Bemposta

A locality (sítio) in the parish (freguesia) of Água de Pena. It was the seat of the entailed estate (morgadio) founded by João Afonso Escudeiro in 1512. He was a native of mainland Portugal, the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal), and came to this island around 1450. He was of noble descent, and his rank as a fidalgo (nobleman of the lesser nobility) was recognised here. He died in 1512 at an advanced age, and by a will made on 21 June of that year he founded the entail of Bemposta (‘well placed’), in the parish of Água de Pena, and that of São Lázaro, in the parish of Santa Cruz (‘Holy Cross’). The first administrator of the entailed estate of Bemposta was Dona Catarina Anes Escudeiro, daughter of José Afonso, who married Lopo Franco de Monção, so called because he was a native of the town (vila) of that name. He came to Madeira around 1480, and in 1515 he was the first judge of the Council (juiz da câmara) of Santa Cruz. He was succeeded in the administration of the entailed estate of Bemposta by his son João Franco, and in the quinta (country estate) and chantry (capela) of São Lázaro by a daughter named Maria Franco. The third administrator of the entailed estate of Bemposta was Diogo Lopes Tavares, who also inherited the entail of São Lázaro, because Dona Maria Franco had died without issue. This family had a family vault in the old convent of Santa Cruz, where until not many years ago its tombstone could still be seen, bearing a shield with the arms of the Tavares and Borralho families.