Isabela’s nineteenth-century census and municipal records provide valuable evidence for reconstructing families before Puerto Rico began civil registration in 1885. This guide identifies records found on FamilySearch film 008138879 and links researchers directly to the images where each section begins.
The collection covers records dated from 1837 through 1869 and includes censuses of residents, padrones de vecinos, censuses of souls, property and urban-wealth records, municipal acts, domicile changes, and statistical reports. Depending on the document, researchers may find names, ages, marital status, spouses, children, places of origin, property ownership, household relationships, and the names of enslaved people.
About These Isabela Records
- Municipality: Isabela, Puerto Rico
- Date range: 1837–1869
- FamilySearch film: 008138879
- Catalog reference: 609354
- Record types: Census, population, property, domicile, statistical, and municipal records
The documents may use historical spellings such as Ysabel or Ysabela for Isabela. A question mark in the table indicates that the title, date, or place-name is difficult to read and should be verified against the original image.
FamilySearch access note: These links open specific images on FamilySearch. A free FamilySearch account may be required. Images identified as Fuera de consulta may be restricted or unavailable for online viewing.
What Information May Be Found?
- Names of household members and residents
- Ages and marital status
- Spouses, children, and household relationships
- Places of birth or origin
- Neighborhoods and barrios
- Property owners and property values
- Changes of residence
- Names of enslaved people in certain records
- Municipal statistics and administrative records
Isabela Records, 1837–1856
Year Title Image Description June 35, 1837 Exp. 1583 4 Summary of census classification of individuals. 7 List (5) men of color, martial status, and the number of children. 11 List of residents with names of enslaved. (Documents are difficult to read) 1838 102 List of residents (wives, children, marital status, age, origin, etc.) (Fuera de consulta) 200 Barrio de Arenáres 249 Barrio de Guerrero Exp. 1588 265 Barrio de Llanadas 1847 Exp. 1589 303 Pueblo de Ysabel-Value of homes, list of owners. 1850 Exp. 1591 307 Censo de Almas-Barrio de Bejucos? 1850 Exp. 1592 319 Padron general de los vecinos moradores. Barrio de Bejucos. Exp. 1593 341 Illegible 1850 Exp. 1594 360 Barrio de Jovos 1850 1595 381 Pueblo de Llanadas 1863 1596 395 1850 1597 421 Barrio de Guerrero. Censo de Almas. 1850 1598 433 Barrio de Planas. Padron General de vecinos y moradores. ? 1599 446 Barrio de Salto ? 1600 457 Illegible 1857 1601 472 Pueblo de Mora? 1853 1602 484 Padron de los Vecinos. 1853 1603 516 Vecinos y Barrones 1853 1604 524 Relacion de los Vecinos del Barrio de Saltos. 1856 1605 530 Barrio de Planas. Censo de Almas. Exp. (Expediente)
Isabela Records, 1856–1869
| Year | Title | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 to 1866 | Exp. 1600 | 540 | Pueblo de Ysabela. Padron General. |
| ? | Exp. 1607 | 570 | Barrio de Guayabos. |
| 1856 | Exp. 1608 | 580 | Barrio de Mora. |
| 1856 | Exp. 1609 | 591 | Barrio de Saltos. |
| 1856 | Exp. 1610 | 598 | Barrio de Guerrero. |
| ? | Exp. 1611 | 608 | Illegible (water damage) |
| 1858 | Exp. 1612 | 624 | Anotacion de altas y bajas de domicilio. |
| 1860 | Exp. 1613 | 632 | Borradores de oficios. |
| 1860 | Exp. 1614 | 640 | Actas |
| 1861 | Exp. 1615 | 653 | Actas del Pueblo del Ysabela. |
| ? | Exp. 1616 | 675 | Barrio del Pueblo. |
| 1861 | Exp. 1617 | 705 | Riqueza Urbana. |
| ? | Exp. 1618 | 731 | Barrio del Pueblo. |
| 1864 | Exp. 1619 | 735 | Expediente de Riqueza. |
| 1865-66 | Exp. 1620 | 758 | (1850) Padron de los Vecinos del Barrio del Arenales. |
| 1866 | Exp. 1621 | 790 | Estada Demostrativo del pueblo del Ysabela. |
| 1866 | Exp. 1622 | 818 | Fuera de Consulta. Pueblo de Guayabos. |
| 1866,67,68, | Exp. 1623 | 831 | Estasdistica de pueblo de Ysabela. |
| 1867 | Exp. 1624 | 867 | Pueblo de Ysabela. |
| 1867 | Exp. 1625 | 882 | Barrio de Guerrero. |
| 1868 | Exp. 1626 | 891 | Pueblo de Ysabela. Expediento de Terrenos- |
| 1869 | Exp. 1627 | 905 | Relaciones de los Vecinos Arenales? Abajo. |
| 1869 | Exp. 1628 | 921 | Barrio de Mora. Censo del Almas, nombres con edad. |
| ? | Exp. 1629 | 936 | Padron general de los habitantes de Guerrero. |
| Exp. 1630 | 948 | Pueblo de Ysabela? | |
| 1869 | 951 | Barrio del Arenales Alto. Padron general del Almas. | |
| 1869 | Barrio del Galateo Bajo. | 1406 | Padron general de los habitantes. No tienes los esclavos. |
Research Tips
- Begin with the linked image and review several images before and after it. A household or barrio list may continue across many pages.
- Search for relatives, neighbors, witnesses, property owners, and people with the same surname.
- Record the year, expediente number, image number, barrio, and FamilySearch film number in your research notes.
- Compare census entries with Isabela parish records, civil registrations, and property records.
- Remember that historical spelling was inconsistent. Isabela may appear as Ysabel or Ysabela, and surnames may vary between records.
How to Cite These Records
A suggested citation format is:
Puerto Rico, Isabela, census and municipal records, [year], expediente [number], image [number], FamilySearch film 008138879, catalog 609354; accessed [date].
Sources and Related Resources
- FamilySearch film 008138879
- Censo de Riqueza — includes additional records for Ysabela
- Puerto Rico Church Records and Indexes
- Puerto Rico Genealogy Resources
This guide is an index and research aid prepared by Hijos de Coamo Puerto Rico. Researchers should consult the original images to confirm names, dates, places, and uncertain readings.