Part 1 of the guide to Spanish nationality declarations in Puerto Rico, 1899–1900.
Part 1 of 2
After the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898, Spanish subjects born in the Spanish Peninsula and living in Puerto Rico could declare their intention to retain their allegiance to Spain under Article IX. These Spanish nationality declarations are valuable for family research because an individual record may name the declarant’s birthplace, residence, occupation, spouse, parents, or children. The details vary from one declaration to another.
This first part links to records for adults and to declarations made by guardians on behalf of minors. Choose a locality in the tables below to examine the original images. Continue to Part 2 for additional adult declarations.
Document:
El infrascrito nacido en la Península y súbdito del Reino de España, residente en la Isla de Puerto Rico deseando conservar su fidelidad a la Corona de España según las prescripciones del Articulo 9, del Tradado de paz entre los Estados Unidos y España por la presente declaro que sigue:
Film Number: 1389434, Items 1-40, contains 2,129 Images.
I, the undersigned, born in the Peninsula and a subject of the Kingdom of Spain, residing in the Island of Puerto Rico, desiring to preserve my fidelity to the Crown of Spain according to the requirements of Article 9* of the Peace Treaty between the United States and Spain, hereby declare as follows:
Treaty Of Peace of December 10, 1898: ARTICLE IX
Spanish subject, natives of the Peninsula, residing in the territory over which Spain by the present treaty relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty, may remain in such territory or may remove therefrom, retaining in either event all their rights of property, including the rights to sell or dispose of such property or of its proceeds; and they shall also have the right to carry on their industry, commerce, and professions, being subject in respect thereof to such laws as are applicable to other foreigners. In case they remain in the territory they may preserve their allegiance to the Crown of Spain by making, before a court of record, within a year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, a declaration of their decision to preserve such allegiance; in default of which declaration they shall be held to have renounced it and to have adopted the nationality of the territory in which they may reside.
The civil rights and political status of the native inhabitants of the territories hereby ceded to the United States shall be determined by Congress.
Legaho de declaraciones de nacionalidad producidas por Futeres en representacion de sus pupilos.//Legacy of declarations of nationality produced by de Futeres on behalf of his wards.
Thank you so much for the wonderful work you have done helping others find their ancestors. Hopefully I too will be able to find those missing links. Thank you once again!
Jeanette Perez-Matta
Hijos de Coamo provides free access to Puerto Rican genealogical and historical resources. Your contribution helps cover website maintenance, research materials, and the preservation of historical records.
[…] There are two films, so this is part 1 of 2. Click here for Part 1. […]
Thank you Orlando!! I found someone in my tree within a couple hours, and set up the source.
That is great! Glad you found someone.
Thank you so much for the wonderful work you have done helping others find their ancestors. Hopefully I too will be able to find those missing links. Thank you once again!
Jeanette Perez-Matta
Thank you for your kind comment. If you need any help, please reach out to me. Thank you again.