Lagoa, Paraíba, Brazil Genealogy

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

History
Historians show the discovery of these lands, with the first inhabitants, presumably, the Pegas (or Degas), Paiacus, Cayacus and Cariris Indians. At the end of the 17th century, the pioneers of the General Government killed the Indians demanding their land. They were the Oliveiras Ledo, who mainly populated the region of the Rio Piranhas. In 1650, there was already the presence of Indians in the region of the municipality of Lagoa. In 1704, as happened in Pombal, the territory of Lagoa was owned by the Oliveiras Ledo, from then on it was passed from father to son. In 1754, Francisco da Rocha Oliveira, a descendant of Teodósio de Oliveira Ledo, took possession of the lands of Catolé do Rocha, which included Jericho and Lagoa, among other locations. This lord became the owner of all these lands, his territory comprised an area of ​​approximately 5. 400 km². In Lagoa he founded several farms, or ranches, for raising cattle, among them are: Caiçara de Baixo, Caiçara de Cima, Lagoa do Sabiá, Lagoa Escondida, Lagoa Seca, Maniçoba, Micaela, Timbaúba, Varzea da Ema, among others. In 1794, the current municipality of Lagoa originated, when the Ordinary Judge, Lieutenant Pedro Soares Barbosa and the Officials of the Chamber on October 29 ordered to appoint "Ensign" Lourenço Alves de Figueiredo for the entire Serra do Commissioner, and Felipe Bento from the Fazendas Caiçara de Baixo, Caiçara de Cima, Lagoa do Sabiá, Maniçoba, Timbaúba, Várzea da Ema. As all these farms were inhabited, their settlement was easier. The couple José Pereira de Souza and Margarida Cardoso de Jesus were the first to settle in the village of Lagoa (Sede) and they had 5 children. The village was created between the junction of three streams, as the land was fertile, thus helping in the raising of cattle and farming. In 1825, the Cemetery was built with an attached Chapel, by the local owners, highlighting the name of José Inácio da Silva. In 1921, the first building was built by Antonio José de Sousa, who would later be named the first mayor of Lagoa, when the municipality was created, which took place on December 22, 1961. The church attached to the cemetery was destroyed by time. , and built another, very small, called Igrejinha, which is located on Rua Velha, the first street in the village. As the space was small, another one was built, this time much larger, which today is called São José, in honor of the city's patron saint. In 1937, the district of Lagoa appears in the municipality of Pombal. On November 15, 1938, the district of Lagoa changed its name to Nhandu. On January 7, 1949, the district of Nhandu was renamed Lagoa. Elevated to the category of municipality with the name of Lagoa, on December 22, 1961, separated from Pombal. Former Names:
 * Nhandu

Local Offices
Cartório Francisco José de Sousa Rua São José, 17 Centro Lagoa PB 58835-000 Telephone: (83) 9623-0512 E-mail: cartoriolagoa@wrlink.com.br

Online Resources

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

Local Churches
Paróquia de São José Praça da Matriz, s/n Centro Lagoa PB 58815-000 Telephone: (83) 3538-1002

Localities
Villages: Açudinho, Barroquinha, Cabeça da Onça, Cachoeira Velha, Cantinho, Caiçara Mountain Region: Exuí, Gatos, Jatobá, Jutubarana, Lagoa de Cima, Logradouro, Micaela, Malhada da Areia, Pereiros, Pai João, Sabiá, Santa Quitéria, Timbaúba, Taquarí, Várzea da Ema