Land Grants (sesmarias), 1742 - 1746

This volume contains land grant (sesmarias) records from 1742 to 1746. Petitioners include: Lieutenant (Alferes) Pedro Soares da Silva, Lieutenant (Alferes) Thomaz Dinis da Penha, Antonio Pimentel de Araújo, Commissary (Comissário) Theodozio Alves de Figueiredo, Captain Antonio Guedes Alcanforado, Alferes João Gomes de Mello, Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Fernandes da Cunha, Antonio D”Araujo Frazão, Cosme Dias de Araujo, Reverend Father Miguel Rodrigues Sepulvida (Presbyter of the Order of Saint Peter), and others. The requests came from residents in the captaincy of Paraíba, specifically from the sertão de Cariri, Serra da Borborema, sertão de Sabugi, sertão de Piranhas, sertão de Seridó, Serra do Patú, among others. Reasons given for requesting the land include discovering lands at own cost; the need for more land to raise livestock, horses, and other animals; the need for more land for subsistence crops. Lands were destined to raising livestock, horses, and other animals and planting of corn, legumes, and other plants. Land Grants (Sesmarias) were given in the sertão do Cariri, the sertão de Siridó, sertão de Sabugi, Serra do Patú and others. Lots were three leagues wide and one long. Lands were defined as fallow or owned through donation. Donations were made under the administration of Pedro Monteiro de Macedo (1742).

Created by the Paraíba Captaincy's Government.

Extent and format of original material: 1 manuscript volume of 229 folios, in addition to front and back covers. . Manuscript book, with non-original hardcover. Severely damaged by insects and iron gall ink. Folios 1-7 are missing. Volume is numerated through folio 223, though written information ends on folio 220.

Creator (Author): Capitão mor Pedro Monteiro de Macedo.