This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Bristol a Colonial Port Town with Deep Historic Roots
Bristol dates to October 28, 1681, when incorporated by the Plymouth Colony. Its early leadership credits four pioneers for town growth, and its whaling era powered its rise as a major Atlantic seaport. Industries later included rubber goods, candles, and manufacturing, with notable firms such as Burnside Rifle Company and the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company shaping its 19th and 20th century economy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bristol
Plymouth Colony
Leif Ericson
Mount Hope
King Pilip
John Gorham
Nathaniel Byfield
John Walley
Stephen Burton
Nathaniel Oliver
John de Wolf
Ambrose E. Burnside
Burne Rifle Company
Herreshoff Manufacturing Companys
National Rubber Company
Providence
Nood Street
United States Rubber Company