Web site for birth/death/marriage records in Azores (San Miguel Ponta Delgada)

[joannef]

Does anyone know of a web site for obtaining vital records for
ancestors from the Azores? I have immigration records of my great
grandfather coming from Portugal to the United States, but would like
to also get records of his birth as well as his parents records from
Ponta Delgada.

Any contact information would be most appreciated.

Thanks, Joanne

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Joanne,

Which island and what time period?  There's a Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel island and on Flores island.

This is for the Civil Registry (last 100 years) of records.  You can run the URL through an online translator to figure out what the page is saying:
http://www.portaldocidadao.pt/PORTAL/pt/certidoes_online/

Since you are saying your great-grandfather, I doubt if he was born within the last 100 years.  You'll have to either write away for the record(s) or hire a researcher.  There is no web site to obtain them online - yet.  The Center for Knowledge of the Azores (in Portuguese, knowledge starts with a "c" so we call it the CCA) is scanning and putting the older records online of all 9 islands.  This is a HUGE project and will take several years.  Only part of Sao Jorge island is available right now: http://pg.azores.gov.pt/drac/cca/ig/

--
Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, R. das Tainhas, Achada

[lisa lema]

Hi Cheri,
 I followed the below link, registered etc, and cannot seem to find out where to go from there to view birth death and marriage certificates.
Do you know the correct phrase I should be looking for? Or the direct link ?

Lisa L 

---

Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:21:30 -0700
From: gfsc...@gmail.com
To: Azo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Web site for birth/death/marriage records in Azores (San Miguel Ponta Delgada)

[Cheri Mello]

There were two links in the email to Joanne F.  I don't know which one you mean.  Neither one has birth, marriage, and death certificates for viewing.  One is for ordering them and the other has some Sao Jorge island parish records (of baptism, marriage, and death), but those are not vital certificates, per se.

Cheri

[Joanne Ferguson]

Thanks for the info.  I will check out the Registry.  My great-great grandfather was born in Sao Miguel, in Ponta Delgada to the best of my knowledge, in 1876 as well as my great grandfather in 1899.  I have been to the other site you mentioned, the CCA, but my Portuguese very limited.  I have by trying to translate bits and pieces to find out what may be helpful.

 

Thanks again,

Joanne

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Azo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Cheri Mello
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:22 PM
To: Azo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Web site for birth/death/marriage records in Azores (San Miguel Ponta Delgada)

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.0/1555 - Release Date: 7/16/2008 6:43 AM

[Cheri Mello]

Joanne,

Now that you have provided the dates, the Civil Registry will not work for you.  The Civil Registry holds about the last 100 years of records (1908-2008).  Your ancestors were born before that.  Their records are in the Archive in Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel.

You need the church in Ponta Delgada.  There's 4 or 5 of them there, I think.  Depending on when they immigrated to Canada/USA, I'd try the CCA web site for "Passaportes" leaving the Azores.  Right now, only Sao Miguel is online, with gaps.  The direct link is here: http://pg.azores.gov.pt/drac/cca/ig/passaportes/default.aspx?divisao=3

If you find the parish, then I'd write to the Archive for the 1899 baptism.  Once you have that, you can most likely order the film from your local Family History Center for the 1876 baptism.  Most of Sao Miguel was filmed up to about 1883.

More info on how to do this is here: http://homepage.mac.com/kmacardoza/Genealogy/HowTo.html

How to write to the archives (with the address and a fill in the blank form that I compiled years ago) is here:
http://homepage.mac.com/kmacardoza/Genealogy/genresources.html

[Michelle]

Hello Cheri,

 

Are you able to search the online Civil Registry site or is it just for ordering records?

 

I went there and by using a translation site was able to work through registering but now can't find if I'm able to do any research.

 

Thank you,

Michelle

 

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Michelle,

There is nothing searchable for the Civil Registry at this time.  Portugal, just like many other countries, also has concerns about privacy and identity theft.  I doubt that recent records, such as what the Civil Registry holds, would ever come online.  In person, it was hard as well.  Part of that may have been the personnel at that particular Civil Registry and part of that might have been my ability to "sort of" speak Portuguese. 

I believe that this site: http://www.portaldocidadao.pt/PORTAL/pt/certidoes_online/  is for ordering records only.  I have not used it (I don't have exact dates to give them for the record).  There are others on this list who have used it, so they would be the best ones to answer.

[Michelle]

Hi Cheri,

 

I didn't hear personally from anyone in the group that has used the site. I would say you were so spot on with your information to me that they didn't feel they needed to respond. I'm no where near being able to request records but I'll keep the registration active just case I get lucky.

 

Thank you for your help. Always much appreciated.

 

Regards,

Michelle

 

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Michelle,

Give it a few days.  Some people only get to their email on the weekend.  For others, they may be on vacation.  But I'm pretty sure others have used that site.  I copied the URL and saved it.  That's not one I'd trip across on my own!

Cheri

[Shirley Allegre]

Hi Joanne:  I have films for some of the churches in Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores.  Do you know where and when your ancestors entered the U.S.? 

Also who were their parents?  I need some names in order to try to help you.

I have attached a list, that I made up, of some Portuguese words and their American version.

You can email me privately at:

shi...@psln.com

Shirley

P.S.  Cheri Mello is my cousin.  She can verify that I am not someone that is trying to steal your info.

[Michelle]

Hello Cheri,

 

Will do. Yeah...it definitely was a challenge going through the site.

 

Thank you,

Michelle

----- Original Message -----

From: Cheri Mello

To: Azo...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 9:50 AM

Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Web site for birth/death/marriage records in Azores (San Miguel Ponta Delgada)

[Maria Sousa]

Michelle,

 

I have used the website and was very lucky with it.  However, I did have the birthdates of the certificates that I needed.  I just checked the website and it looks like certain information is necessary for the request, but as far as date (as the date of birth), only the year is necessary.  I guess they will look for it if you have all other information.  What I liked most about this website was that they took my credit card and I didn't have to worry about sending a check.  It takes around 10 to 15 days to get your certificate in the mail. 

 

Maria Sousa

Michelle <morin...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Michelle]

Good Morning Maria,

 

Thank you very much. It's good to know that as far as the dob they only need the year. Did you request certificates recently? Do you remember what it cost per? 10-15 day wait isn't bad at all. It sure takes a lot longer in the US to request records.

 

Regards,

Michelle

[Maria Sousa]

No, I haven't used it recently.  I used it maybe 5 years ago.  You only use this website for birth, marriage or death certificates that are no more than 100 years old.  These are the records that are kept in the conservatories in the local district.  Records that are over 100 years old are sent to the archives.  I think that maybe 5 years ago, I paid $15.00 or $20.00 per request (the exchange rate was much better).  Those 20 euros today might just cost $30.00.

 

Maria

Michelle <morin...@gmail.com> wrote: