São João do Cariri, Paraíba, Brazil Genealogy

Guide to Municipality of São João do Cariri ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, church records, parish registers, and civil registration.

History
The territorial region of São João do Cariri already reached more than 1/3 of the current state of Paraíba, because, in addition to the hinterland and Cariri, it belonged to Campina Grande and its current micro-regions of Agreste da Borborema. The territory of the municipality was inhabited by Cariri natives until the mid-17th century, when Portuguese-Brazilians from the coast arrived and joined the Cariris and formed a village, which they named Travessia. In 1669, with the donation of a sesmaria by Ensign José Alves Martins, the São João site was created. In 1750 the parish of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres was created, based in a temple built by the Jesuits. In 1776 he was elevated to the rank of Judge. In 1798 it was elevated to the category of Vila, under the name of Vila de São Pedro on May 5, 1803, when Vila Real de São João do Cariri was officially installed. In 1854 it was elevated to the category of Comarca. São João do Cariri was an important political and administrative center in Paraíba. It had several districts and localities under its jurisdiction. In addition to having a jury court (elevation to the category of judged), it was also the seat of the extensive Parish of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres, which comprised a huge territorial area. In the political sphere, senators came from São João do Cariri, like Senator Amir Gaudêncio, deputies and even the governor of Paraíba, like Gratuliano de Brito. The city also has a considerable tradition in the intellectual production of the State. Arrived at to be nicknamed, by chroniclers of the 19th century, as "Athens of the Old Cariri", due to the large number of doctors and bachelors it had. In the mid-19th century, an important secondary school was built in São João do Cariri, one of the first in the interior of Paraíba, founded by Francisco Aprígio de Vasconcelos Brandão, grandfather of the famous journalist Assis Chateaubriand. In 1911 the municipality was constituted and ten years later its largest village became the municipal seat. São João do Cariri is today a poor municipality, its main source of income is state and municipal public jobs, in addition to subsistence agriculture and livestock. The district created with the name of São João do Cariri, on 10-06-1857. Elevated to the category of village with the name of São João do Cariri, by royal letter, of 22-03-1800. Elevated to the status of city and municipal seat with the name of São João do Cariri, on November 18, 1921.

Local Offices
Cartório do Registro Civil e Pessoas Naturais Rua João Pessoa, 183 Centro 58590-000 Telephone: (81) 3355-1066 E-mail: cleidinha.brito@yahoo.com.br

Online Resources

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

Local Churches
Paroquia de Nossa Senhora dos Milagres Rua Dr. Brandão, S/N Centro 58590-000 São João do Cariri PB Telephone: (83) 3355-1133

Localities
Districts: Caraúbas, Aredecô (Cordeiros), Pombas, Congo (Santana do Congo), Itamorotinga (Serra Branca), Coxixola (Cochichola), Mucuitu (Santo André), Parari (São José dos Pombos), Serra Branca, Sucurú, Timbaúba do Gurjão, Malhada da Roça.