Category: African Ancestry

Feliz from Guinea – An Enslaved Man in 1773 in Puerto Rico

One of the regions I see many Africans that were enslaved and listed in church records in Puerto Rico is a West African coastal country, Guinea.  While I see many other African countries listed, this one stands out because I also have plenty of ancestry from this region. Guinea today is a far cry from…

By Anna Bayala December 30, 2016 0

Enslaved and from St. Thomas – Lucia Carrasquillo in 1773

In going through the Santurce book of baptisms in Puerto Rico, I came across a record that potentially can explain how many of us have DNA cousins from all over the Caribbean, Central and South America as well as the United States and Mexico. I am a first generation born on the mainland of the…

By Anna Bayala December 30, 2016 1

Josef Vicente Arroyo de Jesus – Born Free from Slavery in 1785

Another blogpost while sitting at the airport, had to add the image to this post. Josef Vicente Arroyo de Jesus baptism record can be found in Book 1, Folio 58, and is the 336th entry at the San Matheo Apostle Roman Catholic Church located in Santurce but the area was known as Cangrejos at the…

By Anna Bayala December 30, 2016 0

Panama Roman Catholic Church Records Searchable Database

FamilySearch updated the search database for Panama’s Catholic Church records just in time for the Christmas holiday.  The church records cover a time period from 1707-1973.  You can use the link below to search for ancestors’ records. Panama, Catholic Church Records, 1707-1973 Or you can simply browse the images as the database search is limited. …

By Anna Bayala December 25, 2016 1

Challenging Relationships with Our Ancestors

While I haven’t posted in quite awhile, I thought today would be the perfect time to update my blog. We all face challenges in our relationships with our spouses, significant other, our family members, and friends. One of the things I have discovered is that our ancestors are truly no different than any of us…

By Anna Bayala December 15, 2016 2

Maria de la Encarnacion Soiza Ortiz in Trujillo Alto Puerto Rico

Maria de la Encarnacion Soiza Ortiz is my 4th great grand aunt and the youngest of her siblings. She was born on April 28, 1835 in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico where she was baptized on May 10, 1835 at the Parroquia Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz in Trujillo Alto, Trujillo Alto in Puerto Rico. Her…

By Anna Bayala October 10, 2016 0