Much of the information presented in this book is derived from the Mosteiro Parish Register of baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Not only are the entries in the Parish Register consecutive without interruption from 1870 through 1978, but the entries themselves are extraordinarily detailed. Baptismal entries, for instance, include various particulars concerning the birth and baptism of the child, its legal status (legitimate or illegitimate), as well as the names, occupations, and hamlets of origin of the child's parents and both sets of grandparents. The chosen godparents are also noted along with their marital statuses, occupations, and hamlets of origin. I have transcribed below the texts of four entries exactly as they appear in the Parish Register: a baptismal entry for a legitimate child, a baptismal entry for an illegitimate child, a marriage entry, and a death entry. Beneath each transcription I have included an English translation.

Following each transcription I have also compiled an outline of precisely how I copied all of the entries for Fontelas. Also included below, then, are translations of the four entries' basic skeletal structures following each sample entry. Although throughout this study I have used pseudonyms, here I have copied all names in these sample entries (with the exception only of the place names ‘Fontelas’, ‘Mosteiro’, and the municipality of ‘M’.) exactly as they appear in the Parish Register. I have also added punctuation in the English translations to assist in the reading of the texts. I copied most of the entries in handwriting, following a specific pattern that would later make it easy to locate individuals quickly.