The
Spanish
Documents
Types of Parish Records
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Libros de bautismos or Christenings
According to Catholic doctrine all individuals must be baptized in order to be saved. Because of this universal need for baptism, these records will include the majority of the people living in the parish, regardless of their social or economic status. Christening records for most Hispanic countries may include the following information, depending on the time period when they were created:- Given name and surnames of the person being baptized
- Date of the baptism
- Date of baptismal entry (usually same as baptism)
- Date and birthplace of the person being baptized
- Whether the child being baptized was legitimate or illegitimate
- Given names, surnames, residence and birthplaces of the parents and grandparents
- Marital status of the parents
- Names of the godparents and sometimes their relationship to the child
- Residence or birthplaces of the godparents
- Name or signature of the officiating priest
The information included in these records usually follows a specific order; however, it is not uncommon to find the same information in different order.
Instructions:
Use this exercise to learn about the vocabulary and the different portions that compose a typical christening record.
Click on the words of the record to see the meaning and usage of each word, descriptions of the document sections and the record's transcription.
(See also Spanish Records Extraction Guide - Chapter 2 : Section 1 - Christening Entries)
SAMPLE CHRISTENING RECORD
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Phrases |
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Language Section |
Transcription
En Veintey nueve de Marzo de este año de mil Setecientos ochentay Siete, yo el infraescripto Curay Benefdo bautizè Un Niño que nacio el dia Veintey Seis de dicho Mes, entre Unay dos delatarde Segun declaracion de Sus Padres, y le puse por nombre Josef hijo legitimo, y de legitimo Matrimonio de Formerio de Laño, y de Maria Santos Saenz, havitantes en esta Villa dePeñacerrada, y naturales, Formerio del lugar de Moraza, Aldea deTreviño, y Maria Santos dela Ciudad de Santo Domingo dela Calzada. Abuelos paternos Josef de Laño, y Juana de Uriate, Vecinos en dicho lugar deMoraza, y naturales, Josef de este, y Juana dela Villa de Corres: Maternos Francisco Saenz, y Melchora Martinez, naturales, y Vecinos de dicha Ciudad de S.to Domingo: fueron Sus Padrinos Matheo de Pinedo y Maria de Montoya, naturales de esta Villa, á quienes adverti el parentesco espiritual, y demas obligaciones Contrahidas, y por la Verdad lo firmo yo el Cura dha Ut Supra .//.
Dn. Estevan Ramirez |
Translation
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In hundred and eighty-seven, I the undersigned benefice-endowed parish priest baptized a child that was born on the twenty-sixth day of the said month, between one and two in the afternoon according to declaration of his parents, and I gave him the name of Josef legitimate son, and of legitimate matrimony between Formerio de Laño and Maria Santos Saenz, residents of this town of Peñacerrada and born, Formerio in the place of Moraza, village of Treviño, and Maria Santos in the city of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The paternal grandparents [are] Josef de Laño, and Juana de Uriate, neighbors of the said place of Moraza and born in, Josef in this [place] and Juana in the town of Corres: Maternal [grandparents] Francisco Saenz, and Melchora Martinez, natives and residents of the said city of Santo Domingo: His godparents were Matheo de Pinedo and Maria de Montoya, [both] natives of this town, whom I warned regarding their spiritual relationship and other contracted obligations, and being true, I, the priest signed it on the said [date] stated above.
Dn. Estevan Ramirez |
Additional Samples
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For more examples of baptism (christening) records click here |
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To learn how to find similar additional documents from different countries and years, click here to visit the FamilySearch catalog. |
