Gomes (João)

It is not certain whether he came to this archipelago as one of its ancient settlers or was born on this island. He is mentioned in various places as João Gomes da Ilha and also as João Gomes o Trovador, as he cultivated poetry with distinction, with thirteen of his compositions found in the Cancioneiro de Garcia de Resende. He married D. Guiomar Ferreira in Funchal, the daughter of Gonçalo Aires Ferreira, the well-known companion of Gonçalves Zarco. He had sesmaria lands on the banks of the river that took his name and still retains the name of João Gomes. He was a page to Infante D. Henrique and died in the year 1495. He was one of the first in this archipelago to use the surname of his name.