Fortunately, the internet has made it possible for many to locate many genealogical records on their ancestors via online databases.While it is easy to find records for Puerto Rico since it is a part of the United States, 50 years of closing our borders has impacted many of our distance cousins that live on this island.
So today, I will share what can be found. Unknown to many, Vanderbilt University maintains a collection of church records which are available to view online. The university offers degrees in Latin Studies and maintains many maps, manuscripts, and books on Cuba and other Latin countries. Vanderbilt's church collection for Cuba contains records from the 1500's to the 1800's for the following churches. After clicking on the links below, simply scroll down to arrive to the church books. If you are of African descent, you will be surprised to discover your ancestors are also in the books, include ancestors that were enslaved. The first church is in Matanzas and the remaining are all in Havana (scroll down the page until you arrive to your church):
- San Carlos de Matanzas (13,658 images)
- Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje (5,363 images)
- Iglesia de Jesús, María y José (4,959 images)
- Nuestra Señora de Regla (2,664 images)
- Espiritu Santo (1873 images)
- Sagrado Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana (1,338 images)
- Santo Angél Custodio (4,769 images)
- Arzobispado de La Habana (1077 images)
- Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Guanabacoa (7,532 images)
Some of the books have been transcribed. You can find them by clicking here.
Vanderbilt University contains some collections that will assist you in your genealogical research. The following collections are military records which include "pardos" meaning brown complexion. The collections will each open in a new window:
- Libro de Servcios de Blancos agregado al Batallon de Voluntarios Pardos libres de Cuba y Bayamo, 1789-1790
- Libro de Servicios de Batallón de Pardos de Milicias de Infanteria de Cuba y Bayamo, 1795-1796
- Libro de Servicios de la Plana Mayor de Blancos al Batallón de Pardos Libres de Milicias de Infanteria de Cuba y Bayamo, 1793-1794
- Libro de Servicios de los oficiales, sargentos primeros, y demas individuos de la plana mayor de Blancos del Batallón de Pardos de Cuba y Bayamo, 1797
- Libro de Servicios de los oficiales de la Plana Mayor de Blancas de Batallón de Pardos de Infanteria de Cuba y Bayamo, 1799
1919 Census
Vanderbilt has a digitized copy of the 1919 Census for Cuba (click on it to open in a new browser). This book contains many names and is in a book format. You will find a detailed list of people who were census personnel and enumerators for districts. You will have to page through to get through the book to get to the names. Hopefully you can spend time reading it to understand how people lived during that era. The book also contains some images from around Cuba.Desktop: To see other blog posts for your island or country, click on the menu that appears at the top right of this post. It will take you to the page containing posts for your island or country.
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