Vieira
Entry on the Vieira surname in Madeira, described by Frutuoso as a noble family, noting sixteenth-century members and later branches from the Azores.
According to Frutuoso, it is the surname of a fidalgo (nobleman of the lesser nobility) and noble family. In 1566 two members lived in Funchal: Manuel Vieira, syndic (síndico, lay agent managing a religious house's property) of the nuns of the Convent of St Clare (Santa Clara), and a certain Favila Vieira, whom Frutuoso describes as a fidalgo. At about the same time a fidalgo named António Vieira held the office of bailiff (meirinho) of the jurisdiction of Machico; he married a daughter of the donatary (donatário) Diogo Teixeira. There are other branches of the Vieira family, two of which came from the Azores. One of them appeared in Madeira in the second quarter of the 19th century; the other began with Manuel Vieira de Afonseca, a native of the island of Terceira, who was clerk of the Council (escrivão da Câmara) of Funchal.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02Place
Places mentioned · 05
Abroad
- Azores
Portugal. Origin of two later branches of the family.
The Azores, an Atlantic archipelago that shares plant species with Madeira. The Elucidário records settlement there by Madeiran families such as the Bettencourts, the 1801 ban on Azorean wines in Madeira, and imports of Azorean tobacco. It also notes that Azorean farmers were brought to Madeira to teach maize-growing methods.
- Convent of St Clare
Funchal. Convent whose nuns Manuel Vieira served as syndic.
A convent in Funchal founded in 1492–97 by the second captain-donatary João Gonçalves da Câmara beside the church of Conceição de Cima. It is the burial place of the Câmara family and holds a 1447 document spelling the name 'Zargo'. It was granted in 1912 for a new hospital and was later chosen to house the archaeological museum.
- Funchal
Where members of the family lived in 1566.
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
Jurisdiction where António Vieira was bailiff.
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.
- Terceira
Portugal. Birthplace of Manuel Vieira de Afonseca.
An Azorean island that served as the Liberal base where D. Pedro's expedition assembled and from which the force occupying Porto Santo came. Nicolau Pita was banished there, João Bettencourt de Vasconcellos was executed there and Acursio Garcia Ramos was born there.
People
People mentioned · 05-
Nobleman and bailiff of the Machico jurisdiction who married a daughter of the donatary Diogo Teixeira.
- Diogo Teixeirad. 1540
Captain-donatary of Machico whose daughter married António Vieira.
- Gaspar Frutuoso1522–1591
Azorean chronicler cited as the source for the Vieiras' noble status.
- Manuel José Vieira1836–1912
Syndic of the Santa Clara nuns living in Funchal in 1566.
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Native of Terceira, clerk of the Funchal council and founder of an Azorean branch of the family.