Puerto Rican Genealogy Research
My favorite must-have website is Ancestry.com (Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the company). It allows you to create a family tree for free, with the option to create multiple trees. The interface is incredibly user-friendly and accessible across all devices. However, to unlock its full potential, a paid subscription is necessary. Fortunately, there are flexible subscription options available.
For newcomers, there's typically a 14-day free trial to explore the platform. If you're unsure about committing, a monthly subscription might be the best choice initially. One handy tip is to utilize the trial or subscription period to gather and download documents onto your computer. Even after your subscription expires, you can still access and review these documents at your leisure.
There are numerous features of Ancestry.com that I find invaluable:
1. Privacy protection: It automatically hides the names and information of living individuals.
2. Easy image uploading: Images can be quickly uploaded and linked to multiple family members.
3. Integration with external websites: You can link websites to specific individuals.
4. Storytelling capabilities: You can write stories directly on the platform or upload them from Word documents.
5. Collaborative editing: Multiple relatives can have editing access to a family tree, facilitating information sharing among distant relatives.
6. Audio support: You can upload or record audio files to enrich your family history.
7. Seamless integration with paid access sites: It's easy to link information and documents from other paid sites.
8. Document clues: Ancestry.com often provides clues to additional documents, aiding in your research.
9. Connection to other researchers: Through the paid subscription, you can connect with individuals researching the same ancestors.
10. Integration with DNA results: Ancestry.com is linked to DNA testing results, offering further insights into your family history
For newcomers, there's typically a 14-day free trial to explore the platform. If you're unsure about committing, a monthly subscription might be the best choice initially. One handy tip is to utilize the trial or subscription period to gather and download documents onto your computer. Even after your subscription expires, you can still access and review these documents at your leisure.
There are numerous features of Ancestry.com that I find invaluable:
1. Privacy protection: It automatically hides the names and information of living individuals.
2. Easy image uploading: Images can be quickly uploaded and linked to multiple family members.
3. Integration with external websites: You can link websites to specific individuals.
4. Storytelling capabilities: You can write stories directly on the platform or upload them from Word documents.
5. Collaborative editing: Multiple relatives can have editing access to a family tree, facilitating information sharing among distant relatives.
6. Audio support: You can upload or record audio files to enrich your family history.
7. Seamless integration with paid access sites: It's easy to link information and documents from other paid sites.
8. Document clues: Ancestry.com often provides clues to additional documents, aiding in your research.
9. Connection to other researchers: Through the paid subscription, you can connect with individuals researching the same ancestors.
10. Integration with DNA results: Ancestry.com is linked to DNA testing results, offering further insights into your family history
Online Family Trees
To the left is a snapshot of a tree on Ancestry.com. The layout is easy to follow, and there are various options for viewing the tree. The leaves in the corners represent "hints" associated with the person. The more information you have, the more likely these hints will be accurate, as they refine the search criteria.
Frequently, you'll encounter hints for online family trees. These are trees that other users have made public, with living individuals hidden. Exercise caution when using these hints. The best practice is to thoroughly examine document images yourself before adding names or information to your tree. Keep pen and paper handy to jot down clues, ensuring you find at least one primary document source. Then, use the online tree to corroborate your findings.
Frequently, you'll encounter hints for online family trees. These are trees that other users have made public, with living individuals hidden. Exercise caution when using these hints. The best practice is to thoroughly examine document images yourself before adding names or information to your tree. Keep pen and paper handy to jot down clues, ensuring you find at least one primary document source. Then, use the online tree to corroborate your findings.
If you choose to use Ancestry.com, there is a new feature, My Tree Tags, that is extremely helpful in keeping yourself organized. There are various menus of 'tags' that indicate relationships, research status, DNA connections as well as the ability to create a custom tag. Tagging can help you avoid mistakes with unverified individuals but still have them in a tree. Keep this in mind as you look at online trees. Sometimes researchers include unverified leads in trees that might misdirect you in your research.
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Online Document Resources |
I've found that the most useful sites for Puerto Rican genealogy are the paid websites like Ancestry.com. Despite the fee, access is straightforward, and it seamlessly links to your tree if you have one on Ancestry.com or Family Tree Maker. However, if you're willing to put in the extra effort of manually transcribing information into another tree, there are free resources available as well!
It's important to note that the United States arrived in Puerto Rico in 1898. Unfortunately, official census records weren't conducted until 1910. Regarding Civil Registrations, while the records technically don't commence before a certain date, the individuals listed in these documents may trace back several generations, allowing you to potentially uncover ancestors born in the early 1800s.
Websites not associated with Ancestry.com:
It's important to note that the United States arrived in Puerto Rico in 1898. Unfortunately, official census records weren't conducted until 1910. Regarding Civil Registrations, while the records technically don't commence before a certain date, the individuals listed in these documents may trace back several generations, allowing you to potentially uncover ancestors born in the early 1800s.
- Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001 (Spanish) - These documents include birth, marriage, and death certificates. Look carefully to find the names of parents and towns of origin. Some even include grandparents. Be sure to look at the front and back of documents.
- Puerto Rico, Social and Population Schedules, 1935-1936 (English and Spanish)
- Puerto Rico, Registro Central de Esclavos, 1872 (documents are in Spanish)
- Immigration & Travel (documents are in English and Spanish
- Last Name Meanings (free)
- Puerto Rico, Records of Foreigners, 1815-1845 / Family Search collection - documents are in Spanish and not indexed. They are quite old and difficult to read. You need time to peruse through all of the documents.
- U.S. Census 1910, 1920 (partial), 1930, 1940, and 1950 - These documents include some different information each census. Generally, they all include names of household members, ages, dwelling number, marital status, birthplace of parents, language spoken, and ability to read.
Websites not associated with Ancestry.com:
- Puerto Rico, Records of Foreigners, 1815-1845 (free) - documents are in Spanish and not indexed. They are quite old and difficult to read. You need time to peruse through all of the documents.
- Puerto Rico
- Family Search LDS (free)
- Puerto Rico, Catholic Church Records 1645-1969 (free) - documents are in Spanish and not indexed. Only 19 municipalities are included. You need time to peruse through all of the documents.
- Declaraciones de naturalización, 1899-1900 - documents are in Spanish. They are the declaration of heads of households born on the mainland of Spain or the Canary Islands that decided to remain citizens of Spain after the United States took control of Puerto Rico.
- Foreigners Residing in Puerto Rico in the 19th Century (free) - catalog of names with brief bios provided by the Puerto Rican Genealogical Society based on the research by Dr. Estela Cifre de Loubriel
- US Census Records 1910, 1920 (partial), 1930, 1940 and 1950 are available indexed for free on Family Search.
Church records can be somewhat hidden within FamilySearch. To locate them, navigate to the "Catalog" tab and type in the name of the town you're researching. Then, refer to the image on the left for further guidance. Clicking on the link corresponding to the town name will reveal a menu listing the names of the church parishes in that area. It's beneficial to know the name of the church closest to your ancestor's home at this stage. Select the appropriate parish from the menu.
Once you've accessed the church records page for the chosen parish, scroll down to view the available records. This step is crucial for identifying and accessing the specific records relevant to your genealogical research. On the left side, you'll find a list of the types of records available. On the right side, you'll see the format of these records. If there's only a camera icon, it means you'll need to manually sift through each record to locate your ancestor. However, if you see an icon resembling a magnifying glass, it indicates that the records are indexed. Clicking on this icon will open a search bar, allowing you to refine your search by name. This indexed feature can significantly streamline your research process by enabling targeted searches for specific individuals. |
Is it really possible to find out a lot of information about ancestors?Absolutely! Genealogy research isn't quick and easy but over time, the discoveries that you make can be shared and often lead to more recollections. Sometimes, an older relative just needs a spark! In recent years, to my absolute delight, there has been a slew of television shows that document the personal journey of celebrities as they learn about their family story using documents and DNA. My kids and I love to sit and watch together! Let some of these stories inspire you to begin or continue your own journey!
Television Shows about genealogy:
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6 generations...
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"I was born in Puerto Rico... And my blood is Taino... Spanish Caribbean in my soul ..." ~ lyrics by Paul Simon from Songs of the Capeman