Chile, Santiago, Cemetery Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
Cementerio General de Santiago, Chile

Record Description
These records are in Spanish. This collection will include records from 1821 to 2011.

This is a collection of burial records from the General Cemetery of Recoleta, Santiago, Chile. It includes cemetery registers and a variety of documents which were needed for the burial. The work orders correspond to transfers or reductions of cadavers. The judicial declarations give family relationships with the buried person and sometimes include birth or marriage records. The authorization document is a legal approval to give burial to an individual; and receipts (comprobantes) include the burial service payment. The daily log register includes the name of all cadavers entering the cemetery through a specific door and includes the service requested.

This collection only includes a portion of the images in the complete collection. Additional images will be published as they become available.

Spanish : Esta es una colección de registros del Cementerio General de Recoleta, Santiago, Chile. Contiene registros del cementerio y documentaciones varias necesarias para dar sepultura en el cementerio. Las ordenes de trabajo del cementerio corresponden a traslados o reducciones de cadáveres. Las declaraciones juradas, que demuestran relación familiar, a veces estan acompañadas por certificados de nacimiento o matrimonio. Las autorizaciones son documentos que aprueban legalmente la sepultación del cadáver y los comprobantes indican el pago del servicio de sepultación. Los registros de operaciones diarias del cementerio incluye los nombres de todos los cadáveres que entraron por la puerta especificada.

Las imágenes digitales serán publicadas en FamilySearch.org a medida que estén disponibles.

For a list of records by date or locality currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

The General Cemetery of Santiago was founded in 1821 in the commune (comuna) of Recoleta. The cemetery office keeps a record file for each burial. Various documents are included in a burial file such as the municipality permission for burial, the cemetery plot and location, purchase information, copies of source of identification, and more.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Burial records may include the following information:


 * Name and age of deceased
 * Date, place and time of death
 * Gender of deceased
 * Cause of death


 * Purchaser's name and spouse who purchased grave plot
 * Purchaser's residence
 * Contract of sale including date and location
 * Name of person requesting transfer of remains
 * Destination for transfer of remains
 * Original place and burial date of remains

How to Use the Record
To browse this collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Record Type and dates" which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

To begin your search you will need to know the following:


 * The person’s name
 * The approximate burial or death date

Once you have located your ancestor’s burial record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Burial records are often brief so it can be easy confuse individuals. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the burial record for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

For example:


 * Use the birth date or year to search for birth records.
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to locate church records.
 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have been buried in the same cemetery or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby public cemeteries and church cemeteries.

Related Websites

 * Cementerio General de Recoleta, Chile

Related Wiki Articles

 * Chile
 * Chile Cemeteries
 * Chile History

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
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Keep track of records where you did not find information about your ancestor so you and others won’t waste time looking through these records in the future.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Chile, Santiago, Cementerio General, 1821-2010," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org; accessed 31 May 2012), Autorizaciones y comprobantes 1931 sep &gt; Image 63 of 2208 images, Francisco C. Espinoza, last renewal payment made by Ana Espinosa for location of burial, 1 September 1931; citing Cemetery Records,Cementerio General de Santiago(Recoleta, Santiago).