Catholic Church records are some of the most complete sources of information for Hispanic genealogical research in Latin America. In 1563 the Council of Trent formalized record-keeping practices that were already being followed in much of the Catholic world. Separate record books were to be maintained for baptisms, marriages, and deaths/burials.
There are three commonly used parish record types used for research in Latin America. They are:
Baptisms – Bautismos
Marriages - Matrimonios
Deaths/Burials – Defunciones/Entierros
Depending on the parish records and who recorded the information, the wealth of data can vary. Information found in the records should have the following data.
Baptisms/Christenings
A child’s baptism in the Catholic Church could happen any time between the first few minutes after birth to several days or months later. Generally, most baptisms were performed within a few days because there was a fear that the child might not live. Whether or not a date of birth was given will vary, depending on the priest and time period. Every baptismal record will state in some manner whether the child is a legitimate or natural born (illegitimate). The most common information found in baptismal records are:
Name of the child
Birth date
Baptism date and place
Names and surnames of the parents (if only a mother is listed, the child was natural born
or illegitimate). Sometimes their origin and/or residence
Sometimes the names and surnames of the grandparents
Names of the godparents
Marriages
The Catholic Church marriage imposes four requirements:
1. The couple is free to marry
2. They freely exchange their consent
3. They have the intention to marry for life
4. Their consent is given in presence of two witnesses and before the properly authorized
Catholic Church priest.
In these records we can find valuable information. We can find if the groom and/or bride is a widower/widow, and the name of the deceased former spouse. In Latin America, marriages usually took place in the bride’s parish. It is important to carefully look at the names of the godparents and witnesses, because sometimes they are related to the couple. The most common information found in the marriage record is:
Marriage date and place
Names of the groom and the bride; you may find their ages, place of origin, and place of residence
Previous marital status
Names of the parents, if they are still living, place of residence, etc.
Names of the godparents and witnesses
Deaths/Burials
The Catholic Church death registers are recorded in the parish where the person died. They are usually the least used of any parish records. They vary in format and length depending on the age and status of the deceased, as well as the discretion of the priest. In most death records, the women are recorded by their maiden name. In some records, if the woman had a surviving spouse, the spouse was named. If the deceased person was a widow, the deceased spouse may have been named. At times the priest noted if the person died testate, meaning he or she recorded a will. The most common information found in the death record is:
Name of the deceased, date, and cause of death
Date and place of the burial
Sometimes age, place of residence, and marital status
Names of the parents (if single or a child)
Name of the spouse (if married)
Names of surviving children
Catholic Church records are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the city or town where the parish is located. A parish is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction where a Catholic priest serves and keeps records. Because the majority of the records were kept by the parish priest, these records are known as Registros Parroquiales (parish registers).
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