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Puerto Rican Genealogy Conectando Raíces · Celebrando Herencia

Module 1 — Understanding the Registro Central de Esclavos (1872)

What the 1872 registry is, why it was created, what fields it contains, and the key historical context of abolition in Puerto Rico.

Beginner

Part of the Puerto Rican Slave Record Research course.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

  • Know what the Registro Central de Esclavos (1872) is and why it was created
  • Understand what fields of information the schedules contain
  • Recognize the difference between the 1872 registry and the related 1859–1880 slave registers
  • Understand the historical context of abolition and why 1872 and 1873 are key dates

What Is the Registro Central de Esclavos?

In 1872, Spanish colonial authorities compiled a central register of all enslaved people in Puerto Rico. This registry was organized by district and municipality and recorded in Spanish.

The 1872 registry is preserved at the U.S. National Archives as part of Record Group 186 (Records of the Spanish Governors of Puerto Rico) under microfilm publication T1121.

It is also available in digitized form through FamilySearch, organized by district film.

What the Schedules Contain

Each entry in the 1872 registry typically includes:

Field Spanish Term What It Records
Name Nombre The enslaved person’s given name
Place of origin Natural de Country or region of birth
Residence Vecino/a de Town or municipality where they lived
Parents’ names Padres Mother and father, when known
Sex Sexo Male or female
Marital status Estado civil Soltero/a (single), casado/a (married), viudo/a (widowed)
Occupation Oficio Trade or labor
Age Edad Age at time of registration
Physical description Descripcion Complexion, height, distinguishing features
Owner’s name Amo / Ama Name of the enslaver

Not every entry contains all fields. Entries vary by enumerator and municipality.

Why 1872 and 1873 Matter

The 1872 registry was compiled one year before abolition. Spain abolished slavery in Puerto Rico on March 22, 1873. The Moret Law of 1870 had already freed children born to enslaved mothers after September 17, 1868, and elderly enslaved people.

After abolition in 1873, formerly enslaved people were required to enter labor contracts (contratos de trabajo) with their former enslavers for three additional years. This means you may find the same individuals in records both before and after 1873 under different legal categories:

  • Before 1873: esclavo/esclava
  • 1873–1876: liberto/liberta
  • Post-1876: recorded by surname in civil registration

FamilySearch has a partially indexed collection called “Puerto Rico, Slave Registers, 1859–1880” (Collection 3755445). This collection covers a broader time period and includes some name-level searching. It overlaps with the 1872 registry and can serve as a searchable entry point.

Strategy: Search the 1859–1880 collection first when an indexed entry is available. Then use the 1872 registry film images for surrounding context and to identify additional unindexed individuals who appear nearby.

What’s Next

In Module 2 — Finding and Navigating the Records, you will learn how the 1872 registry is organized by district, which films cover which municipalities, and how to browse the digitized images efficiently.

← Back to Course Overview · Module 2 →

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