Alagoa Nova, Paraíba, Brazil Genealogy

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

History
In 1625, a team of explorers left Mamanguape, heading for the mountain region, in search of gold, returning 16 years later without finding the dreamed deposits. Years later, missionaries, with catechetical purposes, guided by people knowledgeable in the area, arrived at the place inhabited by Bultrins, from the Cariris nation, called Aldeia Velha, later Bultrin (currently there is a site with the same name, located between the Geraldo and Bonito, on the side of the highway that connects Alagoa Nova to Campina Grande). In 1760, the residents moved to the Pilar mission, advised by the missionaries, because with the establishment of corrals without their land, by the invaders, there was a reaction from the natives, who from peaceful became hostile, not being understood by the farmers, then enslaved. This led to several natives' escapes, that hid in the woods and hiding places of the mountains. This reaction was always defeated by the invaders, who had more modern combat equipment, especially firearms. As a consequence, there was the decimation of the natives, in a true genocide practiced by the Portuguese. With the breakdown of this resistance and the transfer of the remnants to the Pilar mission, the farms flourished with more tranquility, building up primitive nuclei of future settlements. In 1762, there was the concession of land called São Tomé, toponym of the current municipality of Alagoa Nova. On February 21, 1763, the then governor Francisco Xavier de Miranda Henrique, approved the request of Maria Tavares Leitão and her son, ensign José Abreu Tranca, where, by allotment, they requested lands from the Olho D`Água da Prata place, three leagues long and one wide, bordered by the lands of Aldeia Velha, formerly belonging to the Bultrins. It was close to the current Olho D`Água mill, with very uneven soils, always wet and fertile lands, provided with numerous springs and small perennial springs, covered by extensive forest, rich in hardwood. They planted manioc, corn, beans, cotton, several fruit trees and raised cattle, initially using indigenous labor, and then that of slaves, coming from Africa. They only manufactured manioc flour for domestic consumption and the surplus was sold to the sertão. According to the historian, Epaminondas Câmara, the period could be called the ?flour civilization?. At the time, barter was more practiced, due to lack of money. Districts: Esperança, Alagoa da Roça (Aldeia Velha, Bultim, São Sebastião), Caamirim (Matinhas) District created with the name of Alagoa Nova, on February 22, 1837, subordinated to the municipality of Campina Grande. Elevated to the category of village with the name of Alagoa Nova, on September 5, 1850, separated from Campina Grande. Headquarters in the center of Alagoa Nova. Elevated again to the category of municipality with the name of Alagoa Nova, on November 10, 1904.

Church Records
PARÓQUIA DE SANTA ANA 1837 Rua Presidente Getúlio Vargas, S/N Centro Alagoa Nova PB 58125-000 'Telephone: (83) 3365-1120 E-mail: contato@paroquiadesantana.org

Online Resources

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