Records of Enslaved and Free People in Newport Rhode Island 1663-1865

Aggregating records for 7,019 people of African and Indigenous descent connected to Newport, Rhode Island, between 1663 and 1865. It was compiled by Kaela Bleho from archival documents held by the Newport Historical Society, including religious records, censuses, family papers, and ship logs.

Use Cases

• Analyze demographic patterns and status changes (enslaved, free, liminal) across the 7,019 individuals over the 202-year time range.
• Study connections between individuals and Newport merchants through data drawn from ship logs and merchants' records.
• Examine community structures using data sourced from records of Black-led organizations and six religious groups.
• Trace individual or family histories across multiple source types such as legal documents, land evidence, and early colony censuses.

Strengths

• Contains records for 7,019 individuals, providing a substantial sample for historical analysis.
• Sourced from a broad range of archival document types held by the Newport Historical Society, ensuring depth.
• Covers a long temporal range of 202 years, from 1663 to 1865.

Limitations

• The specific data columns and structure are unknown, which may limit immediate analytical utility.
• Sample data and file formats are unavailable, making it difficult to assess data structure and quality prior to download.

Provenance

Source

Archival documents from the collection of the Newport Historical Society.

Collection Method

Data drawn from a broad range of archival documents including religious records, censuses, family papers, merchants’ records, institutional records, legal documents, and ship logs.

Time Range

1663 to 1865

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-02-12.

Geography

Newport, Rhode Island, and the surrounding area.