How should I start researching my Cuban ancestry?

Question

Hello! My family comes from Cuba and Puerto Rico. While I haven't had much trouble researching my Puerto Rican family, the Cuban side has proven difficult for me to break through. I know from a US census record that my second great-grandfather, Ramon Nunez, had a father from Spain and a mother from Cuba. I've had no success in finding his father, which I believe could result in a huge breakthrough for my research. So, where should I start? Any advice is welcome.

Answer 1

I suspect the political relationship between the United States and Cuba has had an adverse impact on the ability to do genealogical research in Cuba.

I looked in the Family Search catalog, and there are very few church records which would be critical for research in Cuba. The links for how to find birth, marriage and death records have no information. The Family Search Wiki does have some suggestions for research. You can get to this from the help link on Family Search. Some sources are on microfilm, but have not been digitized.

Edit

This link was posted on g2g last year https://newsarchives.fiu.edu/2015/06/cuban-equivalent-of-ancestry-com-a-boon-to-family-historians

Answer 2

Hello Ramon

If you have your great-grandfather's name, city of birth, birth date, you may be able to acquire his military record from Patrimonio cultural del Ministerio de Defensa.  Spain required young men over 18 to join the military.  I just got the military records for my great-uncle from 1930.

If you do not have his name, then try acquiring your great-grandfather's death certificate.  Normally it has the names of parents.

Answer 3

I just posted a few links. but here is a place to start:

https://cubangenclub.org/index.php