General Information

The Early California Population Project, a database developed by the Huntington Library, provides easy and democratic access to all the information contained in the California mission registers, records that are of unique and vital importance to the study of California, the American Southwest, and colonial America. Within the baptism, marriage, and burial records of each of the California missions sits an extraordinary wealth of unique information on the Indians, soldiers, and settlers of Alta California. But the vast potential of California’s mission records has in many ways remained unexploited. The original registers are scattered across California and too old and too brittle to handle. Microfilm copies of the registers exist in archives but are of poor quality and often hard to locate. Understanding the registers--written as they are in eighteenth-century Spanish script--demands rare skills and enormous effort. Lacking adequate staff and resources to facilitate genealogical and historical research, libraries, archives, missions, and dioceses each year turn away countless individuals who are eager to study early California’s Indian, Hispanic, and Anglo-American inhabitants.

The construction of databases based on mission records has proven to be extremely time-consuming and challenging and therefore some regions of California had yet to be studied through the sacramental registers. And when databases have been created, their structure and design necessarily have been narrowed by specific research questions and, until recently, technological limitations on the amount of information that could be stored and managed in a computer file. Furthermore, while existing databases of mission records are extremely powerful tools, each is in one important way incomplete: since soldiers and settlers moved from mission to mission, as did Indians but with less frequency, datasets that did not encompass all of the California missions could not capture the full life histories of those who were most mobile. Out of these realizations and the desire to establish a new resource for the study of California before 1850, the Early California Population Project was born and begun in earnest at the Huntington in 1998.

Through the Huntington Library, the Early California Population Project has obtained generous financial support from many granting agencies. The John Randolph Haynes and Dorothy Haynes Foundation, the California State Library (Library Services and Technology Act), the Dan Murphy Foundation, the Giles W. & Elise G. Mead Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, have all funded a Huntington based project staff of between two and four full-time employees devoted to data entry since 1999.

The project offers great opportunities for the study of the people and communities of early California. All basic data entry for the project was completed in June 2006. The project has records on more than 101,000 baptisms, 27,000 marriages, and 71,000 burials performed in California between 1769 and 1850. No other region of colonial America that became part of the United States has a database of such an extensive set of vital records. The database encompasses records from all 21 of the California missions, in addition to the Los Angeles Plaza Church and the Santa Barbara Presidio. In its current form the ECPP database has more than 85 fields related to individual baptism records, 93 covering the marriages of individuals, and 46 concerning burial information.

By working with the ECPP database:

Community historians can study in greater detail the individuals and families who settled California’s presidios and pueblos
Anthropologists and ethnohistorians can examine the settlement patterns of Indians in Alta California and their movement to the missions
Historical demographers can bring greater detail to their attempts to understand the pace and magnitude of Indian population decline in Alta California
Scholars of religion can study the practice and administration of Catholicism in the California missions and the lives of California’s Franciscans
Social historians can study the structure and growth of the missions and the secular communities of Spanish and Mexican California
Genealogists can more easily trace and identify the people who lived in California from 1769 to 1850
Historians of colonial America can more easily incorporate regions and peoples beyond the eastern seaboard into the narrative of our country’s early history, and
Scholars can attain an increased awareness of the tremendous diversity that has long characterized the people of the Golden State and the American Southwest

For all of these reasons, is the hope of the Huntington Library and the projects’ sponsors, staff, contributors, and general editor that the ECPP will constitute an enduring contribution to the anthropological, historical, ethnohistorical and genealogical study of all of the peoples and communities of California before 1850.

3. Sources Used in the Compilation of Data

The primary sources for the Early California Population Project are the baptism, marriage, and burial registers produced by the Franciscans of Spanish and Mexican California. Much like parish priests in Europe, missionaries in California were required to keep records for all Indians affiliated with the missions and for the region's Spanish and Mexican population, all of whom were at least nominally Catholic. Thus, whenever the missionaries in California baptized an individual, they, to the best of their abilities, recorded that individual's birthplace, age, parents, marital status, children, siblings, godparents, Spanish name, and any other information they deemed unique or relevant. They also assigned that individual baptism record a unique number. Similarly, when they married or buried an individual, they assigned that individual’s marriage or burial record a unique number, and in these records they nearly always recorded the individual’s Spanish name, age, marital status, place of baptism, family relations, and, if known, baptism record number. Because the separate baptism, marriage, and burial registers for all of California’s 21 missions are largely complete, consistently thorough, and in many ways cross-referenced, records from different missions and registers can be linked and sorted by individual. The California mission registers, therefore, contain the information necessary to reconstruct not only the individual life histories of the tens of thousands of Indians and settlers who lived in Alta California but the divergent population dynamics of these groups.

In nearly all instances, the ECPP staff did not work directly with original manuscripts but rather with microfilm copies of the originals. Some of this microfilm is part of the Huntington Library’s microfilm collection, but much of it was borrowed from institutions across the state. The Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library was particularly generous in sharing its microfilm. The University of Santa Clara provided film for Mission Santa Clara, and the Archive of the Archdiocese of San Francisco permitted the ECPP to use microfilm copies of records from many of the missions of northern California. Finally, the Archival Center of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles provided a copy of various records for Mission San Fernando.

While the vast majority of the ECPP data was compiled at the Huntington Library, the project benefited from the generosity of scholars who contributed their own data to the project. Data for Missions San Carlos and San Gabriel came from Steven Hackel; Randy Milliken and John Johnson provided their database of Missions San Antonio and San Miguel; John Johnson shared his work on Missions San Luis Obispo and San Luis Rey; and Steve O’Neil and John Johnson provided a copy of their work on Mission San Juan Capistrano. All of this work was checked for accuracy by ECPP staff, and none of it was downloaded directly into the ECPP database. All donated data was modified so that information in each field for each record conformed to the conventions of data entry followed by ECPP staff.

4. The Completeness of the ECPP Database and the Mission Records

All basic data entry for the project was completed in June 2006. The database encompasses records from all 21 of the California missions, in addition to the Los Angeles Plaza Church (1826-1848) and the Santa Barbara Presidio (1782-1848). Unfortunately, there are a few notable gaps in the documentary record. All sacramental records from Mission San Luis Rey are missing, but the project used the mission’s padrón (a form of a household census) to reconstruct some of the mission’s population. The burial records for Mission Soledad are lost. There are also major gaps in baptisms at Mission San Gabriel, and at San Diego there is a 16 year gap in burials after 1831. Other than these exceptions there are no major gaps in the missions’ sacramental records. Nevertheless, each mission has its own idiosyncrasies, and these are discussed in various mission memos attached to the ECPP website.

5. Rules Governing Use and Citation of ECPP Database

Data in the ECPP is for scholarly use and must not be used for commercial purposes. Users of the database must not attempt to reproduce and disseminate the data in the ECPP database or the database itself. Publications and research reports based on use of the database must be cited as follows: The Huntington Library, Early California Population Project Database, 2006.

6. Development of ECPP Database at The Huntington

Since the project’s inception in 1998, Robert C. Ritchie, director of research at the Huntington, has served as project director. Steven W. Hackel, associate professor of history at Oregon State University, and general editor of the database, has played a leading role in designing the database, outlining the rules governing data entry, monitoring data entry, and providing content for the website. The project has benefited from an extremely able and dedicated group of data entry personnel including Anne M. Reid as lead data entry assistant. Over the years the following individuals have also worked at the Huntington Library on the ECPP as data entry assistants: Vanessa Browning, Reina Polanco, Karen Cavanaugh, Isolina Benitez-Martinez, Maria Fernandez, Leticia Polizzi, and Stephanie Ausensi.

The design structure of the initial ECPP database emerged in the fall and spring of 1999-2000 through the combined efforts of Steven W. Hackel, John R. Johnson, and Randall T. Milliken. Over time, as more data were added to the project, the ECPP database structure was expanded. Since the ECPP is intended as a source for a range of future researchers, many of whom will certainly ask questions that cannot now be anticipated, the design team sought to craft a database that would allow for the capture of all of the information contained in the mission registers. The result is a wide and flexible range of fields designed to allow data entry to expand in relation to the amount of information contained in any given entry in the missions’ sacramental records.

7. General Guidelines Followed by Data Entry Personnel

7.1. Transcription of the original manuscripts

Since the primary goal of the project is an electronic version of the original records—not a database of information derived from an interpretation or manipulation of information contained in the original registers--information has been transferred directly from the original registers as it appears in the original records. Variations in spelling—of villages and Spanish names—may seem like careless errors or signs of illiteracy, but in fact they are indications of regional variations in spelling and pronunciation, and they are important clues as to how these words sounded when they were spoken aloud in early California. The one exception to the rule of carrying over the Spanish as it appeared in the records involves abbreviations, which abound in the original registers. For example, the Franciscans were fond of abbreviating the most common names and words: Joseph (J.ph), María (M.a), Francisco (Fran.co), Manuel (Man.l), Antonio (Ant.o), San (S.n), Santo (S.to), Mision (M.n), etc. A name recorded in the records in such an abbreviated form was entered in the database as a full word. For instance, “Fran.ca M.a” was entered in the database as “Francisca Maria.”

7.2 Blank Fields

The ECPP database can accommodate the most detailed records, and thus in many cases there are more fields than information contained in an individual record. As a result, some fields were left blank, or simply contain the word “[Unstated].”

7.3 Specious Data in Original Registers

In addition, there were occasions where data entry personnel were forced to enter into the database information that occurs in the original record but is in fact false. For example, in some cases the missionaries incorrectly identified the baptism number of an individual when they were completing marriage or burial records. The missionaries might have been off by a number or two, or they might have transposed digits. This direct transcription of what ECPP staff determined to be misinformation appears occasionally in the following fields: Marriages (fields 23, 24, 58, and 59) and Burials (fields 24 and 25). The correct information would be in the corresponding fields: Marriages (fields 25, 26, 60, and 61) and Burials (fields 25 and 26). When discrepancies occurred, ECPP staff added a note in the comments field of that record to document the difference between the ECPP database and the original records

7.4 Variations in Spelling Across the Records

The Franciscans also often recorded the name of an individual in a slightly different form in the baptism, marriage, and burial records. It is not unusual for an individual with a common name, such as Francisca Maria, to appear as Maria Francisca or simply as Francisca in another record. Again, to maintain the integrity of the database, the information was logged into the database as it appears in the original record. If the name is quite different from the one cited in the baptism record, a notation was made in the notes field. Nevertheless, it is always best to try and search for individuals by their baptism number if known, as variations in the spelling of names can lead to confusion.

7.5 Legibility

ECPP staff entered “[illegible]” into the database field(s) when they encountered illegible letters or words in the original manuscript. If a word was only partially legible, data entry personnel only entered the legible portions. Illegible parts of words are enclosed in brackets. For example, “Fran[...]” means that the first four letters were legible, but after the “n” followed what appeared to be several illegible letters. For those instances where data entry personnel inferred the illegible sections of a given record, personnel entered them surrounded by brackets. For example, “Fran[cisca]” was entered into the database if it was assumed that the complete word was “Francisca.” Explanation of the problem—water damage to the original record, poorly shot film, or just bad handwriting—was recorded in the notes field for that record.

7.6 Accuracy

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in the database is accurate. Extensive reviews and audits of the data were made throughout the tenure of the project and upon its completion. However, should users encounter errors in the ECPP database, they are encouraged to report them via email. Suggestions for project revisions must include specific information such as mission, record number, and the nature of the problem. The database will be updated periodically to reflect refinements.

8. Record Linkage

Beyond the primary goal of transcribing information from the original records to the database, a secondary goal of the project has been to link together the dispersed baptism, marriage, and burial records of individuals to facilitate data retrieval and the creation of histories of individuals and families. It is in the area of record linkage that the ECPP staff have moved well beyond a simple transcription of the original registers. Complicating the linking of records was the fact that the Franciscans tended to use only first names when they identified Indians in the mission records. (For soldiers and settlers, the missionaries always listed both given and family names.) Fortunately, though, the Franciscans also included in their records of Indians many other bits of identifying information that permitted project staff to link burial records to baptism records, marriage records to baptism records, and childrens’ baptism records to their parents’ baptism and marriage records. As of June 2006, 91% of 71,360 death records have been linked to the deceased’s baptismal record, 72% of 65,170 baptism records that list information on a Spanish-named mother have been linked to the mother’s baptismal record, 65% of 65,015 baptism records that list information on a Spanish-named father have been linked to the father’s baptismal record (65%), and 90% of 27,985 marriage records have been linked to the bride’s baptism record and 89% have been linked to the groom’s baptism record.

Since these links are the result of many decisions that may not readily be apparent to ECPP users, a separate field has been devoted to the explanation of how each link was made. There are 39 different ways the link can be established. In addition, in cases where the link was made based on very scant information, the link has been designated with an asterisk.

These codes run from the Franciscans having made the link themselves to ECPP staff having determined the link through various combinations of evidence, such as the year of the individual’s birth, or the name of the individual’s parents, siblings, or spouse. As stated above, the database will be updated periodically to reflect refinements.

9. Link Codes

The following codes have been used to explain the pieces of information in the original record upon which the record link has been established. There are four fields in the ECPP database where these link codes can be found: In the Baptism table: DEATH LINK TYPE (Code/s explain link between ego's burial & baptism records. Same as No. 4); in the Marriage table: MBASIS (Code/s explain link between groom's marriage & baptism records.); in the Marriage table: FBASIS (Code/s explain link between bride's marriage & baptism records.); in the Death table: DBNUMBASIS (Code/s explain link between ego's burial & baptism records. Same as No. 1)

In many instances the link was made through a combination of pieces of evidence. Thus, in the link code fields, more than one code number is often listed. Also, sometimes there is an asterisk (*) in the link code field. This indicates that the link is tentative and less certain that those that do not carry an asterisk. Note: In the following codes “Ego” refers to the individual receiving the sacrament.

1. Ego's baptism number and Spanish name given by the missionary

2. Ego's age level

3. Ego's Spanish name

4. Ego's Native name

5. Ego's father's Spanish name

6. Ego's mother's Spanish name

7. Ego's origin

8. Ego's father's native name

9. Ego's mother's native name

10. Ego's spouse (Spouse's name in ego's baptism record ('Relatives' table) matches spouse's name in ego's death and/or marriage record.)

11. Ego's marital status

12. Ego's father's status

13. Ego's baptism date

14. Ego's baptismal type (Often used for direct references in the burial record to ego’s provisional baptism.)

15. Ego's baptism number only

16. Ego's status

17. Ego's father's ethnicity. (Only used for ethnic descriptions, such as Razon, Californio, or Indio, not for religious status, such as gentil or Neofito.)

18. Ego's mother's marital status

19. Ego's legitimacy

20. Ego's baptism officiant

21. Ego's father's surname

22. Ego's surname

23. Ego's mother's surname

24. Ego's marriage record information

Further information pertaining to ego (e.g. native name, origin, and/or parents' data) and/or previously entered baptism link in ego's marriage record allows link to baptism.
Spouse's name in ego's death record is basis for finding ego's marriage record.
See ego's marriage record for specific link basis.

25. Ego's previous marriage record information

Further information pertaining to ego (e.g. native name, origin, and/or parents' data) and/or previously entered baptism link in ego's previous marriage record allows link to baptism.
Previous spouse's name in ego's marriage record is basis for finding ego's previous marriage record.
See ego's previous marriage record for specific link basis.

26. Ego's father's origin

27. Ego's mother's origin

28. Ego's child's death record information

Further information pertaining to ego (e.g. native name, origin, and/or parents' data) in ego's child's death record allows link to baptism.
Parent's name and/or reference to parent (e.g. "la antecedente") in ego's child's death record is basis for finding that record.

29. Ego's Relative

Death or marriage record gives name of relative, other than spouse or parent, which is also found in baptism record (Relatives table). This could be a grandchild, niece/nephew, etc. This code can also be used with ego's child; this is different from code #28 because the information is directly in ego's death or marriage record.

30. Ego's later marriage record information

Further information pertaining to ego (e.g. native name, origin, and/or parents' data) in ego's later marriage record allows link to baptism.

31. Ego's previous spouse

Previous spouse's name in ego's marriage record matches previous spouse's name in ego's baptism record (Relatives table) and/or reference to previous spouse (e.g. "muger del antecedente"). Link does not rely on ego's previous marriage record, unlike #25, which does.

32. Ego's death record information

Further information pertaining to ego (e.g. native name, origin, and/or parents' data) in ego's death record allows link to baptism.
See ego's death record for specific link basis.

33. Ego's child's baptism record information

Ego's baptism number is listed in baptism record of ego's child.

34. Ego’s death date

Baptism record states when ego died (“murio a pocos dias de bautizado”), which matches date of death in ego’s death record

35. Ego’s spouse’s origin

Ego’s spouse’s origin in death record matches that in ego’s marriage record

36. Ego’s spouse’s death record info

Further information on ego (e.g. Native name, origin, parents’ info.) in ego’s spouse’s death record allows link to baptism. See spouse’s death record for specific link basis.

37. Ego’s child’s Marriage Record

Further information on ego in child’s marriage record allows link to baptism. See child’s marriage record for specific link basis.

38. Ego’s spouse’s later marriage record

Further information on ego in spouse’s later marriage record allows link to baptism. See spouse’s later marriage record for specific link basis.

39. Ego’s Padrino/Madrina

* Inferred link

Based upon process of elimination, after exhausting all possible links for a particular record. Links marked with an asterisk are less certain that those without an asterisk.

10. Mission Identifier Codes

The process of data retrieval and record linkage has been facilitated through the creation of a series of mission identifier codes. These are abbreviations for the mission or location where a sacrament was performed. Because of the frequency with which these locations occur in mission registers, these presidios, assistencias, and missions have been given 2-3 letter codes, which have been entered into the database in place of using the entire name. The missions have been separated into Baja California missions and Alta California missions. The presidios were military garrisons, and were sometimes connected with missions, but were not always located in the same place. Assistencias were located in Indian villages, and were places where the priests would visit on occasion to perform the sacraments. The LA church was located in the Pueblo of Los Angeles, and was a parish church with its own register. It is important to note that the mission records do not always specify whether an origin is a mission or a rancheria near the mission which is known by the same name. The missions and assistencias are not always listed in the registers by their full name; since there are Baja and Alta California missions with similar names, it is sometimes impossible to know to which mission the record is referring. Mission Codes are only used in the derived mission fields, and only refer to non-native locations, such as presidios, missions, and assistencias – they are not used for Indian villages or rancherias.

Baja California Missions

MLA Santa Maria de los Angeles

NSG Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

SFB San Francisco de Borja

SGD Santa Gertrudis

SM San Miguel

ST Santo Tomas

SY San Ygnacio

SV San Vicente

TDS Todos Santos

Alta California Missions

LPC La Purisima Concepcion

SAP San Antonio de Padua

SB Santa Barbara

SBV San Buenaventura

SC San Carlos Borromeo

SD San Diego

SCL Santa Clara

SCZ Santa Cruz

SFD San Francisco de Asis Mission and Presidio

SFR San Fernando

SFS San Francisco Solano

SG San Gabriel Arcangel

SI Santa Ynes

SJB San Juan Bautista

SJC San Juan Capistrano

SJS San Jose

SLD Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

SLO San Luis Obispo

SLR San Luis Rey

SMA San Miguel Arcangel

SRA San Rafael

Presidios

BP Santa Barbara Presidio

Other

LA Los Angeles Plaza Church

11. Sample Records from the Database Tables

Baptism Record

The ECPP database is best conceptualized as constituting three interrelated tables, one for baptisms, a second for marriages, and a third for burials. To illustrate this, the records below relate to the life of one woman, Rosalia, of Mission San Fernando. Her life was like many others in the missions. She was born in a native village in 1793 and was baptized as a young girl at Mission San Fernando in 1798. She married at San Fernando in 1805 and died in 1821. The images below are original records containing information about her life and transcriptions of those records as distributed in the baptism, marriage, and burial tables of the ECPP database. Fig. 1 displays the baptism record for Rosalia from Mission San Fernando, and Fig. 2, a transcription of the record and shows how the record was broken up into individual ECPP fields.

Fig. 1. Baptism record of Rosalia, Baptism 83 of Mission San Fernando.

Baptism record Rosalia, Baptism 00083 of Mission San Fernando

Fig. 2. Transcription and diagram of San Fernando Baptism 83.

Fig. 3. Marriage record 406 of Mission San Fernando, for Rosalia.

Marriage Record of Rosalia, Marriage record 00406 of Mission San Fernando

Fig. 4. Marriage Record 406 transcribed and broken up into ECPP fields.

Fig. 5. Burial Record 1427 of Rosalia, Mission San Fernando.

Fig. 5.0 Burial Record of Rosalia, Burial record 01427 of Mission San Fernando.

Fig. 6. Burial Record 1427 transcribed and broken up into ECPP fields.

12. Field Descriptions for Baptism Table

In the following field descriptions, “Ego” refers to the individual who is receiving the sacrament of baptism. “T” indicates a transcription field and that the information in the field has been entered into the database as stated in the original mission record. “D” indicates a derived field, where the information entered into the database is supplementary to the original mission records.

1. Death Mission (T) Burial Mission

Mission where ego’s burial is recorded. This field contains the mission identifier code. This field was carried over from the burial register when a record link was established.

2. Death Number (T) Burial Record Number

Ego's unique burial record number. This field was carried over from the burial register when a record link was established.

3. Burial Date (T) Burial Date

Date of ego’s burial, excluding notification and death date. This field was carried over from the burial register when a record link was established.

4. Death Link Source (D) Baptismal Link Basis

Codes to identify how the link between ego’s burial and baptism records was established. This field was carried over from the burial register when a record link was established. This field also corresponds to Link Basis in the Burial register.

5. Mission (T) Baptismal Mission

Denotes the mission where ego was baptized, also known as mission identifier codes.

6. Number (T/D) Baptismal Number

Baptism record number assigned by the officiating Franciscans when the baptism was recorded in the register. The field contains six digits. For example, the first baptism at a mission, recorded as “1” by the Franciscans was entered in the database as “00001.” The sixth place in this field is for double entries of the same number. Occasionally the padres would assign more than one baptism record the same number. In these cases, the first record would be entered into the database as 00020, the second as 00020a, the third as 00020b, etc. Because a select number of missions had confusing numbering problems, some register numbers will appear in their correct sequential order with the letter “Y” affixed at the end--these cases are documented in the mission notes. In cases where a number was omitted (e.g., the register goes from record 20 to record 22), that number will appear in the database with the word “[skipped]” entered in the appropriate fields and explained in the notes section. Every baptism record from a particular mission entered into the database must have a unique number. When the baptism number and Mission fields are combined, no two records for any baptism in the ECPP are the same.

7. Baptism Date (T/D) Baptismal Date

Date the baptismal sacrament was performed. Information in this field was entered in a day_3-letter English month_year format, such as 15 Jan 1780. Alternatively, if the date cannot be expressed as such, then the transcribed date was entered, such as “Por el mes de Septiembre de 1793 [Sep 1793].”

8. Baptism Date Formatted (T) Baptism Date Formatted

Information in this field was entered in a standard month/date/year format, such as 12/28/1782. If the date cannot be expressed as such, the field was left blank.

9. Place (T) Baptismal Place

Location where the baptism was performed. In nearly all cases, baptisms were performed in the mission’s church, but occasionally they occurred elsewhere. Most of the time the values in this field will be “Iglesia,” “Yglesia,” or “Yglesia de esta Mision.” However, if the baptism occurred outside of the mission, that locale will be substituted for “Iglesia.” In some instances the baptism will have taken place in a native village or “rancheria.”

10. Ego’s Type (T) Baptismal Type

There are two types of baptism: standard or provisional. If the baptism was a standard baptism--one in which the ego was healthy and able to participate— it was coded as normal or “+”. However, the padres also baptized individuals who they feared were in danger of imminent death or were otherwise unable to travel to the mission because of ill health. They would almost always record these unusual baptisms in the baptismal register. These were essentially provisional, and were coded as “-” in the database.

In many provisional baptisms no godparents were assigned at the time of baptism. At a later date, if the ego survived, the Franciscans would execute the complete rite of baptism, stating in the record that they had “supli las ceremonias,” or, supplied the full ceremonies. This was not a second baptism but the completion of the original baptism. It was at this time the godparents might be assigned. Thus, this additional information—as well as the date of the supli ceremonias and the padre who performed the additional ceremonies—was entered into the original baptism record, namely the Godparent table, Supli Ceremonia Officiant and Supli Ceremonia Date fields.

11. Ego’s Type Phrase (T) Baptismal Type Phrase

The wording used to describe the provisional baptism was recorded in this field. These phrases include but are not limited to: in articulo mortis, in periculo mortis, privadamente, and en peligro de muerte. The phrase sub condicione may or may not apply to provisional baptisms, but it was entered here to document other special cases, such as the baptism of an individual who has converted from another faith.

12. Ego’s Sex (T) Sex

The sex of the ego is “M” (male) or “F” (female). If there is a discrepancy between the sex stated by the recorder and the name given to ego, an asterisk was entered to direct the user to the notes, where a memo was made to explain the discrepancy.

13. Age (T) Age

The chronological age of ego at the time of baptism. This is usually a numerical value, but it may also be a phrase that does not translate into a definite numerical value, such as “poco mas de un mes” or “menos de un año.” In these cases, the entire phrase was entered as is into this field. This field works along with the following field (AGEUNIT) to indicate the age at baptism.

14. Ego’s Age Unit (T) Age Unit

This is the field that works with the preceding field, the AGE field, to indicate the age unit of the ego at baptism. This field supports the following values:

“d” for dias (days)

“m” for meses (months)

“s” for semanas (weeks)

“a” for años (years)

For example, if the ego was 10 years old at baptism, “10” was entered into the AGE field and “a” in the AGEUNIT field. Often, the missionaries omitted age, in which case, the field was left blank.

15. Ego’s Age Level (T) Age Level

This is another field that draws on information provided by the missionaries about the age of those they baptized. The missionaries classified those they baptized into several categories: adultos, viejos, mozos, muchachos, niños, parvulos and recien nacidos. This field supports the following values:

“a” for adulto/a

“mu” for muchacho/a

“mo” for mozo/a

“vi” for viejo/a

“ni” for niño/a

“p” for parvulo/a

“rn” recien nacido/a

Note that parvulo, niño, and muchacho were flexible categories, stretching from a newborn to those under age 9 or 10. The significance for the missionaries was that any child over age 9 could not be baptized without proper catechistical training whereas those younger could be baptized without religious instruction. Occasionally, these classifications are omitted from the lengthy record and are only found in the margin note that accompanies each record.

16. Ego’s Spanish Name (T) Spanish Name

This is the given Spanish name recorded by the missionaries at the time of baptism. This is only the given name, not the surname (family name or last name). Occasionally, Indians were identified by Spanish surnames at the time of the baptism. These names are also included in this field, because they were assumed names, rather than family names. Discrepancies in the spelling or actual name of the ego may exist within his/her record. For example, the padre may cite ego as “Maria Juana” in the entry, but refer to her “Maria Josefa” in the margin. In these instances, the name that appears in the entry was entered into this field. In this particular case, the name “Maria Juana” would have been entered into the Spanish Name field, and a note would have been made in the Miscellaneous Attributes (under the variable “Margin Notes”) indicating the disparity in the names.

The word "[skipped]", “[unstated]”, “[missing]” or “[illegible]” may also appear in this field, indicating that the record is skipped due to a sequence error; the name was omitted by the recorder; the name is not available because of a missing page in the sacramental register; or the entire name appears illegible. Occasionally the term “[duplicate]” may appear if it was obvious to the data entry personnel that the entry was recorded twice.

17. Ego’s Native Name (T) Native Name

This field applies mostly to Indians and is the ego’s native name at the time of baptism. It may also apply to individuals who were not from Alta California (such as Europeans and Americans) who were known by different names other than the ones which they acquired at the time of baptism.

18. Ego’s Surname (T) Surname

This field is reserved for ego’s surname in the case of gente de razon or Mission-born children who assume their father/mother’s native names as surnames. Compound names and surnames with prefixes (such as “de la Guerra”) were entered exactly as they appear in the register, or they were placed in brackets when the father’s surname is given. Occasionally, a Mission-born Indian was given the father/mother's native name to a child, treating it as a family name.

19. Ego’s Ethnicity (T/D) Ethnicity

The ethnicity of the ego as determined by the Franciscan at baptism or as indicated by the ego’s religious status, native name, or surname. This field may also contain the same information as the Origin field (see below), like “nacion Yuma.” Information may also be implied, and placed in brackets, when not explicitly stated in the record such as “[Razon]”.

20. Ego’s Origin (T) Origin

This is a field that reflects the home political group of the ego. For Indians it is where the missionary said the ego was from at the time of baptism, such as the “rancheria de Eslenajan.” The origin also may be where the Indian was born or his or her tribal affiliation, such as “nacion Yuma.” If the ego is Spanish, the information will usually be where they were born or where their parents live. For example, a child born to a soldier will usually be classified by the padres as from a certain presidio or mission.

In general, the origin is the phrase that follows “de” in the record, such as “de la Mision”, “de Eslenajan”, “de nacion Yuma.” The origin will always appear with the place name first (completely spelled out, without abbreviations), followed by any defining phrases (al rumbo de, rancheria de, mision de, etc.). For example, the origin listed earlier would appear as “Eslenajan, rancheria de” or as “San Francisco, Real Presidio de Nuestro Padre.”

21. Derived Origin (D) Derived Origin

As the field name suggests, this field is reserved for derived origins, or standardized place names. Any given rancheria may have multiple spellings, depending on the recorder. Thus, the derived origin allows users to search based on the standardized spelling of a particular place. For example, mission born children may be classified as being from the “Micion”, “Mission”, or “Mision”. While the transcribed phrase is entered in the origin field, the derived origin field will state “Mission”.

22. Ego’s Legitimacy (T) Legitimacy

This indicates how the Franciscans classified the birth, either as legitimate or illegitimate. This field supports the following values:

“l” for legitimo/a

“n” for natural

“ad” for adulterino/a

“ba” for bastardo/a

“il” for ilegitimo/a

“es” for espurio/a

“ms” for madre soltera

“ps” for padre soltero

“hu” for huerfano/a

“hum” for huerfano/a de madre

“hup” for huerfano/a de padre

“pnc” for padre no conocido

“*” for problematic cases – used when the information is not clear or states conflicting information such as “natural y legitima”.

This field largely applies to children born to baptized parents. If there is no mention of the status, the field was left blank. Discrepancies and other extra information about the nature of a birth were recorded in the notes field. The asterisk directs the user to the notes field for further clarification.

23. Ego’s Birth Date (T) Birth Date

This field contains the date/time of ego’s birth. Information may be expressed as it appears in the record, such as “el mismo dia entre cinco y seis de la mañana” or “el dia anterior” or may be in the day_3 letter English month_year format.

24. Marital Status (T) Ego’s Marital Status

This field denotes ego’s marital status at the time of baptism. The major categories include: Soltero/a (single), Casado/a (married), Viudo/a (widowed). Occasionally, the recorder mentioned ego’s relationship to a “gentil” or non-Christian spouse. In these cases, the phrase “Viudo/a en su gentilidad” or “Casado/a en su gentilidad” was entered into the field (variations on this theme may be specified in the notes).

25. Ego’s Religious Status (T) Religious Status

Ego’s religious status before or at the time of baptism. Phrases may include gentil, catecumeno, neofito, Protestante, etc.

26. Father’s Mission (T/D) Father's Baptismal Mission

Mission ID code designating where ego’s father was baptized.

27. Father’s Number (T/D) Father's Baptismal Number

The manner in which the father's baptismal number was entered is the same as that mentioned above in field 6. If the correct number is directly stated by the padre in his child’s baptism record or if the father was baptized in the same series of baptisms as ego, this number was entered without an “X” affixed at the end. If the number is derived from an alternate source (e.g. previous child's baptismal number, marriage record, death record, etc.), an “X” was placed at the end of the number.

28. Father Spanish Name (T) Father's Spanish Name

Contains the given Spanish name of ego’s father, if mentioned. As stated earlier, Indians sometimes assumed surnames as part of their given names. The complete name is placed in the Father’s Spanish name field. For example, if the father is identified as “Ysidro Martinez, Neofito de esta Mision” then “Ysidro Martinez” would appear in this field.

If the father of ego was unknown by name and identified by the mission only as a “gentil,” that word was entered in the Spanish name field for the father. Any time the phrase “difunto” or “finado” appeared to describe the father, this phrase was placed in parenthesis after the name, such as “gentil (difunto)” or “Francisco (finado).” If the father is unknown, the missionary would usually state he is no conocido (or some variation of this phrase) in which case, that phrase appears in this field.

29. Father’s Native Name (T) Father's Native Name

Father’s native name as it appears in the record, if stated. If not stated, the field was left

blank.

30. Father’s Surname (T) Father's Surname

Father’s surname as it appears in the record, if stated. For the non-Indian population, the surname may appear in brackets to indicate that it was taken from another source, such as a marriage record.

31. Father’s Origin (T) Father's Origin

Father’s origin and birthplace. If the missionary did not include it, the field was left blank.

32. Father’s Ethnicity (T) Father’s Ethnicity

Father’s ethnicity as stated in the record. If the missionary did not include it, the field was left blank.

33. Father’s Religious Status (T) Father’s Religious Status

Father’s religious status at the time of ego’s baptism, if stated. Note that the phrase

“gentil” still remains in the Spanish name field if other information is given. The term “gentil” may appear in this field if the father also had a Spanish name.

34. Father’s Military Status (T) Father’s Military Status

Father’s military rank or affiliation. Phrases include “soldado,” “sargento,” “Alferez,” etc. When the father is identified as an Indian chief of his rancheria (e.g. “capitan de la rancheria Ssiuessico”), this phrase was entered into the Miscellaneous Attributes table, under “father’s status,” since this denotes his tribal status, not a military rank.

35. Mother’s Mission (T/D) Mother's Baptismal Mission

Mission ID code designating where ego’s mother was baptized.

36. Mother’s Number (T/D) Mother's Baptismal Number

Mother’s baptism number (see Father's Baptismal Number).

37. Mother’s Spanish Name (T) Mother's Spanish Name

Mother’s Spanish name, as stated in the record (using the same conventions outlined in Father’s Spanish Name).

38. Mother’s Native Name (T) Mother's Native Name

Mother’s native name, as it appears in the record.

39. Mother’s Surname (T) Mother's Surname

Mother’s surname or maiden name. If the father is unknown, ego may assume his mother's maiden name as his own surname. In this case, the name may appear in brackets or may be a direct transcription on the part of the recorder.

40. Mother’s Origin (T) Mother's Origin

Mother’s origin or birthplace (see ego’s origin)

41. Mother’s Ethnicity (T) Mother’s Ethnicity

Mother’s ethnicity, as stated in the record (see ego’s ethnicity).

42. Mother’s Religious Status (T) Mother’s Religious Status

Mother’s religious status, as stated in the record (see ego’s religious status).

43. Officiant (T) Baptismal Officiant

This field carries the name of the person who performed the sacrament of baptism, and it was entered in the following format: Surname, First Name. If the officiant is referred to only by surname (for example, “P. Barona”) the surname will be listed and, if known, the officiant’s first name appears in brackets after the surname: Barona, [Josef]. When the officiant is listed only by title (cavo, sargento, etc.), this field will contain “[Unstated]”, with the officiant’s military status or occupation listed in the miscellaneous attributes table. Usually the officiant is a missionary, but in the cases of provisional baptisms, the officiant could have been a layperson. Other values that may appear include: "[skipped]", “[unstated]”, “[missing]”, “[illegible]” “[duplicate]”, as stated in the Spanish Name field.

44. Recorder (T) Baptismal Recorder

Missionary who records the baptism, if different than the officiant. The data entry rules used for the officiant also apply to the recorder.

45. SC Officiant (T) Supli Ceremonia Officiant

Name of the missionary who provided the official sacrament after the provisional baptism, entered in the following format: Surname, First Name. If the name was unknown, the word “[Unstated]” was entered.

46. Supli Ceremonia Date (T/D) Supli Ceremonia Date

When possible the date of the supli ceremonias was entered in a day_3-letter English month_year format, such as 15 Jan 1780. Alternatively, if the date could not be expressed as such, the transcribed date was used, such as “a principios de Febrero” or simply the phrase “supli las ceremonias” if all that is given is the confirmation of the event.

47. Notes (T/D) Notes

Extensive comments which may include transcribed phrases; usually explanations of ambiguous information given in the record.

13. Field Descriptions for Relatives Described in Baptism Records

This is a window and a separate form and table attached to the baptism entry form. It is used to record any additional information about the ego’s relatives (siblings, spouses, etc.) that may have been recorded by the missionary in the baptism record. It is important to note that not every baptism record will have relative information. Multiple relatives may be included for any one record.

1. RecordMission (T)

This field contains the same mission identifier code used in the corresponding baptism record.

2. RecordNumber (T)

This field contains the same baptism number used in the corresponding baptism record.

3. Relative Type (T) Relative Type

Individual’s relationship to ego, as stated by padre, e.g. Abuelo, Hermana, Tio, etc. Occasionally, more information is specified in the records such as maternal/paternal relationships. In these cases, the information was entered into the database as it appeared in the record, such as “Abuelo/a Materno/a,” “Tio/a Paterno/a,” “Hermano/a Carnal,” “Hermano/a Gemelo/a,” etc.

4. Name (T) Relative's Name

Relative’s name: Surname, First Name for gente de razon. For Indians, the Spanish name precedes the native name. The word “[Unstated]” was entered in those cases where the recorder omitted the name.

5. Baptism Mission (T/D) Relative's Baptismal Mission

Denotes the mission where the relative was baptized, in the format of the mission identifier codes.

6. Baptism Number (T/D) Relative's Baptismal Number

The manner in which the relative’s baptismal number was entered is the same as that mentioned in field 6. If the recorder stated the correct number, this number was entered without an “X” affixed at the end. If the number was derived from an alternate source, an “X” was placed at the end of the number.

7. Origin (T) Relative's Origin

Origin of relative (the same conventions delineated for field 20 of the baptism table.)

8. Ethnicity (T) Relative’s Ethnicity

Ethnicity of relative, if stated in the record.

9. Religious Status (T) Relative’s Religious Status

Relative’s religious status was entered as it appears in the record. If the term “gentil” appears with a native name, the native name was entered into the name field, and “gentil” in religious status field (if “gentil” appeared without a native name, then “gentil” was entered in the name field).

10. Occupation (T) Relative's Occupation

Relative’s occupation, (if stated) such as carpintero, interprete, enfermero, jabonero, page, sacristan, alcade, mayordomo, etc.

11. Military Status (T) Relative’s Military Status

If given, relative’s military rank or affiliation was entered into this field. Phrases include “soldado”, “sargento”, “Alferez”, etc. When the relative is identified as an Indian leader of his rancheria (e.g. “capitan de la rancheria Ssiuessico”), this phrase was entered into the comments field of the relative’s table.

12. Marital Status (T) Relative's Marital Status

Relative’s marital status usually falls into one of three categories: soltero/a; casado/a; or viudo/a. If unstated by the missionary, it was left blank.

13. Spouse (T) Relative's Spouse's Name

Name of relative’s spouse, if provided by missionary, using the naming conventions stated above in Relative’s Name.

14. Comments (T/D) Notes

Extensive comments which may include transcribed phrases.

14. Field Descriptions for Godparents Described in Baptism Records

This is a window and actually a separate form and table attached to the baptism entry form. It is used to record information about the godparents of the ego that may have been recorded by the missionary in the baptism record. More than one godparent may be included in the table for any one ego.

1. RecordMission (T)

This field contains the same mission identifier code used in the corresponding baptism record.

2. RecordNumber (T)

This field contains the same baptism number used in the corresponding baptism record.

3. Type (T) Godparent Type

Indicates relationship to ego as either a padrino or madrina. In lieu of stating padrino and madrina, the recorders sometimes used the phrase “lo saco de la pila” or “lo tuvo en brazos.” In these instances, the godparent type is still padrino or madrina, and the phrase was entered in the comments field for this table.

4. Name (T) Godparent's Name

Godparent’s name takes the following format: Surname, First Name for gente de razon. For Indians, the Spanish name is entered first, followed by native name. In the event that the Spanish name is not given or omitted- such as “la esposa de Matheo Rubio”- the term “[Unstated]” may be entered. If the name was omitted but known through other sources (a previous godparent record or marriage record), personnel entered the name in brackets. Data entry personnel also used “[Unstated]” when godparents are not cited in the supli ceremonias.

The word "[skipped]",“[missing]” or “[illegible]” may also appear in this field, indicating that the record is skipped because of a sequence error; the name is not available because of a missing page in the sacramental register; or the entire name appears illegible. Occasionally, the term “[duplicate]” may appear if it was obvious to the data entry personnel that the entry was recorded twice.

5. Baptism Mission (T/D) Godparent’s Baptismal Mission

Denotes the mission where the godparent was baptized in the form of a mission identifier code.

6. Baptism Number (T/D) Godparent’s Baptismal Number

The manner in which the godparent’s baptismal number is entered is the same as that mentioned in field 6 of the baptism table. If the recorder states the correct number, this number was entered without an “X” affixed at the end. If the number was derived from an alternate source, an “X” was placed at the end of the number.

7. Origin (T) Godparent's Origin

Origin of Godparent, if stated by the missionary, using the conventions delineated in baptism table field 20.

8. Ethnicity (T) Godparent’s Ethnicity

Ethnicity of Godparent, as stated in the record.

9. Occupation (T) Godparent's Occupation

Godparent’s occupation, such as carpintero, enfermero, jabonero, page, sacristan, alcade, mayordomo, etc.

10. Religious Status (T) Godparent’s Religious Status

Godparent’s religious status, as it appears in the record.

11. Marital Status (T) Godparent's Marital Status

Godparent’s marital status usually falls into one of three categories: soltero/a; casado/a; or viudo/a. If unstated by missionary, it was left blank.

12.