A guide to Spanish declarations of nationality recorded in Puerto Rico in 1899–1900.
What Spanish Nationality Declarations Can Reveal
Spanish nationality declarations from 1899–1900 can reveal valuable details about Spanish subjects living in Puerto Rico. After the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898, Spanish subjects born in the Spanish Peninsula and residing in Puerto Rico could formally declare their intention to retain their allegiance to Spain under Article IX of the treaty. These declarations are valuable genealogical records because a form may identify the declarant’s age, place of birth, residence, occupation, marital status, spouse, children, and parents. The information varies by record.
This page provides links to images of declarations from 1899–1900. Select a locality in the table below to examine the original records. [Part 1. covers the other localities in this collection.
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: 1389435, Items 1-15, contains 2,700 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.
Spaniards’ Declarations of nationality Over 18 years of age 1899-1900. It includes Lares, Loiza, Manati, Maricao, Manuabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Patillas, and Peñuelas.
Thank you Magda. I am so happy with your excitment. I hope it proves to be benefial to many. Thank you again for your comment. Don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already. I will be posting more information soon. Take Care, Orlando
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This is so awesome! The information is a great addition to the history of PR and I am so grateful that it is being shared!
Thank you Magda. I am so happy with your excitment. I hope it proves to be benefial to many. Thank you again for your comment. Don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already. I will be posting more information soon. Take Care, Orlando
Excelente trabajo colmo siempre. Mil gracias te voy a mandar algo para que lo subas aqui.
Gracias Tere! Ok, lo esperó; gracias.