Translating Baptism Record

[Jarret Luttrull]

Hello all, im currently researching the genealogy for my Maternal grandfather who was born in the Azores and im struggling with translating records myself. My mother was raised by a different father so she never had a connection with him other than dna, which has made research even more difficult. However, I have found a baptism record in Sao Jorge Genealogical Society's records that seem to match him. I have attached a jpg of the page with the record i believe to be him, it is entry no 21 starting on the bottom left page. I would appreciate any help anyone could offer. Thank you!

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Jarrett,

We research by names. The page you attached has 3 Josés on it. We need to know which Jose and which parents he has so you can get help.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

On Sat, Jul 11, 2026 at 2:18 PM Jarret Luttrull <jarret...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all, im currently researching the genealogy for my Maternal grandfather who was born in the Azores and im struggling with translating records myself. My mother was raised by a different father so she never had a connection with him other than dna, which has made research even more difficult. However, I have found a baptism record in Sao Jorge Genealogical Society's records that seem to match him. I have attached a jpg of the page with the record i believe to be him, it is entry no 21 starting on the bottom left page. I would appreciate any help anyone could offer. Thank you!

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[Jarret Luttrull]

Thank you Cheri! Here is what i know from research so far:

His name is Jose Inacio Sousa and his parents are listed as Jose Manuel Inacio de Sousa and Cecilia Leal de Sousa.  

Paternal grandparents are listed as Jose Francisco de Sousa and Ermelinda de Jesus

Maternal grandparents are listed as Francisco Jose Leal and Silvina da Luz

His birthdate shows 14 sep 1919 and baptism on 09 nov 1919 in Ribeira Seca on Soa Jorge Island

[Cheri Mello]

Jose #21 matches all the info you gave. Only missing details are that the father, Manuel Ignacio de Souza is from Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres on Sao Miguel island. That's in the freguesia of Pico de Pedra in the council of Ribeira Grande. The mom, Cecilia Leal de Sousa is from the Sao Pedro church in Angra on Tereira island. They married at that same church in Sao Jorge. The godparents were Francisco Jose Leal, married, and Dona Isabel Silveira.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/azores/07ab07a1-a7e5-40e3-943e-609b0d65a215n%40googlegroups.com.

[Jarret Luttrull]

Wow thank you so much!

I have been struggling to find the record for their marriage but had assumed it to be on Sao Jorge sometime around 1915. 

Would you have any suggestions on how I might go about finding that?

[Cheri Mello]

Jarrett,

I'm dealing with some stuff here, so hopefully, someone else will chime in.

There's a whole how-to here to get you started:

https://www.azoresgenweb.org/Research_Aids/finding_roots_9.html

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/azores/46c297df-710d-46d7-9430-ba7bda963cd5n%40googlegroups.com.

[Jarret Luttrull]

Thank you for all the help, I appreciate your time!

[J S.]

Hi Jarret, 

 

The link that Cheri sent is by far the most comprehensive guide.

To search digital copies of records on each island look under "Registos Paroquiais e de Passaportes dos Açores".  The direct link is here: https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/ig/registos/Default.aspx 

But I think these records only go up to 1911. I wish I could help more, but I am not familiar with São Jorge. 

Jenni

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/azores/f6876202-aa43-4133-9cdb-ae2b6304a588n%40googlegroups.com.

[Cheri Mello]

Jarrett,

You would find the marriage the same way you found the baptism.

Computer directions (from the phone might vary a little)

1) tombo.pt (click on the British flag if you need to navigate in English)

2) Left column - scroll down to Azores and click it.

3) Next screen - pick Sao Jorge

4) Next - pick Calheta

5) Then pick Ribeira Seca

6) All the books appear. Pick marriages. Start with the year your Jose was born and work back in time.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/azores/CAJC__qb840iKivasN5cMkaNYDenqLcCM_j0N1%2BzxB5-AFs6iGA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Bill Seidler]

Jarrett,

The image you attached for the baptism of Jose is from page 142(rev) and 143 (PDF digital page # 144) from the book Ribeira Seca Baptisms, 1912 - 1919 available on SJGS "Sharefile" sections.  If you go to page 132 of the same book (PDF digital page 133) you will find baptism 1918 #29 for Isabel born 21 Aug 1919.  If you go to page 106(rev) (PDF digital page 108) of the same book you will find baptism 1917 #9 for Maria born 19 Mar 1917.

All three of these state the father is from NS das Prazeres, Pico da Pedra, Sao Miguel Island and the mother from Sao Pedro, Angra, Terceira Island.  I believe they say the parents married in Sao Pedro of Angra, the mother's home parish.

The instructions you received before only apply to records before 1911.  You have access to the three baptisms above because SJGS is awesome.  Jose Manuel's and Cecelia's marriage does not show up on SJGS index for marriages before or after 1911 so that supports the conclusion that they married on Terceira.  The Terceira marriage index (also available on SJGS website) does not list them, but it only goes up to 1911 so their marriage was after that.  According the the census data you have on your tree on Ancestry she married at 19 years old so that would be about 1915 (like you had already said).  Unfortunately you can't get that marriage online (as far as I know) but to go through the Civil Registry in Angra.

Cecilia's was baptized before 1911 so that is available online and can be found online.  She was born on 14 April 1895 and baptized on Christmas Day in Sao Pedro in Angra.  Follow Cheri's instructions above (but for Terceira, Angra, Sao Pedro, Baptism, 1890-1899) and you should easily find it.  If not, try image 21 under the year 1895; it is baptism #46.

When you have that, you can to to Sao Miguel, Ribeira Grande, Pico da Pedra, and search those baptisms.  Your tree says he was born 28 Aug 1888--that should narrow down the search.

Good luck.

Bill Seidler 

On Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 4:53:57 PM UTC Cheri Mello wrote:

Jarrett,

You would find the marriage the same way you found the baptism.

Computer directions (from the phone might vary a little)

1) tombo.pt (click on the British flag if you need to navigate in English)

2) Left column - scroll down to Azores and click it.

3) Next screen - pick Sao Jorge

4) Next - pick Calheta

5) Then pick Ribeira Seca

6) All the books appear. Pick [batismos]

[Cheri Mello]

Jarrett,

Go with what Bill said. I kinda have a lot going on right now and misread some stuff.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/azores/9a8edf82-aade-4846-ae77-c7f834edfa26n%40googlegroups.com.

[Jarret Luttrull]

JS,

Thank you,  I have actually found several baptism records for my maternal grandfather and his siblings on the culturaacores site and the sao jorge genealogical society site so far.

I however am struggling to find info on his mother (my maternal great grandmother). Her name is Cecilia Leal and she is said to be born 14 apr 1897 in Sao Pedro, Angra do Heroismo, Terceira.

I have searched the records on the culturaacores site for that parish and time but am struggling to find anything. I even tried a few of the other parishes around there but can't seem to find anything. 

Cheri, 

I have been using the tombo site to navigate but whenever I click the option for anything post-1911 I can't seem to figure out where to go. 

I have however used the Sao Jorge Genealogical Society records to look for post-1911 marriages in Ribiera Seca but can't find the marriage in there. 

I also tried to translate more birth records for Jose Inacio Sousa's siblings (born in 1917 and 1918 in Ribiera Seca) by myself and with the help of ai

and some of the translations seem to suggest his parents married in Sao Pedro Terceira where his mother is from.

This is my issue though, I cannot find an alternative for Terceira like SJGS website that offers any access to post-1911 records.

If anyone could point me in the right direction, or show me something ive been missing I would really appreciate any help. I have attached some of the records I have found so far for detail.

Thank you,

Jarret

[Jarret Luttrull]

Bill,

Thank you so much for that! All the info I have found so far has led me to look for 14 apr 1897 so the 1895 date is surprising to see, but everything else lines up perfectly with what ive found.

I have found the father in Pico da Pedra's baptism as well so im slowly putting all the pieces together.

Any idea how to get a record from the civil registry in Angra? I'm pretty intent on trying to hunt down the marriage from 1915 if its possible.

Thanks,

Jarret