Digitized Church Records of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico 1787-1922

Early History

Juana Diaz was founded in 1798. It is known as Ciudad de Jacagua. The name is in honor of the Taino Chief Jacaguax. The civil government of this territory was established on April 25, 1798. In 1899, Juana Diaz had a population of 27,896.

Juana Diaz is located on the island’s southern coast. It is south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis, and Villalba. Ponce is on the east. Coamo and Santa Isabel are on the west. The Caribbean Sea is to the south.

The Condition of the Books for Juana Diaz

There are many Church Books available to research. Although not in the best condition, however, they are still readable. However, some of the burial books are too light to read. Remember that many of Juana Diaz’s residents have origins in Patillas and Coamo. Therefore, viewing all the records from the adjacent towns is essential. I have been fortunate to find many documents of extended families. For example, one of my Alvarado lines established itself in this city.

Towns

Juana Díaz is spread over 13 barrios and Juana Diaz Pueblo.

Burials for Juana Diaz

• Book 3, 1829 to 1843. This book is not in chronological order. Image#1846 starts with the year 1829 and ends in the year 1830. Image# 1861(right side) starts with the year 1843 and ends with image # 1909 (the year 1842). Image #1909 (right side of the page) starts with the year 1835 and ends in 1842. Image #2054 (right side of the page starts in 1835 and ends in 1834. So this is a book you will need to take your time with. Please let me know if anyone wants to volunteer and transcribe this book.
• The Books of Burials seem not to have been separated by race. So that they would be classified as “All Classes (AC).”

Book	Year	Race-AC	Image	Index	Notes
1	1787-1796		4
2	1797-1806		1816
2	1806-1829		1611		Transcribed. See below.
3	1829-1843*		1846
4	1843-1850		2138
5	1850-1857		4
6	1857-1863		303	605
7	1863-1866		617	918
9	1866-1869		940	928
10	1869-1872		1248	1231
11	1872-1875		1552	1536
12	1875-1876			1833
12	1876-1878		4 Note: A continuation of the above book.
13	1878-1880		124	111
14	1880-1883		443	418
15	1883-1885		742	715
16	1885-1886		974	950
17	1886-1888		1206	1177
18	1888-1890		1507	1483
19	1890		1815
20	1892-1894		2155	2123
21	1894-1895		27	4
22	1895-1901		376	336
23	1901-1906		930	885
24	1906-1911		1286	1239
25	1911-1914		1598

Marriages of Juana Diaz

Book	Year	Race	Image	Index	Notes
1	1787-1813	All Classes	1894		Transcribed. See below.
2	1813-1819	Whites	2000		Transcribed. See below.
3	1813-1838	Pardos	2029		Transcribed. See below.
?	1838, 1839, 1840	Whites, Pardos	1592
3	1819-1851	Whites	1682	1668
4	1851-1869	Whites, Pardos	1866	2157
5	1870-1877	Whites, Pardos	2178	2165
6	1877-1889	All Classes	35	4
7	1889-1898	All Classes	333	308
8	1898-1906	All Classes	672	643
9	1907-1913	All Classes	932
10	1913-1932	All Classes	1240
	1838-1840

Baptisms of Juana Diaz

Book	Year	Race	Image	Index	Notes
2	1796-1810	“All Classes”	262		The book states it is under the jurisdiction of San Blas de Coamo.
1	1813-1819	Whites	554
2	1810-1820	Whites, Pardos	4
3	1820-1835	Whites, Pardo, Enslaved	205	194
4	1819-1835	Whites	545
4?	1835-1841	Pardos. Blacks	612		The first page is damaged. Unsure of the book number, but could be Book 4.
5	1835-1849	Blancos	800	1174
5	1841-1846	Pardos, Blacks	19	5
6	1850-1851	Whites, Pardos	1201	1195
6	1846-1861	Pardos	1713	2017
7	1851-1857	Whites, Pardos	1350	1663
7	1862-1873	Enslaved	1444	1428
8	1857-1858	Whites, Pardos	2052
8	1858-1860	Whites, Pardos	4 Continuation.	170
9	1860-1861	Pardos	187	483
10	1861-1863	Pardos	518	503
11	1863-1865	Enslaved	817	808
12	1865-1867	Whites, Pardos	1126	1109
13	1867-1869	“	1612	1592
14	1869-1871	“	1907	1893
15	1871-1872	“	2185	2464
16	1872-1874	“	335	326
17	1874-1876	“	647	632
18	1876-1877	“	953	937
19	1877-1879	All Races	1247		From Books 19 through 42; “All Classes”
20	1879-1880		1558	1545
21	1880-1882		1888	1858
22	1882-1883		2186
23	1883-1884		4
24	1884-1885		233	211
25	1885-1886		548	541
26	1886-1888		847	829
27	1888-1889		1172	1147
28	1889-1890		1507	1484
29	1890-1891		1835	1813
30	1892-1893		2164	2139
31	1893-1894		5
32	1894-1895		336	315
33	1895-1898		642
34	1898-1900		1148
35	1900-1904		1438	1403
36	1904-1906		1747
37	1906-1908		2094	2054
38	1908-1911		4
39	1911-1912		348
40	1912-1918		647
41	1918-1920		1003	1276
42	1920-1922		1308

Confirmations of Juana Diaz

Year	Image
1798-1799	39

Transcriptions

These transcriptions are courtesy of Johana Colon Perez and Belkis Munoz Gelabert. They cover the years from 1787 to 1838 and are in alphabetical order. Unfortunately, the settings are off. You will need to zoom in to five hundred percent. This will allow you to view the PDF file.

In addition, please review all transcription against the original records. These resources are available as a guide to facilitate your research. Some pertinent information could have been missed. It is a good idea to do this consistently. Only you can confirm your research.