On 16 October 2011, the International Institute for Jewish Genealogy and Paul Jacobi Center (IIJG-PJC) fundedthe Sephardic Origins and Transformations in the Spanish Extremadura project that was conducted by Dr. Roger L. Martínez-Dávila. Over the course of two years, the researcher performed onsite archival, electronic, and text-based research on the late medieval Sephardic Jewish communities of the Spanish Extremadura. This research identified over 900 Jewish and converso (Jewish converts to Christianity) individuals who lived in-between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries of the common era. From this investigation, the researcher developed a genealogical database (a GEDCOM file) that was delivered to the IIJG-PJC on 17 June 2014.

The Sephardic Extremaduran Genealogical Database is an electronic file that reports the personal and familial background for Jewish, converso, and a few Christian individuals (who were closed associated with Jewish and converso persons). The file, or database, is a standardized GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunications. GEDCOM) format. The database was created using RootsMagic 6 (a Windows OS software application).

Some the characteristics of the Sephardic Extremaduran Genealogical Database include:

• 924 individuals,
• 123 families/surnames,
• Earliest date for an individual is 1153 C.E. (common era) and the latest is 1706 C.E.,
• 3,503 recorded life “events” – for example “living” in a particular village,
• 50 place locations,
• 28 primary and secondary sources, and
• 1,202 individual citations recorded.

Research Methods and Sources

Dr. Martínez conducted original research in Spain for this project, as well as employed three undergraduate students in the preparation of the database. Dr. Martínez wishes to acknowledge the important efforts of the following University of Colorado-Colorado Springs students: Ms. Kim Sweetwood, Mr. Andrew Roome, and Ms. Kelcey Vogel. The three primary methods of conducting research for this project included: Onsite review of manuscripts and documents in local municipal, ecclesiastical, and national archives in Spain,

• Electronic review of the Spanish Ministry of Educacion, Culture, and Sports online search tool for national and state archives (known as the Portal de Archivos Españoles, or PARES, http://pares.mcu.es/), and
• Textual review of printed primary and secondary sources.

Due to reduced funding for the project, as well as Dr. Martínez being denied access to cathedral archives in Plasencia (Spain) and Coria (Spain) because of church staffing limitations, project research and findings were scaled back. However, the delivered database (17 June 2014) included over 900 persons of Jewish and converso status. In limited cases, Christians closely-associated with Jewish and converso persons were included in the database as well.

The local Spanish institutions consulted onsite by Dr. Martinez included the Archivo Historico Municipal de Bejar, Museo Judio David Melul (Bejar, Spain), Archivo Historico Municipal de Coria, Archivo Historico Municipal de Ciudad Real, Archivo de la Catedral de Ciudad Real, Archivo Historico Municipal de Plasencia, Biblioteca del Seminario Mayor Diocesano de Plasencia, Archivo Historico Nacional (Madrid), and Archivo del Duque de Alba.

Via the the Portal de Archivos Españoles, the following archives were consulted: Archivo General Simancas (AGS) – Valladolid, Archivo del Duque de Alba, Archivo de la Real Chancilleria de Valladolid, Archivo Historico Nacional (Madrid), and Archivo Historico Nacional-Sección Nobleza (Toledo). Dr. Martinez consulted multiple printed primary and secondary sources as well.

1) Project Report: Sephardic Origins and Transformations in the Spanish Extremadura

2)  Project overview, database overview, User Guide and Q&A

NOTE:  The following 3 files (Nos. 3-5) all contain the same database information, in different applications.

3)  Internet-based version of the Sephardic Extremaduran Genealogical Database, searchable by subject.

The following 2 files require genealogical software. If you do not have such software on your computer, you may download a free trial version of  RootsMagic Software before attempting to open the files.

4)  IIJG Sephardic Extremaduran Gen Database.ged

5)  IIJG Sephardic Extremaduran Gen Database.rmgc