Heritage Album

How do I trace my ancestors in Mexico?

My great-grandmother came to the U.S. from Mexico (legally for you trolls) from around Ciudad Victoria/Monterrey with my grandmother (age 13) over 50 years ago. My great-grandmother refused to tell my grandmother who her father was or even his name. She took it to her grave. My great-grandmother married an American after she got here, and so did my grandmother. I know almost nothing about my family in Mexico. My grandmother still speaks to some of her cousins, but she keeps her family there and her family here separate. I'm not concerned so much with family secrets as much as just connecting some dots, getting as much of my family tree as possible. Where would I even start? The last names I have are Morales and Rodriguez, which are pretty much the same as "Smith" and "Jones" I have no idea where to begin.

Public Comments

1. Contact the catholic church district of Ciudad Victoria/Monterrey ask about birth certificates or baptism
2. You can find lots of good information on researching your Mexican roots by going to Cyndi's List at: http://www.cyndislist.com/hispanic.htm But, first you might hit the jackpot by going to the LDS pilot site. You can search the 1930 Mexican Census under the category "Census and Lists". I believe you have to list the town and state, but you kniow that info. Also, they are working on the Baptism,Burial, Marriage Records for Mexico from 1700-1900 and the ones transcribed are online now under the category "Vital Records" (on the left side of the homepage) http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html# If your relatives entered the U.S. legally, ancestry.com has the Border Crossing Records online and you might be able to find the record of your ggrandmother and grandmother entering the U.S. I know you are working w/ common surnames, but you still may be able to pick out the proper family???? Email me privately, if you would like me to check the border crossing info.:) Also, as Kosho said in the first response, the Catholic Church has many records and is a good resource, as well.
3. Try Genes reunited as there are people using that site from all over the world!
4. You need your mother's baptismal certificate. If you can get her to tell you the parish where she was baptized, you can write to them for her baptismal certificate and any records that they would have on her parents. There were never good civil registers kept in Mexico until the 1940s. Anything that is of value to a genealogist is best found in the Catholic sacramental registers. They were the best record-keepers in Latin America