Jewish Inquisition Records for Mexico exist and in this post, I provide you with more information and links to where you can find those records.
I will first tell you what the Inquisition is and then what a heretic is. Finally, I will list links to where you can find records.
Before we begin.
What is the Inquisition?
The term Inquisition refers to the Catholic courts established by the Spanish to find and punish heretics.
Ok, now.
What is a Heretic?
In the 1490's Spanish Jews accepted baptism to save their lives and thus they became known as conversos.
Many retained their religion and thus observed Jewish laws and customs while pretending to be Catholics.
It was these Jews that the inquisition wanted.
Do We Have Jewish Ancestry?
I can not speak for all of Mexico but in Northeastern Mexico we do.
Based on my DNA results with FamilyTreeDNA, I myself have 5% Sephardic. I have seen percentages up to 20%.
Have I Found Records for My Ancestors Proving They Were Jewish
No I have not.
Why not? Well as Don Israel Cavazos Garza said along the lines of "a document showing you were Jewish could mean life or death".
Thus, we can assume that no written record were kept by Jewish families.
I have found some historical echoes that two of my ancestors might have had been Jewish.
One tried to kill a priest because the priest refused to pay the money he owed him.
The other defaced a crucifix with his sword.
Are We Really Jewish?
I do not consider my self Jewish. Yes, I have Jewish ancestry and even if some traditions have been passed down does that make one Jewish?
The same can be said for my African, Middle Eastern, and other ethnicities.
Jewish Inquisition Records for Mexico
Here are the Jewish Inquisition Records for Mexico that I have found to date. The first link is to Two index books and the second link is to all the microfilms available about the inquisition in Mexico.
- Indice del Ramo de Ynquisición (Index of the Branch of the Inquisition). 2 vols. México City: Archivo General de la Nación, 1978 - Go to FamilySearch Catalog
- Procesos del Santo Oficio de México, 1522–1820. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1952–1954 - View the Available 309 Films
- Inquisition Search At FamilySearch - 66 items Available
Jewish Presentations on Las Villas del Norte
Jewish Roots in Nuevo Leon - By Nefi Arenas
Sephardic Influence in Mexico's Northeast. Implications, Myths and Facts - By Jose Ruben Riojas
Sephardic Research and Resources - By Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Other Resources for Jewish Inquisition Records for Mexico
Here are other resources for Jewish Inquisition Records for Mexico that may be of interest to you.
- Guide to the Mexican Inquisition Collection, Undated, 1572-1914 - Read More
- Sephardic Gen Resources - Visit Website
- Jewish Gen, free, easy-to-use genealogy website features tens of millions of records, research tools, and other resources to help those with Jewish ancestry research and find-family members. - Visit Website
thank you yes i am still researching, my gradmother was kewishand it wad hushed because we lived in a closed m8nded town. i plan a trip in August to salltillo, Musqez And Nava , a small town maybe i will find somethimg out, i fo know people in Nava, not far from peidras neigras, have you visited the museum ( Jewish) in El paso , Texas? its sad you see shoes and personal s , ypu will crry when youser children’s shoes , there’s also a community for retirement, you will never be the same at how cruel people can be. and closed mind.you will see whete they are from and where there is a closed connection to all of us.In Gods Perfect Love
Thanks for every other magnificent article. Where else may anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect way of writing?
I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the search for
such info.
Thank you!
Thank you Moises for this awesome info on Jewish ancestors. It will definitely help me to learn more about my roots. Thank you for all your hard work to help us in every way possible! I am happy and grateful to have joined your group, “We Are Cousins “.
Thank you for reading and for having the interest to look for your roots.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for reading.
No me habÃa puesto a pensar que por tuvieron que desaparecer todo lo que confirmaran que eran judios para preservar sus vidas y que por seguro no hay mucho cómo demostrar que fueron nuestros antepasados, más bien como unir el eslabón de la cadena, yo tengo bien grabado en mi mente el mirar a mi abuelo y a mi papá que comÃan leche con miel o queso con miel, lo curioso es que no crecieron juntos mi papá y mi abuelo, no se si era tradición de ellos o solo era costumbre, mi abuelo y abuela eran tÃa y sobrino, o sea, la misma familia. Muy interesante el artÃculo o información.
Gracias por leerlo.
I think you have done similar blogs on Finding Our Native American ancestors and Finding Our Black ancestors, at least i hope you have and I hope you will re post them as you are always getting new members. Thanks!
Search for them on the search box. They are not about finding them but resources to bring awareness to our heritage.
Never thought about jewish being in my DNA.
Thank you for the information.
It shows up on some of our DNA.
Thank you Moises for sharing. What a surprise when I did my fathers DNA and it came out that he was Jewish. My fathers last name was Escalera. I was the only one in school with an unusual last name.
He did look Jewish. His fathers name was Jose. my grand fathers name was Nazario. So many surprises when doing your genealogy.
That is awesome. I rarely come across this last name. What area of Mexico are you Escalera ancestors from?
How much are the Gonzalez and Villarreal books? And is there one for Valdez, Martinez, and Sanchez? Recently, the Jewish Federation of New Mexico contacted me and sent me a "notarized certificate" that I am Jewish., by both parents. It's been a real shocker as all along I thought I was an American of Mexican descent. I really never thought about going further back! I also have several Jewish cousins and Dna tagged Cohens cousins on familytreedna.com
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