Thomas Wilson Dorr, is well known as the leader of the Dorr Rebellion. A Providence lawyer, Dorr had become the leader of the Law and Order Party that had a platform of suffrage reform. At the time, Rhode Island was still operating under the colonial charter of 1663, which stated that only landowners had the right to vote. Dorr's party sought a more democratic constitution which would give voting power to the landless. The party held a convention and adopted a "People's Constitution," which was unofficially ratified by voters in 1841. In 1842, Dorr and his followers held unofficial elections and Dorr was elected Governor. However, the Rhode Island legislature did not recognize Dorr's legitimacy. Dorr formed an army and attempted to take power by force but suffered two humiliating defeats. With these failures Dorr fled Rhode Island, only to turn himself in a year and a half later. He was tried in 1844 and sentenced to life in prison. Dorr was released in 1845 due to a legislative act that freed all prisoners sentenced for treason. In 1854, Dorr's record was expunged as some of those in power came to believe he had been wrongly convicted.
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Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Thomas W. Dorr Collection, MSS 391, Rhode Island Historical Society.
This collection contains seven letters written by Dorr to miscellaneous persons, as well as one received from Franklin Pierce, selections from Dorr's personal scrapbook, twelve pages of business accounts, and several items relating to the rebellion.
This collection was gathered together from miscellaneous holdings of the Society circa 1975. There are other Dorr materials remaining in other collections, which can be found through the card catalog at the Society.
Photocopy, gift of Patrick Conley, #1980.11.12. Location of original unknown.
Gift of George P. Wetmore, #1921.22.1
Transcription. Gift of George P. Wetmore, accession #1921.22.2
Contains solely financial transactions with Samuel P. Crins & Co. 12 pp. plus loose sheet.
1831-1832, 1839, 1851-1852, edited by unknown owner at later date. Includes notes in Dorr's hand, and many clippings of Dorr's letters to newspapers.
Petition with 67 signatures, none Dorr's.
Notice regarding "the clandestine admission of a number of the very fag ends of society".
Correspondence listing the members of the expedition to locate Dorr in Stonington, Connecticut in 1842. Also, an anonymous list of the same expedition, giving several additional names.