Notaries
Original title: Notários
Notes on the notarial service in Madeira, highlighting the large number of notaries in Funchal in 1579 and their reduction by Cardinal-King D. Henrique.
The notarial service in this archipelago must surely have followed the same stages as in mainland Portugal, the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal), apart from any modifications that local circumstances made advisable. It is nevertheless interesting to note here that in 1579 Funchal had no fewer than 21 court notaries, 8 notaries of deeds and 6 inquirers – truly extraordinary for a population that, across the whole island, then amounted to some twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Let us hear Frutuoso: ‘And because in Funchal, the city that his forebears (of the 5th captain-donatary (capitão-donatário)) founded, there were twenty-one court notaries and eight notaries of deeds and six inquirers, King Henry saw fit, in the year 1579, for certain reasons that moved him to it and for the better service of God, to reduce them to ten court clerks, four notaries and three inquirers, who now serve (in 1590)....’
It should be noted that in the seats of the other captaincies and in the towns already created by then – Machico, Santa Cruz, Ponta do Sol, Calheta and Porto Santo – there were also officers of justice with the same duties as those in Funchal. Within the jurisdiction of Funchal, Cardinal Henry reduced the number of clerks from 35 to 17!
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02Place
Places mentioned · 06
- Calheta
Town with its own justice officers.
Calheta is a town, parish and municipality on Madeira's south-west coast and one of the island's oldest settlements. The Elucidário covers its name, early settlers such as Pedro Berenguer, its church and many chapels, including one of a former Franciscan convent, and the 1834 riot.
- Funchal
City with an unusually large number of notaries in 1579.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Machico
Town with its own justice officers.
The parish of Machico was the landing place of the discoverers Zargo and Tristão Vaz and the seat of the captaincy of Machico; the parish was founded c. 1450. The Elucidário covers its clergy and stipends, chapels, historical events, mineral springs, localities, population and notable natives.
- Ponta do Sol
Town with its own justice officers.
South-coast parish and municipality, settled from about 1440 by Rodrigo Enes 'o Coxo'. Its parish church of Nossa Senhora da Luz holds a triptych. The Elucidário also records its quay of 1848, paid for by the council, and the royal visit of 1858.
- Porto Santo
Captaincy seat with its own justice officers.
An island of the archipelago, settled alongside Madeira and forming one of the three captaincies. It has always constituted a single parish, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, whose church was repeatedly sacked. The Elucidário records the Moorish pirate raid of 1617, its own Misericórdia and a rainwater channel built on this drought-prone island.
- Santa Cruz
Town with its own justice officers.
Santa Cruz is a parish and one of Madeira's oldest settlements, named after a cross Zarco had raised there at the discovery. The Elucidário covers its early ecclesiastical history, collegiate church, chapels, noble settlers and localities.
People
People mentioned · 02- Gaspar Frutuoso1522–1591
Chronicler quoted on the number of Funchal notaries.
- Henry the Navigator1394–1460
Cardinal-King who in 1579 reduced Funchal's judicial officers from 35 to 17.