When I started researching my family, I was quick to figure out that various sides of my family were just…stuck. Not having access to the church records online meant that I could not research them easily like how I could with other towns such as Adjuntas, Toa Alta, Yabucoa, etc.
My great-grandfather, Narciso Sánchez Meléndez, was born in Manatí but came from parents with origins in other towns – his father was from Vega Baja while his mother was possibly from Utuado or Jayuya. My 2nd great-grandmother Anicasia Sánchez Arvelo had family in Quebradillas and San Sebastián, two towns with un-microfilmed church records and from many conversations with other genealogists seemed like a blackhole of finding really anything.
However, earlier this year in one of my genealogical groups, someone mentioned having luck requesting records from the church in San Sebastián and I was excited to hear that. So I wrote to them, got the information, called the church in Puerto Rico, and sent off my information. So here I want to document this process for others who might have ancestors in San Sebastián as well.
The Call
I remember it was around the end of May this year when I made my call to San Sebastián Mártir, the church that holds catholic records of my ancestors who lived in this town in the early-mid 1800s. I gave them a call to their church’s number (1-787-896-1028) and got in touch with a volunteer there for looking into records.
I was told that they did conduct genealogical research for $10 a search (whether they found something or not it was still charged) and I could send them a letter with my information and a check made out to San Sebastián Mártir and they would conduct the research and send me what they found.
Caveat: I spoke with them in Spanish and I’m not sure of their capabilities to speak English.
The letter
Excitedly, I wrote them a letter in Spanish requesting information on various ancestors, I knew I was going away from the summer and I figured I would do it then and there (in May) to give them ample time. I sent them a letter with the information I had (full names, years, and documents I wished to receive) and a personal check to their address:
Parroquia San Sebastián Mártir,
PO Box 801,
San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, 00685
Here’s a snippet of my letter below if you need some inspiration!
The wait
I anxiously waited all summer but didn’t receive any letters. I knew that it was a volunteer who was helping out so I knew I would have to wait. But when September rolled around I figured they had probably forgotten about me and so I gave them another call. They apologized for the delayed wait and told me they’d get right on it. The lady helping with extremely kind and super helpful. Before I knew it, I had a letter in my mail!
The answer
I did not receive all the documents I asked for – and though that might seem like not a great thing, in a way it is. If the search was fully conducted to find my ancestors and nothing was discovered, this would mean that those ancestors weren’t baptized or married in that town. This would make sense for example in my case because Francisco Sánchez Flores, my 3rd great-grandfather was said to be from Quebradillas. I sent for his baptism on the off chance he was baptized in San Sebastián but it doesn’t seem so. My next step would be to reach out to Quebradillas and see if they conduct research as well.
I was able to get information on my Arvelo Vera, Arvelo Rodríguez (which I later learned was actually Ortiz), and Vera Irizarry lines. For example, I was able to discover 2 more generations for my 3rd great-grandmother Juana Arevlo Vera.
With this adrenaline I decided to write again equipped with the new generational information!
Round two
Having some new generations in hand I decided to send off for their baptisms and marriages. I also realized that two lines on my dad’s side had also been from San Sebastián (one later moved to Yauco and the other moved to Lares/Adjuntas).
Similarly, I sent off a letter with the information with another check and waited. This time the response was much quicker!
I was provided with some baptism and marriage records of ancestors in the early 1800s, however, their records didn’t provided the names of their grandparents which bummed me out a bit because I was hoping to find out more information on them.
For example, I’ve heard through other genealogist that the surname “Arvelo” (sometimes written as”Albelo” or “Arbelo”) might have its origins in the Canary Islands. So far, I only have it to the mid-1800s in San Sebastián since no baptism or marriage was discovered for my 4th great-grandfather Manuel Arvelo Ortiz.
the end... for now!
In the end, I was able to happy that I reached out the church. I learned of new surnames on my tree such as “López de Victoria”, “Borrelí”, “de la Rosa”, and “Ortiz”.
The most interesting of the bunch is “Borrelí” since it doesn’t seem like a common Puerto Rican surname. I also know that there were a bunch of “López de Victoria” branches in that area so I probably connect with one of the main branches there. I also learned that they came from towns such as Mayagüez, San Germán, and potentially Añasco. This would mean that my search will need to continue in those towns.
Finally, it seems there is more to discover – I found some trees online with death dates for some of my ancestors and even an ancestor who seems to have left a will – hopefully one I can find in the AGPR!
I began my research at 14 and now at 31 is when I am breaking down some of the lines in my family that have been brick walls due to limited access to church records. I am not sure if San Sebastián allows in-person research or if it is all done through the church’s volunteers but I am grateful that they took the time to provide me with information on my ancestors and I hope to learn more about them!
An early Christmas miracle, indeed!
I’m researching the Arocho line in my family. There’s someone there with the same name of one of my ancestors. I have an Ortiz line in Toa Alta.
Yes. I do have ancestors from San Sebastián. Vélez del Rosario y Pérez Gerena.
Hi, I live in San Sebastian, PR. My family descends mostly from the López de Victoria, Luciano de Fuentes, González de la Cruz, Vélez, Cardona and two different Sotomayor lineages. I have researched my family and my husbands’ during the past 9 years on Family Search and then on Ancestry. I became more interested as I contacted DNA cousins on Ancestry and others contacted me and I was surprised to know how many DNA cousins I have. Since I had worked on my tree on Family Search and shared my findings with my family I memorized most of my ancestors’ names. Then on Ancestry I found that some DNA cousins had the wrong information. I wrote to them but many did not care. So be careful not to copy information from other trees without checking the evidence. Also, I have been able to make connections studying other family trees. My tree is not perfect and I am always ready to share and debate on my findings. I regret not knowing about the Sociedad Puertoriqueña de Geneologia when I started my research, I could have gotten farther in less time. On the other hand I enjoyed putting together my tree.