The volume contains land grant (sesmaria) records from 1789 to 1808. Petitioners include: Theodozio da Costa Ferreira, Mathias Denis da Fonseca, Cosme da Costa Ferreira, Nicolao da Costa Ferreira, Maria de Caldas Neves, Jeronimo da Veiga Cabral, Francisco Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, Sergeant-Major (sargento-mor) Jozé Thomás Antunes, Antonio Ferreira, João Roiz Moreira Chaves, Joze de Castro Lima, Padre Pedro de Almeida de Azevedo Coutinho, Luzia de Jezus and Ms. Josefa Francisca de Medeiros, João do Rego Toscano, and others. Requests came from the captaincy of Paraíba. Reasons given for requesting land include the discovery of lands at own cosst, the need for more land for livestock, fallow lands adjacent to existing property, and the need for more land for crops. Lands granted were destined to raising livestock, planting crops, and feeding one's wife, children, and slaves. Lands were granted in Piancó's brook (ribeira), sertão of the Peixe river, along the Curimatau river, Cariri de Fora's brook (ribeira), Areal, Lagoa do Piriri, Parahiba's brook (ribeira) (Curado do Bom Jardim, Termo da Villa Real de São João do Cariri de Fora). Lands were described as fallow, possessed through purchase, and possessed through donation. Donations were granted under the administrations of Jerônimo Joze de Mello e Castro (1789) and Fernando Delgado Freire de Castilho (1794 -1806).
Created by the Paraíba Captaincy's Government.
Extent and format of original material: 1 volume of 329 folios, in addition to front and back cover. Manuscript book, with non-original hardcover. Severely damaged by acidity of the paper and iron gall ink. Most folios are torn. Folios 1 and 2 are missing.
Creator (Author): Jerônimo Joze de Mello e Castro, Fernando Delgado Freire de Castilho.
