Records Research

There are a number of different records that are available for your research. Catholic church records are the best source for discovering your ancestry from Mexico but there are many other sources that can help you discover and capture the stories behind your distant relatives. I have listed some of them below.

Types of Records

Catholic Church Records

With all of the volumes of church records available, gaining an understanding of where and how these are organized can save you valuable research time.

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Padrones (Census Records)

Padrones or municipal census information was taken all throughout Nueva Espana and later Mexico during and after the colonial period. These records were both civilian and military and were used as a way to measure a community's military readiness along with keeping track of individuals.

Filiaciones (Military Enlistment)

As part of the Spanish military process, individual enlistment records were created at different intervals. These records can be some of the most valuable in terms of information, producing everything from parents, residency, enlistment dates, commitment terms, promotions and physical attributes of the individual.

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University Sources

Universities all over the country house a tremendous amount of information, some of which has never been transcribed or supplied to the public.

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Funerary Information

The best resources for locating funerary information include church death and burial records, as well as the following website: https://www.findagrave.com

Other Sources

If you have hit a brick wall with sources, then turn to some of these as a way to reinvigorate your research.

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