Brejo do Cruz, Paraíba, Brazil Genealogy

Guide to Municipality of Brejo do Cruz ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, church records, parish registers, and civil registration.

History
The settlement of the territory of the current municipality of Brejo do Cruz began in the first quarters of the 17th century. The fertility of the soil and the existence of springs attracted to the region not only people from Paraíba from other parts of the country, but from Potiguares, Pernambuco and even Bahians. Among the main settlers, the Portuguese Antônio Barroso Pereira stands out, who settled in the Olho D'Água do Meio site around 1600. In the mid-18th century, Manoel da Cruz Oliveira, a descendant of the Oliveira Ledo, owner of the lands of Olho D`Água dos Boqueirões. This place was later called Olho d`Água dos Milagres. Manoel da Cruz, also founder of the village, in 1752, built a church in honor of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres, due to the verification of supposed miracles around the church. The population nucleus was formed that was named Taquarituba, later Brejo do Cruz, due to the open space of the place and also to honor the founder. According to another version, Serra do Brejo would have been the original name of the place, and the deed of donation of the land for the construction of the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres delivered on April 20, 1774 by D. Maria Manuela Pereira da Silva to Fr. Manoel Joaquim Pereira Coimbra. Given the confirmation from other sources of the date of 1752, such as the construction of the chapel, it is assumed that the construction of the temple preceded the donation of the land. Years later, the weekly fair was created. On February 28, 1859, a police sub-station was installed by the Presidency of the Province. On October 1, 1874, sanctioned by the Baron of Abiaí, then President of the Province. District created with the name of Brejo do Cruz, on October 1, 1874, spun off from Catolé do Rocha. Elevated to the category of village with the name of Brejo do Cruz. On October 8, 1881, it was separated from Catolé do Rocha.

Local Offices
Seviço Registral Oliveiros Soares Rua Antonio Gomes, 105 Centro Brejo do Cruz Paraíba 58890-000 Telephone: (83) 3443-2304 E-mail: rcbrejocruz@hotmail.com

Church Records
Paróquia Nossa Senhora dos Milagres Rua AntônioGomes, s/n Centro Brejo do Cruz Paraíba 58890-000 '''Telphone: (83) 3443-2307

Online Resources

 * Brazil, Paraíba, Catholic Church Records, 1731-2013 no Registros Históricos do FamilySearch