How to find your Ancestors

So you want to trace your roots? You can have your own reasons to do so. For legal, cultural or just curiosity. But I should give you a word of warning first. It may be possible that while researching your own background, this might lead to some disappointments or bad surprises. For instance, you may discover that your ancestor did not share your religious beliefs. So, discretion is advised and it will be better if you keep the information away from sensitive persons.

If you are already in Mauritius the first step is to go the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (Mahatma Gandhi Avenue Moka, Mauritius, Phone No:(230) 403 2000, Fax No:(230) 433 2235).

To find your ancestors, it is essential that you have the Immigrant Number. Without this, you can do nothing.

Now, let us consider the following scenarios:

You do not currently have the Immigrant Number Go to your Civil Status Office and tell the officer that you are researching on your ancestors and you need either of these documents: birth certificate of all your grandparents, death certificate of all your grandparents or marriage certificate of all your grandparents. The Immigrant Number will be present on these documents. Please note that by all grandparents it is meant that grandparents dating back till 1843. If the officer is a capable officer then it should be done quickly.

Else, if you have title deeds of any property that you think may lead to your ancestor then you can normally find the Immigrant Number on it. You may find title deeds at the Registrar General Office (6th Floor Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Cnr SSR & Jules Koenig Streets, Port Louis, Mauritius, Tel : (230) 201 1740. Fax : (230) 208 0662). Note that a fee around Rs100 is applicable.

You are a Mauritian and you believe your ancestors are of Indian Origin You must get a certified document of your ancestral arrival either from: Mahatma Gandhi Institute, National Archives and Passport Office.

You believe your ancestor was an indentured labourer between 1842 and 1910 You must contact Mahatma Gandhi Institute Immigration Archives for a certified document provided the relevant documents and information required are submitted (for instance: Immigrant Number).

Your ancestor came after 1902 You must contact the Passport Office for the required relevant documents – date of arrival, passport if any, and passport number or any other documents testifying this arrival. (Passport & Immigration Office, Sterling House, 9-11, Lislet Geoffroy Street, Port Louis, Telephone No : - (230) 210 9312, Fax No : - (230) 210 9322, E-Mail Address : piomain@mail.gov.mu)

Your ancestor was a Free Indian Immigrant between 1826 and 1902 The solution is to contact the National Archives (Development Bank of Mauritius Complex, Coromandel - Mauritius, Tel: (+230) 233-2791/(+230) 233-2170, Fax No. (+230) 233-4299, E-mail: arc@mail.gov.mu)

Also, you can retrieve information about your ancestors' arrival in the registers containing lists of passengers in the custody of the National Archives. You must obligatory possess any of these documents:

• Identification number of the passenger found on the birth certificate of the children of the passenger or any other travelling documents like Certificate of Arrival at port OR Passport.
• Appropriate year of his arrival. Note: Immigrants arriving after 1902 can retrieve information about their ancestors at the Passport Office in the records passenger lists inwards.

Moreover, you can try your luck with the following site if your ancestor was a slave under the British Colonial Dependencies, 1812-1834: Ancestry

This article will soon cover a detailed example with pictures.