Hi Karen H, Some widely accepted acronyms in the genealogy community are FHC for Family History Center, FHL for Family History Library (usually in reference to Salt Lake). These records are sponsor by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or LDS. Not sure what you mean my FDS.
Most all FHC have helpful staff. Most have been trained. That doesn't mean that you will walk in on the shift that they let the new person try it on their own or you catch someone on a bad day. Overall most are helpful. I don't know where you live or which is your nearest FHC. If your nearest FHC is Los Angeles, they have some Sao Miguel and some Sao Jorge film. If your nearest is Oakland, CA, they have a lot of Azorean film. If your nearest is North Dartmouth, MA they have ALL the Azorean film. If your nearest is Omaha, NE, they probably have nothing and you'll have to order it. The person on staff there probably will not know much about Portuguese genealogy either. The records go as far back as the Genealogy Society of Utah was allowed to film. You check the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). Pick Place-Names and type in the freguesia. After a few letters, it will start to guess what you are typing. Pick your freguesia, click on Church Records, then Registos Paroquias, and you will see what was filmed for baptisms, marriages, and deaths. https://familysearch.org/#form=catalog You provided a screen shot of what looks like an index from a search on the Family Search Web site. You would have to call your local FHC to see if they have that film on site or not. This appears to be a city or state civil record. That's the way the recorded them in Mass back then. Personally, I'd write to the church where that couple married. Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
