Where do I find legal records in Asturias?

[gguerrero]

I recently started researching my family tree and have been able to go back to mid 1800's. Most of my family seems to have originated from Rodiles and surrounding vicinity. I'm considering going to Spain and visiting some distant relatives and would like to take the opportunity to research as many legal documents as possible. Can someone tell me where I should start my search?

[Art]

Welcome, Antonio!

Where to go for records depends on what town or county your relatives were from and the year for which you're looking for records.

Some people's records will be in the civil registry, but my sense is that most people's records were maintained by churches as a product of the baptisms, marriages, and possibly funerals(?). Some church records are still in the local parish; some are in Oviedo at the Archivo Histórico Diocesano. That's why we need to know where your family was from.

There's other information here:
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787

A good first attempt would be to search this section of the forum to see if your family's town or city has been mentioned already.

If you don't find anything us, tell us more about your situation.

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¡Bienvenido, Antonio!

Dónde ir para encontrar los registros depende de cuál ciudad o consejo eran oriundos sus familiares y para cuál año de registros estás buscando.

Para algunas personas, hay datos en los registros civiles, pero me parece que para la mayoría sus datos fueron mantenido por las iglesias como producto de los bautismos, matrimonios, y posiblemente funerales(?). Algunos datos están todavía en las parroquias y otros están en Oviedo en el Archivo Histórico Diocesano. Por eso, necesitamos saber de dónde vinieron tu familia.

Hay más información aquí:
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787

Un buen primer intento sería buscar en esta sección del foro para ver si el pueblo o la ciudad de que vinieron tu familia ya ha sido mencionado.

Si no lo encuentras, dinos más sobre tu situación.

[gguerrero]

Thank you, Art. Here's what I have: my grandfather was Jose Ramon Alvarez, born March 6, 1888 in Villagarcia, Asturias. His father was Jose Alvarez Fernandez, born in 1857 also in Villagarcia. My great-grandmother was Donata Sama Fernandez, born June 29, 1864. Not sure where but I believe she was born in Rodiles.

Any guidance or suggestions you can provided would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Gaspar

[Bob]

For anything before 1871 or so, you will have to explore church records. Be aware that several parishes are often under the supervision of a single sacerdote, and may be viewed merely as mission churches in the modern day, Be patient and write in castellano is the best advice I can offer. A small donation for altar flowers probably won't hurt. Essentially, you're depending on the goodwill of an overworked person.

Some church records are in the diocesan archives, and some were destroyed during the guerra civil.

[gguerrero]

Thanks, Bob. I know that Villagarcia was a small mountain village and for the most part is now abandoned. Would records be kept in Oviedo? I plan to visit Asturias in April for only a couple of days as part of a business trip to Spain so would like to maximize the short time I'll have and not go around in circles.

[Bob]

Yes, the diocesan records are in Oviedo (and parish records, if they have been shipped there), but they are open on a somewhat quirky basis. I would suggest exploring local records first, and well before your visit to Asturias.

[Luiña]

Las partidas de bautismo de José Alvarez Fernández y Donata Sama Fernández están en el Archivo Diocesano de Oviedo, la de su hijo José Ramón debe estar en la parroquia de Santa María de Rodiles, porque el último libro de bautismos que hay en Oviedo llega sólo a 1887 y en él aparecen algunos hermanos.
La partida de nacimiento está en el Registro civil de Grado.

Le enviaré un mensaje privado
Un saludo

[gguerrero]

Muchisimas gracias por su post y emails. Trate de contestar por email pero no he podido. Es posible que me mande otro email con sum email privado para poder comunicarme? Gracias.