Here's the general baptism guideline. This info is from Joao Ventura, the
archivist who lives in Terceira. I think these guidelines came from the
Vatican, but some priests may not have followed them in their entirety.
3rd Baptism Period (1860-1911)
• Baptism date
• Village and neighborhood
• Council and priest
• Sex of child
• First name of child, date and time of birth
• Sometimes number born before with the same name
• Name: first, middle, mother’s family name, father’s family name
• Legitimate or illegitimate
• Father’s name
• Mother’s name
• Place of birth
• Where living
• Place married
• Maternal/paternal grandparents names
• Godparents
2nd Baptism Period (1696/early 1700s - 1860)
*These are the easiest records to read*
• Name
• Father’s name
• Mother’s name
• Village of origin
• Date born
• Date baptized
• Priest’s name
• Godparents
• Sometimes relationship between child & godparents
• Witnesses (sometimes godfather)
If mother single, information about her parents
•Godfather necessary
• Godmother could be by invocation (call upon a saint
or blessed mother)
• Dona was a title for a lady of higher position or
nobility
> 1600s, title was real
> 1700s titles was sometimes real
> 1800s titles were less accurate
• Priest and godparents signed records
• No abbreviations (they are forbidden)
1st Baptism Period (1500s-1696)
•Date
• Priest
• Child’s name
• Parents names sometimes missing
• Only priest signed record
Lots of abbreviations
Expostos
* Expostos were abandoned children
* Left at the wheel house (roda)
* In the 1880s there were 400 of these baptized each
year, usually at the Matriz in Terceira and São José
in Ponta Delgada.
* The city hall paid for 7 years for the child to be
raised. At the age of 7 years, the child could stay
with the family or go find their own way.
Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas,
Achada
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