Archival Research: The Dicocesan Archive

My first reading of the records gathered by digital image from the Civil Registration Office revealed Manuel Gosende Llanes and Manuela Sorribas Castaño received an ecclesiastical pardon prior to their  4 January 1882 marriage. The key phrase that caught my immediate attention ". . .  consanguinidiad en tercer grado" (third degree of consanguinity) indicated another reason to consult the Catholic Church records. 

 Rexistro Civil de Rois (Rois, A Coruña, Spain),  "Matrimonios 1880-1883,"  Secc. 2a, Tomo 8, Folio 53, no. 1., 4 Jan 1882, Manuel Gosende Llanes and Manuela Sorribas Castaño marriage; Rexistro Civil Xulgado de Paz [Civil Register-Justice of the Peace], Rois.

Rexistro Civil de Rois (Rois, A Coruña, Spain),  "Matrimonios 1880-1883,"  Secc. 2a, Tomo 8, Folio 53v, no. 1., 4 Jan 1882, Manuel Gosende Llanes and Manuela Sorribas Castaño marriage; Rexistro Civil Xulgado de Paz [Civil Register-Justice of the Peace], Rois.

Third degree of consanguinity meant that Manuel and Manuela were most likely blood relatives--specifically second cousins--and had to receive special permission from the Church before they could marry. If a pre-marriage investigation indicated the need for a marriage dispensation the parish priest started the process, which required an official written, witnessed, and signed explanation outlining the family relationships. Locating a document such as this would be a treasured find! Because marriage dispensations were usually granted by the diocesan bishop, the records most likely are found in the diocesan archive. (If you'd like to read more about marriage dispensations in Spanish research, check out the August 25, 2007 entry on Lynn Turner's blog.)

According to my initial locality and records survey, the diocesan archive in Santiago de Compostela opened in the late afternoon. Imagine our frustration when we arrived at the appointed hour only to find a locked door and a four hour differential! The information concerning the hours of operation, obtained via the archive's web site, did not reflect the change. We wasted a whole day waiting for the archive to open. The lesson learned from this experience? When you arrive in town, double-check the archive's hours before finalizing your research plan.