Rhode Island: Individual County Chronologies

Rhode Island Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

John H. Long, Editor and Historical Compiler; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant

Copyright The Newberry Library 2009


BRISTOL (Mass.)

02 Jun 1685
BRISTOL (Mass.) created as one of three original counties in New Plymouth Colony; BRISTOL (Mass.) included part of present Rhode Island. (Ply. Laws, ch. 6/p. 19)
07 Oct 1691
King William III and Queen Mary II issued a new charter for the province of Massachusetts Bay; Massachusetts Bay absorbed New Plymouth Colony and took over BRISTOL (Mass.). (Mass. Col. Acts, vol. 1, ch. 27 [1692-1693], sec. 1/p. 63; Swindler, 5:80)
17 Feb 1747
[17 Feb 1746/1747] BRISTOL (Mass.) lost to NEWPORT and PROVIDENCE, and lost to creation of BRISTOL when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. BRISTOL (Mass.) included part of present Rhode Island. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)
01 Mar 1862
BRISTOL (Mass.) gained from NEWPORT, lost to PROVIDENCE when Massachusetts and Rhode Island implemented the U. S. Supreme Court settlement (31 December 1861) of their boundary to the Atlantic Ocean; BRISTOL (Mass.) eliminated from Rhode Island. (Bayles, Providence, 1:29; R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1861, ch. 379, sec. 2/p. 4; Ullman, 83-84; Van Zandt, 68)

BRISTOL

17 Feb 1747
[17 Feb 1746/1747] BRISTOL created from BRISTOL (Mass.) when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

Connecticut Colony

23 Apr 1662
King Charles II granted Connecticut a charter as a self-governing corporate colony, with an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping part of the Rhode Island patent. Rhode Island did not concede its claim to territory between the Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay (the Narragansett Country), but Connecticut quickly took control of the area. (Bowen, Disputes, 32; Swindler, 2:135-136)
08 Apr 1665
Royal boundary commissioners decided the dispute over the Narragansett County by dismissing Massachusetts's claim and placing the area under royal jurisdiction. The area was named King's Province, and Rhode Island was given temporary administrative authority over it, pending a conclusive royal decision. Connecticut's claim to the area slipped into abeyance but was not abandoned until the boundary settlement of 12 May 1703. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)

KENT

11 Jun 1750
KENT created from PROVIDENCE. (R.I. Recs., 5:301)

King's Province

08 Apr 1665
King's Province was established by royal boundary commissioners who decided the dispute over the Narragansett Country by dismissing Massachusetts's claim, putting Connecticut's claim in abeyance, and placing the area directly under royal jurisdiction. Rhode Island was given temporary administrative authority over Kings Province pending a conclusive royal decision. King's Province is treated here as separate from Rhode Island. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)
28 May 1686
The governor of the Dominion of New England proclaimed a provisional government for the King's Province in present southwestern Rhode Island and prohibited both Connecticut and Rhode Island from further attempts to exercise authority in the area. (R.I. Recs., 3:197)
01 May 1689
Rhode Island reinstated its former government after the fall of the Dominion of New England, and extended its authority over the former King's Province or Narragansett Country in southwestern Rhode Island. Shortly thereafter Connecticut challenged Rhode Island's authority in that area. (Craven, 225; R.I. Recs., 3:257)
12 May 1703
King's Province effectively eliminated when Rhode Island and Connecticut settled their dispute over present southwestern Rhode Island substantially along the line agreed by colonial agents in 1662, described in Rhode Island's 1663 charter, and claimed since then by Rhode Island. (Potter, 206-211; R.I. Recs., 3:474, 477-478; Van Zandt, 71)

KINGS (see WASHINGTON)


Narragansett Country

23 Apr 1662
King Charles II granted Connecticut a charter as a self-governing corporate colony, with an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping part of the Rhode Island patent. Rhode Island did not concede its claim to territory between the Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay (the Narragansett Country), but Connecticut quickly took control of the area. (Bowen, Disputes, 32; Swindler, 2:135-136)
08 Apr 1665
Royal boundary commissioners decided the dispute over the Narragansett Country by placing the area under royal jurisdiction. They created King's Province and gave Rhode Island temporary control pending a conclusive royal decision. Connecticut's claim to the area slipped into abeyance but was not abandoned until the boundary settlement of 12 May 1703. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)

New Plymouth Colony

13 Jan 1630
[13 Jan 1629/1630] The Council for New England (chartered to establish colonies between 40 degrees and 48 degrees north latitude) issued a new land patent (the "Old Charter") that granted land title and trading rights, but no powers of government, to New Plymouth Colony for the area east of Narragansett Bay and south of a line from the Pawtucket (now Blackstone) River to the mouth of the Cohasset River. New Plymouth Colony included part of present Rhode Island. (Andrews, 1:295; Paullin, 28, pl. 43A; Swindler, 5:28)
08 Jul 1663
New Plymouth Colony lost to Rhode Island Colony when King Charles II granted Rhode Island a charter as a self-governing corporate colony. New Plymouth Colony still included part of present Rhode Island. (Bowen, Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8:368)
May 1664
New Plymouth Colony gained from SUFFOLK (Mass.) and Rhode Island Colony when a joint commission from Massachusetts and Plymouth demarcated their mutual boundary ("Old Colony Line"). (Bradford, 427n.)
08 Jun 1664
New Plymouth Colony protested that Rhode Island's new charter of 8 July 1663 infringed upon Plymouth's territory under its 1629/1630 patent. (Arnold, 1:308)
27 Feb 1665
[27 Feb 1664/1665] New Plymouth gained from Rhode Island Colony when royal boundary commissioners set Rhode Island's eastern limit along the Blackstone River and the east coast of Narragansett Bay, pending a conclusive royal decision. (Arnold, 1:315)
02 Jun 1685
BRISTOL (Mass.) created as one of three original counties in New Plymouth Colony; BRISTOL (Mass.) included all that part of New Plymouth Colony in present Rhode Island. (Ply. Laws, ch. 6/p. 19)

NEWPORT

22 Jun 1703
RHODE ISLAND County (now NEWPORT) created as one of two original counties; consisted of Block Island and the islands in Narragansett Bay. (R.I. Recs., 3:477-478)
16 Jun 1729
RHODE ISLAND renamed NEWPORT. (R.I. Recs., 4:427)
17 Feb 1747
[17 Feb 1746/1747] NEWPORT gained from BRISTOL (Mass.) when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. NEWPORT included part of present Massachusetts. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)
01 Mar 1862
NEWPORT lost to BRISTOL (Mass.) when Massachusetts and Rhode Island implemented the U. S. Supreme Court settlement (31 December 1861) of their boundary to the Atlantic Ocean. (Bayles, Providence, 1:29; R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1861, ch. 379, sec. 2/p. 4; Ullman, 83-84; Van Zandt, 68)
06 May 1963
NEWPORT lost Block Island to WASHINGTON. (R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1963, ch. 84, sec. 1/p. 300)

Pawtuxet Settlement

1642
In 1642, Massachusetts, responding to a request from disgruntled Rhode Islanders, extended its jurisdiction over the settlement at Pawtuxet. (Arnold, 1:111)
26 May 1658
The Pawtuxet settlers, who gave their allegiance to Massachusetts in 1642, returned to Rhode Island jurisdiction. (Arnold, 1:267)

PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS (see PROVIDENCE)


PROVIDENCE

22 Jun 1703
PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS (now PROVIDENCE) created as one of two original counties; covered the Rhode Island mainland. (R.I. Recs., 3:477-478)
16 Jun 1729
PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS renamed PROVIDENCE; lost to creation of KINGS (now WASHINGTON). (R.I. Recs., 4:427)
17 Feb 1747
[17 Feb 1746/1747] PROVIDENCE gained from BRISTOL (Mass.) and SUFFOLK (Mass.) when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)
11 Jun 1750
PROVIDENCE lost to creation of KENT. (R.I. Recs., 5:301)
01 Mar 1862
PROVIDENCE gained from BRISTOL (Mass.) when Massachusetts and Rhode Island implemented the U. S. Supreme Court settlement (31 December 1861) of their boundary to the Atlantic Ocean. (Bayles, Providence, 1:29; R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1861, ch. 379, sec. 2/p. 4; Ullman, 83-84; Van Zandt, 68)

Rhode Island Colony

14 Mar 1644
[14 Mar 1643/1644] Roger Williams secured a Parliamentary patent for Rhode Island (called "Providence Plantations") that granted authority for self-government. Boundaries were Massachusetts on the north, New Plymouth on the east, and the Pequot Indian country on the west; western boundary is estimated. (James, 57; Paullin, 28-29, pl. 43, Swindler, 8:360)
26 May 1658
The Pawtuxet settlers, who gave their allegiance to Massachusetts in 1642, returned to Rhode Island jurisdiction. (Arnold, 1:267)
23 Apr 1662
King Charles II granted Connecticut a charter as a self-governing corporate colony, with an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping part of the Rhode Island patent. Rhode Island did not concede its claim to territory between the Pawcatuck River and Narragansett Bay (the Narragansett Country), but Connecticut quickly took control of the area. (Bowen, Disputes, 32; Swindler, 2:135-136)
08 Jul 1663
King Charles II granted Rhode Island a charter as a self-governing corporate colony. It was bounded on the north by Massachusetts; on the east by a north-south line between Massachusetts and Pawtucket Falls, thence down the Seekonk River to Narragansett Bay and along a line three miles inland from the Bay; on the south by the ocean, including Block Island; and on the west by the Pawcatuck River and a line due north to Massachusetts. Connecticut continued to claim and control the Narragansett Country. (Bowen, Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8:368)
May 1664
Rhode Island Colony lost to New Plymouth Colony when a joint commission from Massachusetts and Plymouth demarcated their mutual boundary ("Old Colony Line"). (Bradford, 427n.)
27 Feb 1665
[27 Feb 1664/1665] Rhode Island Colony lost to SUFFOLK (Mass.) and to New Plymouth Colony when royal boundary commissioners set Rhode Island's eastern boundary along the Blackstone River and the east side of Narragansett Bay, pending a conclusive royal decision. (Arnold, 1:315)
08 Apr 1665
Royal boundary commissioners decided the dispute over the Narragansett Country by dismissing Massachusetts's claim, putting Connecticut's claim in abeyance, and placing the area directly under royal jurisdiction. They named it King's Province and gave Rhode Island temporary administrative authority over this new province pending a conclusive royal decision. King's Province is treated here as separate from Rhode Island. (Arnold, 1:315; James, 86-87; Potter, 178, 181)
30 Dec 1686
The governor of the Dominion of New England incorporated Rhode Island into the Dominion of New England, following instructions (13 September 1686) from King James II. (N.H. Early Laws, 1:168; R.I. Recs., 3:210, 220)
18 Apr 1689
Upon learning of the Glorious Revolution (replacement of King James II by King William III and Queen Mary II) in England, Bostonians imprisoned the royal governor and others, thereby ending the Dominion of New England. Over the next months Rhode Island and the other colonies that had been united to form the Dominion had to resume self-government. (Craven, 224; Morris and Kelly, pl. 11)
01 May 1689
Rhode Island reinstated its former government after the fall of the Dominion of New England, and extended its authority over the former King's Province or Narragansett Country in southwestern Rhode Island. Shortly thereafter Connecticut challenged Rhode Island's authority in that area. (Craven, 225; R.I. Recs., 3:257)
12 May 1703
Rhode Island and Connecticut agreed on their mutual boundary substantially along the line established by colonial agents in 1662, described in Rhode Island's 1663 charter, and claimed since then by Rhode Island. Boundary was to run up the Pawcatuck River to the junction with the Ashaway River, thence a straight line to the southwestern corner of the Warwick Purchase, and thence due north to the southern line of Massachusetts. Although not confirmed in London until February 1726/1727, this boundary appears to have become effective almost immediately, and, except for small refinements through surveying, it has not changed since. (Potter, 206-211; R.I. Recs., 3:474, 477-478; Van Zandt, 71)
22 Jun 1703
Rhode Island Colony created two counties: RHODE ISLAND (now NEWPORT) and PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS (now PROVIDENCE) to cover all non-county area in Rhode Island Colony. (R.I. Recs., 3:477-478)

RHODE ISLAND (see NEWPORT)


SUFFOLK (Mass.)

10 May 1643
SUFFOLK (Mass.) created as one of four original counties in Massachusetts; SUFFOLK included territory in Massachusetts and the northeast corner of present Rhode Island. (Mass. Recs., 2:38)
08 Jul 1663
SUFFOLK (Mass.) lost to Rhode Island Colony when King Charles II granted Rhode Island a charter as a self-governing corporate colony and defined its boundaries; SUFFOLK eliminated from Rhode Island. (Bowen, Disputes, 33; Swindler, 8:368)
27 Feb 1665
[27 Feb 1664/1665] SUFFOLK (Mass.) gained from Rhode Island Colony when royal commissioners set the provincial boundaries of Massachusetts, New Plymouth, and Rhode Island along the Blackstone River and the east side of Narragansett Bay, pending a conclusive royal decision. (Arnold, 1:315)
15 Mar 1690
[15 Mar 1689/1690] SUFFOLK (Mass.) gained from Connecticut when Massachusetts created the town of Woodstock within present Connecticut; area within present Rhode Island was unchanged. (Bowen, Disputes, 53-58; Bowen, Woodstock, 1:31)
07 Oct 1691
King William III and Queen Mary II issued a new charter for the province of Massachusetts Bay; status of SUFFOLK (Mass.) was unchanged. (Mass. Col. Acts, vol. 1, ch. 27 [1692-1693], sec. 1/p. 63; Swindler, 5:80)
10 Jul 1731
SUFFOLK (Mass.) lost to creation of WORCESTER (Mass.); area within present Rhode Island was unchanged. (Mass. Col. Acts, vol. 2, ch. 8 [1730-1731], sec. 1/p. 584)
17 Feb 1747
[17 Feb 1746/1747] SUFFOLK (Mass.) lost to PROVIDENCE when Rhode Island implemented the 1746 royal settlement of the boundary with Massachusetts. SUFFOLK (Mass.) eliminated from Rhode Island. (Arnold, 2:157; R.I. Recs., 5:207-209)

WASHINGTON

16 Jun 1729
KINGS (now WASHINGTON) created from PROVIDENCE. (R.I. Recs., 4:427)
29 Oct 1781
KINGS renamed WASHINGTON. (R.I. Recs., 9:484)
06 May 1963
WASHINGTON gained Block Island from NEWPORT. (R.I. Acts and Resolves, 1963, ch. 84, sec. 1/p. 300)