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Caguas, Puerto Rico Genealogy

The Early History of the Tainos in Caguas, Puerto Rico

The area of the Caguas was first settled by the Saladoid culture, an Arawak culture that originated in northern South America (today Venezuela) between 100 BCE to 600 CE. Findings from the Cagüitas archaeological site (CS-2) indicate that the area was later inhabited by various pre-Taíno (Ostionoid) cultures that first developed agriculture in the valley, primarily the cultivation of cassava hunted now-extinct species such as hutias.

As with the rest of Puerto Rico, the Taínos were the primary group living in the valley upon the Spanish arrival. The Spanish conquistadors further developed agriculture in the valley while establishing mines searching for gold, silver, and copper. As a result, most native Taínos living in the area were either forced out or enslaved and moved to the Real Hacienda del Toa (in modern-day Toa Alta and Toa Baja). Most of the valley was later cleared of its original vegetation to develop cattle farms such as Hato de BairoaHato de Caguax, and Hato de Gurabo.

Caguas was officially founded on January 1, 1775, as San Sebastián del Piñal de Caguax, with the name later being shortened and modernized to its current form. The city’s name comes from the native Caguax, a local Taíno chief who converted early to Christianity—the site of the historic downtown area of Caguas and its central square dates to 1779. If you want to read a blog I wrote about the Taíons, click here.

Additional History facts about Caguas

In 1820 the settlement was granted the title of Villa, and it was given city rights in 1894. Sugarcane was the primary crop, and essential sugarcane plantations and refineries were those of Central Santa Juana (close to modern-day Plaza Centro) and Central Santa Catalina (modern-day Las Catalinas Mall). In addition, the Carretera Central, the first paved road to cross Puerto Rico from north to south connecting San Juan to Ponce, was built during the last two decades of the 19th century. This made Caguas more accessible, causing the town’s population to grow even more.

Church Observations of Caguas Books

Below is my attempt to translate a document of a visit by D. Lino Gomez in 1960. He indicates his observations and recommendations and visits various Bishops and priests with historical content.

The first few severely damaged pages in the oldest parish Book (Book one) contain baptismal, marriage, and death certificates. (See below)

The first begins on February 23, 1730 until March 21, 1766 (the first four books of marriages (1732-1774) are missing, as well as book of death from 1730 to1770.

In 1738 the monk Basilio P. Mateo a priest who perhaps arrived with Bishop Lorenzo Pizarro who belonged to the Order of San Basilio, baptized many. Baptisms included those in Saint Sebastian del Barrero’s church and the church named “concepcion de las Piedras”

In 1753 we find don Agustin de Arroyo, chaplain priest of the Holy Church of “Sr. San Mateo,” located in the Ribera de Cangrejos and intinerary of the holy churches located in this Partido de Caguas. Other times it is titled “Cura intirinario de la Sta. Iglesia del Dulce Nombre de Jesus, located in El Piñal.

Finally, on December 10, 1759, Bishop Martinez de Oneca signed his visit certificate in the “Parish of the Dulce Nombre de Jesus de Caguas.” This is the title that has prevailed ever since.

Other books that I was able to take note of, far from being the only ones in the archive, are the third and ninth baptisms, which cover, respectively, the periods 1785 to 1788 and 1809 to 1811. In 1753 we find don Agustin de Arroyo, chaplain priest of the Holy Church of Mr. San Mateo, located in the Ribera de Cangrejos and intinerary of the holy churches located in this Partido de Caguas.

Los Archivos Historicos de Puerto Rico, Lino Gomez, San Juan de Puerto Rico 1964

The oldest book referenced above by. D. Lino

The oldest book for baptisms, marriages, and deaths covers 1730 to 1774 and is all in one book. It consists of all classes of race; Whites, Pardos, freed Blacks, and Enslaved people. I have separated them, and they are in the corresponding sections below.

A Final Recommendation by Don Lino Gomez

Since it is the only archive of historical value that Caguas possesses, it would be worthwhile to make it the object of a thorough reorganization, seeking the best means of protecting it against further damage.

Los Archivos Historicos de Puerto Rico, Lino Gomez, San Juan de Puerto Rico 1964

Additional personal observations and recommendations of my review of the Caguas Parish Books

Although a few parish books have been lost, many records are still available to review. Hopefully, there will be enough for you to check and locate ancestors that may fill in some of your family lines. It is important to review all books as there could be errors by priests. Therefore, a thorough examination of all records is a must. This a reminder that the first few pages are damaged. Finally, many books are without an index, so you must review each page. However, there are a few transcriptions available. Please scroll to the end.

This was a huge undertaking and took me several days to complete. However, I did my best to break it all down for us. So it may seem a bit overwhelming, but it should be easy to follow.

Indexes for Baptisms by surname

I noticed that the first part of the index by surname is divided first by natural child, and then the second part is listed as a legitimate child.

Index by surname A-Z for the years from 1864 to 1880. Book image 58
ABCD
EFGH
IJLM
NOPQ
RSTU
VWYZ
Index by surname A-Z for the years from 1900 to 1926. Books 1 and 2, Image 3/107
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWXYZ
Index by surname A-Z for the years from 1926 to 1935. Book 3, Image 251
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWYZ
Index by surname A-Z for the years from 1936 to 1942. Book 3, Image 385
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWYZ
Index by surname A-Z for the years from 1943 to 1953. Book 3, Image (A-M 500) (N-Z 611)
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWY-Z
Index by surname A-Z for the years from 1954 to 1958. Book 3, Image 692
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWY-Z

Baptisms 1730 to 1900

BookYearRaceImageIndexNote
11730-17661498This book contains Baptisms, Marriages, and deaths.
21785-17883
1809-1811104
1812-1823247
1821-1829623
11823-1829Whites, Pardos, Freed Blacks, Enslaved578
21828-1833771
2A1829-1836976
31829-1837Whites1170
1836-1843Whites2122
1843-18501366
18452074
71854-1859Whites, Pardos1857
81859-1861Whites, Pardos, Freed15501834
91861-18655
101862-1864Whites, Freed Blacks6
111864-1866Whites, Pardos312
121866-1870861
131870-18721480
151872-18741789
161874-18765
171876-1878313593
181878-1879616910
191879-1880932
201880-18831221
211883-18841513
221884-18871721
231887-18904
241890-1893372730
251893-18957631024
261895-18971052
271897-19001350

Baptisms 1900 to 1930

BookYearImage/NotesIndex
281900-19021780
291902-19042064
301904-19054258
311905-1906281
321906-1908592
331908-1910902
341910-191210851350
351912-191416571637
361914-191619421923
371916-1917255
381917-1918408386
391918-1920763
401920-192111441125
411921-19221523
1921-1922809 -Contains documents from book 41.
421921-1922962
431922-19231861
431922-19231339 – A duplicate of the above book.
4419241700
451924-19251968
46192-19265
471926284
481926-1927503
491927-1928724
501928951
511928-19291172
521929-19301403

Baptisms 1930 to 1941

BookYearImageIndex
5319301631
541930-19311842
551931-19322059
5619322273
571932-19332484
5819332697
581933-19345 – Continuation
591934103
601934-1935313
611935528
621935-1936744
631936-19371030
6419371287
651937-19381566
661938-19391837
671939-19402123
6819402392
691940-19412684

Baptisms 1941 to 1956

BookYearImageIndexNotes
7019413
711941-1942296
721942-1943609
731943-1944888
7419441157
751944-19451426
761945-19461702
7719461971
781946-19472257
7919472530
801947-19482802
811948-19495
821949295
831949-1950570
841950853
851950-19511139
861951-19521430
871952-19531708
8819532000
891953-19542296
9019542578
911954-19553
921955-1956288

Marriages Book Indexes

Index by surname a-z, from 1850 to 1920 564 A DUPLICATE INDEX ON 136. I did not create a table for the index on image 136.
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWZ
There are additional names at the end of Z.
Index by surname a-z, from 1927 TO 1940, 1941, AND 1942 to 1947 687
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWX-YZ

Notes on the index from 1939 to 1969

There are a total of two indexes. The cover page states it goes up to 1969 but does not. It ended in 1953. I broke it down for you in the tables below.

Index by surname a-z, from Jan 1939 to June 27, 1952, 797
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWX-YZ
Index by surname a-z, from June 28, 1952-Sep 26, 1953 834
ABCD
EFGH
IJKL
MNOP
QRST
UVWX-YZ

The Marriage Books

BookYearRaceImageIndexNotes
11734-17741654This book contains Baptisms, Marriages, and deaths.
21774-1804290
21804-1809994
31809-1812570
51810-1835Pardos, Freed Black, Enslaved190
71812-1821218
51821-18421144
61836-1849Whites, Pardos, Free Blacks4
81842-1850Whites263
91855-1870706
101870-1876684
111877-1889372661
121889-19019961374
131901-190914041624
141909-19141950
14(D)1909-1914382Duplicate Book
151914-1918284
161919-1926891No Index; see below.
16(D)1919-192619001896Duplicate Book that
contains the index.
171927-19311222
181931-19351430
191935-19381646
201939-19431854See the index above.
211943-19492114See the index above.
221949-19532382See the index above, up
to 1852.
231953-19562644

Burials

BookYearImageIndexNote
11730-17691725This book contains Baptisms, Marriages, and deaths.
21771-18011860
41801-18101570
51810-18191288
51819-18221833
61822-18252015
71826-18302169
81830-18364
91836-1840211
101840-1845409
111845-1849319
121849-18541309
131854-1861836804
141861-1863527
151863-18678321136
161867-187011911164
171870-187415271498
181874-1877626910
191877-18799321214
201880-188412421535
211884-18891556
221890-189619662326
231896-19045408
241904-1909441752
251909-191110861301The index is not complete.

Confirmations

BookYearImage
11904-19181787
21918-19351988
31935-19412162
41941-19452250
4-Continued19454

Transcriptions

Below are transcriptions provided by Salli M. This can reduce the time you spend going page by page. However, this task was difficult, and there may be some errors. Therefore, it is advisable to review the document. Nevertheless, she did a fantastic job, so please thank her in the comment section. I am sure she will appreciate it.

Baptisms

Volume(Book)YearRaceLink to PDF
51785-1788PDF
91809-1811PDF
51843-1850WhitesPDF
71854-1859PDF
91861-1862PDF
19 to 221879-1887PDF

Marriages

Volume(Book)YearRaceLink to PDF
21774-1804PDF
2 & 31804-1819PDF
4m1812-1821PDF
5m & 6m1819-1849Pardos, BlacksPDF
7m1821-1842WhitesPDF

Burials

Volume(Book)YearRaceLink to PDF
1771-1819PDF
41801-1810PDF
1810-1819PDF
5-71819-1830PDF
71826-1830PDF
8-101830-1845PDF
91836-1840PDF
121849-1854PDF
141861-1864PDF

2 thoughts on “Caguas, Puerto Rico Church Records 1730-1968

  1. What you’ve done here is outstanding, and I hope you know how much it will help others.

  2. […] 1845, I would start looking in Caguas. The historical accounts state that Aguas Buenas was part of Caguas in 1798. Don Lino states the Church could not receive its blessing prior to 1845. Bayamón is […]

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