounts and slave lists from the family sugar plantation in Cuba, 1818-1852. Finding aid available. |
| Mss 382 | DeWolf Family Papers, 1751-1864. | Rhode Island | Account Book | 1814-1816 | Brigantine Yankee Account Book, 1814-1816, Vol. 6, p.76 entry for Cuffee Cockroach |
| Mss 67 | Dexter Asylum | Providence | Indenture | 1828-1844 | Indentures include contracts on blacks. Seven people: 5 in 1828, 1 in 1840 and 1 in 1842 (3 women and 4 men) |
| Mss 9001-D | Dexter, Edward | Providence | Account | 1794-1796 | His accounts settled with Job Smith names Sukey. |
| Mss 9001-D loose vol. | Dexter, John | Smithfield | Account | 1820 | Account book records payment to Cezar (possibly "Henery"??) Arnold. |
| Mss 232 sg 4 | Direct Tax Records | Rhode Island | Records | 1798 | These records list property owners in North Kingstown, Providence, Richmond, Smithfield, and Warwick. Several of these property owners in each town are identified as black. Newport Brown is shown as the only black property owner on Benefit Street in Providence, for example. For some towns, the lists give very detailed descriptions of the dwelling houses that were taxed. In addition, there are schedules for slave ownership in Richmond, Smithfield and Warwick. Only one slave owner was taxed in Smithfield: Job Arnold, who owned one unnamed slave aged between 12 and 50. Benjamin Greene was the only slave-owner taxed in Warwick, with two unnamed slaves. David Larkin of Richmond was taxed for a 23-year-old slave, and Peleg Wilcox of Richmond was taxed for a 16-year-old slave. A record book of the "Rhode Island Board of Commissioners...for valuation and enumeration of 1798" has a "summary abstract of all slaves owned and superintended..." on pages 70-71, which gives the number of slaves in each town. There were 168 slaves counted for the entire state. Page 19 gives the commission's brief instructions for enumerating slaves. |
| Mss 9001-D | Dods, George | Providence | Accounts | 1790-1796 | An account book for Brown, Benson & Ives shows payments for the labor of Solomon and Thomas. |
| Mss 391 | Dorr, Thomas W. | Correspond-ence | 1842-1844 | Anonymous fragment of pro-Dorr Rebellion poetry, apparently written circa 1842-1844. Describes an incident in which "the African captain who fought like a mad man / With Jesse and Whipple and the Dedaw Cashier / Being hard sider merry surprised Uncle Jerry / and ransacked house without favor or fear." | |
| Mss 98 | Antoinette Downing Papers, 1926-1986. | Research Notes | n.d. | Includes research notes, mainly newspaper clippings, on opera singer Cisseretta Jones ("Black Patti") in box 10. | |
| Mss 9001-D | Drown, Henry B. | North Providence | Receipt | 10 Dec 1840 | Pays Samuel Cesar for digging and stoning cellar at Fruit Hill. |
| Mss 9001-D | Drowne, William | Providence | Account book | 1784-1786 | Merchant's account book lists sale to Ceaser Rice and Negro Condon (December 1785). Theodore Foster candles delivered by a Negro girl (May 6, 1787). Account settled with Solomon Drowne for cash paid to Sisco (June 1784). |
| Mss 9001-D | Dyre, William | South Kingston | Indenture | 24 Sep 1791 | Bill of sale and terms of slavery for Violet (age 2) from Prince and Violet Dyre. ...that said Negro Servant Child, Violet, from and after said Term of twenty years shall be forever absolved manumited and discharged from the bonds of Slavery and Servitude... |
| Mss 9001-E | Earle, William | Providence | Accounts | 17 Dec 1766 | Settles accounts with Prince Milard for five days work. |
| Mss 9001-E | Earle, William | Providence | Accounts | 1767 | Settles accounts with Simeon Proter of Bristol for labor of himself, Gibb Negro and other unnamed black men. |
| Mss 9001-E | Earle, William | Providence | Accounts | 1768 | Record of accounts with John Waterman include prices for men women and children. |
| Mss 9001-E loose vol. | Earle, William | Providence | Day Book | 1744-1777 | Ships accounts list Negro James (1774), Hamlet (1774-76), Greenwich (1774), "my negro Cuggo" (1775-76), "my negro Tom" (1775), and possibly others. |
| Mss 9001-E | Easton, Elizabeth | Newport | Will | 7 Jul 1800 | In her will she emancipates Violet and Rose and leaves personal property to Violet. |
| Mss 9001-E | Easton, Jonathan (d.1796?) | Newport | Will | 1777 | In his will he bequeaths Cato, Newport, Ann, Bess, Rose and Amy to his children (1777). |
| Mss 9001-E | Easton, Jonathan (d.1796?) | Newport | Manumissi-on | 3 Jan 1783 | Document of manumission of Abraham (January 3, 1783). |
| Mss 9001-E | Easton, Nicholas (1770-1805) | Newport | Indenture | 1764 | Indenture of apprenticeship of "Negro Boy named Peter" to Thomas Hazard from the estate of Richard Hazard now belonging to his son Richard (1764). |
| Mss 9001-E | Easton, Nicholas (1770-1805) | Newport | Will | 1770 | In his will of 1770, he bequeaths Sam and Peg to his nephew, Nicholas Easton. And leaves two "Negro children", Abigail and Valentine, to his cousin Sarah. |
| Mss 9001-E | Easton, Peter | Newport | Will | 28 Apr 1691 | A copy of his last will, leaves Simon, Tom, Sam, Sue, and Kate to various family members. The will manumits Primus and gives him items of real property (April 28, 1691). "I give my man Primus, his time servitude, for the Love he has bour unto me, and also I give him his Bed he lies in, and Beding, and Twenty Shillings in Silver Money, and his wearing Clothes." |
| Mss 877 | Edward & Angell Legal Files, 1975-1978 | Providence | Legal Documents (copies) | 1975-1978 | Copies of documents relating to the Narragansetts used as historical evidence in a lawsuit by the Narragansetts attempting to regain tribal land. Edwards & Angell represented the Narragansetts. Documents date back to 1524. Finding aid available. Also see Mss 369, Paul Campbell Research Notes. |
| Mss 406 | Christopher Ellery Papers, 1791-1825. | Newport | Deed of sale | 26 Oct 1796 | In his copybook, 1795-99, he recorded a deed of sale of Stephen (born in Georgia) and Benjamin (born on Block Island) to Benoni Hill. These are the children of a Mulatto woman named Minta. Minta is the servant of Catherine and Miller (nee Greene). |
| Mss 407 | Wiliam Ellery Papers, 1790-1820. | Accounts | 1780-1815 | Includes two small volumes of accounts with servants and laborers in Newport, 1780-1820. In the first volume are a page of accounts with George (son of Jenny Weeden) a black boy came to live at my house Apl 7th 1805" (page 1); an account with a black man named Hammond Tanner in 1795 (signed by Hammorn Tanner) (page 17); and Abigail Tweedy a black Woman, 1798 (page 26). In the second volume are Wilson Lawton a black man in 1807 (page 2), Binah a black girl and Chloe Sherman a black girl in 1812 (page 15); Phillis a black woman in 1815 (page 17). Both volumes also list dozens of other servants of indeterminate race. | |
| Mss 408 | Esten Papers, 1664-1825. | Providence | Auction | 1742 | 3 documents relating to the estate of William Huston and the auctioning of items in his estate including "one likely negro girl Cloe" (page 5) |
| Mss 197 | Exeter Town Records, 1740-1869. Bulk 1780-1840. | Exeter | Estate | 1767-1778 | List of Rateable Estate, 1767-1778 (loose oversized volume) Indicates names of slave owners, but no slaves' names. |
| Mss 197 | Exeter Town Records, 1740-1869. Bulk 1780-1840. | Exeter | Complaint | 26 Feb 1806 | Box 3 folder 9: Complaint that Quam Chalman, belonging to heirs of John Chapman, stole shoes from Thomas Phillips store. |
| Mss 197 | Exeter Town Records, 1740-1869. Bulk 1780-1840. | Exeter | Order | 6 Jun 1797 | Box 8 folder 2: Order for the removal of Roseannah Brown, a black woman of South Kingstown. |
| Mss 197 | Exeter Town Records, 1740-1869. Bulk 1780-1840. | Exeter | Indenture | 2 Oct 1797 | Box 8 folder 6: Indenture of Susannah Brown a "Black Girl and daughter of Roseannah Brown" (October 2, 1797). This is the only indenture where a racial designation is made in this collection of about 29. |
| Mss 197 | Exeter Town Records, 1740-1869. Bulk 1780-1840. | Exeter | Complaint | 13 Jan 1800 | Box 8 folder 7 : Complaint in which Janey Wart, single woman, accuses John Junion of North Kingstown, "Blackman", of being the father of her "female Bastard Child" born in Exeter in 1798. |
| Mss 9001-F loose vol. | Female Beneficent Society Papers | Pawtucket | Record Book | 1809-1881 | Records include black recipients of assistance. Also indicated is money given to the African Colonization Society (September 1, 1820 and possibly other dates). |
| Mss 412 | Joseph J. Fenner Papers, c. 1784-1853. | Providence | Receipt | Feb 1802 | Receipted bill for goods sold to Jude Cook and Mingo |
| Mss 412 | Joseph J. Fenner Papers, c. 1784-1853. | Providence | Payment | 27 Jun 1807 | Vol. 1 : Stone cutter paid Cato Greene for labor (p.14). |
| Mss 412 | Joseph J. Fenner Papers, c. 1784-1853. | Providence | Writ | 22 Feb 1825 | Wanton Gardner, a laborer, is sought for attachment for his debt to Fenner. |
| Mss 412 | Joseph J. Fenner Papers, c. 1784-1853. | Providence | Bill | 23 Dec 1825 | Stone cutter accounts folder, 1820-1829, Receipted bill to "Brister a coloured man" for a hearth stove. |
| Mss 417 | First Baptist Church in America Records, 1768-present. | Providence | Membership | n.d. | Black members of the church are named throughout the membership records. Names include Mary Almy, Phillis Anderson, Violet Brown Johnson, Mary Ann Brown (wife of Pero), Mrs. Betsey Brown, Hannah Hopkins Colen, Phillis Church, Eliza Jackson Green, Anstis Greene and others. |
| Mss 417 | First Baptist Church in America Records, 1768-present. | Providence | Baptismal record | 2 Nov 1815 | In records book 2, Flora Thurston received in baptism (p. 170). |
| Mss 418 | First Congregational Church of Newport | Newport | Records | 1805-1825 | Includes two volumes with receipts for payments to church sexton Newport Gardner, all signed by Gardner, 1805-1825. |
| Mss 9001-F | Flagg, Henry | Newport | Seaman's Protection | 1821 | Flagg is described as having a "Copper complexion and black wooley hair." |
| Mss 421 | Robert W. Foster Papers | Letter | 1873 | Letter from ship captain Robert W. Foster to Charles Briggs, complaining about two freedmen working as port wardens at New Orleans: "Moses Briggs a black man has been for the last four years a night watchman. (Ignorant as a goose.) Dajoie a black man is by trade a Baker and who for some length of time has served in that capacity on board River Steamers. (Still more ignorant. Both emerged from slavery and are semi-barbarous.)" | |
| Mss 424 | Theodore Foster Papers, ca. 1640s-1820s. Bulk 1746-1823. | Providence | Notes | 1730-1791 | Series 1, box 2, folder 1: Volume IX - Notes relating to the history of Rhode Island, 1730-1791 , "Numbers of the inhabitants of the State at different periods" Broken down by year, county, and ethnicity (white, black, and Indian). |
| Mss 424 | Theodore Foster Papers, ca. 1640s-1820s. Bulk 1746-1823. | Providence | Tax List | 1778 | Vol. 16 (oversized): Polls and estate of Providence, 1778 Pages 1-6. 1778 tax list of Providence includes number of slaves owned (slaves are not individually named. |
| Mss 424 | Theodore Foster Papers, ca. 1640s-1820s. Bulk 1746-1823. | Providence | Diary | Aug 1795 | "Mr. Stephen Tillinghast and Daughter Theodosia Their son George, [Mr. Norse ?] Mrs. Boldwen and the Negro Boy John arrived at my House this day from New York." |
| Mss 424 | Theodore Foster Papers, ca. 1640s-1820s. Bulk 1746-1823. | Providence | Notes | c. 1770 | Series 1, Box 1, Folder 23, Principles of Law, c. 1770, p. 37. Theodore Foster studied law as a young man and became a lawyer. This volume contains the notes he made during his studies. Most of the volume is examples of different types of legal documents. Page 37 contains a sample document that he titled "Declaration in Case for Warrenty of a Negro." It involves a negro boy offered for sale and advertised as being free of disease. However, the boy did have "a secrect and dangerous disease called the yaws" which caused his death after the sale was completed to his new master. It appears to be a copy from an actual case but identifying information was intentionally changed by Foster in his copy. |
| Mss 424 | Theodore Foster Papers, ca. 1640s-1820s. Bulk 1746-1823. | Providence | Notes | 1800 | Series 1, Box 2, Folder 1: Volume 9, page 309-312. Copied extracts created by Foster in 1800 from the "Case of Connecticut and Mohegan Indians" which includes a genealogy and lineage of Uncas, "Sachem of Moheag" as declared by him in 1692, the testimony of Thomas Stanton from 1738, and testimony of Mr. Bolan in 1743. |
| Mss 424 | Theodore Foster Papers, ca. 1640s-1820s. Bulk 1746-1823. | Providence | Notes | 1784 | Series 1, Box 2, Folder 2, Volume 12. This volume contains a history and description of Kentucky by an unknown author in 1784. The notes include mileage tables for the distance between Philadelphia and various points along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. One of the places on the list is the "Village of the Alabama Indians" which was 1,770 miles by boat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers from Pittsburgh and 60 miles north of New Orleans. |
| Mss 198 | Foster Town Records Collection | Foster | Town Meeting Warrant | Apr 1864 | Box 5: "Article VI. The assessors of each town or city shall assess a poll tax of one dollar annually, upon every male inhabitant of the age of twenty one years and upwards, excepting paupers, lunatics, persons non compotes mentis, persons under guardianship, convicts, members of the Naragansett tribe of Indians, and persons unable to contribute to the public charges, which said poll tax shall be payable at the same time and collected in the same manner as are the other taxes of said Town or city: and the proceeds of such poll tax shall be applied to the support of public schools." |
| Mss 9001-F loose vol. | Foster and Waterman | Providence and Smithfield | Day Book | 1788-1789 | Day book #5: Entries identify Cato Freeman (Sept. 18, 1788), Quaco Butler (October 6, 1788), Duke Waterman and Prince (October 6, 1788), Cato Gardner (December 25, 1788), Seasar Jerebee (October l4, 1789) and possibly others. |
| Mss 426 | Francis Family Papers, 1783-1901. Bulk 1783-1838. | Providence | Diary | 1793 | Entries in pocket diary mentions Paul Cuffee of Westport (April 15, 1793 and October 20, 1793). |
| Mss 9001-G | Gano, Stephen | Providence | Diary | 1813-1814 | Frequently ministers to people of color: "Baptised 9 o'clock Betsey Harmons, a woman of colour at Soldy Point." [1/03/1813] "Baptised at 11 o'clock Geo. C. Nathen a man of color." [2/06/1813] "Funeral of a black woman." [2/24/1813; 3/30/1813; 4/15/1813; 10/24/1813; 6/28/1814] "Funeral of a black man aged 83." [2/25/1813] "Funeral of black child 16 yrs consumption." [7/31/1813] "Funeral black woman dropsey." [8/03/1813]; "Church meeting. One person of colour related her hope." [2/03/1814] "Funeral black infant." [3/02/1814; 4/22/1814]; "Baptised a woman of color immediately after meeting who was very sick." [4/10/1814] "Funeral of a black man." [7/29/1814] "Married Randall Nightingale and Joan Faes (people of color)." [8/14/1814] "Funeral of an aged black woman." [9/18/1814] "Funeral of a black child." [12/25/1814] "Committee meeting evening a man of color related 60 disgracious dealings with him." [2/02/1813] |
| Mss 629 sg 8 | Gardiner Family Papers | South Kingstown | Deposition | 1788 | Depositions regarding slaves owned by the Gardiner family, by Nathan Gardiner, Sr., 1788 |
| Mss 629 sg 8 | Gardiner Family Papers | South Kingstown | Bill of sale | 1770 | Mary Gardiner to Nathan Gardiner, Jr., for negro man named Jeffry, aged "about twenty years", 1770 |
| Mss 629 sg 8 | Gardiner Family Papers | South Kingstown | Account | 1797 | Cuff Henry Gardiner ("negro") with Ebe.r Adams for work done, 1797 |
| Mss 629 sg 8 | Gardiner Family Papers | South Kingstown | Receipt | 1801 | R. F. Noyes for money received of Cuff Henry Gardiner on behalf of Sarah Adams, widow of Ebenezer Adams, 1801 |
| Mss 9001-G | Gardner, Edward | South Kingstown | Receipt | 20 Sep 1754 | Edward Gardner sells "me negro garl named Doll" to Ezekiel Gardner for three hundred and thirty pounds. |
| Mss 9001-G | Gardner, Elisha R. | South Kingstown | Indenture | 30 Sep 1801 | Agreement to bind out Zealous, son of Hannah Gardner, as an apprentice. |
| Mss 9001-G | Gardner, Ezekiel | North Kingston | Deed of sale | 23 Aug 1797 | Sale to George Irish for "one negro man slave for Life named Mingo." |
| Mss 9001-G | Gardner, Nicholas | Exeter | Will | 26 Mar 1743 | In his last will and testament he leaves Cuff, Pegg, Fillis (and child) and Cezer to his children. |
| Mss 1015 | Gardiner, Oliver | North Kingstown | Accounts | 30 May 1796 | Includes accounts with Cuf Gardner, 5/30/1796 - labor exchanged for groceries. |
| Mss 9001-G | Gardner, Richard | South Kingston | Deed | Oct 1783 | Deed for sale of an infant to Freelove Gardner "So called a black woman" for six pence. |
| Mss 434 | Gaspee Papers | Providence | Oration | 3 Dec 1772 | Part of an oration by Rev. Isaac Skillman, pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Boston and printed as the dedication of a Thanksgiving sermon, "It is true, my Lord, the Gaspee-Schooner is destroyed, and thereby the laws of England are violated, as you apprehend, either by Indians out of the woods, or by Rhode Islanders, I cannot say who; but it is query with one, my Lord, whether there be any law broke in burning the Gaspee Schooner. If it was done by the Indians (which is the current report) then there is no law broke: for the Scripture says, where there is no law, there is no transgression. And it is well known that the Indians were never under any law to the English." |
| Mss 434 | Gaspee Papers | Providence | Deposition | 14 Jan 1773 | "Copy of the Official Documents Relating to the Destruction of the Gaspee...June 10, 1772" which identifies Aaron Biggs, an indentured servant of Capt. Samuel Tompkins of Prudence Island and includes some biographical information (p.11). |
| Mss 434 | Gaspee Papers | Providence | Letter | 16 Feb 1773 | Letter from Ezra Stiles to Rev. Elihu Spencer, "The Negro-Indian witness was brought ashore and examined at the Courthouse by the Commissioners in private after which he was returned onboard. . . . This fellow's mother was an Indian at Little Compton, and being free, was by The Town Council put out as a poor child in youth to a man on Prudence till age 21 and supra, and wanted to be free and differed with his master - and upon the burning of the Gaspee ran off and went Abroad as an Informer, but really to get away from his Master..." |
| Mss 439 | Benjamin T. Chandler Records, 1796-1909. | Providence | Journal | 1796-1800 | Records payment to Prince Vaughn. |
| Mss 439 | Benjamin T. Chandler Records, 1796-1909. | Providence | Account book | 1806-1809 | (Oversized volume 2) Account book of Benjamin T. Chandler for general store names Scipio Brinton (p. 72), John Corlis, and "Borneo." Corresponding transactions can be found in the daybook (vol. 1). |
| Mss 1004 | Goddard, Robert H.I. Jr. | Papers | 1950-1980 | Includes his files from the Urban Task Force on the Administration of Justice, 1970, including notes and reports from this committee studying police violence and racial tensions. In box 2. | |
| Mss 9001-G | Gorham, Isaac | Papers | 1774-1795 | Includes a log book of the slave ship Enterprise sailing for Africa under Captain John DeWolf, 1787; a receipt for water, dated "Gambia River, Town Gillepus", 7/7/1795; and an account for cargo including "2 boys slaves", undated. | |
| Mss 9001-G | Gorton, Benjamin | East Greenwich | Agreement | 1767 | Articles of Brigatine Charming Polly list Coff Fry as a seaman and include his wages. |
| Mss 9001-G | Gorton, Newport | Warwick | Order | 25 Jul 1734 | Newport Gorton, Hezekiah Gorton's "negro man" is ordered whipped for poisoning Ann Markham and Rebecca French. |
| Mss 9001-G | Goulding, Mary | Newport | Will | 21 Feb 1764 | In her will, she disposes of "her Negro Girl named Sal" and manumits Phillis. |
| Mss 452 | Albert Collins Greene Papers, 1804-1863. | East Greenwich/ Warwick | Memo book | 1815-1817 | In his memo book notes Tabitha Gardner "commenced working for us at 5/- per week. October 9, 1815," probably in his household. Credits to and charges against her account are indicated in the book. |
| Mss 452 | Albert Collins Greene Papers, 1804-1863. | East Greenwich/ Warwick | Deposition | 1831 | Box 134, folder 124: Depositions of John Gardner, William Jordan, and Richard Johnson involving the riots in Providence. |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Katherine (Ray) | Warwick | Accounts | 1776 | Accounts with Sarah Sambo, Betty Quaco, Mercy Ceasor, Vilot, Black Hannah, Barbary Cuff, Betty Newport and others. They are hetchelling flax, weaving and spinning |
| Mss 455 | Col. Christopher Greene Collection | Papers | Papers of Col. Christopher Greene, including orderly books, 10/5/1776- 6/11/1777, and returns of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, 1776-1779. Includes return of casualties in the black regiment which would include men injured or killed in the Battle of Red Bank, and other papers, 1777-1781 (7 items). | ||
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 1786-1792 | Daybook includes labor agreement and accounts with Samuel Sambow, 1790 (in the back of the book). Records a day Sambow lost to the "negro election," June 1790. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Account Ledger | 1788-1796 | Daybook entries includes sales and service to Prince Hammon (p. 82 & 122), Samuel Sambow (p. 120 & 145) and Job Sambow (included in the index). |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 1798-1801 | Journal includes accounts with Cuff Spencer, 1798-1800 (p. 5, 153). |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 1803-1807 | Blotter notes (in back of book) indicate Mr. Howard & Lady "...8 Days lost at Negro Election..." June 30, 1806 and include store accounts for food of Cudgo, September 1805. Within the ledger is an account with Cuff Spencer, September 9, 1805. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 1803-1816 | Ledger #5 registers accounts with Jack Gardner (p. 55, 188), Samuel Sambo (p. 58, 269, 332, 341), Cuff Spencer (p. 86), Nicholas Howard (p. 88, 125), Job Sambo (p. 90, 364), Cato Rome (p. 123), Windsor Gardner (p. 332), Peru Weaver (p. 393). |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Day Book | 1807-1810 | Labor agreement with Samuel Sambo, November 19, 1810. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Agreement | 30 Apr 1811 | Agreement with Job Sambo to rent Nichols lot for $56.78 payable in building a stone wall on the property. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Note | 6 Sep 1813 | Box 1: Note from Samuel Primus to settle his accounts. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 1816-1819 | In the front of the ledger is a note which indicates that Chris Sambo began work July 14 (no year). In the back of the ledger is a labor agreement for Ceasar Brown commencing work December 3, 1816 to work three and a half months at seven and a half dollars per month. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Promissory note | 3 Feb 1819 | Mark of Cato Sweet on a note to pay $35.20. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 1819-1827 | Daybook (in the back of book) includes labor agreements and accounts with Mr. Fortune Dyer, "Colored Man" September 17, 1819 and Cato Sweet, March 25, 1819. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Labor record book | 1822-1825 | Labor record includes agreement for work of George Gardner, September 1822. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Labor record book | 1826-1829 | Record of William Thomas "black boy," April 2, 1827. |
| Mss 459 | E & C Greene Records | Warwick/ East Greenwich | Accounts | 11 Dec 1827 | Accounts receipt settled with Jeramiah Slocum for making shoes for "black Hannah" (March 10, 1826). |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Elizabeth | Warwick | Bill | 1781 | Bill (1781) against the State of Rhode Island for the boarding and nursing of Nathaniel Wickes, a black soldier in Col. Christopher Greenes's Regiment. |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Elizabeth | Warwick | Bill of sale | 20 Nov 1781 | Bill of sale (November 20, 1781) for three year old Nat to Elizabeth's son, Thomas Greene. |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Elizabeth | Warwick | Inventory | n.d. | Inventory (n.d.) that lists "Negro Woman Harly and her Child." |
| Mss 462 | Jacob Greene Papers | Coventry | Accounts (loose volume) | 1775-1798 | In his ledger, he keeps accounts with Black Betty, Job Sambow (coffins for Sambow's mother, November 1776), Mercy Sambow, Cesar Sweet (boarding), Sambo (April 1776), and Samuel Ward of Westerly, "cash to your negro Phillis" (February 1776). |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, John | Warwick | Indenture | 1731 | Greene agrees to indenture Sarah, born in his house of his Indian servant, Marcy, as a servant or apprentice. |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, John | Warwick | Accounts | 1745-1749 | Accounts which name Prince,"my John" and "my negro." |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, John Waterman | Providence | Journal | 1836-1838 | Mary L. Greene's journal entries are copied into the back portion of his journal that on February 19, 1836 William Lippitt "a coloured man" died. "Friday Eve have heard of two more deaths Rhodes Budlong and William Lippett (a coloured man) in heaven there is no distinction)." |
| Mss 453 | Greene Legal Papers (broken up - all probably in Mss 144 or Mss 452) | Providence | Accounts | 1805 | Accounts of Asa Handy include charges to Comfort Wheaton for care by Cato and Betsey Clark. (alphabetical files) |
| Mss 453 | Greene Legal Papers (broken up - all probably in Mss 144 or Mss 452) | Providence | Accounts | 1825 | Martin Miller settles his account with the estate of Stephen Arnold including payment for shoes for Jack Gardner, Priscilie Arnold and unidentified blackman. |
| Mss 453 | Greene Legal Papers (broken up - all probably in Mss 144 or Mss 452) | Providence | Case records | 1833 | State v. Walmsley. Records and examinations involving Amasa Walmsley ("man of colour...wall layer") and his brother Thomas who are accused of murdering their Aunt Hannah Frank of Burrillville and John Burke, "a foreigner." |
| Mss 453 | Greene Legal Papers (broken up - all probably in Mss 144 or Mss 452) | Providence | Will | 1834 | Nathan Mathewson in North Carolina, owner of substantial property in Providence, makes disposition of his slaves who are probably in North Carolina. (chronological folders) |
| Mss 453 | Greene Legal Papers (broken up - all probably in Mss 144 or Mss 452) | Providence | Case records | 1834 | Case of State vs. Hall et al. for riot in Providence. (chronological folders) |
| Mss 453 | Greene Legal Papers (broken up - all probably in Mss 144 or Mss 452) | Providence | Deposition | 30 Sep 1835 | Depositions of Mary Ann Elizabeth Gardner (wife of John Gardner) and others, in the case of State vs. George Fuller and Charles Nobles. (chronological folders) |
| Mss 452 | Greene, Albert Collins | Petition | 16 Sep 1826 | Box 2, Folder 2: A remonstrance to Attorney General Albert C. Greene signed by thirteen citizens of Burrillville, countering an unspecified complaint by Hezekiah Smith and John Solomon, a "Man of Collor" of Burrillville, against several citizens of Burrillville. In response, Smith and Solomon are accused of cutting timber illegally, and "thay kep a bad hous fiting screeming murder rautling the nabors nite after nite and ... whiped one of their children and ... stole a gun from Andrew Stone." | |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Mary Almira [Waterman] | Providence | Notebook | 9 Feb 1836 | She records a brief history about Cuff Waterman (d. 1815), his wife Cola (d. 1828), daughter Eunice (d. 1871), son Julius, Hart Greene, Prince Waterman, James Budlong, and Binah. |
| Mss 464 | Major General Nathaneal Greene Collection | Potowomut | Accounts | 1744-1774 | Ledger with account of Sam Bow (p. 18), Jack Negro of Coventry (p. 183) and Mary Sambo (p. 189). |
| Mss 9001-G loose vol. | Greene, Perry & Taylor, Thomas | Warwick | Account Ledger | 1765-1775 | Entries include Job Sambo of North Kingston (p. 234, 269, 449, 492), Mercy Sambo (p. 249, 257, 258, 260, 3l4, 330, 344, 36l, 405, 4l5, 440, 469, 490, 49l, 559, 564, 566), Cesar Sweet of Potowamet (p. 322, 405, 467), and Primus Rhodes, sailor (p. 37l, 418, 476). |
| Mss 465 | Ray Greene Collection | Warwick | Letter | 11 Mar 1797 | Letter from members of the Abolition Society (Thomas Arnold, William Buffum, Edward Thurber, David Buffum, George Benson, Oziel Wilkinson, Thomas Hazard, Jr., Obadiah Brown, and William Almy) to Ray Greene, U.S. Attorney for the district of Rhode Island regarding the ship Ann. "We having cause to impart that the Ship Ann...has been Employed in a Voyage to Africa for Slaves Contrary to Law...." |
| Mss 144 | Richard Ward Greene Papers | Providence/Newport | Letter | 8 Aug 1834 | Box 4: George Turner to Greene concerning Benjamin G. Thompson of Newport, son of Susan and Charles. Thompson did not return home from voyage to Havana as a cook on the schooner Franklin Greene. Although the captain maintains that the boy ran away, his mother is sure he was kidnapped or sold. |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Thomas Lippitt (Capt.) | Warwick | Accounts | 12 Jun 1812 | Papers include payment for shoes for his "niggro." |
| Mss 9001-G | Greene, Thomas Lippitt (Capt.) | Warwick | Accounts | 1814-1815 | In partnership with Anthony Holden, Greene records their settlement with wood cutters in a paper labeled "Wood Sold for Act. of A.H. & T.L.G." Labor payments include "Cuff Lippitts boy." |
| Mss 1118 | Greene, William (1695-1758) | Committee report | 10 Mar [1779] | General assembly appointed "us the Subscribers to Inspect into the Severall Grand Purchase or Grants made by the Proprietors of the following Towns (Either of the Natives or the Government) Viz Providence, Warwick, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, and Westerly. . ." The committee members call upon people with grants and deeds to the western section of the state to come forward with the documents. Signed by Henry Bull, Francis Willett, William Greene | |
| Mss 468 | Greene, William, 1731-1809 (GORI no. 291) | Warwick | Indenture | 37 Oct 1761 | Indenture of Ezekel Pomp to William and Catherine Greene by his mother Abigal ("an Indian woman") of New Shoreham. |
| Mss 468 | Greene, William, 1731-1809 (GORI no. 291) | Warwick | Letter | 7 Jun 1792 | William Greene to his wife Catharine (Ray) Greene June 7, 1792 ". . .our onions have been weed twice and are now doing the third time, and Cato is to Day cleaning out the Garden, we finished planting the swamp the week past " |
| Mss 468 | Greene, William, 1731-1809 (GORI no. 291) | Warwick | Account book | 1792-1801 | In his account book, (p. 106) he records payments to Samuel Sambo for labor for the years 1792-1794. Also has accounts with Ichabod Northup (p.107) and Cato Tweedy (p.112). |
| Mss 468 | Greene, William, 1731-1809 (GORI no. 291) | Warwick | Account book | 1787-1796 | Entry for cash paid to Cesar Northup, Sept. 1796 (p.28) |
| Mss 468 | Greene, William, 1731-1809 (GORI no. 291) | Warwick | Letter | 27 Jun 1780 | Samuel Ward from military camp in North Kingstown to William Greene "In consequence of orders from Gen. Heath the Blacks will march Fryday or Saturday next." |
| Mss 469 | William Greene Papers (GORI no. 392) | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1773-1779 | Account book includes the names of Mercy Sambo (1777) and Negro Prince (Dec. 2, 1778) as receiving payment for labor. (Unfortunately, the pages in the book are unnumbered). (loose volume) |
| Mss 469 | William Greene Papers (GORI no. 392) | East Greenwich | Letter | 2 Dec 1799 | Business letter from Benjamin Greene of Warwick Neck. A reply is expected to be carried by Benjamin Greene's servant "the black boy, Joshua. |
| Mss 470 | Colonel William Greene Papers Col. William Greene, 1769 - 1829 (GORI no. 703) |
Warwick | Accounts | 1801-1803 | Records payments for labor of Newport Hall in his pocket expense record. |
| Mss 472 | Griffen, Joseph H. | Letter | 12 Jul 1835 | Letter received from Evan Hazard in Huntsville, AL dated July 12, 1835 describing conditions in Alabama.: "...the principal men are wealthy verry wealthy there are a great many men in the county that own a hundred working negros (besides children) and a hundred thousand acres of land there was one man a planter died here not long since that owed over a hundred thousand dollars but it took but a small part o his estate to pay it he owned over a hundred thousand acres of land well stocked with negros his heirs wanted to keep possession of the land and they sold 129 negros a auction here in town they sold from $800 to $1500 a piece. . ." | |
| Mss 9001-G | Gross, Carl R. | Research Notes | n.d. | Research notes on African-Americans in Rhode Island, by an African-American physician and historian, including: an unpublished paper titled A Brief History on the Life of Matilda Sissieretta (Joyner) Jones, the 'Black Patti', 1869-1933"; a list of Rhode Island stops on the Underground Railroad; short biographies of African-Americans in law and in the General Assembly; exhibition catalogues and other notes on artist Edward Mitchell Bannister; miscellaneous newspaper clippings; and Gross' 1971 obituary. | |
| Mss 629 sg 8 | Hagadorn-Wells Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | n.d. | Sarah (Wells) Clark to her father Thomas Robinson Wells describes a lecture (Massachusetts) by Mr. Allen, a lawyer of Boston, on the history of the African race: "It was very interesting indeed, equal to most any of the lectures we have had, and superior to some" |
| Mss 9001-H | Hall, William [son of John] | North Kingston | Copy from the court's minute book | Aug 1767 | Hall's prayer vs. Nicholas Spencer in Inferior Court of Common Pleas concerning a February 1767 judgement involving an unnamed negro girl. |
| Mss 170 | Thomas Lloyd Halsey Papers | Providence | Deed | 28 Apr 1807 | Ezekiel Burr to Halsey to deed a lot in "the northerly part" of Providence, gives in its legal description as a reference point "land in the occupation of Bonner Brown and Benjamin Marshall" with no indication of ownership. |
| Mss 17 | Harris Family Papers | Testimony | 1730 | Box 2: includes the 1730 testimony of George Scott of Newport, master of the slaving sloop Little George, which was just beginning the long voyage back from Rhode Island from Africa when a slave revolt broke out. This was one of the earliest known revolts on a Rhode Island slave ship, and one of the very few successful ones. Two sailors and the ships doctor, John Harris, were killed, as well as several of the slaves. The captain, first mate, cabin boy and two other crew members were barricaded in the cabin. Their attempt to construct a bomb was unsuccessful and burnt the man that had the fuze in his hand almost to death and destroyed most of their gunpowder, as well as their clothes. The slaves continuous efforts to storm the cabin failed, and they managed to pilot the ship back to shore with the crew still trapped in the cabin. . . . | |
| Mss 17 | Harris Family Papers | 9/15/2005 | 1730 | . . .After the Africans had beached the half-burned vessel and liberated themselves on shore, the ships crew managed to row away on the lifeboat for five or six leagues before being picked up by another ship. At the time of their rescue, the crew of the Little George were in a weak and miserable condition, having had nothing to subsist upon during the nine days we were under this affliction but raw rice. This testimony is signed per John Kilton, who apparently wrote it out. A nearly identical version of this account was published in the Boston News Letter on May 6, 1731. | |
| Mss 112 | Benjamin C. Harris Papers | Providence | Expeditures | 1821-1825 | Includes accounts with "Pedro, Black Man" (April 28, 1823). |
| Mss 112 | Benjamin C. Harris Papers | Providence | Ledger A | 1828 | Accounts with Henry Martin (p.171). |
| Mss 112 | Benjamin C. Harris Papers | Providence | Day Book | 1750-1754 | David Harris's Day Book: Charges against Daniel Wilbor for cash paid to "old Maney negro," March 6, 1752 (p.7). |
| Mss 112 | Benjamin C. Harris Papers | Providence | Day Book | 1784-1814 | David Harris's Day Book: Accounts with Prince Gardner. |
| Mss 112 | Benjamin C. Harris Papers | Providence | Ledger B | 1786-1817 | Steven Harris's Accounts with William Clifford (p. 163), Cato Gardner (p.100), Jeremiah Cesar (p. 61), John French (p.147), Martha and Phebe Hazzard (p.152), Prince Low (p.188), Thomas Brown (p. 196), Sampson Meads (p.196), Jacob Perce (p.72), and Samson Hazzard (p.106). |
| Mss 482 | Harris - Hawes Papers | Diary | 1882-1886 | Diary of Sarah (Hawes) Harris: "This morning Tom went out and brought a coloured girl, a cousin of Tom's to take Agness place wages 3 Dollars pr week" [4/12/1882] "Today a black man came and we engaged him to cut the trees at $1.30/load." [2/9/1886] | |
| Mss 9001-H | Harwood, Edward | Providence | Accounts | 1813-1845 | His book of accounts with the town of Providence identifies the poor (including some people of color) who are carried on the town rolls, people jailed or carried out of town. |
| Mss 9001-H | Hazard, Esther | South Kingstown | Letter | 3 Jan 1781 | Esther Hazard and Cesar Bolon received a letter from George and Benjamin Hazard reaffirming her emancipation in their mother's will. A John Carter had apparently threatened to re-enslave her. An excellent letter full of moral righteousness. Full transcription available. |
| Mss 9001-H | Hazard, George | South Kingstown | Manumissi-on | 25 Jan 1785 | Manumission of three slaves: Pierro, Judith and her child, Jenny |
| Mss 483 sg 12 | Hazard, Isaac Peace | South Kingstown | Account Book | 1814-1821 | Account books list sales or wage payments to Afro-Americans. See entries for Cesar Potter and Brister in the 1814-1817 account book (box 4, folder 1); "Ann Brown (Negress)," "Mary Trim (Negress)" and Sharper Boss in 1812-1815 spinner account book (box 4, folder 7); and "Cesar Potter's Daughter Betty," "Hetty Stanton (negress)," "Judith Hazard (negress)," "Joseph Potter negro (Exeter)" in 1815-1820 ledger (box 4, folder 14, pages 30, 34, 38); loose pay slip to "Joseph Potter (Negro)," for carding 18 pounds, October 1821 (box 5, folder 9). |
| Mss 483 sg 13 | Hazard, Joseph P. | South Kingstown | Memorand-um | In folder marked "Reprints of Newspaper re Great Gale of 1815" appears a memorandum that reads as follows: "Samuel Niles - a mulatto who was born without a hair upon his head, and now lives at Narragansett Pier and keeps a restaurant and is highly esteemed as an honest, useful and respectable citizen. He was a servant of my late father...until my father left Narragansett..." Niles was apparently given a copy of a newspaper on January 21, 1891. | |
| Mss 483 sg 2 | Hazard, Robert | South Kingstown | Will | 1745 | In his will he makes bequest of "Phebee", "Judah" "Bill" and "Bristo." |
| Mss 483 sg 4 | Hazard, Rowland | South Kingstown | Account Book | 1810 | Box 1, folder 23: Account Book no. 2 (A23-15), 1810, accounts with Cuddy Marks |
| Mss 483 sg 4 | Hazard, Rowland | South Kingstown | Account Book | 1810-1812 | Box 1, folder 23: Pocket Account book (A23-1), 1810-1812: accounts with Cuddy Marks (1810, 1811), Ruth & Cato Brown (1810), Hannah Cuddimunco (1812) |
| Mss 483 sg 4 | Hazard, Rowland | South Kingstown | Account Book | 1807-1809 | Box 1, folder 23: Pocket book no. 1 (A23-6), 1807-1809, accounts with Betty (Black Girl) (1807), Abraham...black boy (1808-1809), wife of Cuddy (1808) and Cuddy Marks (1808-1809) |
| Mss 483 sg 5 | Hazard, Rowland G. | South Kingstown | Account | 1836-1837 | Household account book listing wages paid to servants Mary Ann Hazard and Mary Niles, described as "of colour," 1836-1837 (page 37) and Sarah Sekatie, 1844 (page 65). Box 25, folder 2. |
| Mss 483 sg 5 | Hazard, Rowland G. | South Kingstown | Correspond-ence | 1820s-1840s | Extensive correspondence re sales of "Negro Cloth" for use by southern slaves. Hazard traveled extensively in the South during the 1820s, 1830s and 1840s, and his business sold "Negro cloth" to a primarily Southern market. The collection includes very frequent correspondence from Southern plantation owners negotiating purchases. Specific letters include one from William Brandon of Arcole Plantation, Mississippi (later a Confederate general), 1/22/1844, a Southern planter: "I lost a very valuable negro and a great deal of labor by sickness by not receiving my winter clothing in time." Also from James Elder, plantation owner, Charleston, S.C. Letter, 11/13/1839: "I am sorry the Negro Clothing did not please me, I am always anxious thay should be well clothed." |
| Mss 9001-H | Hazard, Susannah | South Kingstown | Will | 1767 | Last will and testament of Susannah Hazard manumits her slaves. |
| Mss 483 sg 5 | Hazard, Rowland G. | South Kingstown | Papers | 1840-1841 | Three folders re Hazard's interventions on behalf of several illegally enslaved black free men in New Orleans, 1840-1841. Contains newspaper clippings, Hazard's notes on individual cases, and six letters relating to the cases. Three of the letters are from illegally enslaved African-Americans: one from Rufus Kinsman dated June 18 1841, and two from Charles Delisle, April 1 and April 10 1841. In box 24, folders 80-82. |
| Mss 483 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas | South Kingstown | Account | 1750-1781 | Settles accounts with Dr. Joseph Torry for labor of his man, Cuff (p. 196) |
| Mss 483 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas | South Kingstown | Receipt | 28 May 1762 | Receipt from sister Sarah Hazard for, among other things, "my negro woman Billor Isabel ...also my negro child called Phebe", received from estate of their father Robert Hazard. |
| Mss 483 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas | South Kingstown | Letter | 15 May 1780 | From John Pemberton at Philadelphia asks Hazard to assist his former servant, Primus who was to have been manumitted. |
| Mss 483 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas | South Kingstown | Account Book | 1750-1781 | Oliver Smith, eight years old, brought by his mother Elizabeth to work for Hazard (1781). "Zenibee" died January 3, 1759, Dick drowned July 22, 1759, Priamus "came to live with me," six years old (1757) |
| Mss 483 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas | South Kingstown | Agreement | 1 Apr 1789 | Agreement with Jack Sanford for farm labor. |
| Mss 483 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas | South Kingstown | Lease | 25 Mar 1794 | Lease to Thomas Gould of rights to house and garden. |
| Mss 1026 | Hazard, Thomas G. | Newport | Deed of sale | 1764 | Deed of sale of an "one Negro woman nam'd Jenny one negro boy name'd Step" to him by Stephen Franklin of New Shoreham, 1764. |
| Mss 1026 | Hazard, Thomas G. | Newport | Deed of sale | 29 Dec 1791 | Two deeds of sale dated 12/29/1791, to Hazard from the town council of Jamestown for "a certain Negro boy named Newport Martin now the property of Rebeckah Martin" and "a certain Negro woman named Bettey Martin now the property of Rebeckah Martin." |
| Mss 1026 | Hazard, Thomas G. | Newport | Bond | 1810 | Also 1810 bond from Joseph Stanton Jr. to the "Committee for Settling and Adjusting the Business of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians", as treasurer of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians. |
| Mss 1026 | Hazard, Thomas G. | Newport | Bill | 1792-1804 | Bill submitted for "Expense as one of the Indian Committee", listing expenses from 1792 to 1804, mostly for travel back and forth to Charlestown. |
| Mss 1026 | Hazard, Thomas G. | Newport | Will | 1802 | Also last will and testament of daughter Ruth Hazard, 1802, granting various articles to persons named Newport, Rose, Nam, Gin, Cato, Philes (Phyllis?), Ammy, and Anne. |
| Mss 482 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas R | South Kingstown | Factory Day Book | 1826-1829 | Volume 3: Payments to weavers Richard Watson (p. 34, 62, 108) and Brenton W. Hazard (p. 47, 121) (both noted as black), 1826-1827. |
| Mss 482 sg 3 | Hazard, Thomas R | South Kingstown | Letter | 1853 | Volume 3: Also a letter dated 1853 from John H.B. Latrobe of Baltimore, re recolonization of slaves in Africa. |
| Mss 9001-H | Henshaw, Daniel (1822-1908) | Autobiogra-phy | 1822-1908 | Rev. Daniel Henshaw's informal autobiography about his life includes many mentions of the servants that served his family when he was a boy. His early life was spent in Baltimore and all of the reference to black servants referred to that locality. He also mentions other black people in the community that were beggars. | |
| Mss 1133 | Henshaw, John Prentiss Kewley (1792-1852) | Rhode Island | Diary | 1843-1852 | Diary by first Episcopal Bishop of Rhode Island which is an important resource for information on the history of Christ Church in Providence, the first African-American Episcopal congregation in Rhode Island and the first parish to send colored laymen as delegates to a Diocesan Convention in this country. Much of his commentary on the congregation revolves around Rev. Eli W. Stokes who served as the minister of Christ Church from 1846-1849. See the diary guide for a complete listing of all his entries which include information on African-Americans. |
| Mss 1133 | Henshaw, John Prentiss Kewley (1792-1852) | Rhode Island | Letter | 13 Jul 1852 | Letter from David Caldwell, Georgetown, DC, 7/13/1852 which is a list of white and black person confirmed in Christ Church Georgetown. |
| Mss 487 | Herreshoff-Lewis Family Papers | Diary | 20 Feb 1821 | Includes the following entry from the diary of Agnes Herreshoff of Bristol: "Dibby came back. She has been to an Indian doctors to get a root for her Child." [2/20/1821]. | |
| Mss 9001-H | Hicks, Eliza | Providence | Order | 15 Jul 1811 | Overseers order to the town sargeant to remove Hicks to Newport. |
| Mss 9001-H | Hill, David W. | Newport | Diary | 10 Nov 1874 | Diary of white Newport brassworker mentions minstrel show: Charley Shaw's Negro show, 11/10/1874. |
| Mss 78 | Enos Hitchcock Papers | Providence | Accounts | 1780-1803 | Accounts include references to unnamed household servants and to Ceasar, Libby, Prince, and Bonner Brown. |
| Mss 78 | Enos Hitchcock Papers | Providence | Diary | 1776-1780 | As a chaplain during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Hitchcock often described news that he heard from others while stationed in camp. He often wrote about atrocities by Native Americans on the Revolutionarly armies and colonies: "11 oclock a small party yt went out back of Head qtrs about 3/4 of mile were fired upon by Indians one Corpl killed, private wounded - about the same time an Indian fired upon a Centry N.E. from Genl Nixon Brigade, wounded him in the Neck - a Small Scout 20 came in, which met with a party of Indians, supposed 70, fired & killed one & ran." [7/29/1777] "The Indians brot in eleven Prisoners, Hessians & Tories, two of our own men & two scalps." [9/26/1777] , etc. |
| Mss 78 | Enos Hitchcock Papers | Providence | Will | 1803 | In his will, Hitchcock makes a bequest to Ceasar, whom he had manumitted at age ll. He leaves Ceasar dividends from his share in Providence Bank & Trust and a mourning suit of Ceasar's choosing. |
| Mss 9001-H | Holden, Randall | Warwick | Bill of Sale | 27 Feb 1727/8 | Holden purchased Saul from James Clark of Newport. |
| Mss 491 | Esek Hopkins Papers | Providence | Accounts | 1753 | Accounts with Prime Tillinghast, possibly others (Ledger A, p. 147). |
| Mss 491 | Esek Hopkins Papers | Providence | Accounts | 1760 | Accounts of the Sloop Elizabeth include records of shipyard labor payments for Joseph Bucklin's Prince, Prince Miller, and "My negro." |
| Mss 491 | Esek Hopkins Papers | Providence | List | 8 Jun 1776 | "A list of the Seamen and Landsmen that came out of the Capes of Deliware in the Fly" identifies Dragon and Surinam Wanton as being prisoners on board the Andrew Doria. |
| Mss 491 | Esek Hopkins Papers | Providence | Letter | Nov 1776 | Letter to William Ellery in a 1776 copy book, asks Ellery to look after Dragon Wanton who was purchased by Hopkins aboard the Andrew Doria. "...take some charge of him, and either send him to me, or see that he is employ'd in the Service with Capt. Biddle, or in any other way as you may think fit." |
| Mss 492 | Stephen Hopkins Papers | Providence | Account Book | 1746-1838 | Account book includes payments to unnamed for shipyard labor, accounts with Fortune Wyat (August 25, 1749), Primus Staring (1755), Ceazer Sambo (1755), Ann Ceazar for billeting Isaac Ames (June 27, 1755), Mercy Cheese for her deceased husband, Thomas Cheese (1757), and payment in full for Fransisco's 1756 account (1757). |
| Mss 9001-H loose vol. | Houses in Providence 1779 | Providence | House Listings | 1779 | Entries include houses owned by black men: #83 Pharo owned a house, #303 Mrs. Page's Bonner, #323 William Cesar, #410 "Brown Moses a small Negro house down the wharf...," possibly others are included. |
| Mss 499 | Howland, John (1757-1854) | Letter | 24 Nov 1838 | 1838/11/24 To Mary (his wife or daughter), discourse on Indians of North America and their possible origins; description of Indian grave found under Bowen street in Providence and disposition of artifacts found there. | |
| Mss 9001-H | Howland, Thomas | Essay | n.d. | "Portrait of Thomas Howland by Blanchard read to the Rhode Island Historical Society by John A. Howland" An essay on the circumstances surrounding the election of Thomas Howland, a Negro, to the office of warden for the 3rd Ward in Providence in 1857. "Probably the first negro ever in elective office by popular vote in the United States was Thomas Howland." | |
| Mss 9001-H | Howland, Thomas, 1764-1845 | Letter | 7 Mar 1840 | 1840 Mar 7 Richard G. Howland in Charleston to his brother Daniel Howland in New York regarding farming, probably in Rhode Island. "I think you had better let Henry get one or two coloured men if he can & then he will be better satisfied & can manage them better." | |
| Mss 9001-H | Howland, Thomas, 1764-1845 | Poem | Mar 1807 | "On Liberty" by S.A. Greene March 1807 an excerpt from the poem reads: And now to those who fought in freedom's cause Why are you govern'd thus, by partial laws. One part you've done, the other yet you lack You've freed the whiteman, but enslave the black. |
|
| Mss 9001-H | Hoxie, Mary | Richmond | Will | 1796 | In her will, Hoxie left goods to Patience Rodman. |
| Mss 9001-H | Hull, Teddeman | Jamestown | Record Book | 10 Mar 1741/2 | Record book of Warden: Order to constable to bring in Scipio, negro man belonging to Abel Franklin who severely beat Avis, wife of Indian Josiah. |
| Mss 9001-H | Hull, Teddeman | Jamestown | Record Book | Dec 1742-Jan 1743 | Record book of Warden: Court examinations relating to a theft of money from Christopher Hawkins by his servant Dinah. She gave some of the money to Joseph Battey's Bess Battey and Phebe Arnold's Jenny Hull. These three are sentenced to the whipping post and fined. Also involved are Oliver Hull, Robin Hull, Dinah Pace and Hagar. |
| Mss 9001-I | "Indians" | [?] | |||
| Mss 9001-J | James, Aaron | Testimony | 22 Oct 1810 | James, a man of color and a Mariner of Providence recounted an argument between Cudgo Earle and Sippio Read over a possibly stolen umbrella. Signed with James' mark. | |
| Mss 201 | Jamestown Town Records Collection | Jamestown | Accounts | 16 May 1758 | Account with Matthew Grinold includes charges for "keeping niger Hanah Eight Weeks" and for "finding one Sheet to bury her & Drink." |
| Mss 201 | Jamestown Town Records Collection | Jamestown | Examination | 25 May 1763 | Town Council examination of a mustee woman named Mary from South Kingstown accused of keeping a disorderly house. |
| Mss 9001-J | Jencks, George F. | Pawtucket | Diary | 1824 | Diary of white Pawtucket man mentions Hardscrabble riots: 1824 Feb 7 A gang of Ruffins toar down & Destroyed the Negro house on the hill this evening. and 1824 Oct 19 Last night the Whites assembled on the bridge in Providence and went in a body to that part of the town occupied by the blacks and pulled down Ten of their houses and laid waste all there contents and this day the Governor and Council has ordered out the Light Infantry to guard the town. |
| Mss 9001-J loose vol. | John (Brigantine) | Newport | Crew List | 1806 | A crew list (p.13, No.8) names Cato Burrill, a black man of Newport and Samuel Crauford, with a yellow complexion, of Providence. Both men are listed as seamen. |
| Mss 9001-J | Johnston, Augustus | Newport | Deed | 9 Jun 1759 | In a deed from James and Mary Hillhouse of New Haven, Conn., "Domine a Negro Man" is identified as living in "a Small Mansion House on said Schoolhouse Lot" in Newport. |
| Mss 520 | William Jones Papers | Providence | Bill of sale | 25 Nov 1795 | John Watson of South Kingstown sold Marea "a Negro Girl" to Peter Taylor of Providence for 30 dollars for a term of 3 1/2 years with the possibility of extending the term to another 3 1/2 years after the initial time period is up. Also contains a note on freeing Marea to free her after seven years if she agrees to the terms. |
| Mss 9001-J | Joslen, Joseph | Newport | Letter | 2 Dec 1840 | To the Newport from a Georgia resident appealing for help for a jailed Thomas Francis, son of Thomas and Violet, brother of William, John, Polley, Nancy and Betsey. The postmaster was hoping to ascertain whether Francis was a free Newport resident or a slave from North Carolina. |
| Mss 9001-K | Kent County Female Anti-slavery Society | Warwick | Recordbook | 1835-1845 | Record of the formation, meeting and membership of the Society |
| Mss 238 | Klyberg Collection | Rhode Island | Interviews | 1990-1993 | Interviews done by U.R.I. students in Albert Klyberg's R.I. History Class, 1990-1993 Interview by Barbara McEiver of Cortland Stanton who moves from Providence to Narragansett in 1965. He and his wife are identified as American Indian. |
| Mss 9001-K | Knight, Henry Cogswell | Warwick/Pawtucket | Newsclippin-gs/Narrative | Aug - Nov 1866 | "A Glance at the Town of Providence in 1812," reprinted in the Providence Journal in 1866 from The Rhode Island American in 1812. Narratives in the clippings includes stories and descriptions of Bristol aka Brisker Rhodes, Scipio Brenton, Prince Whitman, George Thomas, Troupe Butler, and Robert the Hermit of Fox Point. |
| Mss 1119 | David Lake Family Papers | Tiverton | Account Book | Lake's labor account book as a carpenter includes his account with partnership of Lemuel Milk and Paul Cuffe, billing for "work done on their ship" (folder 1, pages 15-18 and 23). Paul Cuffe was probably the most successful African-American merchant of the early republic. Although Cuffe generally hired other African-Americans for his ship's crew, census records suggest that Lake was white. Cuffe paid Lake in cash, sugar and lottery tickets. | |
| Mss 527 | Land Evidences Collection | Newport | Receipt | 10 Jul & 23 Aug 1705 | vol. 2, nos. 32l, 323: Gideon Crawford acknowledges receipt of a servant, Peggy, whom he promises to deliver to her owner widow Mary Davis in Barbados when demanded. This is a copy of the original document. |
| Mss 527 | Land Evidences Collection | Newport | Manumissi-on | 15 May 1717 | vol. 3, no. 260: A copy of Edward Pelham's manumission of Harry. |
| Mss 527 | Land Evidences Collection | Newport | Order | 27 May 1721 | vol. 3, p. 360: A copy of an Admiralty Court order of auction of slaves. |
| Mss 9001-L | Lawton, Isaac | Papers | 1785; n.d. | Revolutionary War anecdote concerning Quaker Meeting House in Portsmouth, R.I. told by Lawton in 1785 which includes mention of a negro boy; anecdote told by Zacharias Dicks regarding a negro man preaching to Quakers in North Carolina; undated list of debating points regarding slavery. | |
| Mss 21 | League of Women Voters | Records | 1893-1977 | Box 5, folders 89-92: Subject file on civil rights and "Rhode Island protection of minority groups against discrimination," 1942-1967. Four folders. | |
| Mss 9001-L | Lear, Susanna | Philadelphia | Diary | 31 July 1788 | Diary of a white Philadelphia woman visiting Boston and Providence in 1788. Rode in a carriage from Boston with "an Indian Chief. At first I felt very much afraid of him, but he turned out to be the most agreeable of the company... After breakfast the Indian Chief played several tunes on his clarinet. He played very well. In short, he is quite accomplished. 'Tis about three years since the Marquis De la Fayette sent for him over to France and he has since been at the expense of giving him a very liberal education. He appears to have improved his time very well. His observations are just and his manners are agreeable. He entertained us with a number of anecdotes he had picked up in France. He also gave us a very entertaining account of the manners and customs of his own nation. At every place we stopped he serenaded us which made our journey quite agreeable. We arrived in Providence about sunset. He appeared very sorry when we got out of the coach and left him alone. About an hour later after he sent a letter to us informing us he loved us very much and wished to see us again... We sent an invitation to the Prince to come and dine |
| Mss 9001-L | Lear, Susanna | Philadelphia | Diary | 31 July 1788 (cont.) | with us. accordingly at two o'clock he came dressed in a scarlet coat trimmed with gold lace. He really made a very good figure. After dinner at the request of Mr. Brown I danced a cotillion with him. He dances by far the best of any person I ever saw attempt it. He also danced the War dance for us which was very terrible. In the evening we all went to a dance at Mr. Griffith's . The room was very much crowded as they had heard the Prince was to be there and everybody was anxious to see him there. He also danced the War Dance at the particular request of the company. In the course of the evening he came and sat by me and paid me a number of compliments, among the rest he said that I resembled the Marchioness De la F. very much. He requested me to give him my name on a paper which I did. He assured me that he would not part with it while he lived. We stayed till ten o'clock in the room, when we came away he went to the window and played till we were out of hearing." |
| Mss 9001-L | Lear, Susanna | Philadelphia | Diary | 2 Aug 1788 | Two days later, "We were all invited to a party out of town. The Prince rode with us in Mr. Brown's carriage and entertained us very much... The Indian Chief and Mrs. J. Brown stayed and supped with us. He regrets very much he is obliged to leave us so soon. He says he never spent his time so happily. Indeed I don't wonder for the ladies of this place are all in love with him and are striving who shall pay him the most attention." |
| Mss 9001-L | Lear, Susanna | Philadelphia | Diary | 3 Aug 1788 | The next day, "In the evening the Chief called on us again as he has done regularly three of four times a day ever since he has been here. He stayed to supper... He appeared very unwilling to leave us even at eleven o'clock." |
| Mss 9001-L | Lewis, A.M. | Providence | Requests | 17 Apr 1865 | Request by "The Colored People of Cranston" to be allowed to attend the funeral services for President Lincoln to be held in Providence. |
| Mss 9001-L | Lewis, Prince | Johnston | Complaint | Jun 1781 | Lewis, "a free negro man," is accused by James Mathewson of stealing trees from his land. |
| Mss 9001-L (oversized) | Lippitt, William | Warwick | Papers | 1841 and 1844 | A deed of land in Warwick being transfered from William Lippitt to his wife, Patience Lippitt and the last will and testament of William, a man of color. |
| Mss 9001-L | Lippitt, Ceasar | Warwick | Papers | 1815-1824 | A deed, receipts, and direct tax bill belonging to Ceasar, a laborer and man of color. |
| Mss 828 | Log Book Collection | Diary | 1795-1797 | Includes log of slave ship Dolphin. This diary kept by an unknown seaman from 1795 to 1797 is one of the few known surviving accounts of a slaving voyage, which seems to have been a failure. The crew initially set out in the ship Dolphin, changed over to the sloop Rising Sun in St. Thomas, and upon reaching Africa quickly took on 21 slaves (see 10/23/1795 entry). The ship then suffered serious damage in a tornado, and sat at an island for almost a year attempting repairs while the captain traveled to the mainland attempting to procure more slaves. During this period, two slaves were whipped for plotting to poison the crew's rice (9/4/1796). The Rising Sun was eventually pronounced unfit for sailing, and the diarist joined on with the crew of a Boston-bound sloop Fame to begin his journey home. Two slave revolts on other ships are described through hearsay: the ship Liberty (11/21/1795) and a New York ship on which Capt. Moore and his crew were all massacred (7/11/1796). | |
| Mss 828 | Log Book Collection | Log Book | 1798-1799 | Log book of the Ann & Hope, 1798-99: Starboard watch (second to last page of log) included "Anthony Knowles (black)." | |
| Mss 541 | Aaron Lopez Papers | Newport | Accounts | Oct - Dec 1770 | Folder 1: Lopez's daybook includes record of receipt of payments which occasionally list the goods as being delivered by a "negro boy." |
| Mss 541 | Aaron Lopez Papers | Newport | Accounts | 1774-1775 | Folder 2: Daybook records payments for goods and sometimes lists the names of the delivery boys including William Negro and Negro Jack |
| Mss 541 | Aaron Lopez Papers | Newport | Log Book | 1767-1783 | In folder 3 there is a log book for five ships owned by the firm of Lopez & Rivera, mostly in slave trade: the Sally (1767); Hannah (1768), Cleopatra (1770-1773); Africa (1773-1774) and Washington (1783). Folder 12 contains several documents re a voyage of the slave ship Cleopatra to Africa in 1773, and a bill of sale for a slave named Charles, from Joseph Holloway of Exeter to Lopez in 1774. |
| Mss 541 fol 12 | Aaron Lopez Papers | Newport | Bill of sale | 11 & 14 Feb 1774 | Sale of "a certain Negro man named Charles" to Aaron Lopez from Joseph Holloway of Exeter and Lopez's transfer of Charles to Capt. Daniel Holloway. |
| Mss 9001-L | Low, James | Cranston | Lawsuit | 2 Oct 1817 | Suit in Justice Court against Low for debt owed to Roger W. Potter. |
| Mss 549 | Malbone Family Papers | Newport | Account Book | 1728-1738 | Includes the account book of Godfrey Malbone Sr. from 1728 to 1738, including financial records pertaining to the slave trade. |
| Mss 549 loose vol. | Malbone Family Papers | Newport | Accounts | 1728-1738 | Account book lists among the goods invoiced. For example, p.17 includes an invoice for Congo, Toney, Blinda, and Sarah. An invoice for Scipio, Anne, Cuffy, and Bess are listed on page 28. There are others throughout the book. |
| Mss 549 | Malbone Family Papers The Estate of Godfrey Malbone | Newport | Accounts | 1763-1768 | Settlement of accounts with physician for treatment of household including Mingo, Peter, and Frank. |
| Mss 549 | Malbone Family Papers The Estate of Godfrey Malbone | Newport | Accounts | 1764-1774 | Settlement of accounts with physicians for treatment of household including Quam, Magget, Sias and Jack. |
| Mss 549 | Malbone Family Papers The Estate of Godfrey Malbone | Newport | Accounts | 1771-1779 | Settlement of accounts with physicians for treatment of household including Lue. |
| Mss 549 fol 4 | Malbone Family Papers The Estate of Godfrey Malbone | Newport | Accounts | 1768-1776 | Settlement of accounts with physicians for treatment of members of the houshold, including Comfort, Jack, Peter, and a child. |
| Mss 9001-M | Manchester, Gideon | Providence | Inventory | 1769 | Inventory includes "one negro man named Curllett." |
| Mss 552 | Marchant Papers | Newport | Letter | 19 Apr 1770 | Marchant from Newport, to Richard Ellis, Newburn (Berne?) North Carolina. Sir, Capt. Richardson has received a Letter from you by which I perceive my Boy has been under the doctors Care sometime, being lame in his Foot, and that he pretend[s] he has been subject to a Lameness. You may depend upon it there is no manner of truth in that suggestion of his; Tho I would choose he should Sell well, yet for the Price of him I would not have kept back any Thing from your Knowledge that might make to his Disadvantage; I imagine he has found out you are about Selling him and that he had rather remain with you than run the Chance of a disagreeable master & he has put his Wits together to prevent your disposing of him. I can rely upon your Honor as to the Price; but otherwise should be glad he might be sold as soon as may be to advantage As I have been obligated to purchase another and the money is somewhat wanted" |
| Mss 552 | Marchant Papers | Newport | Letter | 5 Mar 1771 | Marchant Letter to Ellis: "Sir, I was induced to send my Boy Quam to you under an Apprehension of Dispatch. The price he sold for was not near so much as he cost at thirteen years old and the cash paid down: but that Circumstance is not so bad a Consideration, as that of being kept out of the Purchase Money so Long: your letter to me assured me I should receive the Effects, last November since which I have not heard a Word of the Matter: Indeed there seems to be a general Uneasiness in those who have sent their Negroes to No. Carolina. I hope however that the Receipt of the Effects for my Boy will Soon give Satisfaction to your Friend and Servant H. Marchant. Mr. Richard Ellis Merchant in Newburn North Carolina." |
| Mss 999 | Martin Family Papers |
Providence | Diary | 1799-1833 | Includes diary of Julia (Bowen) Martin, a white Providence woman, who mentioned the following visit to an African-American fortune-teller: "We all went to a famous fortune teller just arrived in town, a black man, we walked down beyond the new Presbyterian Meeting House, I found him quite on the hill, in a negro house. I was ushered up Chamber first. I was prodigously frightened at first, but my fears soon subsided. I saw a monstrous fat black man. His face from his nose up, full of notches..." This is followed by a long account of the fortune. [7/20/1799] |
| Mss 588 sg 4 | Megee, William F. | Correspond-ence | 1798-1806 | Correspondence of slave trader active in the South American market, dating mostly 1798-1806. | |
| Mss 9001-M (overs-ized) | Mason, Aaron | Providence | Day Book | 1780-1812 | Mason, a tanner, records accounts in his daybook including accounts with William Ceser (1778-1807), Black Bette (March 1780), Solomon Jinne (October 1790), Rebeckah Negro (1790, 1794), Oliver Cesar (July 1791), Abraham Gibes(July 1793), Prence Lac(?) of North Providence (1802, 1804), Paul Potter (1806). |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Deed | 21 Sep 1731 | Vol. 5 p. 296: Deed from Charles Ninegret, "New England Chief Sachem of the Narragansetts" to Capt. Christopher Champlin, Jr. |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Letter | 13 Jun 1740 | Vol. 3 p. 218: Letter from George Scott, at sea, tells of sickness and mortality among enslaved Africans aboard ship and reports that his own slave, Bonner is dead. |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Receipt | 1762 | Vol. 1 p. 70: Receipt for two unnamed "Negro Boys... receiv'd from Africa" in Boston by Capt. Phillip Wilkinson, June 8 1762. |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Narrative | 1752 | Vol. 2, p. 101-102: Cuffy Cockroach identified as a cook in the household of Jahleel Brenton."Cuffy was a noted turtle cook." |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Bill of sale | 10 Dec 1756 | Vol. 5, p. 290: Sale by Benjamin Nichols to Joseph Wanton, Jr. of Toby, Cuff, and London. |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Charlestown | Bill of sale | 4 Jul 1759 | Vol. 2, p. 102: Sale by Christopher Champlin of slaves George and Jenny to Thomas Allen of New London. |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Narrative | 1791-1825 | Vol. 3, p. 154-159: Biographical information about Newport Gardner, slave of Caleb Gardner. |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Narrative | n.d. | Vol. 2, p. 105-106: Cudjo, an elderly man, annuitized by Gibbs and Channing. Others named are Jim Samson, Pomp Overing, Quacko Malbone, Sam Collins, Ritter (Henrietta) Ellery, Phillis Champlin, Dinah Ayrault |
| Mss 554 | Mason's Newport | Newport | Narrative | n.d. | Vol. 2, p. 104-107: Tells about Mintus, the "last colored undertaker" buried in the old common cemetery. |
| Mss 9001-M | Metcalf, Joel and Michael | Providence | Accounts | 16 Sep 1799 | ca. 1778-1812, folder 2 of 2, Accounts with William Gittis and William Stever for sales of beef and pork. |
| Mss 9001-M | Molly (sloop) | Newport | Accounts | 1746 | Account of cash disbursements included payments to various owners of slaves for labor. Slaves are named include Quash(?), Rhoad Island, Jack, Newport, Coffy, and Fortune. |
| Mss 9001-M loose vol. | Mowry, Daniel | Smithfield | Ledger | 1798-1807 | Mowry's accounts with Newport Brayton (p.127). |
| Mss 9001-M | Munro, Sarah | Bristol | Bill of sale | 16 Oct 1776 | Sale of a negro boy named Dick, "about 8 years of age," to Timothy Ingraham of Bristol from Sarah and James Munro, administrators of the estate of Capt. Bennet Munro. |
| Mss 9001-N | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Providence Branch | Providence | Letter | 6 Mar 1922 | Letter from branch president W.P.H. Freeman to Lt. Col. Willis C. Metcalf of the R.I. State Militia, March 6 1922, thanking Metcalf for participating in a memorial service for Col. Charles Denton Young of the U.S. Army. In part: "with the co-operation of big-hearted men like yourself, there will be no race problem." 1 page |
| NEYM | New England Yearly Meeting Archives | Archives | 1730-1827 | Includes the record book of the Providence Society for Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1788-1827 (in the Quaker archives at RIHS Library); and a volume of slave manumissions from Newport-area meetings dated 1730 to 1804 (on Quaker Archives microfilm Reel 10 in the RIHS Library Reading Room). | |
| Mss 9001-N loose vol. | Newdigate, Nathaniel | Bristol | Account Book | 1703-1735 | Includes many memoranda re hiring out of and deliveries made by slave named Sambo., 1703-1716. Includes agreement to lease Sambo to Jonathan Bowers for work with ship carpentry shop, October 16, 1707. |
| Mss 231 sg 6 | Newport Intendant of Trade | Newport | Records | 1785-1790 | This volume recorded all ships departing Newport, Rhode Island for the five years preceding the creation of a federal customs service (1785-1790); a handful are shipping rum to Africa as part of the triangle trade. The information for each ship includes: date cleared, vessel name, masters name, tons of capacity, number of guns, number of crew, date and place built, date and place of registration, owners names, general cargo and destination. Each entry also bears the masters signature regarding the cargo description, which is generally quite specific. |
| Mss 588 sg 2 | Nightingale, Samuel II | North Providence | Letter | 21 Apr 1777 | Box 2, Folder 4: His father writes remarking that Samuel Jr. has bought a negro man of Benjamin Greene and urges him to buy more for farm labor. |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records | Providence | Loan Application | 15 May 1873 | Series 24, Box 2: In John Carroll's loan application says that he has a "new house nearly completed, in negro neighborhood." |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 11 Nov 1890 | Receipts for funeral of Lydia A. Marshall, filed November 11, 1890. | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 16 Oct 1890 | Receipt to Violetta Potter dated 10/16/1890 from Horace B. Knowles, Undertaker and Embalmer for services including the casket, preserving the remains and for "Colored Bearers, $8.00" | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 22 Dec 1891 | Receipt to Estate of Abbie L. Waterman dated Dec. 22, 1891 from Horace B. Knowles, Undertaker and Embalmer for services including "Colored Bearers, $8.00" | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 15 Jan 1892 | Receipts for funeral of Abbie L. Waterman, filed January 15, 1892 | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 26 Jan 1894 | Receipts for funeral of Mary Ann Chace, filed January 26, 1894 | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 17 Jan 1894 | Receipt to Estate of Mary Ann Chace dated Jan. 17, 1894 from Horace B. Knowles, Undertaker and Embalmer for services including "Colored Bearers, $8.00" | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 1 Jul 1901 | Receipts for funeral of Ellen M. Young, filed July 1, 1901 | |
| Mss 943 | Old Stone Bank Records Series 25 - Miscellaneous Records | Receipt | 3 Jun 1901 | Receipt to Estate of Ellen M. Young dated June 3, 1901 from H.A. Remington, Furnishing Undertaker for services including "Services of 4 colored lifters, $8.00" | |
| Mss 18 |
Olney, Jeremiah | Providence | Papers | 1781-1783 | Papers of the colonel of the Black Regiment in the Revolution. Includes troop returns, 1781-1783. |
| Mss 18 |
Olney, Jeremiah | Providence | Deposition and Receipt | 9 Sep 1781 | For runaway slave who enlisted in army and was recovered by Luke Griffith of Maryland. |
| Mss 18 |
Olney, Jeremiah | Providence | Letter | 18 May 1791 | Box 1, Folder 11: Jereh. Olney to Arther Fenner, Providence: Re: the cases of Jack Burrough a free man who is held enslaved in New Orleans and Jack Champlin, a pensioner of the United States said to be unlawfully held at Hispaniola. Olney requests Fenner's help in getting the men released. |
| Mss 18 |
Olney, Jeremiah | Providence | Papers | 1786-1790 | Box 2, Folder 11: Joseph Cooke Mercantile Papers: Accounts of the snow America, a slave ship on the African coast. Includes detailed accounts of slaves and rum sold. See finding aid for this collection which includes other accounts and references to the slave trade. |
| Mss 18 |
Olney, Jeremiah | Providence | Letter | 2 Apr 1794 | Box 1, Folder 11: Letter to Oliver Wolcott re: pension claims of Revolutionary War soldiers; Job Burton, Jabez Remington, Abraham Dennis, Walley Allen, Cato Bannister, James Northrup and Peter Harris. |
| Mss 18 |
Olney, Jeremiah | Providence | Manumissi-on | 13 Jul 1820 | Box 3, Folder 15: Manumission of slave Lewis by Mary T. Olney. |
| Mss 601 | Paine Family Papers | Diary | 1 Jul 1908 | Diary of Bessie Paine, a white resident of South Providence. Describes hearing gunshots while sitting in a drugstore, and discovering that "a colored man shot two women and killed himself." | |
| Mss 602 | Paine, George T. | Manuscript | n.d. | Manuscripts written on Native American vocabulary | |
| Mss 605 | David Patten Papers | Letter | 28 Sep 1933 | Folder 526: Letter from Caroline Hazard of Peace Dale to Patten, September 28 1933, expressing plans to support "a young negro taking his M.A. at the Yale Divinity School. Dean Weigle tells me that he is not only a good colored student, but a fine student by any standard." | |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1758-1764 | Innkeeper's account book including charges against Africa Arnold (January 9, 1759), Sambo Wener (January 1759-May 1760), Job Sambo (January 9, 1760), Oliver Fry (March 14, 1762), and Sam Spencer, Ingin (December 10, 1762). |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Ledger | 1763 | Ledger of an inn keeper with accounts with Perow Neger/Jonathan Slocum (p.68) and Jobe Samboo (p. 82). |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Ledger | 1760-1773 | Vol. 1: Includes accounts with "Oliver Fry, black fellow," undated (p.46) and Yallow Fry, 1765 (p.233). |
| Mss 72 Box 1 fol 6 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Ledger | 1757-1759 | Includes accounts with "Joshua, Engin" (index page under J), Obadiah Seser (p.42), Oliver Fry (p.43, 56), William/Bill Seser (p.43), Ebenezer Seser (p.43), Sambo Seser (p.44), Samson Sisel (p.69) and possibly others |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1771-1784 | Journal includes accounts with James Allin (p.239). |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Receipted Bill | Dec 1772 | Bill for shoes purchased by Nathanael Greene for a black boy and an indian boy. |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1778-1780 | Includes accounts with Primus Babock (p.133), Prince Gardner (p.7), Cuff Tillinghast (p.7&8), Cato Greene (p. 114), Prince Ingram (p.116), Caesar Rose (p.67), Prince Watson (p.18), Paris Gardner (p.127), Ceasar Fince (p.30), Pero Morey (p.47&137) and possibly others. |
| Mss 72 | Preserved Pearce Papers | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1791-1794 | Account book includes charge to Pomp Negro (p.14), Prince Hammon (p.47), David Cuff (p.47), Prince Greene (p.58), Lonnon Hall (p.243), and possibly others. |
| Mss 9005 | Peck Collection | Bristol | Bill of sale | 10 Jan 1745/6 | Box 2, page 12: Sale of Sarah Jethro and her daughter Abigail by Rogers Richmond of Bristol to John Mingo, negro. |
| Mss 9005 | Peck Collection | Bristol | Letter | 15 Jun 1797 | Box 10, page 62: In a letter to Welcome Arnold, John Brown articulates pro-slavery attitudes and asks Arnold for the names of members of the Abolition Society. |
| Mss 16 | Nicholas Peck Papers | Bristol | Papers | 1790-1849 | Nicholas Peck (1762-1847) was a slave-trader and merchant of Bristol, R.I. This collection consists of papers dated 1790 to 1849. Included are correspondence, bills, receipts, ledgers, insurance certificates and ship's papers regarding U.S. coastal trade and the African slave trade. One particularly interesting unsigned document dated 1812 gives instructions to a ship captain to trade for slaves at the mouth of the Gallinus River, at Cape Mount and on the Gold Coast of Africa, and instructs the captain to land the slave cargo at Trinidad. Other items include a letter from John Brown of Charleston, S.C. (not the famous John Brown of Providence) dated 7/1/1805 re purchase of 6 slaves; two from George F. Usher dated 1/31/1821 and 6/7/1821, apparently re smuggling cargo of slaves ashore at Martinique and Port Royal; and from Henry Bull dated 9/9/1841 offering two slaves for sale. |
| Mss 629 sg 9 | Joseph Perkins Papers | South Kingston | Accounts | n.d. | Receipt for payment by Dedfoot Brown of Newport (1780) ???? Potter's account book (1782) includes entries for quash Niles and Charles Gardner of South Kingston |
| Mss 9001-P | Perry, John A. | Letter | 16 Aug 1865 | Includes letter dated 1865/08/16 from Gov. William Sprague to Gen. A.G. Howard, recommending Perry for position. "Mr. Perry has been an earnest worker & advocate for the colored man for a long time. He aided me with the President in the movement for making soldiers of the Blacks and is now anxious to aid in the work of protection and direction to the black man south." | |
| Mss 9001-P | Perry, Samuel | South Kingston | Agreement | 4 Feb 1785 | Bond of Samuel Perry to the town council as administrator of the estate of William Greene, a black Revolutionary War veteran. |
| Mss 9001-P | Pickering, David | Providence | Marriage Records | 1788-1859 | A page in the back of the volume is entitled "Marriages of Coloured People, Celebrated by David Pickering, Pastor of the First Universalist Society and Church in Providence, State of Rhode Island." Six marriages are listed: Moses Hall and Nancy Proffit.................July 29, 1827 Alfred Brown and Matilda S.B. Ellis.........December 26, 1827 John Plummer and Abigail Browne...........December 8, 1831 James L. Waters and Catherine Browne.... February 9, 1832 John Potter and Silvy Brown...................December 13,1832 Henry Jackson and Bridget Ann Potter.......July __, 1833 [This one is crossed out]. |
| Mss 622 | Rev. John Pitman Papers | Providence | Diary | Jun/Jul 1805 | Entries mentions hearing W Paul, "a black man" preaching (p. 24).
"This week Black Paul preach'd....An excellent preacher much admired" (p.25).
Also, "heard Eld. Thomas Paul a blackman preach at the Baptist meeting house" (p. 26). And, Tuesday J2 In the evening heard W Benjamin Paul a blackman preach at Elder Cornel's" (p.28). Other blacks in Providence may be mentioned in this journal as well as other volumes of Pitman's diaries. |
| Mss 9001-P loose vol | Portsmouth Asylum | Portsmouth | Book of Registry | 1832-1856 | Includes listings of inmates, some are listed as "colored." |
| Mss 629 sg 2 | Elisha R. Potter, Sr. Papers | South Kingstown | Bill of sale | 1803, 1806 | To Asa Potter, Sr., for "A Negro Girl named Nan Born Decemr 25th 1796 also a Negro boy name Isaac Born 26th June 1798" for 50 pounds, 1803. See also the list of articles bought by Elisha Potter, Sr. of Asa's estate in 1806 - these children head the list (for $30). |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 7 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Papers | 22 Jan 1836 | "Abolition paper": statement of opinions of "the people of South Kingstown" regarding methods adopted by the abolitionists and legislation regarding slaveholding states, written in the hand of Elisha Potter, Jr. Dated 1/22/1836. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | c. 1858 | Box 2, folder 7: Undated letter circa 1858 from "a committee of the coloured citizens of the City of Providence" asking Potter's opinion, as a candidate for governor, on the right of black citizens to attend public schools. Filed at end of 1858 correspondence. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 23 Mar 1874 | Box 3, folder 7: Letter from Esther B. Carpenter, dated 3/23/1874: "I find that the young sachem whom I wish to identify is Charles Augustus Ninigret. He was only distinguished by the last name, in my paper...I have not been able to ascertain the particulars of his disagreement with John Checkley, whatever it was... although it was evidently brought before the Assembly some time in the year 1727." |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | Charlestown | Letter | 18 Mar 1843 | Box 1, folder 8: From Elizabeth Primus to E.R. Potter asking for advice on recovering land that belonged to her grandfather. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 14 Jul 1839 | Box 1, folder 12: Letter to Wilkins Updike from Thomas Commuck (Calamet County, Wisconsin Territory), a full-blooded Narragansett, regarding his claim to property in Charlestown, RI; discusses his Constitutional rights as a citizen of the U.S. (and member of the Brothertown Indians in Wisconsin), July 14 1839 |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 11 Jul 1844 & 31 Jul 1843 | Box 1, folder 12: Rhymed letter from Pequot Thomas Commuck about his hereditary rights to land, 7/11/1844; filed with accompanying 7/31/1843 letter from Gov. J.D. Doty of Wisconsin to Commuck explaining his legal rights. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 23 Aug 1881 | Box 3, folder 15: Letter from Edward S. Cone about "mistakes in the names [of Narragansetts] published in the Journal of today"; lists specific names from list. Dated 8/22/1881. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 8 Aug 1843 | Box 1, folder9: Letter from John Brown Francis asks, "What is this 'great Indian pow wow.' I thought the tribe were Negroes." Dated 8/8/1843. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 6 Jul 1850 | Box 2, folder 2: Letter from Albert C. Greene regarding the imprisonment of a black man named Cheets(?) and the law regarding such, 7/6/1850. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 18 Dec 1850 | Box 2, folder 2: Letter from Thomas R. Hazard asks Potter to report to him on condition of Indians in Charlestown for use in Hazard's report on the poor, 12/18/1850. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 19 Jul 1863 | Letter from William Beach Lawrence regarding "slave [soldier?]" case and points of law concerning runaway slaves, 7/19/1863. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 18 Mar 1843 | Letter from Elizabeth Primus (Narragansett) of Charlestown asking his advice on a land claim (Coyes land), 3/18/1843 |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Petition | 23 Jun 1842 | Box 1, folder 7: Petition of "Metaldy" (Metilda) Rodmond to the General Assembly to sell 45 acres of her Narragansett Reservation land, 6/23/1842 |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 10 Sep 1836 | Box 1, folder 2: Letter from Tobias Ross asking Potter to attend to "business respecting the Narragansett Tribe" for which a committee was appointed by the General Assembly; dated 9/10/1836 |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | n.d. | Letter from Tobias Ross of Charlestown (Narragansett) (date?) about a land claim? "Do not fail of meeting soon, as the tribe is very anxtious (sic) for you to meet to do business for them....Joshua...wants to cheat me out of my property - and is not willing to settle honest. I must [show?] him to a settlement, and if he will not comply, to what is right shall have a warrant and put him under bond...if you do not meet it will be a great damage to the tribe, and more so to myself." |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 28 May 1850 | Letter from John Stanton concerning "a young Indian from Michigan" who makes claims to Narragansett Indian lands to which he is heir. Dated 5/28/1850. With copy of "Act to regulate the Publick Affairs of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians in Charlestown, 1792". |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 7 Jun 1850 | Letter from Potter to John Stanton, Esq. Commissioner of the Indian Tribe discusses Indians leasing the land, leaving the land and their rights to reclaim land if they return. Dated 6/7/1850. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 18 Jan 1843, c. 1842 | Letter from Moses Stanton (Narragansett) regarding petitions to sell land so he can move to Green Bay; mentions specific petitioners and Knowles Mills land. Dated 1/18/1843. Second letter regarding same, dated 6/5/1843; and two undated letters circa 1842 concerning the same which also mention petitioners. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 1 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Letter | 25 Dec 1851 | Letter from B. B. Thurston mentions his discussion with Potter about the government of the Narragansett tribe, 12/25/1851. |
| Mss 629 sg 3 s 3 | Elisha R. Potter, Jr. Papers | South Kingstown | Deeds and Testimonies | c. 1657-1720 | Originals and copies (some quite early) of deeds drawn between the English and Narragansett, Pequot tribes. Also testimonies about boundaries of Narragansett and Pequot lands. |
| Mss 9001-P | Potter, James | Providence | Complaint / Warrant | 1750 | Alleges theft of his"musquash boxes" by Jack and Tobee (belonging to William Harris) and Pompe (belonging to Benjamin Potter, Jr.). |
| Mss 9001-P | Potter, James | South Kingstown | Will | 23 Jan 1790 | In his will, Potter leaves Rose and Peg to his wife. |
| Mss 214 sg 6 | Providence Census Collection | Providence | Census | 1791, 1825, 1845 | The 1791 census of Providence lists heads of household, and counts "All Other Free Persons", and "Slaves". Several of the heads are noted as "Negro". The 1825 census of Providence lists heads of household, and counts "coloured males" and "coloured females" aged under 18, 18 to 50, and over 50. The partial 1845 census of Providence, lists heads of household, and counts "Colored Persons", male and female, aged under 10, 24 to 36, 36-55, 55-100, and over 100. Apparently, those between the ages of 10 and 23 were not counted. |
| Mss 229 | Providence County, Justice of the Peace Records | Johnston | Promissory note | 6 Feb 1832 | Autographed note of James Sears "of coller," labourer, to pay Alpheus Hawkins. |
| Mss 943 | Providence Institution for Savings | Account Ledger | Includes account ledgers for several identified African-American depositors. | ||
| Mss 9001-B | Providence Insurance Company | Providence | Records | 1801-1806 | This volume contains copies of approved requests for insurance by shipowners, covering only 1801 to 1806. The requests usually give some information on the proposed itinerary, and the expected value of the cargo; a few are for voyages to Africa, although the company's charter forbade insuring ships involved in the slave trade. |
| Mss 647 Box 2, Fol 8 | Providence Marine Society | Providence | Bill | 1895-1896 | Bills paid to William H. Williams, 1895-1896, for catering Marine Society lunches and dinners. Williams was a successful African-American caterer in business on the East Side of Providence. |
| Mss 653 | Providence Shelter for Colored Children | Providence | Records | 1838-present | The collections contains admissions records and information (1839-1934), records of meetings, annual reports, minutes and financial notes (1838-1993), and other documents relating to the organization. See inventory. |
| Mss 9001-P loose vol | Providence Tailor | Providence | Accounts | 1772-1782; 1790-1797 | Daybook identifies blacks for whom the unidentified tailor made clothing including Quaco Butler (p. 118, 120), Ceasor Sterry (p. 136,p. 166), and possibly others. |
| Mss 629 sg 11 | Elisha Reynolds Papers | South Kingstown | Deed of sale | 1761 | Deed of sale, 1761, for "negro woman", from David Greene to Elisha Reynolds |
| Mss 232 sg 4 | Rhode Island Board of Commissioners | Rhode Island | Tax | 1798 | Page 70-7l has "summary abstract of all slaves owned and superintended... On p.19 it states that lists should be prepared showing names and ages of slaves. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Bond | 2 Jun 1777 | Series 1, vol. 3, no 1240: Isaac Paine's bond as surety to the town on Daniel Tefft's servant, Francis, being freed. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order to Sheriff | 2 Nov 1751 | Series 1, vol. 1, Box 2, p. 90 (no. 185): Fearing that blacks are spreading smallpox the town council passed "acts of assembly" to confine them and others to the indoors after 9:00pm. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Accounts | Mar-May 1777 | Series 1, vol. 3, no. 1245: "Account of the time sundry persons remained in the Hospital at North Providence" which identifies black patients and the deaths of Dinah Tillinghast, Roaze Chace and others. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Examination | 20 Mar 1780 | Series 1, vol. 5, no. 1930: Sarah Gardner, an Indian woman, of Warwick and Sarah Cockings, a mulatto woman of Providence. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Oath of allegiance | 21 Jun 1780 | Series 1, vol. 5, no. 2013: Pomp Reaves was among those who took the oath of allegiance and was mustered into the Continental service. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Receipt | 15 Jul 1780 | Series 1, vol. 5, no. 2131: Nicholas Power received bounty from John Brown for Negro Ceasar for his enlisting into battalion with permission from Power. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Warrant | 23 Jul 1782 | Series 1, vol. 6, no. 2745: Warrant for the following persons to appear before the Town Council "Mrs. McCollough dwelling at the House of Joseph Willson, Margarett Bowler alias Margarett Fairchild a negrowoman together with all the persons dwelling in the House with heron the 21st Day of the present month, and Elizabeth Gardner an Indian or Mulatto Woman . . .together with the following persons at the House of Patience Ingraham viz Nancy Brown alias Nancy Clarkson, Ethel Gladding alias Ethel Hill. . ." Patience Ingraham charged with "keeping a common ill-governed, and disorderly House, and of permitting to reside there, persons of Evil Name and Fame, and of Dishonest Conversation drinking, tipling, Whoring, and Misbehaving themselves to the Damage and Nusance of the Town and great Disturbance of the Public Peace" |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Warrant | 23 Jun 1789 | Series 1, vol. 12, no. 5216: Warrant for Pedro, a mulatto accused of theft in Wrentham. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Accounts | 7 Sep 1789 | Series 1, vol. 12, no. 5260: Accounts of the Town Council with Henry Bowen for notifying black men Ishmael Brown, John Hix, Jack Greene and Samuel Strange to appear before the Town Council. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Receipt | 11 Jun 1793 | Series 1, vol. 18, no. 7980: Bill from Vilet Sterling to town for boarding Prince Thurston, a "poor black adjudged... to belong to Newport." |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order for removal | 5 Jun 1793 | Series 1, vol. 18, no. 7982: The Town Council's order to the Sargeant to remove Prince Thurston to Newport. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Lease | 21 Sep 1795 | Series 1, vol. 23, no. 10059: Indenture of lease for Cuff Robard for the upper part of a house owned by Henry Bowen at India Point. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Indenture | 30 Nov 1795 | Series 1, vol. 23, no. 10100: Indenture of Betty Church's daughter, Benoni, a mulatto boy to George Greene of Warwick. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order | 17 Dec 1794 | Series 1, vol. 23, no. 10142: Order for the removal of Waty Greene, a mulatto girl, to be taken from Providence. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Receipts | 17 Dec 1795 | Series 1, vol. 23, nos. 10143 and 10165: Order payable to the coroner for inquest "on the murdered body of a negro man called Paul Jones"(10143) and a receipt for John Smith for the coffin, shroud and burial for Jones "found stabbed in the street"(10165). |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Account | 1794-1796 | Series 1, vol. 23, no. 10190: Account with the town of Providence for Pardon Bowen's caring for smallpox patients including those at Moad Sisco's dwelling. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Indenture | 4 Aug 1805 | Series 1, vol. 23, no. 10199: Indenture of Thomas, son of mulatto Betty Church as an apprentice to Stephen Greene of Warwick. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Removal | 6 Oct 1796 | Series 1, vol. 26, no. 11261: The Town Council orders Cato Gardner, his wife and son, Samuel, to be returned to Newport. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order | 14 Oct 1796 | Series 1, vol. 26, no. 11268: Order to pay for a coffin for Nero Douglas and another negro man "who died up town." |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Removal | 5 Sep 1796 | Series 1, vol. 26, no. 11401: Gideon Day charges Council for removing Mary Cesar alias Mary Whipple from Providence. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Removal | 8 Nov 1796 | Series 1, vol. 26, no. 11402: Council ordered Mary Cesar alias Mary Whipple, "a free mulatto woman said to be...wife of one Jonathan alias Jefferey Whipple" to Smithfield. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | List | 1800 | Series 1, vol. 33, no. 13914: "List of Persons reported to have been attacked with a Malignant Fever." Includes the names of some persons of color. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Fine | 20 May 1707 | Series 1, vol. 39A, no. 16751: Sprague is fined for assault on Negro Frank. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | List | 9 Oct 1806 | Series 3, vol. 60, no. 008728: A list of people recommended for expulsion including Cuff Robards and his family, John Thomas, Lucy Gardner, Newport Kelly and wife and others. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order | 18 Aug 1806 | Series 3, vol. 60, no. 008746: Order for expulsion to Johnston of Mary Caesar and her daughters Martha (age 12), Clarissa (age 8) and Fanny (age 2). |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | List | 1815 | Series 3, vol. 86, no. 0023961: Names and residences of people who received public assistance after the 1815 gale including Peggy Patrick and Rachael. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Examination | 31 Jul 1815 | Series 3, vol. 88, no. 0024940: Examination of Newport Thurston |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Complaint | 27 Apr 1816 | Series 3, vol. 88, no. 0024971: Moses Staunton complains about his housekeeper, Mary Cooper, "a woman of colour." He tells of her drunkeness, neglect of his children, and her threats to burn down his house and kill his family. He asks that she be banished to Rehoboth, "her native place." |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Report | Dec 1819-6 Jun 1820 | Series 3, vol. 105, no. 0034531: "Report of the Overseer of the Poor ... gives the names of those supported and assisted" Includes Harry Brown, Stella Corlis, Jane Burnett, Arsee, "a Chinese (black)", Cato Slocum, Thanna Briggs, Prince Whitman's widow, Abby Sibro (deceased), Sarah Sisco and others. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order | 23 Sep 1822 | Series 3, vol. 111, no. 0038651: Order to remove Betsey Dursey from Providence to Troy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Complaint | Mar 1823 | Series 3, vol. 111, no. 0038670: Cuff Roberts of Coventry asks permission of Council to get pension from Providence. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Report | 9 Sep 1822 | Series 3, vol. 111, no. 0038696: Describes four black families as living in a small house who must toss their waste onto a gangway. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Licenses | 1822 | Series 3, vol. 111, no. 0038860: Includes a license "to retail strong liquors" which includes a clause forbidding the grantee from allowing "any person of colour to take charge of his store." |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | List | 24 Jun 1822 | Series 3, vol. 112, no. 0039155: A list of names of colored heads of families and the owners of their residences. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Report | Jun 1823 | Series 3, vol. 118, no. 0043139: Report of the Overseer of the Poor for the year ending June 1823. Identifies Henry Brown, Sophia Concy, Nancy Cusing, Lyllis Dimbo, Bettsy French, Harriet Greene, Newcom Goree, Susan Hopkins, Sarah Mathewson, Lucy McKenzie, Nimble Nightingale, Sarah Sheviateaux, Sarah Sisco, Fanny Tiffany as well as others. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order for removal | 13 Mar 1826 | Series 3, vol. 127, no. 0048290: Order to remove Henry Gray and his wife Betsy Gray alias Betsy Singleton from Providence. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Receipt | 22 Feb 1829 | Series 3, vol 141, p. 96, no. 0056943: Coroner's bill for William Johnson who drowned in Canal Dam. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Order for removal | 15 Dec 1830 | Series 3, vol. 145, no. 0059209: The Town Council orders the removal of Patena Clarke and her son Ceasar Clarke from Providence to Westerly. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Bond | 27 Mar 1708 | Series 2, vol. 3, no. 0931: Bond of Thomas Angel as surety for mulato woman named Hope and her children. |
| Mss 214 sg1 |
Providence Town Papers | Providence | Bond | 24 Jun 1723 | Series 2, vol. 3, no. 0947: Bond of John Brown of Smithfield as surety for Negro Felix. |
| Mss 214 sg 9 vol. 2 |
Providence Town Council Minutes | Providence | Petition | 1803 | William Goddard petition (July 29, 1803) to manumit Cud Gordon? Maria Watson, born in South Kingston, sold by Jeffry Watson to Peter Taylor of Providence, then to Job Sheldon, is being returned to South Kingston. Two girls of color committed to the Bridewell by Henry Alexander (September 1803). Sarah Tillinghast at John Brown's "song house" was disorderly. Other accounts also. |
| Mss 214 sg 9 | Providence Town Council Minutes | Providence | Examination | 1804 | Examinations of Sarah Babcock, Rusha Jenckes and Reba Congdon, all apparently women of color, January 27 1804; order to Bess Bowers, "a transient black woman," to leave town or be publicly whipped, July 27 1804. |
| Mss 9001-P | Prudence Island | Prudence Island (Portsmouth) | Coroners inquest | 17 Aug 1733 | Inquiry into the deaths of "a certain Indian man and a Negro man that Drone on shore...." |
| Mss 9001-R | Reaves, Pomp | Cranston | Deed | 8 Sep 1784 | Deed from Reaves to Gideon Brown for land in Cranston. |
| Mss 662 | Rehoboth Town Papers | Rehoboth, MA | Bills | 1767-1769 | Three bills in the collection are for the "keeping and boarding of Morea a Poor Negro Woman belonging to said Town..." from 1767-1769. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Collection | 1866-1868 | Series 6: Bureau of Refugees, Freedpeople and Abandonded Lands This collection contains a significant amount of information on the reconstruction efforts in Virginia directly after the end of the Civil War. Brevet Major James H. Remington was assigned to work for the Bureau of Refugees, Freedpeople and Abandonded Lands in various places in Virginia during1866-1868. Among its services the Bureau provided clothing and blankets to "Destitute Freedpeople." The records include Clothing Receipt Rolls which list each former slave and the items of clothing they received. At the top of each roll is a listing of the counties the people came from. The rolls are in the Bureau Stores or Quartermaster's Stores monthly reports - Abstract L for items expended with vouchers or sub vouchers listing the people and the items they received. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Collection | 1866-1868 | In addition, James Remington prepared Inspection Reports for April 1867 - September 1868 on the conditions in his district which included the counties of Norfolk, Princess Anne, Isle of Wight, Nansemond and Southampton. The reports detail the general conditions of the freedpeople, court systems treatment of black citizens, employment conditions, schools and level of temperance in the black community. (Also refers to previous entry.) |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Advertisem-ents and notices | 1866-1867, n.d. | Series 1, Box 1, Folder 2: Constitution and By-Laws of the New York and Independent Joint Stock Co. of Colored Citizens of New York [c.1866?] - broadside. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Flyer | 10 Jun 1867 | Series 6, Box 7, Folder 11: Lincoln National Temperance Association 1867- flyer describing group. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | School papers | 1855-1857, n.d. | Series 1, Box 2, Folder 10: School papers - Early English Compositions, 1855-1857, n.d. School composition James Remington wrote while a student at East Greenwich Academy entitled "The North American Indian", 1855. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Letter | 20 Jun 1866 | Series 2, Box 3, Folder 7: Letter written to James H. Remington from Marie Louise Padelford of Providence, RI.: "Yesterday, I had a letter from Emily [Padelford Remington] saying that they all went 'down home' last Saturday. The Baby did his best - did not cry, whimper or fuss all day long - as incredible as it may seem. It is really a very good - if not wonderful baby. As yet they have given him no name - except little kitten. I believe his grand-parents and black Adeline were quite delighted with him - but you must come on and see the Nephew." [emphasis added] |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Legal Case | 1866-1869 | Series 1, Box 1, Folder 15: Law practice - Case of Taylor Farm1866-1869. Taylor Farm Case is about the attempt by W.E. Taylor, who fought on the side of the Confederacy, to reclaim land in Virginia he abandoned during the war and was subsequently settled by a large group of African-Americans (Freedmen). The black community refused to leave. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Legal Case | 1867-1868 | Series 6, Box 6, Folder 16 Case of Trimm, Kemp, Williams, Harrison & Young vs. Commonwealth of Virginia 1867-1868 Remington writes an opinion on this case of 5 black men who were accused of murdering a white man and were sentenced to death by hanging. JHR's opinion was that the evidence was circumstantial at best and that the witnesses for the prosecution were under threat and in fear for their lives if they did not testify to the guilt of the men accused. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Legal Case | 1867-1868 | Series 6, Box 6, Folder 15: Case of Charles W. Buttz regarding stealing bounty from colored soldiers. |
| Mss 166 | Remington, James H. | Virginia | Charge | 1867 | Series 6, Box 5, Folder 31: Remington charged with finding and remitting bounty money due to colored soldiers. |
| Mss 663 | Reynolds Family Papers Reynolds, Henry |
South Kingston | Manumissi-on | 1 Mar 1784 | Document of manumission of a negro slave woman named Nab. A note added onto the back of the document indicates that Nab was one of the first slaves freed by act of the Rhode Island legislature. The act was passed on the last Monday of February 1784 and this document was signed on March 1, 1784. |
| Mss 9001-R | Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society | Providence | Letter | 13 Dec 1838 | Letter to Oliver Johnson, the corresponding secretary of the society, from John Quincy Adams. In the letter, Adams discusses slavery's incongruity with a nation that extolls liberty among its highest values. |
| Mss 9001-R | Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society | Providence | Minutes | 20-22 Nov 1844 | Minutes to the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society. |
| Mss 664 | Rhode Island Association for Freedman | Rhode Island | Records | 1864-1867 | The Rhode Island Association for Freedmen was formed in 1864 as a response to the needs of the emancipated slaves. Its services included temporary housing, the collection and distribution of clothing, food, sundry goods and a job training program. In the latter service the Association was occasionally successful in finding jobs in other states for those fortunate in acquiring marketable skills. In 1867, it merged with the New England Freedmen's Aid Society to form the New England Branch Freedmen's Union Commission. These records contain minutes, accounts, correspondence and other documents. Finding aid is available. |
| Mss 677 | Rhode Island Citizens Historical Association | Providence | Notes and minutes | 1883-1888 | Provides numbers of l55 women and 184 men blacks in Providence in 1768 (p.12-13). Another newspaper clipping shows the number of blacks in each town in Rhode Island in 1755 (p. 47). |
| Mss 677 | Rhode Island Citizens Historical Association | Providence | Reminiscen-ce | n.d. | "Reminiscence of the South Side of Westminister Street" by Elisha Dyer mentions a Snow St. resident, Scipio Brenton. "Snow Street had then a very extended reputation, as at the corner of Middle Street stood the residence of that Prince of Caterers, Scipio Brenton, and his somewhat numerous family of boys and girls." |
| Mss 677 | Rhode Island Citizens Historical Association | Providence | Minutes | 16 Apr 1883 | A newspaper clipping in the minutes (p. 26) includes brief reminiscences of Cyrus Butler's servants (former slaves) Temp and Prince aka Primmy No Nose. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Lease | 4 Jan 1737 | Volume 2, page 43: Cuffe Numco, a laborer, leases land from Joshua Winsor adjacent to his own lot and house. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Promissory note | 17 Oct 1748 | Volume 2, page 79: Promissory note given by John Sprague to Bristo. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Census | 1768 | Volume 2, page 105: Census recap shows 47 blacks residing in Providence. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts - CANT FIND | Providence | Payment | 1776 | Volume 4, page 138: Payment record for boarding of Providence hospital patients, names some blacks |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Deaths | 23 Jan 1710 | Volume 5, page 43: On reverse of a letter to John Whipple dated March 20, 17ll is a list of people that died in Providence after January 23, 1710. This list indicates 2 negor boys and an Indian man died, but they are not named. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Settlement | Feb-Nov 1781 | Volume 7, page 59: "Statement of the settlement at the Treasury of the [pension] Claims of the following persons for services during the late war in the Rhode Island line of the Army." List included sixteen names, mostly men of color including Caesar Updike, Cato Greene, Jack Watson, Cuff Greene. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Letter | 8 Oct 1792 | Volume 7, page 69: In a letter from Andrew Boyd of East Greenwich to Daniel Cooke of Providence, Boyd writes about claim against George Holden, a black sailor. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Deposition | 1682 | Volume 10, page 54: 1682 deposition by Roger Williams re his early dealings with the Narragansetts. This item has been completely transcribed and annotated in volume 51 of the publications of the Society of Colonial Wars in Rhode Island as An Affidavit by Roger Williams in his Own Handwriting (1976). The published version should be used rather than the original. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Rhode Island | Account | n.d. [c. 1756] | Volume 9, page 37: Account between the owners of the sloop, Freelove , a slave ship bound for Africa with Joseph Wanton as the captain. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Newport | Deed of sale | 3 July 1744 | Volume 11, page 97: Sale by Nicholas Carmer, a New York City mariner, to Samuel Freebody of Newport of "A certain negro man slave named St. Augua." [Possibly Santiago--born in Cuba?] |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Newport | Auction Account | 10 Jun 1745 | Volume 11, page 98: Public auction of 4 mustees, l mulatto and 4 negroes. Document names the buyers as Peleg Brown, Benjamin Norton, Robert Morris, John McDaniel, Nathaniel Potter, Daniel Coggeshall, George Goulding, and William Mumford. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Newport | Bill of sale | 29 May 1747 | Volume 11, page 98: Samuel Freebody's bill of sale for a "negro man named Quaman" to Capt. John Tillinghast and the owners of Brig. Defiance. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Bill of sale | 23Jun 1750 | Volume 12, page 3: Sale of "one negro man named Sartur" from Solomon Drowne to Arthur Fenner. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Rhode Island | Census | 1755 | Volume 12, page 12: "Account of the people...of Rhode Island, whites and blacks..." enumeration only, by town. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Rhode Island | Receipt | 9 Aug 1764 | Volume 12, page 56: Nehemiah Ward's receipt given to Prince Miller for payment for a house. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Rhode Island | Report to Congress | 1786 | Volume 14, page 61: Committee report in response to Congress order for a list of blacks carried away by the British from Rhode Island during the war. Provides names of 42, free men and slaves with their age, physical description, and some history. Most were taken from Newport in 1779. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Newport | Papers | 1758-1784 | Volume 16, page 96-100: Samuel Freebody's papers (1758-1784) including a receipt for Quammani, Toney and Quarsheba (1758). Letters from his slave Benjamin Freebody whom he sent out on a slaving voyage in 1775 and who remained at sea in a privateer crew during the war. William Robinson's letter offering to sell Lucy, wife of Cudjoe Heathy of South Kingston and her son to Freebody (1784). |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Newport | Deposition | 1 Jul 1786 | Volume 16, page 102: Deposition of Col. George Irish in the case of Samuel Freebody vs. James Brattle concerning whippings inflicted upon Capt. Freebody's manservant Ben. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Providence | Indenture | 10 Dec 1810 | Volume 17, page 89: Apprenticeship of London Shoemaker as a servant and farmer to Ebenezer Knight Dexter by the Providence Town Council. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Exeter | Inventory | 1759 | Volume 18, page 76: Inventory of estate of Joseph Rathbun, includes "a negro man named Primos." |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Johnston | Receipt | 4 Jan 1781 | Volume 18, page 97: Levi Ceasar receipt from Col. Daniel Manton wages for services as a soldier. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Johnston | Receipt | 24 Feb 1781 | Volume 18, page 97: Jeremiah Ceasar autographed order assigning to John Waterman wages for service as a soldier. |
| Mss 9003 | Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts | Newport | Bill of sale | 9 Jul 1967 | Volume 18, page 139: Bill of sale from William Stevens for a "mustee Garl aged about fifteen months" to Mrs. Lydia Turner. |
| Mss 527 | Rhode Island Land Evidence | Rhode Island | Ruling | 27 May 1721 | Volume 3, page 360: Ruling that unidentified slaves shall be sold at public auction (19th century transcription). |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Providence | Manumissi-on | 11 May 1786 | Volume 1, page 57: Repeats Ruth Hopkins document of manumission of her former slave Toney Hopkins. |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Providence | Correspond-ence | 1796 | Volumes 5 and 6: Includes the official correspondence received by David Leonard Barnes, the judge of the U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island. Items 35 to 40 in volume 6 are documents from the slave brig Louisa, 1797. Pages 35 and 36 are listings of slaves sold; the name of Captain Elisha Briggs was blotted out or cut out in several places by a 19th-century historical revisionist. Pages after page 40 include other correspondence relating indirectly to the slave trade. |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Providence | Letter | 13 Nov 1790, 4 Dec 1792, 29 Dec 1792, 17 Dec 1793 | Volume 6, pages 41-48: Exchange of letters in which Ambrose Knox writes from North Carolina asking for the aid of David L. Barnes in retreiving runaway slaves at Taunton. Knox writes, "They say they saw more liberty in their master's kitchen than they have had or ever expect to find in New England." |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Newport | Accounts, marriages and letters | 1761-1770 | Volume 10, pages 81, 83, 85: Accounts and letter of Cesar Lyndon. Includes account with Neptune Sisson, a trip to Portsmouth with Boston Vose, Zingo Stevens Phylis Lyndon, Prince Thurston, Neptune Sisson & Wife, Sarah Searing. Marriage of Zingo Stevens and Phylis Lyndon by Rev. Edward Upham (June l5, 1770), Marriage of Cesar and Sarah Lyndon by Ezra Stiles, (October 6, 1767),and death of Susannah Lyndon (June l5, 1770) The birth of a daughter named Sarah to Phyllis [Lyndon] on June 16, 1769. Other individuals mentioned in the documents include Prince Richards, Primus Searing, Sarah Robinson "(an Indian Mulatto)". He also has an account with the merchant Aaron Lopez dated December 9, 1766. |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Providence | Deed | 6 Mar 1720 | Volume 10, page 81: Deed from Providence Williams to Samuel Wilkinson |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Providence | Letter | 1842 | Volume 10, page 118: Alexander Crummel to William R. Staples answering questions Staples had posed regarding the history of the Christ Church Episcopal congregation. Christ Church was the first African-American Episcopal congregation in Rhode Island and they worshiped on Union Street in Providence, 1839 - 1851. |
| Mss 9004 | Rhode Island Manuscripts | Providence | Census | Aug 1821 | Volume 10, page 143: Census recap which includes blacks both free and slaves. |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection | Rhode Island | List | 1739-1747 | Typescript of names of Rhode Island soldiers and sailors between 1739-1747. Includes Cuff Bannister (Privateer Revenge, 1740), Newport Coffin (Capt. Cole's Co., 1745), Frank Pelham (Privateer Revenge, 1740), Sampson Quimons (Capt. Champlin's Co., 1745) and others. |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection | Rhode Island | Muster roll | 17 Aug 1757 | "Muster Roll of that part of the Regiment raised in the Colony of Rhode Island for the Present Expedition which marched out of the county of Newport." under the command of Col. Andrews. One of the names listed in the 3rd Division reads: "Josiah an Indian" |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection | Providence | Payroll | Jan-Apr 1758 | Roll of Capt. Daniel Wall's company including names of Jacob Ceasar, Ceasar Sambo, Peter Cheese, and Benjamin Negro. |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection | Rhode Island | List | Jun-Oct 1758 | Account...of the Rhode Island Regiment of Provincials [with] His Majesty's Hospital at Albany [New York] Includes the name of Primas Harris of Capt. Tew's Company. |
| Mss 673 sg 2 | Rhode Island Revolutionary War Military Papers | Newport | Enlistments | 17 Feb 1776 | List of men enlisted in Col. Richmond's regiment, Capt. Christopher Manchester's Company identifies men of color. All eleven appear to be labourers from Newport. |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection (indexed) | Providence | Receipt | 7 Aug 1778 | Receipt by hand of Esek Hopkins for bounty paid for enlistment of his "Negro Loser" [Losher?] in the 1st Regiment Providence Co. Militia (Mathewson's regiment, Jencks' company). |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection (papers to be indexed) | Sloop Independence | Letter of Allegiance | 3 Sep 1776 | Receipt by hand of Esek Hopkins for bounty paid for enlistment of his "Negro Loser" [Losher?] in the 1st Regiment Providence Co. Militia (Mathewson's regiment, Jencks' company). |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection | Rhode Island | Muster roll | May 1777 | Capt. Shaw's Company of Col. Angell's Regiment includes name of Private Prince Lippet. |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection | Rhode Island | Card Index | 1778-1782 | Prince Bucklin is listed in the index for various companies. There are undoubtedly other men of color throughout the index. |
| Mss 673 sg 1 | Rhode Island Military Papers Colonial Militia Collection (indexed box) | East Greenwich | Muster roll | Mar 1779 | The muster roll at East Greenwich includes many men of color. There are other muster rolls and pay rolls throughout the collection that are not listed in this guide, but may include other men of color. |
| Mss 673 sg 2 | Rhode Island Military Papers Revolutionary War Records | Foster | Muster roll | Dec 1779 | Box 1, Folder 52: List of men enlisted with Lt. Burlingame, 2nd Company of Foster, including freemen and slaves. Names of men include Scippio Brown, drummer; Cuff Gardner, fifer; Dick Cozins, fifer, privates Africa Burk, Brittain Saltison, and Bristol Arnold. |
| Mss 673 sg 2 | Rhode Island Military Papers Revolutionary War Records |
Rhode Island | Records | 1775-1783 | Includes extensive documentation of the First Regiment, Rhode Island Continental Troops, popularly known as the Black Regiment. A large number of company muster rolls, etc. dating 1775-1783 Size Roll and Returns, 1780 (1 vol.) Roster and enlistment book, 2/1781-1782 (cover reads Angell's Regiment) Pay book, 1781-1783 Returns book, 2/1780-4/1782 |
| Mss 673 sg 2 | Rhode Island Military Papers Revolutionary War Records (not indexed) |
Cumberland | Subscription List | Feb 1781 | For bounty to be paid to Bristol Olney. |
| Mss 673 sg 2 | Rhode Island Military Papers Revolutionary War Records (not indexed) |
Camp Rhode Island Village | Subscription List | 10 Feb 1781 | List of people paid including many men of color. |
| Mss 673 | Rhode Island Military Papers Revolutionary War Rolls (indexed) |
Rhode Island | Muster roll | Aug-Sep 1782 | Roll for Capt. William Humphrey's Company includes name of Prince Cleare. |
| Mss 673 sg 4 | Rhode Island Military Papers Civil War Papers |
Rhode Island | Guard Book | 1862 | Volume 38: Guard Duty Reports for 3rd Regiment of Heavy Artillery at Fort Seward gives records of unknown "contrabands" (freed slaves) imprisoned in the Civil War. In the "List of Prisoners" the reasons for imprisonment are frequently listed as stealing or drunkenness. |
| Mss 673 sg 4 | Rhode Island Military Papers Civil War Papers |
Rhode Island | Records | Aug 1863-Oct 1865 | Box 7: Rhode Island Fourteenth Regiment, Heavy Artillery, Morning reports and enlistments. |
| Mss 673 sg 4 | Rhode Island Military Papers Civil War Papers |
Rhode Island | Orderly Book | 1864-1865 | Volume 53: 18th U.S. Army Corps Orderly book, Special order NO.69 states that "Colored troops will be posted in rear of the Centre of each Brigade on the entrenched line." |
| Mss 673 sg 4 | Rhode Island Military Papers Civil War Papers |
Rhode Island | Records | 1865 | Box 8: Includes the following records of the Forty-first Regiment, U.S. Infantry (Colored) Quartermaster's store, 1865 Statement of charges on muster and payrolls, 1865 Inventory and inspection report, 1865 |
| Mss 670 | Rhode Island Republican | Newport | Accounts | 29 Mar 1809 | Charges for advertising Enoch Crandall's mulatto runaway. |
| Mss 9001-R | Rhode Island Society of Natural History. | Rhode Island | Size roll | Sep 1782 | Includes size roll of 3rd co. of the Black Regiment in the Revolution. |
| Mss 231 sg 3 | Rhode Island State Records Collection | Rhode Island | Petition | Feb 1785 | Box 3: Petition of the Narragansett tribe of Indians to the Rhode Island General Assembly February 1785 regarding disputes between indians and white and requesting the creation of a
"Committee of your own Citizens investing them with full Power of hearing & determining all Disputes and Controversies that may arise between any of the Indians of the Narransett [sic] Tribe, among themselves, or with any of the Citizens of this State" Signed by: Joseph Hoxsie James Congdon Jr. John Potter Carder Hazard Samuel Babcock Joseph Stanton Jr. Tyler Robinson |
| Mss 231 sg 3 | Rhode Island State Records Collection | Rhode Island | Petition | Feb 1785 | Box 3: Petition of the Narragansett Tribe in Charlestown, RI read to the General Assembly in February 1785 and referred to the June 1785 Session. Petition regarding land taken from indians and given to others while the original owners were away as soldiers in the Continental Service. Signed by 176 people. |
| Mss 9001-R | Rhodes, Nahum | Warwick | Account book | 1773-1774 | Debit and credit for Prince (November 12, 1774) and possibly others throughout the book. |
| Mss 680 | Thomas Rice Papers | Providence | Letter | 20 Aug 1744 | Page 28: Note from Ellin Coker asking for 40 pounds for sale of a negro boy to Thomas Rice. |
| Mss 680 | Thomas Rice Papers | Warwick | Deposition | Feb 1741-1744 | Pages 16-20: Depositions from John Hunt, Thankfull Collens, Job Warner and others, inquiring into the injury and death of Captain John Rice's servant, Sharper. |
| Mss 9001-R | Richmond, John Rogers | Indenture | 1761 | Apprenticeship indenture of Ephraim Pomham Frost, an indian boy, to John Rogers Richmond by his mother Mary Frost to learn no trade, 1761. | |
| Mss 215 | Richmond, Town of | Richmond | Death and Birth records | 1877-1905 | Consists primarily of records pertaining to white people. There are quite a few "black", "copper", and "collard" people recorded as well. The dates of death for those people are: 6/2/1877 1/17/1880 9/10/1879 10/1880 2/26/1881 10/15/1881 5/21/1885 12/14/1886 11/15/1887 11/26/1887 3/18/1888 7/2/1888 11/1/1888 8/6/1891 10/14/1891 5/21/1894 7/31/1894 10/9/1894 12/19/1894 8/17/1897 9/17/1898 4/2/1899 6/9/1899 6/8/1900 3/13/1900 6/11/1901 1/1/1903 4/1/1903 4/29/1903 8/21/1903 8/22/1903 4/1/1904 4/1/1904 (2)4/25/1904 9/30/1904 10/22/1904 10/28/1904 2/5/1905 3/17/1905 10/26/1905 11/19/1905 Dates of Birth: 12/7/1894 4/23/1894 11/27/1894 |
| Mss 1132 | Noah Robinson Diaries | Massachusetts | Diary | 1778 | Diary kept during his service in Massachusetts regiment of Col. John Daggett's. Entry for March 1, 1778 describes an offence suffered by a black man and the subsequent entries give information about the resolution of the conflict. "However to keep in Memmory this Memmorable Day the Conduct of Capt. Pecks Company may be Remarkd (viz) Afternoon a black Fellow Came and made his Complant of Corpl. Coles Strikeing him. The Colo. ordred him under Guard. However the Company ris[?] or a part thereof & Refused him out Which causd a fluster in the Regt. However the rest of the Company was Confined & the Prisoner Taken up. Lt. Merry is under an arest." [3/1/1778] "However the prisoners ware all Brought before the Genl. & Colls. And those that went to refuse the Corpl. out ware all confined & the two Corpl. put in Irons & Those that Pled Ignorant in the afair ware Desmist from under Guard (Tus) It was found out that Capt. Peck had rum of his Brothers to Suttle out & the Genl. gave orders For Colo. Daggett to Sease the Same and Turn it to the Store which Was accordingly Performed . . I Went & saw the Prisoners [3/2/1778] A poem appears on the last page of the diary dated in 1787 not in the handwriting of Noah Robinson which reads: The Orange tree in southern Isle Its fragant branches spreads Where the poor suffering negro toils And With his hardships bleeds. |
| Mss 1132 | Noah Robinson Diaries | Massachusetts | Diary | 1787 | A poem appears on the last page of the diary dated in 1787 not in the handwriting of Noah Robinson which reads: The Orange tree in southern Isle Its fragant branches spreads Where the poor suffering negro toils And With his hardships bleeds. |
| Mss 9001-S | Saint John's Guild | Providence | Records | 1879-1881 | Records, 1879-1881, of the Visiting Society of St. John's Episcopal Church in Providence. Includes detailed descriptions of repeated visits to the following seven persons listed as "colored", and presumably poor and elderly: Isaac Bowen, Miss Martha Bowen, Miss Eunice Jackson, Mrs. Louisa Johnson, Mrs. M.A. Malbone, Mrs. Jane A. Smith, Mrs. Lucy Waterman. Transcriptions of all of these visits are in the St. John's Guild finding aid. |
| Mss 9001-S | Samuel | Portsmouth | Documents | 17 Jul 1670 | Two documents (record of coroner's inquest, and verdict signed by jury) in the case of the Indian Samuel found dead in the well of Anthony Emry at Portsmouth, July 17 1670. |
| Mss 110 | Sayles, Clark | Georgia | Plantation Records | n.d. | Includes plantation records from Georgia |
| Mss 9001-S | Sanford, Jack | Westerly | Manumissi-on | 1 Mar 1781 | Act of manumission to Jack by Elisha Sanford, a Newport ship carpenter. |
| Mss 9001-S | Scott, John | Providence | Deed | 4 Apr 1783 | Deed for sale of a house and lot to Brister Olney, carefully located as "number twelve, on the right of Roger Mowry." |
| Mss 9001-S | Scott, John | Newport | Manumissi-on | 1770 | A copy of John Scott's manumission of Pompey. |
| Mss 165 | Senter Papers | Pawtuxet | Accounts | 1793-1802, 1801-1806 | In the 1793-1802 account book, Dr. Isaac Senter names as patients, Dutchess Gibbs, Cudjo Gibbs, and probably other blacks. Dr. Horace Senter documents attending to Cudjo Gibbs, Cato Barker, Dutchess Channing, Maria, Cuff Simmons, Zingo Stevens in 1801-1807 account book, arranged alphabetically. |
| Mss 165 | Senter Papers | Personal Accounts | 1790-1794 | Box 1, Folder 10: Receipts for work done by John Remington during 1787-1793, the receipts includes many entries for making or mending shoes for unnamed "Negro" and "Negro boy" and also for "Negro Prince." Receipt for work done by Mary Myrick dated October 23, 1792 with a charge for "Making a Coat for your Servant." Receipt from Henry Fowler of Jamestown dated March 24, 1793 "to 3 fearages your two Sons and a Negro man 25 cents." Receipt for account with Jonathan Hull for 1788-1791 which includes entries for "to Mak a Vest & Pr overalls for Negro" and "To Altering a Pr Breeches for Negro." | |
| Mss 712 | Sessions Papers Thomas Sessions |
Providence | Receipt | 15 Sep 1804 | Box 3, Folder 10: Bill to Thomas Sessions from Jack and Sam Caesar for building a wall. |
| Mss 715 | William A. Shaw Papers | East Greenwich | Ledger | 1830-1855 | Physician accounts show treatment for Nat Rome "colored" (p.148), Timothy Rodman "man of color" (p.182), Dorcas Gardner "black woman" (p.155), and on the last page "Perry black man /Old Rittes son/" and "Bradwick Thomas (black)." |
| Mss 9001-S | Sheldon, Christopher | Providence | Accounts | 1771-1776 | Nathan Angell's accounts with estate of Christopher Sheldon (1771-1776) includes man "Negroe Colett" who may be same named in Gideon's Manchester's 1769 inventory. Another account with estate (1802) names "John Wallace (Negro)." |
| Mss 9001-S | Sheldon, George | Cranston | Crew list | Mar 1818 | Papers of Brigatine Hector of Providence on a voyage to Charlestown, SC, France and India. The crew list includes Thomas Butter, a free black from Providence. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Newport | Bills | 1770, 1771 | Volume 3, pages 68 & 70: Portage bills for the sloop Adventure includes Prince Miller. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Newport | Memo | c. 1785 | Volume 3, page 76: Memo of wages lists the crew for Brig Bayonne including Prince Gardner. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Charlestown | Petition | 14 Dec 1792 | Volume 6, page 112: Petition of Harry Niles to the Honble. Committee Appointed to Settle Indian Affairs in Charlestown requesting land on the basis that his mother was "one of the Tribe of Indians." |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Charlestown | Bill | 15 Oct 1810 | Volume 6: page 112: Bill from Lodowick Paul against the estate of Harry Hazard for the boarding of his child. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Charlestown | Papers | 1842-1850 | Volume 7, Pages 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 44, 72-76: Papers of the committee consisting of the Charlestown Indian Council and Robert Hazard appointed to settle land disputes and petitions. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Charlestown | Papers | 1708-1835 | Volume 9, pages 31-42: Original manuscript and copies relating to the sale of tribal lands, regulations, and lawsuits. For example, p. 34 is an indenture of lease between Sarah Niles, an Indian woman and Jacob Perry, a mulatto man (March 18, 1808). Other papers relate to suit of Moses Stanton vs. James Kenyon, 1835. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Providence | Deed | 11 Apr 1789 | Volume 10, page 153: Deed from Santealger Hopkins, free negro, to Elizabeth Arnold, widow, for half a house in Providence owned in common with Bonno Brown, a free negro. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Smithfield | Bill of sale | 4 May 1769 | Volume 11, page 1: Bill of sale of "One Negro Man Slave called Cesar" from Luke Arnold of Smithfield to Oliver Arnold of Providence. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Providence | Petition | Mar 1789 | Volume 13, page 141: Continental Army soldier Plato McClellan signs his petition to the Rhode Island Assembly for relief for a disability incurred in service |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | Jamestown | Indenture | 5 Dec 1723 | Volume 15, page 19: George Greene contracts to George Mumford the services of his slave Hannah aged one year and six months, who is "half Indian and Half Negro," for a term of nineteen and a half years. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection | North Kingstown | Agreement | 13 Mar 1730 | Volume 15, page 39: An agreement between Daniel Updike of Newport and Israel Phillips of North Kingstown for a joint operation of a farm in North Kingstown. Updike will provide two "good negroes" or other hands to work on the land. |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection Updike, Daniel |
Rhode Island | Accounts | n.d. [c. 1756] | Volume 15, page 73: One page of accounts with no date contains the note, "the within act. I supose was Capt. Benjamin Remington's of Jamestown, R.I. while on a voyage to the coast of Affrica for slaves." |
| Mss 9006 | Shepley Collection CANT FIND |
Charlestown | Bill | 26 Sep 1814 | Narraganset Indian Council, Bill of Indian Council for Hannah Phillips to Robert Hazard. For rent of land. |
| Mss 9001-S | Sherman, George R. | Rhode Island | Papers | 1863-1866 | Sherman was a white captain of the Third Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops, 1863-1866. His papers include orders, letters, and reminiscences. |
| Mss 828 | Ship's Logs Collection Ann & Hope |
Providence | Logbook | 1798-1799 | Starboard watch (second to last page of log) included "Anthony Knowles (black)." |
| Mss 718 | Simmons Family Papers Simmons, Sylvester |
Providence | Agreement | 4 Apr 1800 | Box 2: Individual crew members, including Newport Troop, signed agreements for sealing/trading voyage to China |
| Mss 9001-S | Simon, John | Tiverton | Indenture | 22 Jun 1751 | Apprenticeship indenture of "Indian boy" of Tiverton, son of Naomy Zekil, to house carpenter Gideon Gifford of Dartmouth, Mass. for fourteen years. Mentions his "father-in-law" (step-father?) Isaac Zekil. Pledges, among other things, that he "shall not commit fornication nor contract matrimony within ye sd term; cards, dice or any other unlawful games he shall not play...nor haunt ale houses, taverns or play houses." |
| Mss 145 s 3 loose vol. |
Six Principle Baptist Church Records | East Greenwich | Church Record | 1743-1831 | Members include: June 1743... Quasey molatto woman [no. ]35 Dead.. March 14th 1756..Mingo Negro [no. ]56 Dead... Augt. 2nd. 1761 Seezer Sweet Negro [no. ]60 Dead.. Augt. 21st 1763 Patience Sambow [no. ]75 Dead [race?]... March 10 [1783] Expearence Negro Dead July 24 1808 Mary Barnes of Coler... Joining from Warwick: October 18th 1753...Hager Green negro...Mary Fuller Indian |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1809 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. In this Almanac he recorded "Mob raised at Wickford round the house of Daniel Updike headed by Gen. Samuel Sambo." The 1800 census lists Samuel Sambo as a free black living in Wickford with 5 family members. |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1812 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. "Darity Hall died the 4th day of the month in the woods where she went to git wood. A Black Woman Between 70 an 80 years of age." |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County | Almanacs / diaries | 1814 | "Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. This almanac included multiple references to the deaths of people of color: Eunice Brown, Dick Gardiner, and Betty Hall. " |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1815 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. On the page for October he recorded: "2 Black Children died at Bradocks Thomas in this month" Thomas may be the last name of the children based on its location on the page. On the page for November he recorded: "Cloe Thomas died 21st of this mo 1815 (black woman)" The death of Amy Samson was also noted. |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1816 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. This year he recorded the death of a ""Black child at Bradocks |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1829 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. This year he recorded the death of 'Black James Updike'. |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1837 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. "Cato Rooms, black man of Colony, was killed by James Browning." "Simon Davis a man of color dyed the 5th this month by pricking [?] him self" |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1838 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. "Primis Browning a man of coller . . " |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1840 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. "Mary Mcpherson Child Drowned November 17: 1840 Colloured Child" |
| MSS 722 | Smith, Harris | Washington County; Kent County |
Almanacs / diaries | 1843 | Harris Smith used published almanacs to record deaths and events in Rhode Island. "Harriot Maxwell a Collared girl died March 24" |
| Mss 9001-S | Smith, Sandford | Memoirs | 1781 | Includes copy of memoirs of Capt. Stephen Olney of the famous Black Regiment in the Revolution, 1781. | |
| Mss 723 | Soldiers and Sailors Historical Society | Rhode Island | History | 20 Oct 1891 | Box 2, Folder 18: History of "the Fourteenth RI Heavy Artillery (colored)", 1863-1865 by Nelson Viall. |
| Mss 218 | South Kingstown Town Records Collection | South Kingstown | List | 2 Jun 1818 | Overseers of the Poor, List of people who are in the care of James Knowles including William Gardner, Pero Shearman, Dinah Watson, Patience Brown, and Sophia Brown. A brief description including age and medical condition is given for each person. |
| Mss 9001-S | Spencer, Julius | Providence | Accounts & medical bill | 1799 | Spencer's accounts as a sailor which are settled by John Waterman and "Cola, Cuff's wife." |
| Mss 9001-S | Spiwood, Jeremiah | Warwick | Indenture | 6 Feb 1731/2 | Apprenticeship indenture of Jeremiah Spiwood and "his wife Betsy Brown so called" to Amos and Mary Stafford, February 6 1731/2. |
| Mss 9001-S | Staples, William Read | Providence | Letter | n.d. | Letter from R. Parker relating the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church organized in 1838. Names the first minister, Rev. N.C.W. Cannon and the church's l5 founders. |
| Mss 9001-S | Staples, William Read | Providence | Letter | 15 Feb 1842 | Letter from Samuel Rodman outlining the history of the Second Freewill Church, originally the Abyssinian Freewill Church. |
| Mss 1129 | Stedman, Daniel | South Kingstown | Journal | 1829-1859 | This diary was kept by a farmer and shoemaker in South Kingstown, RI. He makes notes of deaths, births, marriages and daily happenings in the town. The RIHS owns both the original diary and a published transcription of it (Oatley, Henry Clay, Jr. and Cherry Fletcher Bamber, ed. Daniel Stedman's Journal, 1826-1859. Greenville, RI: Rhode Island Genealogical Society, 2003.) The published version is indexed extensively and includes notes on Indians but does not index comments on African-Americans. He does note the deaths of people of color in the community but those deaths have not been indexed using race as an indicator. Below are some abstracts from the diary which mention people of color. |
| Mss 1129 | Stedman, Daniel | South Kingstown | Journal | 1829-1859 | Death of Samuel Norake 3/1/1826 and death of Philis Peckham 3/5/1826 "Died very sudden Pat Dimmis a colored person at the Widow Sweet's, Lay down in Liqur and wnet to Sleep and Never awoke." [4/28/1827] "The Indians took up Pat Dimmis and Caried her to Charlestown to Bury [5/9/1827] "I worked for J.N. Potter he had Sambo Potter (a man of color). Two Squaws Stopt to bottom our Chairs. bottom'd Six." [6/30/1830] "I went to the meeting house to meeting. Expected the Indians but few of them Come." [3/25/1832] "I went to the Meeting house to meeting the Indians Came their and held the meeting. Moses Stanton their minister preached." [10/7/1832] "Rowland G. Hazard & Isaiah P. Hazard make a Great Business of making Cloths to Send away of Different kinds they have made the Negro goods for Some time they have three or fore to Cut all the time." [2/1839] "They begin to Dig the Seller for the Church house at Wakefield. They found some man's bones, Supposed to be an Indian's." [6/1839] "The Indians from Long Island had a meeting at the B. meetinghouse but an Englishman Preached that Come with them." [8/17/1841] "Some Indians from Penabscot, State of Main, pitched there tents in M. Chappell, Esqr.'s Lot and acted there Manuvers." [5/11/1842] |
| Mss 854 | Stone, Edwin M. | Letter | 4 Aug 1848 | On the back of the letter from J. Pierpont, Jr. to Edwin M Stone is a scrawled note that reads "Aug 4th [Saco?] negro child & white do. arm around each others neck &c. is prejudice against color natural or acquired &c." | |
| Mss 9001-S | Sweet, Jeremiah | Warwick | Will | 2 Jul 1731 | His last will and testament names "my negro woman...Sarah" whom he leaves to his niece, Elizabeth Hunt (daughter of Ezekiel). |
| Mss 753 | George Thurston & Son Records | Hopkinton | Accounts | 1804-1822 | Ledger includes Barberry "black girl" (p.1, 1815). |
| Mss 753 | George Thurston & Son Records | Hopkinton | Accounts | 1794-1800 | Weaving book accounts include Robbin Babcock (Negro), Sezar Babcock (Negro), Rose Boss (Negro), Lyman Kerdan (Indian), and Samson Samuel (Negro). |
| Mss 755 | Thomas Tillinghast Jr. Papers | East Greenwich | Accounts | 1795-1825 | Ledger settles account for treatment of Job Sambo (p.35), wife and children (1806-1814), Cato Sweet (mulatto) and wife (1815-1825) and Simon Bliss (mulatto) wife and children (1817). |
| Mss 755 | Thomas Tillinghast Jr. Papers | East Greenwich | Day book | 1797-1805 | Daybook with accounts of retail sales and medical services, includes several blacks: Eunice Updike, Jack Ayrault, Jack Gardner (mason), Simeon Simmons, Stephen, Samuel Rynolds and wife, Port Hall and child, Ichabod Northop, and Winsor Fry. |
| Mss 757 | Tillinghast Papers | Providence | Oct 1799 | Accounts | Accounts with Prince Dimmick for pine (p.84). |
| Mss 757 | Tillinghast Papers | Providence | n.d. | Accounts | Accounts of payment between Jonathan Tillinghast and Prince "for trucking" (p. 251). |
| Mss 219 | Tiverton Town Records Collection | Tiverton | Resolution | 1784 | Includes resolution by town's Meeting of Freemen to oppose the state manumission act, 1784. |
| Mss 966 | Toney, Mark | Records | Records | 197?-199? | Records of African-American social activist, Providence,197_-199_ |
| Mss 9001-T | Trader's Book | Brazil | Trader's Book | 1809 | This mysterious volume contains fascinating commentary on trade in Europe, Asia and South America. It was apparently compiled by a veteran supercargo and is full of details about market conditions, regional trading practices and diplomatic pitfalls. There are sample lists of cargoes that could be expected to trade well in the various ports, as well as tables of prices current. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil November, 1809 p. 100 "Slaves for Men or Women, are valued at 400 to 700 rs. pair & pay 24 per% is from 12 to 21 Cents a pair" |
| Mss 9001-T | Trader's Book | Brazil | Trader's Book | 1809 | Bahia, Brazil June 1809 p.168 "The principal trade however of Bahia, appears to be the African Slave Trade, at this moment, as there are not less than 9000 new Slaves annually imported into that place, from whence they are distributed to the Interior of the Country, or reshipped to other ports, as may be found most advantageous at the moment - in consequence of the much greater number of Slaves, than of White Inhabitants, in this part of the Country, there is much more to be apprehended from an insurrection of the Negroes, than there is at Rio de Janeiro; several attempts have been made here by the Slaves to effect their freedom, which have been discovered only in season to prevent its execution - How long this trade will continue is very uncertain, but it may be hoped that an end will ere long be put to it; as it is said, that one condition of a late treaty between the British and Portuguese Governments is, that the latter should at a certain time, abolish the Slave trade altogether; but the time fixed is not yet generally known." |
| Mss 762 | Truman Legal Papers | Rhode Island | Case File | 1876 | Includes case file for "Baptist Church vs. Brown," in which the Congdon Street Baptist Church attempted to have the noted author William J. Brown stripped of his power as a trustee, for executing an improper deed and other offenses. The file consists mostly of legal notes, abstracts from documents, and a few original documents. The date of the case appears to be 1876, although some transcribed documents are dated as early as 1844. |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Providence | Protectora-te | 25 Mar 1836, 1853 | Seamen's protection issued in March 25, 1836 for mulatto Jacob Williams, age 17 and in 1853 issue protection for Jacob Holden, age 35 born in Providence |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Bristol | Seaman's Protection | 1809 | Primus Clark certifies the birth of Galampies Leonard on November 5, 1786 in Dighton, MA |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Providence | Abstract of Protections | Jun 1842 | Identifies John H. Howland born 1827 "yellow" complexion, born in Providence |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Seaman's Protectora-te | 1852 | Identifies George R. Davis born in Charlestown, RI in 1811 | |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Seaman's Protection | 1836 | Marcus D'Wolf born in Charlestown on September 8, 1820, sworn by Moses Arnold | |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Newport | Protectora-te | 6 Jun 1845 | Identifies John B. Franklin, Jr. born 183l in Newport protection issued. |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Newport | Protectora-te | 12 Apr 1808 | Protectorate for Aaron James age 36 from Newport |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Bristol | Crew List | 31 Jul 1804 | List of schooner Betsey identifies Bristol William Johnson as born in New York but of French nationality |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Bristol | Crew List | 1804 | Return of brigatine Jane identifies John Barney, negro born Cape Verde 1776, resident of Bristol as a crew member |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Rehoboth, MA | Protectora-te | 25 Sep 1799 | Seamen's protectorate for David Kennedy born in Rehoboth, age 19 |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Richmond | Protectora-te | 17 Sep 1803 | Seamen's protectorate lists George Larkin, born in Richmond, age 24 |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Rhode Island | Seaman's Protectora-te | 1789-19-- | Licensing of seamen on ships. Lists date of certificate, number, name of seaman, age, physical description, place of birth and means by which citizenship was acquired. Many African-Americans listed. |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | South Kingston | Protectora-te | 1 Nov 1837 | Edward Johnson age 3l, born in South Kingston is registed in the Seamen's Protectorate |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | South Kingston | Protectora-te | 1844 | James Hazard, born in South Kingston born in August 10, 1822, approximately 5'7l/2'' missing "great toe of left foot" |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Warwick | Protectora-te | 6 Jan 1853 | Abstract of Protections, identifies Thomas Ponfit? (Profit?) born 1830 |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Warwick | Crew list | 14 Jul 1804 | List for ship Fame, voyage to London, concluded at Providence. Includes Samuel Lippitt, age 20, five foot nine and a half, born in America |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Bristol | Certificate | 1804 | Jemima Gorham of Bristol certifies the birth of Primus Clark of Bristol on approximately May 10, 1781, is 5'5'' and marked with small pox scars |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | East Greenwich | Seaman's Protection | 27 Oct 1801 | Register of Benjamin Lymas, age 18 of East Greenwich |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | East Greenwich | Seaman's Protection | 17 Dec 1799 | Register of Walter Lippitt, age 16 of Greenwich |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | North Providence | Seaman's Protectora-te | 1787 | Volume 4, page 35: Lists Thomas Jacobs, born in North Providence in 1787 |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Providence | Accounts | Jun 1836 | Accounts and vouchers of the collector show a payment to Scipio Brenton for washing windows and cleaning rooms |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Providence | Records | 1822-1827 | Series 2, Volume 4: Entries and clearances list of ships coming into and leaving the port of Providence. Starting in 1822 notations for slaves appear in the left hand column of the listing. They are apparently noting when slaves are on board the vessel. Examples include: July 15, 1822 Ship Rising States, Captain Pearce from Savannah July 22, 1822 Brig James Monroe, Captain Rhodes from Charleston June 5, 1826 Sloop Young James, Captain Hall from Savannah June 4, 1827 Ship Rising States, Captain Pearce from Savannah July 28, 1827 Ship Rising States, Captain Pearce from Savannah |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Crew list | 10 Aug 1804 | Crew list for ship Juno bound for the North west coast under John D'Wolf, includes Providence residents born in stonington, James Wheeler (age 21), and Jason Hanson (age 26) | |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Providence | Crew list | 1826-1829 | Series 13, Subseries A, Box 6, Folder 136: Lists show many names of blacks |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Warren | Crew list | Jul 1831 | List of Whale ship Benjamin Rush is Mary Ann Drogly of Warren a fifteen year old mulatto born in Mexico. |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Bristol | Crew list | Jun 1819 | Crew list of Brigantine Friendship, returning into port, identifies John D'Wolf, born in Africa, resident of Bristol, a black man, aged 24 |
| Mss 28 sg 2 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Bristol/Warren | Barrington | Abstract of Protections | 25 Nov 1854 | Abstract includes Oliver Allen, black, from Barrington |
| Mss 28 sg 1 |
U.S. Custom House Papers, Providence | Warwick | Protectora-te | 1796-1849 | Seaman's protectorates these men born in Warwick: Andrew Lipptt, age 18 (Dec. 7, 1796), Affrica Lipptt (mulatto), age 19 (Nov. 30, 1803, July 19, 1802), Cesar Lippitt, age 18 (January 2, 1800), Seasar Lippitt, age 20 (May 30, 1803), Caesar Lippitt, age 23 (Dec. 25, 1805) age 33 (Novemeber 25, 1817), George Lippitt, age l5 (March 17, 1819), age 2l (April 2l, 1835), George G. Lippitt, age 29 (March 17, 1827), Jeremiah Lippitt, age 17 (May 18, 1807), age 19 (October 13, 1827), age 35 (January 9, 1845-listed birth in Providence), Joseph Lippitt, age l4 (November 20, 1800), Joseph Lippitt, age 18 (May 30, 1803), age 26 (November 28m, 1825), Joseph W. Lippitt, age 27 (December 19, 1849), Juba Lippitt, age 16 (June 16, 1804), Samuel Lippitt, age 16 (November 19, 1800), age 20 (December 9, 1817), Simon Lippitt, age 24 (June l, 1820), Stephen Lippitt, age 16, (April 2l, 1835) |
| Mss 770 | Updike Papers Updike, Daniel |
Will | 1 Jun 1757 | Page 15: "An Inventory of the Personal Estate of Daniel Updike Esq. late of North Kingstown Deceased taken and apprised by us the Subscribers the 1st Day of June A.D. 1757." At the top of the third page starts the listing of the negros he owned and their value in pounds. "Nathaniel valued at nothing, Chance - 300, Moses - 600, Joseph - 600, Dimas - 600, Newport - 500, Dublin - 600, Mingo - 450, Claro - 400, James - 400, Casar - 200, Domini at nothing, Paul 2 years old - 100, Prince - 50, Sue - 400, Lille and Child - 500, Bridget - 250, Robie 2 1/2 years old - 100." | |
| Mss 770 | Updike Papers Wilkins Updike |
North Kingstown | Obituary | n.d. | Page 44: Wilkins Updike's obituary of Sylvia Torry. |
| Mss 770 | Updike Papers |
North Kingstown | Tax Roll | 14 Jul 1798 | Identifies "Heirs of Dominy Smith (negro)", James Prinson, Jack Phillips, and Fortune Congdon. |
| Mss 770 | Updike Papers |
Town Unknown | Plat Map | 30 Dec 1795 | Plat map of the line between the land of Nathan Kinyon and the "Indian Cedar Swamp", presumably in Charlestown, prepared by Robert Stanton, and marked on the reverse "Plat for Indian Counsel." |
| Mss 769 | Leander Utley Papers | Providence | Births | 1819-1851 | Physician's record notes births of Henry Speeder, Peggy Carr, Samuel Shoemake. There may be others throughout the book. These three are noted on the first page of the book under 1820. |
| Mss 772 | Nelson Viall Papers | Records | c. 186-1865 | Records of Lt. Colonel of black 14th R.I. Volunteer Heavy Artillery (Colored) in the Civil War. Includes commissions and correspondence re attempts to get pay that was owed to the regiment. | |
| Mss 9001-W | Walker, William | Newport | Receipt | 1819-1851 | Note to Peleg Brown for "a negro man named Pompy." |
| Mss 9001-W | Wall, Samuel | Coventry | Census | May 1777 | Account book records his military census including the names of William Sharp, Finneas Curvin, William Kirk, and James Fenner, Indian. |
| Mss 907 | Walling, Lewis M. | Records | Records of diplomat who served extensively in Cambodia, Guatemala and several African nations. | ||
| Mss 776 | Ward Papers | Westerly | Account book | c. 1750-1764 | Box 6: Records include accounts with Nassau Hasty, Jack (Indian), Jeranto,William Sachem, Indian Sock, Negro Will and Negro Will, Jr. |
| Mss 776 | Ward Papers | Newport | Account book | c. 1763-1771 | Volume 6 (loose volume): Accounts with Samuel Ward (1725-1776) include Sam Brownell (p. 58), Betty, (p. 81), Thomas Ninnegratt (p. 131), and Jack (p. 220). |
| Mss 776 | Ward Papers | Newport | Inventory | 26 Oct 1767 | Box 1: Inventory of Mary Ward estate which names "a negro man named Cudjoe" and Marcy who is "very old and must be maintained out of the estate." |
| Mss 776 | Ward Papers | Newport | Deed | 14 Jan 1768 | Box 1: Deed for Cudjo to Samuel Ward of Westerly from Isabel Marchand of Newport. |
| Mss 776 | Ward Papers | Newport | Letter | 9 Sep 1774 | Samuel Ward writes to his children from Philadelphia, "Cajoe had some Complaints yesterday like the Small Pox but he is much better this day that We think it was only a cold or Fatigue." |
| Mss 776 | Ward Papers | Rhode Island | Census | 1774 | Census of the state of Rhode Island. Indicates a total of 54435 whites, 376l blacks and 1482 Indians. |
| Mss 778 | Warner Papers | Testimony | Nov 1849 | Testimony of William Cranston, November 1849, regarding Revolutionary War. Reads in part: "Jeremy Hazard's negro man Will whipped 100 lashes because he would not say he was sent by his master to give information to the British. It was just after the mutiny a few days." | |
| Mss 159 | Warren Insurance Company Records | Warren | Records | 1800-1840 | These records include correspondence, claims and other records on slave ships insured by a firm founded in 1800. |
| Mss 1055 | Warwick Historical Society Deposit Low, Anthony of Warwick |
Warwick | Will | 1746 | In his will, he names Newport, Peg, Bristol, Fortune, Prince and Patience and leaves them to various family members. |
| Mss 221 | Warwick Town Records Collection | Newport | Will | 1726 | Box 1: "Copies of Records in Warwick with Some Original Deeds," In a copy of the will of Samuel Cranston, Newport, Cranston divides "his negros" Saul, Kate, Bridgett, Francisco, Tony and Flora leaving them to various family members. |
| Mss 221 | Warwick Town Records Collection | Warwick | Town Council Meetings | 1759-1798 | Box 1: Warwick Town Council Meetings (Bound volumes I-III), Blacks and Indians are referenced throughout the proceedings often appearing before the council being indentured into apprenticeships. A partial list includes: Violet, daughter of Julius (I:5) and Jacob Trucks daughter Tim, son of Indian Beth (I:43) Caleb West (I:65) Joseph Cheese, Indian (I:65) Sarah Gardner, an Indian squaw (I:67) Africa (I:68) Adam (I:74) Pero Cheese, son of Bark (II:23) Thomas Cheese, son of Betham (II: 87-88) Sampson Spywood (II:321) Solon, son of Mary Carder (III:124) David Spencer, son of Sarah Spenser alias Sambo, blackwoman (III:331) |
| Mss 230 | Washington County Records Collection | Washington (Kings) County | Jail book | 1818-1823 | Blacks committed to the jail include Sharper Bours (July 12, 1819), Ceaser Updike (October l5, 1819) and Cezar Robinson (July 3, 1820) among others. |
| Mss 9001-W | Waterman, Capt. John | Warwick | List of Rateable Estate | 24 Sep 1779 | Lists 5 unnamed slaves as part of his estate. |
| Mss 9001-W | Waterman, Capt. John | Warwick | Account Book | 19 Feb 1801 | Includes daybook accounts with Amos Budlong, Pero Cheese, Ruben Roberts, Boston Talbury, Sam Lockwood, and others. |
| Mss 9001-W | Waterman, Prince | Warwick | Papers | 1792-1797 | Lease agreement with Sarah Barton, 1792. Justice of the Peace warrant for Prince Waterman and John Waterman, Jr. concerning a suit by Sarah Barton against the two men, 1793. Deed for a house and land from John Waterman, Jr., 1797. |
| Mss 9001-W loose vol. |
Waterman, William | Warwick | Account book | 1771-1850 | Account book entries include Cato Sweet. |
| Mss 789 | Richard Waterman Family Papers | Providence | Transcripts | 1779, 1780 | Transcripts of the logs contain a 9/1779 crew list from the sloop Providence including two blacks, Pompey Gardner, cook and Primus Green, seaman. Available on microfilm. Also, memorandum book contains accounts as physician with "Sampson Indian" and "Margaret Indian" for medical care, 1780, folder 22a, pages 75, 83. |
| Mss 9001-W | Watson, John | South Kingston | Deed | 26 Feb 1737 | Deed from John Waterman to his daughter, Dorcas Gardner for "negro woman Bess." |
| Mss 9001-W | Watson, Jeffrey | South Kingstown? | Diary transcription | In back of diary, records what appears to be births and deaths of his slaves, as follows: "Jack was born august 1748 Tobe was born now dead Silve was born now dead Siboa was born now dead Choe was born (Dyed april 1780) 1756 Trimus was born February 1758" | |
| Mss 868 | Watson Family Papers | South Carolina | Diary | 1894 | Includes diary of Cora Stewart Watson, a northern white woman doing Red Cross relief work in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1894. The following are extracts. Travels through coastal South Carolina: "Only once on the way did I see anything that looked like a white settlement, and that at one of the phosphate mines. [3/12/1894, p. 8] Arrived at Mrs. Mather's School in Beaufort, where her mother taught. The school also was involved in relief work for blacks. It was apparently the Yankee author's first visit to the south, which she found unsettling. "Out of any [window] you would look, nothing but niggers could be seen - lean niggers, fat niggers, tawny niggers, brawny niggers, black niggers, brown niggers and yellow niggers - before the day was done I should think there were three hundred or more here for rations and clothes." [3/12/1894, page 13] Detailed accounts of starvation and destitution heard from relief workers [page 15]. "It seems to me the white people in the south do not take a sense of this suffering or they would do more but I suppose they too lost a great deal. . . . |
| Mss 868 | Watson Family Papers | South Carolina | Diary | 1894 | . . .There must have been four hundred people here today from every place within a radius of thirty miles. Just think of walking even twenty miles for four quarts of grits and a few pieces of clothes." [p.15] At the school, "quite a new experience for me to have these twenty six colored girls about me and to feel that they look to me as an example." [p.16] Description of the old slave pen in town: "it is built of tabby or cement and oyster shells and so stands as to form the wall on two sides of the yard. The windows are simply holes in the wall fitted with narrow slats to admit as little light and air as possible. And I suppose this is where the poor slaves had to spend the night before they were sold." [p.18] "Little Sarah has been combing my hair and as she twisting it she call to me 'look in de glass Miss Cora see de long cow tail.' She is a perfect little witch and if I was rich and had a place I would take her north." [3/16/1894] The following hymn is also transcribed:
"Give me that old time religion
" " " " " "
" " " " " "
It is good enough for me.
It is good in the time of trouble
" " " on the bed of supplication
It is good when the Dr. gives me over
" " " " my mudder give me over
" " " in the world of judgement" [3/13/1894] There is much more to be found on race relations in this diary. |
| Mss 799 | Wetmore, Samuel | Middletown, CT | Accounts | 1813-1822 | Ledger includes accounts with Cuff Boston, Thomas Lewis, Thomas Negro, Ockroa, Jr., Haniball Scipio, John Stanton, and possibly other black men. |
| Mss 155 | Whaling Company of East Greenwich Papers | East Greenwich | Papers | 1806-1808 | Box 1, Folder 6: The names of Ezekiel Pompey and Ceasar Howard appear throughout the papers for the ship Hudson including in crew lists, shipping papers and accounts. |
| Mss 9001-W loose vol. |
Wheeler, Bennett | Journal | 1806 (copied) | "A Journal of the most particular Occurrences of the Life of Bennett Wheeler, Esq. September 20, 1776: mentions his gratitude to the old black woman Gow, who since married a black man in Rehoboth named Christmas. Comments on the equality of black and white men. | |
| Mss 9001-W | Whipple, Joseph | Providence | Inventory | 5 Aug 1720 | Inventory of the estate of William Crawford lists "3 negros a man a woman and a boy" and "an Indian girl's time." |
| Mss 9001-W | Whipple, Oliver | Portsmouth | Letter | 3 Nov 1777 | Letter from Oliver Whipple to Major Samuel White concerns John Nelson's slave Primus. "...Mr. Nelson told him, if said Primus cou'd get enough to pay him, he shou'd be free; but avarice has got so strong Possession of Mr. Nelson that I fear he will violate his Word with the said Primus, & turn his promised freedom into dispairing Slavery." |
| Mss 9001-W | Whitting, Nathaniel | Records | 1773, 1774 | This collection includes several documents from a slaving voyage along the coast of Africa in 1773 and 1774, including an agreement with a local governor to deliver slaves, accounts with several merchants, and a list of slaves taken. These serve as unusually explicit descriptions of slaving voyages. Whitting sailed as a first mate on the journey and became master after the death of Captain Thomas Rogers. Also a file on difficulties with a young slave named Fantee in 1783. Fantee was leased to Edward Jones of Providence, did not work to Jones' satisfaction, was accused repeatedly of stealing, escaped, was recaptured, was imprisoned and then returned to the widow Roby Whitting. She immediately entrusted him with Captain Isaac Gorham to sell as a field hand in the West Indies. On the journey, however, Gorham's ship was captured by a British war ship, and Fantee was confiscated as contraband. |
|
| Mss 9001-W | Wickes, John | Warwick | Purchase, inventory | 21 Jan 1741/2 | Inventory purchased from Wickes' estate includes Fillip, Peggy, Saul, a child, and an Indian man named Tom. |
| Mss 9001-W | Wickes, Sarah | Warwick | Inventory | 31 Jan 1753 | Inventory includes "one Neagro woman named Judah" (p.2). |
| Mss 804 | Peleg Wilbour Account Books | Warwick | Ledger | 1809-1813 | Accounts include Pero Cheese (p. 63) and Mary Vaughn (p.79). |
| Mss 9001-W | Willett, Andrew | North Kingston | Inventory | 22 Apr 1712 | Inventory of the estate of Capt. Andrew Willett includes unnamed black women and men. |
| Mss 9001-W | Wire, Tone | Providence | Warrant | 1729-1730 | Warrant for the arrest of Tone Wire for breach of promise to Danas Negro of Providence. |
| Mss 9001-W | Wodel, William Jr. | Tiverton | Examination | n.d. | Appointment of Oliver Cook and William Wodel by the Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Tiverton "to goe to Joseph Wodel a negro man & Inquire into his poor Case & Condition...." |
| Mss 816 | Alva Woods Family Papers | Kentucky and Alabama | Diary | 1830-1831 | Includes diaries of Almira Marshall Woods written in Kentucky and Alabama, frequently discussing slaves and Native Americans. The following are examples: recounts anecdotes about Indians [5/4/1830]; "kind interference of a blacky" [1830]; anecdote about Indians' aversion to red hair [3/10/1831]; sympathetic encounter with "a lot of negroes stowed away for the southern market" [3/11/1831]; encounter with Chickasaws and slave ship [3/12/1831?]. Large party of Choctaws [3/18/1831?]. Frequent discussion of negroes in 1833 diary, including list of slaves and cotton picked by each on Mr. Jarman's plantation in Franklin County, AL. Also 10/31/1870 letter from E.B. Teague to Alva woods discussing the religious and political situation of the southern Negroes. |
| Mss 1000 | WPRI-TV Records | Includes a 1969 licence renewal application packet with an eight-page report on "Station Activities that Pertain to the Needs and Interests of Black Citizens". | |||
| Mss 862 | Frances Rogers Arnold Papers, 1790-1916. Bulk 1820-1865. | Providence | Receipts | 1849-1859 | Receipts for wages paid by the family of Frances Rogers Arnold to Louisa R. Johnson a servant for the family during 1849-1859. For more information about Louisa R. Johnson see the entry for the Saint John's Guild (MSS 9001-S). Receipts also for wages paid to Daniel G. Browning during 1849-1854. A card index in the collection indexes the dates of the receipts for those two individuals as well as all the other servants for the family. The index cards for the servants are filed after the Z section in the card index. |
| MSS 9001-O | Oaths of Enlistment | Printed Form | 1776 | The RI General Assembly passed an act at their October 1775 session calling for the raising of an army for defense of the colony. Each man enlisting was to sign an oath which states in part: "I the subscriber do hereby solemnly engage and enlist myself, as a soldier, in the pay of the state of Rhode Island, for the preservation of the liberties of America, and the defense of the United Colonies in general, and this Colony in particular, . . ." The RIHS has 33 documents on which 76 men sign the oath to enlist. On January 30, 1776 a man named William Mingo, categorized as "Negro" makes his mark next to his name. | |
| Mss 473 | Gross, Edward Tudor | Rhode Island; Puerto Rico; Cuba | Diary | 1903 | Edward Tudor Gross kept diaires from the age of 11 until his death at the age of 69. The following are excerpts from his diaries relating to people of color. “We drove to Warren. Saw some Indians on the way.”[6/20/1893]; “Went to a ‘reception' at Mr. Angel's. Got there at 8.30 and rang the bell 6 times before getting let in by a ‘jolly’ coon from ‘Thillinghasts.’ [Tillinghast's] . . . The coon had a good time also and was quite familiar.” [1/01/1896]; “Enjoyed seeing the darkies load and unload freight. They yell and sing.” [3/22/1899]; “Went to Providence Opera House to see John Drew in ‘The Second in Command.’ Sat in Nigger heaven.” [4/12/1902]; “In Porto Rica [Puerto Rico] – Niggers and hot weather everywhere. Walked around town followed by scores of children (black) who scrambled for pennies.” [1/19/1903]; “Saw some ‘queer sights’ in one of the negro huts. Took photos of some.” [1/20/1903]; “Office of membership committee of YMCA. We agreed that Negroes should not be kept out.” [10/22/1914]; In Havana “The Colored people paraded at night with weird African music. Hard to get to sleep.” [3/19/1939] |
| MSS 816 | Alva Woods Family Papers | Correspondence | 1870 | Correspondence from Anne Brown Francis Woods to her daughter Abby Francis Woods Abbott regarding a love affair between a white woman and a colored servant named William. | |