Portugal, Braga, Priest Application Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 1596 to 1911.

The collection includes priest application files created by the Catholic Church in the district of Braga. These files consist of documentation created during the process of proving the applicant's eligibility to become a member of the Catholic clergy, including genealogies and pedigrees.

Reading These Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading them see:
 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Portuguese Letter-writing Guide

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Application
 * Applicant's full name
 * Applicant's legitimacy
 * Parents' names
 * Names of paternal grandparents
 * Names of maternal grandparents

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

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
 * Use the information to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * 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
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community

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

 * Check for variant spellings of the names
 * Portugal’s emigration rate is one of the highest in the world. Check Portugal Emigration and Immigration for more information
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. In addition, local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military unties, counties, parishes, etc.)
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * For records after 1911, it is suggested that you research both the civil registry and the church records to verify information

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Portugal.
 * Record Finder
 * Portugal 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.

Portugal, Braga, Processos de Habilitação Sacerdotal (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)