Portugal, Beja, Catholic Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, ultimate rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. The Portugal, Beja, Catholic Church Records collection is available to the Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers, and to members of the supporting organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The images can be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you.

Title in the Language of the Record
Registros Paroquiais da Igreja Católica do Distrito de Beja, Portugal.

Record Description
This is a collection of Catholic Church baptisms, marriages, and deaths for the year of 1881-1911, which were created in parishes of the District of Beja, Portugal. The ecclesiastical jurisdiction for the District of Beja is the Diocese of Beja. This District is divided into 13 municipalities (municípios):


 * Aljustrel
 * Almodôvar
 * Alvito
 * Barrancos
 * Beja
 * Castro Verde
 * Cuba
 * Ferreira do Alentejo
 * Mértola
 * Moura
 * Ourique
 * Serpa
 * Vidigueira

The records were handwritten in Portuguese. Parishes in the District of Beja are part of the Beja Diocese. Each parish priest kept the original register in the parish archive and a duplicate copy was later sent to the Diocesan Archive to keep the records centralized and kept at a higher state of preservation. However, this collection of records is housed at the Beja District Archive. Not all localities may be represented at once. Additional images will be published as they become available.

For a list of records by localities, document type and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Some key genealogical facts found in baptism records are:


 * Date and place of the event
 * Name of child
 * Date of birth and gender
 * Legitimacy
 * Parents’ names, residence, and/or places of origin
 * Names of witnesses or godparents’ names

Some key genealogical facts found in marriage records are:


 * Date and place of the event
 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Civil statuses (widowed, single, divorced) of bride and groom at time of the event
 * Place of origin and/or residence of bride and groom
 * Names of parents
 * Names of witnesses

Some key genealogical facts found in death records are:


 * Place and date of death
 * Name of the deceased
 * Civil status of deceased person at time of death
 * Civil status and name of spouse, if married at time of death
 * Cause of death
 * Sometimes names of living parents and children
 * Sometime if the deceased left a testament (will)
 * Place of burial (cemetery)

How to Use the Record
To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒ Select the "Distrito" category ⇒ Select the "Município" category ⇒ Select the "Freguesia" category ⇒ Select the "Paróquia" category ⇒ Select the "Tipo de registro e anos" category which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Known Issues with This Collecton
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites

 * District of Beja Archive (Portuguese)
 * Diocese of Beja (Portuguese)

Related Wiki Articles

 * Portugal Catholic Church Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clementina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.