History of Taxation in Rhode Island to the Year 1790

A detailed study traces the development and administration of public revenue in Rhode Island from its earliest settlements through the early state period, examining legal frameworks, local and colonial practices, and financial institutions. It surveys municipal methods such as fines, fees, land payments, and targeted levies, the adoption of paper money, and customs, excise, and tonnage duties, while analyzing valuation practices, tax law changes, and treasury administration. Emphasis falls on the shift from personal service and ad hoc assessments to systematic taxation and on practical fiscal records and statutory responses to changing economic needs.