Paraíba
Item
Country
PT
Name of institution (English)
Overseas Historical Archive
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
por
Contact information: postal address
Calçada da Boa-Hora 30, 1300-095 Lisbon
Contact information: phone number
00351 210 30 91 00
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
ahu@ahu.dglab.gov.pt
Reference number
PT/AHU/CU/014
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Paraíba
Title (official language of the state)
Paraíba
Language of title
por
Creator / accumulator
Conselho Ultramarino
Date(s)
1593/1826
Language(s)
por
Extent
50 boxes, and 3523 documents
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Paraíba sub-collection is part of the Conselho Ultramarino (Overseas Council) fonds. This institution had jurisdiction over all overseas territories of the Portuguese Empire. The fonds includes numerous letters, royal orders, and documentation exchanged between the Overseas Council and other institutions of the monarchy. This collection, in particular, contains various documentation concerning the Portuguese colonial administration of Paraíba.
Among the numerous documents in this collection, a few contain information relating to Portuguese New Christians. Some examples are the following:
CU/014/0006/00437, May 15, 1725: Letter from the "ouvidor-geral" (royal official with jurisdiction over justice and law-related matters) of Paraíba, Manuel da Fonseca e Silva, to King João V of Portugal (1689-1750), complaining about the behaviour of the "vigário-geral" (general-vicar, a catholic official with jurisdiction over a broad range of matters, immediately under the authority of a bishop) of the captaincy of Paraíba. This document is relevant because it relates to a denunciation made by António da Silva e Melo, who occupied the position of general-vicar of Paraíba in 1726, against the New Christians of that captaincy. The denunciation was sent to the Lisbon inquisitors. See Feitler (2003), p. 56.
CU/014/0009/00773, February 28, 1735: Petition sent by Cosme Peres de Gusmão to King João V, asking permission to practice law in Paraíba and Pernambuco without renewing his license. The Peres de Gusmão were members of an important New Christian family in Brazil with strong ties to the colonial government. Cosme occupied different positions in the region's courts, and he was known as one of the most reputable lawyers in the area. He held the post of "procurador da Coroa" (Crown's representative), as his father had done before him for eleven years. See Feitler (2003), pp. 232-233.
Among the numerous documents in this collection, a few contain information relating to Portuguese New Christians. Some examples are the following:
CU/014/0006/00437, May 15, 1725: Letter from the "ouvidor-geral" (royal official with jurisdiction over justice and law-related matters) of Paraíba, Manuel da Fonseca e Silva, to King João V of Portugal (1689-1750), complaining about the behaviour of the "vigário-geral" (general-vicar, a catholic official with jurisdiction over a broad range of matters, immediately under the authority of a bishop) of the captaincy of Paraíba. This document is relevant because it relates to a denunciation made by António da Silva e Melo, who occupied the position of general-vicar of Paraíba in 1726, against the New Christians of that captaincy. The denunciation was sent to the Lisbon inquisitors. See Feitler (2003), p. 56.
CU/014/0009/00773, February 28, 1735: Petition sent by Cosme Peres de Gusmão to King João V, asking permission to practice law in Paraíba and Pernambuco without renewing his license. The Peres de Gusmão were members of an important New Christian family in Brazil with strong ties to the colonial government. Cosme occupied different positions in the region's courts, and he was known as one of the most reputable lawyers in the area. He held the post of "procurador da Coroa" (Crown's representative), as his father had done before him for eleven years. See Feitler (2003), pp. 232-233.
Archival history
The Conselho Ultramarino (Overseas Council) archive had different locations in Lisbon. The archive moved to Campo Santana, near the city centre, in 1750. It was relocated to a building in Rua do Ouro in 1796 and later to another in Rua Augusta. Later, the archive moved to Terreiro do Paço, where the Conselho Ultramarino was located. In 1834, still quite disorganised, the archive was placed in the Secretaria de Estado dos Negócios da Marinha e Ultramar (Secretariat of State of Navy and Overseas). In 1842, Filipe Roberto Da Silva Stockler, former archivist of the Conselho Ultramarino, was charged with organising the archive.
In 1931, the documents of the Conselho Ultramarino fonds were transferred to the Arquivo Histórico Colonial (Colonial Historical Archive), later renamed Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Overseas Historical Archive). The archive was placed in Palácio da Eva in Junqueira, Belém (west of Lisbon). After that, some other fonds produced by the Conselho Ultramarino were added to the archive collection, namely some that were in the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (National Archive of Torre do Tombo).
In 1931, the documents of the Conselho Ultramarino fonds were transferred to the Arquivo Histórico Colonial (Colonial Historical Archive), later renamed Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Overseas Historical Archive). The archive was placed in Palácio da Eva in Junqueira, Belém (west of Lisbon). After that, some other fonds produced by the Conselho Ultramarino were added to the archive collection, namely some that were in the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (National Archive of Torre do Tombo).
Administrative / Biographical history
The Conselho Ultramarino (Overseas Council) was regulated on July 14, 1642, and instituted one year later. This body was responsible for all affairs related to the Portuguese overseas territories. Its duties included the financial (with jurisdiction over all assets of Portuguese colonies, except the Azores, Madeira, and North African territories), judicial and military administration, the regulation of shipping, the appointment to overseas positions, and the attribution of benefits for services rendered in colonial territories. Later, some of these duties were transferred to the Junta do Comércio, Agricultura, Fábricas e Navegação (Board of Trade, Agriculture, Industry and Navigation) and the Conselho do Almirantado (Council of the Admiralty) after their creation in 1755 and 1795, respectively.
During the period in which the Portuguese court was in Brazil (1808-20), the activity of the Conselho Ultramarino was reduced to routine procedures, such as the payment of wages or issuing licenses. Then, the Mesa do Desembargo do Paço e da Consciência e Ordens, created in Rio de Janeiro in 1808, assumed some of the functions of the Conselho Ultramarino and other state bodies. The Conselho Ultramarino was abolished on August 30, 1833.
During the period in which the Portuguese court was in Brazil (1808-20), the activity of the Conselho Ultramarino was reduced to routine procedures, such as the payment of wages or issuing licenses. Then, the Mesa do Desembargo do Paço e da Consciência e Ordens, created in Rio de Janeiro in 1808, assumed some of the functions of the Conselho Ultramarino and other state bodies. The Conselho Ultramarino was abolished on August 30, 1833.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Access, restrictions
Digital copies are available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino | Collections (official language of the state) |