João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil Genealogy

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

History
The meaning of the toponym given to the Paraíba River is controversial. For Elias Erckman, Paraíba means bad river, bad port, or corrupt sea. Varnhagen also indicates the translation of rio mau and Teodoro Sampaio, that of impractical river. According to Coriolano de Medeiros, however, the exact meaning would be an arm of the sea, as the first geographers who studied the river took it for an arm of the sea, thus being probable that the gentiles of the land as such would have considered it, giving it the name with the precision with which they baptized the terrain features. The entire region of São Domingos (first name given to Paraíba) was inhabited by Indians, who were influenced by French brazilwood traffickers, interested in keeping them hostile to explorers of other nationalities. So, in 1574, it was the Indians who were taken to take part in the attack on the Diogo Dias sugar mill, in the lands of the Captaincy of Itamaracá, in which there was a great slaughter of whites. Since that time, there have been attempts at colonization, as the King of Portugal feared that the French would settle there permanently. Forts were built at the mouth of the river and on land several battles were fought, with results contrary to the Portuguese. In March 1585, Martim Leitão, General Ouvidor of Bahia, arrived in Paraíba, leading an expedition that was to restore the forts in the bar and dislodge the French from various positions. On August 2 of the same year, another attempt, led by Captain João Tavares, who took advantage of the disagreements that had arisen between the two tribes that inhabited the banks of the Paraíba and nearby rivers, managing to insinuate himself among the Tabajaras and sign a friendship pact with his morubixaba, the Indian Piragibe. The agreement took place on the 5th, on a hill to the right of the Sanhauá River, a small tributary of the Paraíba. It is in this place that the city of João Pessoa is located today. In honor of the saint of the day, the place took the name of Nossa Senhora das Neves, the city's patron saint until today. In honor of the King of Spain, who ruled Portugal, the city was named Felipéia. In November of the same year, several families arrived, taken by the General Ombudsman Martim Leitão, who also arranged for the construction of forts, churches and dwellings. The struggles with the Indians continued for years, sometimes against the Tapuias, who lived in the interior, and sometimes against the Potiguares, who inhabited the north. The city developed slowly, where later Duarte Gomes da Silveira, Martim Leitão's companion, settled on one of his expeditions. In order to stimulate the city's progress, he instituted prizes to reward the inhabitants who built dwellings, having founded (on December 6, 1639) the Morgado Salvador do Mundo, as a patrimony of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Paraíba. On December 24, 1634, the city was occupied by the Dutch, after attacks on the forts in Barra, defended by troops stationed in Cabedelo. Felipéia had 1,500 inhabitants and there were 18 sugar mills in its vicinity. With the approach of Batavian forces, the people abandoned the city, after setting fire to the most important buildings. Commanded by Colonel Segismund Von Schkoppe, 2,500 men invaded the city, which took the name of Frederikstadt. The people of Paraíba did not submit to the foreign yoke and their spirit of resistance was symbolized by the figure of André Vidal de Negreiros, organizer of the reaction movement. In 1654, after the invaders were defeated and forced to withdraw to their country, João Fernandes Vieira took over as governor. The capital was called Paraíba do Norte until September 4, 1930, when its name was changed to João Pessoa, in honor of the President of the State, murdered in Recife, in the middle of a political campaign. His death was one of the immediate causes of the October 3 Revolution of that year. João Fernandes Vieira took office as governor. District created with the name of Nossa Senhora das Neves, in 1586 by Charter of September 28, 1813. Elevated to the status of city with the name of Felipea, on August 5, 1585. On December 24, 1634, Filipea city passed to be called Fredericia. It took the name of Paraíba in 1654. On September 4, 1930, the municipality of Paraíba changed its name to João Pessoa.

Former Names:
 * São Domingos
 * Nossa Senhora das Neves
 * Felipea
 * Frederícia
 * Paraíba

Local Offices
Avenida Coremas, 257 Centro João Pessoa PB 58103-964 Telephone: (83) 3241-5009 E-mail: mdfdl@uol.com.br
 * Terceiro Cartório do Registro Civil

Cruz das Almas, 499 Cruz das Almas João Pessoa PB 58085-000 Telephone: (83) 3242-6713 E-mail: cartorio2011@live.com
 * Serviço Registral Alcântara Brito

Avenida Juscelino Kubitschek, 265 Ernesto Geisel João Pessoa PB 58075-4000 Telephone: (83) 3231-6518 E-mail: cartoriolimagomes@hotmail.com
 * Serviço Registral Lima Gomes

Rua Antônio Firmino de Macedo, 199 Valentina Figueiredo João Pessoa PB 58063-4000 Telephone: (83) 3045-3699 E-mail: manfredogoes@gmail.com
 * João Pessoa 10 Cartório do Registro Civil

Avenida Cruz das Almas, 3142 Funcionários I João Pessoa PB 58087-000 Telephone: (83) 9382-7748 E-mail: cartorimarquescosta@gmail.com
 * Serviço Registral Marques Costa

Avenida José Augusto Trindade, 391 Tambaú João Pessoa PB 58039-020 Telephone: (83) 3506-7091 E-mail: oficiotambau@gmail.com
 * Cartório Bessa Veloso

Avenida São Judas Tadeu, 542, Cristo Redentor João Pessoa PB 58070-100 Telephone: (83) 3223-5575 E-mail: cartfaustodeoliveira@outlook.com
 * Serviço Registral Fausto de Oliveira

Quadra 15 Lote 03 Conjunto Renascer I João Pessoa PB 58011-290 Telephone: (83) 3221-6832 E-mail: cleri_gomesjp@hotmail.com
 * Cartório Registral Gomes de Souza

Avenida Eptácio Pessoa, 1145 Bairro dos Estados João Pessoa PB 58030-000 Telephone: (83) 3244-5484 Website: www.azevedobastos.not.br
 * 6º Cartório de Registro Civil - Cartório Azevêdo Bastos

Rua Edmundo Filho, 28 São José João Pessoa PB 58034-090 Telephone: (83) 8821-6573 E-mail: fatima_santos_oliveira@yahoo.com.br
 * Cartório de Registro Civil da Capital

Online Resources

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

Local Churches
Paróquia NOSSA SENHORA APARECIDA (1997) Rua Carteiro Francisco Marques, s/n 13 de Maio João Pessoa PB 58025-160 Telephone: (83) 3244-1690 E-mail: paroqnsraparecida@hotmail.com

Paróquia/Santuário NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO (1963) Rua São Miguel, s/n Varadouro João Pessoa PB 58010-270 Telephone: (83) 3222-4777 E-mail: paroquiasraconvaradouro@hotmail.com

Paróquia NOSSA SENHORA DAS NEVES (1586) Catedral Basílica Praça Dom Ulrico, s/n Centro João Pessoa PB 58010-740 Telephone: (83) 3221-2503 E-mail: catedralbnsdasneves@gmail.com

Igreja de NOSSA SENHORA DO CARMO Praça Dom Adauto, s/n Centro João Pessoa PB 58010-000 Telephone: (83) 3221-9400

Paróquia NOSSA SENHORA DE LOURDES (1913) Av. João Machado, 51 Centro João Pessoa PB 58013-520 Telephone: (83) 3221-2163

Paróquia NOSSA SENHORA DO ROSÁRIO (1929) Rua Frei Martinho, s/n Jaguaribe João Pessoa PB 58014-430 Telephone: (83) 3241-1433 E-mail: convento.rosariojp@gmail.com

Paróquia SAGRADO CORAÇÃO DE JESUS (1992) Av. Celerina Paiva, s/n Mandacaru João Pessoa PB 58027-390 Telephone: (83) 3244-7774 E-mail: paroquiasagradocj@hotmail.com

Paróquia SANTA JÚLIA (1953) Av. Júlia Freire, s/n Torre João Pessoa PB 58040-040 Telephone: (83) 3244-7592 E-mail: igrejasantajulia@yahoo.com.br

Paróquia SANTA TERESINHA (1962) Rua Carlos Pessoa, s/n Roger João Pessoa PB 58020-050 '''Telephone: (83) 3221-5571 E-mail: paroquiasantateresinha@yahoo.com.br

Paróquia SANTÍSSIMA TRINDADE (1994) Av. Inspetora Emília Mendonça Gomes, 240 Valentina Figueiredo João Pessoa PB 58064-360 Telephone: (83) 3237-2339 E-mail: paroquiasstrindade@hotmail.com

Paróquia SANTO ANTÔNIO DE PÁDUA (1994) Rua Maria das Graças Oliveira Cartaxo, s/n Geisel João Pessoa PB 58075-332 Telephone: (83) 3231-5066

Paróquia SÃO JOÃO BATISTA (1994) Rua Jornalista José Ramalho, s/n Costa e Silva João Pessoa PB 58080-080 E-mail: saojoaobatista_costaesilva@hotmail.com

Paróquia SÃO PEDRO E SÃO PAULO (1998) Rua Newton Timóteo de Souza, 25 Brisamar João Pessoa PB 58033-510 Telephone: (83) 3244.6484

Paróquia MENINO JESUS DE PRAGA (1994) Rua Bancário Waldemar de M. Acioly, s/n Bancários João Pessoa PB 58051-140 Telephone: (83) 3235-5120 E-mail: paroquiameninojesuspb@hotmail.com

Paróquia NOSSA SENHORA DE FÁTIMA (1961) Rua Nevinha Cavalcante, s/n Miramar João Pessoa PB 58043-000 Telephone: (83) 3247-5850 E-mail: nsfatimamiramar@gmail.com

Santuário NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO Rua Hermenegildo di Lascio, 632 Tambauzinho João Pessoa PB 58042-140 Telephone: (83) 3224-6993 E-mail: capuchinosjpa@uol.com.br

Paróquia NOSSA SENHORA DE GUADALUPE (1998) Av. Mons. Odilon Coutinho, 115 Cabo Branco João Pessoa PB 58045-120 Telephone: (83) 3226-9182

Paróquia SÃO FRANCISCO DE ASSIS (1983) Rua João Barbalho, 24 Jardim Veneza João Pessoa PB 58084-060 E-mail: paroquiasfa@yahoo.com.br

Paróquia SÃO JOSÉ OPERÁRIO (1959) Av. Cruz das Armas, s/n Cruz das Armas João Pessoa PB 58085-000 Telephone: (83) 3242-6622

Paróquia SÃO SEBASTIÃO (1960) Av. da Liberdade, 2799 Sesi Bayeux PB 58306-000 Telephone: (83) 3253-1919 E-mail: saosebastiaobayeux@hotmail.com

Paróquia VIRGEM MÃE DOS POBRES (1997) Rua Comp. Rosil Cavalcanti, 130 Jardim Planalto João Pessoa PB 58088-000 Telephone: (83) 3233-2260 E-mail: virgemmaedospobres@hotmail.com

Cemeteries
Cemitério Parque das Acácias Rua Luiz de Lima Freire, 200 José Américo Telephone: (83) 3231-8008 Website: www.parquedasacacias.com.br

Localities
Districts:
 * Alhandra
 * Cabedelo
 * Pitimbú
 * Tambaú
 * Taquara
 * Vila do Conde (Jacoca)

Neighborhoods:
 * Agripino
 * Água Fria
 * Altiplano
 * Alto do Céu
 * Bancários
 * Bessa
 * Brisamar
 * Cabo Branco
 * Castelo Branco
 * Cidade dos Colibris
 * Cidade Universitária
 * Cidade Verde
 * Costa e Silva
 * Cruz das Almas
 * Ernany Sátiro
 * Ernesto Geisel
 * Esplanada
 * Expedicionários
 * Figueiredo
 * Grotão
 * Jaguaribe
 * Jardim
 * Jardim Esther
 * Jardim Luna
 * Jardim Veneza
 * João
 * Manaíra
 * Mandacaru
 * Mangabeira
 * Miramar
 * Róger
 * Oitizeiro
 * Padre Zé
 * Paratibe
 * Praia do Sol
 * Rangel
 * Renascer
 * Torre
 * Tambiá
 * Valentina
 * Varadouro