Module 4 — Transcribing and Deciphering

Overcome the language and handwriting barrier. Learn to read early 20th-century Spanish script and build a working vocabulary of common civil record terms.

Intermediate

Part of the Navigating Puerto Rico’s Civil Records (1885–Present) teaching guide.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

Recognize common letter formations in early 20th-century Spanish handwriting
Read and understand key Spanish phrases found in Puerto Rican civil records
Correctly identify and record names using the Puerto Rican double-surname system

4.1 Paleography Workshop: Reading the Rincón Records

Spanish handwriting from the late 19th and early 20th centuries follows letterform conventions that differ from modern writing. The 1905 Birth Record of Marcelina Ramos Valentín from Rincón is an excellent practice document.

Letter-by-letter practice points:

The letter “V” vs. “B”: In the 1905 record, locate the surname Valentín. Note how the “V” is formed — a pointed base with two upward strokes. Compare it to the “B” in Barrio, which uses a vertical stroke with two rounded loops. These two letters are frequently confused in transcription.
The letter “S”: Locate the signature of Rodolfo Acosta at the bottom of the record. Note the distinct elongated loops of the “S” typical of early 1900s official script — quite different from the modern printed “S.”

Paleography principle: Never transcribe a word in isolation. Always read the word in the context of the surrounding sentence. Spanish civil records follow predictable formulas — knowing the formula helps you decipher an unclear word from its position in the entry.

4.2 Essential Spanish Vocabulary

The following terms appear frequently across birth, marriage, and death records. Familiarity with these phrases will dramatically speed up your reading.

Spanish Term	English Translation	Context
Difunto(a)	Deceased	Used when referring to a parent who has already passed away at the time the record was created.
Natural de	Born in / Native of	Indicates birthplace. Crucial for tracing an ancestor back to a previous town or region.
Pardo(a)	Triracial / Multiracial	A racial descriptor used frequently in early civil records, reflecting Spanish colonial categories.
Dicho(a)	The aforementioned	Refers back to a person already named earlier in the same entry — read the full entry to identify who is meant.
En presencia de	In the presence of	Introduces the witnesses (testigos). The names that follow are often relatives or close associates.
Hijo/a legítimo/a	Legitimate child	Child born to married parents.
Hijo/a natural	Natural child	Child born to unmarried parents.
Vecino/a de	Resident of	States where a person was living at the time of the record — may differ from birthplace.
A consecuencia de	As a result of / Due to	Introduces the cause of death in death records.
Testado / Intestado	Died with a will / without a will	Found in death records. Testado signals a will to search in notarial records.

4.3 Deciphering Surnames: The Double System

Puerto Rican civil records consistently use the Spanish double-surname system. Understanding the order is essential for correctly identifying individuals and tracing family lines.

The rule: Every person carries two surnames — the paternal surname (father’s first surname) followed by the maternal surname (mother’s first surname).

Example: For a child named Marcelina Ramos Valentín:

Ramos = father’s first surname
Valentín = mother’s first surname

Common mistake: Researchers unfamiliar with this system sometimes record only one surname, or reverse the order. Always record both surnames and note which is paternal and which is maternal. When a woman marries, she may retain both birth surnames or add her husband’s surname after “de” — but the birth surnames remain the genealogical identifiers.

What’s Next

In Module 5 — Modern Access & The Demographic Registry, you will learn how to order certified copies of civil records today, navigate Puerto Rico’s privacy laws, and use civil records for dual citizenship applications.

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