Spain Records of Widows and Orphans of Spanish Officers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Spain

What is in This Collection?
This collection will include digital images of pension classification records for the widows and orphans of Spanish officials from 1826 to 1960. Included in many of these files are wills and birth, marriage, and death certificates. Original records are housed at the Archivo General de la Administración in Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Spanish. For help reading these records see the following guides:
 * Spanish Genealogical Word List
 * BYU Spanish Script Tutorial
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 1
 * Reading Spanish Handwritten Records, Lesson 2

If you speak Spanish, the following free online lesson may be helpful to learn how to use the information in these records:
 * Registros Civiles y Parroquiales – Spanish

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information is often found in these records:


 * Name of deceased official/pensioner
 * Name of petitioner
 * Name of widows
 * Names of children/orphans

For additional information about the other records you may find among the pensions (birth, marriage, death certificates, or wills) and help using them, see the wiki article Spain Civil Registration - Vital Records.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection it is helpful to know:
 * Your ancestor's given name and surname
 * Estimated marriage or birth year

View The Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select Name on File and File Information to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see the section Citing This Collection for assistance. Save or print a copy of the image
 * Compile information for every person who has the same surname as your ancestor; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Your ancestor may have immigrated to another country. Search the records of nearby countries or Spain Emigration and Immigration records
 * Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names. Transcription errors could occur in any handwritten record; also, it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name. Click here for a list of Spanish name abbreviations
 * New information is constantly being indexed, microfilmed or updated. Periodically check back to see if your ancestor’s records have been added.  You can see if the area you’ve been looking in has been recently updated by going to Historical Records Collections.  Watch for an asterisk for recently added or updated records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Spain.
 * Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.