New Mexico Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked. - For more information on census records, see New Mexico Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration or vital records, were kept in New Mexico statewide beginning in 1907, although counties may have kept earlier records. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however. In some states, church records were gathered to provide earlier certificates.

Births
 * 1726-1918: at FamilySearch; index only

Marriages
 * 1678-1869: Diligencias Matrimoniales at The University of New Mexico
 * 1727-1900: New Mexico Compiled Marriage Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1751-1918: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1885-1954: at FamilySearch; images only
 * 1888-1924: US Marriages at Findmypast; index & images($)
 * 1905-1999: New Mexico Select County Marriage Records at Ancestry; index & images($)
 * Western States Marriage at BYU Idaho

Deaths 
 * 1788-1798, 1838-1955: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1889-1945: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1899-1949: New Mexico Death Index at USGWArchives.net
 * 1907-1952: at FamilySearch; index & images
 * 1935-2014: US Social Security Death Index at Ancestry; index only
 * 1936-2007: US Social Security Applications and Claims Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * at FamilySearch; index only

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in New Mexico, see How to Find New Mexico Birth Records, How to Find New Mexico Marriage Records, and How to Find New Mexico Death Records.

Step 3: '''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1907. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers. - Obituaries Cemeteries
 * Online New Mexico Death Records &amp; Indexes
 * Digitized with full name index.
 * Obits Archive New Mexico
 * 1980-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Find-A-Grave
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch – How to Use This Collection
 * Cemeteries of New Mexico at Cemetery Census
 * New Mexico Cemetery Records at Interment
 * New Mexico Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online New Mexico Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * New Mexico Jewish Cemetery Project at International Jewish Cemetery Project

For more information, see New Mexico Obituaries and New Mexico Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * New Mexico, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * New Mexico, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in New Mexico Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the New Mexico Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * New Mexico Online Genealogy Records