The Archaeology of College Hill: Project 3: Ownership Contexts | Property Transfers, Inheritances: Property Sleuthing

A complete timeline for ownership of the John Brown House and the surrounding property does not currently exist. Secondary sources outlining the history of the property, some of them unaccredited and unsourced, are in the collections of the John Brown House and the Rhode Island Historical Society Library. However, comparison of these documents shows that they are each incomplete and inconsistent to varying degrees. A review of the available information at the John Brown House, the Joukowsky Institute Library, and the Rhode Island Historical Society Library provides foundational knowledge to assist in an examination of the deeds contained in the archives at City Hall. The resulting ownership history helps to resolve questions pertaining to who may have inhabited the property, at what time they were there, how they obtained it, and any documented landscape changes.

Uploaded Image