Hello! I am currently searching information on my 4th great-grandfather, Rafael Sanchez Cruz born sometime in 1820. I found him in the 1910 census for Angeles de Utuado listed as 'negro' and in the 1920 for Angeles again as 'mulato'. It also appears that he owned alot of property.

He married for the second time to Maria Hernandez Gonzalez around 1854 (according to the 1910 census) and they had 17 children together; one of which is my 3rd great grandmother Cornelia Sanchez Hernandez born around 1870.

I wonder, since Rafael was born so early in the 1800s, if he was a slave. If he was a slave, could he have married Maria (who is listed as 'blanca')? Where would I go to find out the possible marriage record as well as any possible records pertaining to slavery in Angeles de Utuado prior to 1872? How can I find out how he acquired his land?

All my information has come from Puerto Rican censuses the U.S. took and I have no idea where to start looking to find information about him and his family in records when the island was under Spain. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Andre