- Colonial Rhode Island began with the foundation of Providence, also occasionally called Rogue's Island. It was founded by a theologian that supported the separation of church and state, Roger Williams. While Rhode Island was originally founded as a refuge from the Puritanical laws and intolerance of Massachusetts, the family structure of Rhode Island was quite similar to that of the other colonies, both socially and legally.
- The family was a key unit in Colonial society, and was usually headed by the adult male. Married women had few legal rights; however, widows could conduct business and maintain their families as unmarried women. While many of us have a mental image of large, extended families in the Colonial era, in reality, most Colonial households were nuclear families, composed of a husband, wife and their children, particularly in the earlier years of the period. While some extended families did share households, this was less common than is generally believed.
- The nuclear family was the glue that held Colonial communities together. The family was headed by the adult male, with his wife as the secondary authority figure. Children in the family had few rights and were, even outside of Puritan communities, most decidedly to be seen and not heard. The family was also a unit of production in Colonial Rhode Island, as each member contributed to the economic well-being of the family. As is common in labor-intensive societies, families produced relatively large numbers of children, both to contribute economically and to account for relatively high infant mortality rates.
- Family life in Colonial Rhode Island likely took place in a small home constructed of timber. Furnishings were simple, including a bed for the parents, trundles or other sleeping spaces for children, a table and storage pieces. Wealthier families had more elaborate homes and furnishings. Each member of the family contributed labor as they were able, and children were taught necessary life skills, including animal husbandry, gardening and the family business at home. In villages and towns in Colonial Rhode Island, the community supported a school by providing for the teachers' needs. Schools existed for both male and female children in Colonial New England.
- There are a number of misconceptions about families in Colonial Rhode Island. While images of patriarchal family dynamics are not inaccurate, relatively high mortality rates meant that many families were headed by single mothers. Widows could run family businesses, buy and sell property and act on their own accord legally. Many chose not to remarry and to retain their freedom. Both men and women married rather later than some might expect, marrying at 23 to 25 years old being commonplace. Men typically sought to complete apprenticeships and have some degree of financial stability before marrying.
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