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Studia Rosenthaliana, Volume 34, Number 1, 2000

(1 of 2) Notarial Records relating to the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam before 1639 ¹

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No. 3499

Anna Jans, widow of Willem Claesz, living in Amsterdam, declares that she owes Samuel de Leon the sum of 70 guilders as the remainder of a larger sum concerning the sale and delivery of tobacco. She promises to repay 6 guilders a week, starting from 8 January 1627.

1627 January 3

Not. Arch. 394A, fol. 3

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.²

No. 3500

At the request of Thomas Nunes Pina, merchant in Amsterdam, the notary asks Jan Gerritsz Kinckhuijsen, merchant in Amsterdam, broker Hans Verschuere and Manuel Pinto, Portuguese in Amsterdam, whether they know that Francisco Lopes Gomes, Portuguese merchant, formerly residing in Lisbon, is now trading in Amsterdam and whether they are willing to declare what they know about this. Pinto declares that for some of time he and Cornelis Jansen Melcknap, sworn broker in Amsterdam, helped to negotiate an exchange agreement between Gomes and Lenart Lenartsz, merchant in Amsterdam. The agreement concerned 13 pipes of oil at 76 pounds Flemish a barrel, that Lenart Lenartsz delivered to Gomes, in exchange for a silver jug and some pieces of processed silver with a consignment of money that Gomes delivered to Lenartsz. The exchanged goods were worth 500 pounds Flemish. Before this he helped to negotiate some other exchange agreements between Gomes and other merchants in Amsterdam concerning paper, perpetuana and other goods. Kinckhuijsen declares that about a year and a half earlier he had sold a consignment of linen worth 1,500 guilders to Gomes in Amsterdam. Hans Verschuere declares that some time ago he had negotiated an exchange of goods as sworn broker and that he had been requested to do some others transactions and that Gomes is a peculiar person and is difficult to negotiate with. At the request of Pina, the notary declares that in August 1625 Gomes sold and delivered a string of pearls at 1,180 guilders to Johan Vernadt in Amsterdam. Later, when Vernadt left, the affair was settled through the intervention of himself and of Izak Florianus between Gomes’s brother and Philibert Vernadt, brother of Johan Vernadt. Gomes received the sum of 800 guilders for this string of pearls, paid in installments.

1627 January 5

Not. Arch. 633, f. 129-129v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3501

Pieter Mefferdt, manufacturer of playing cards and Simao Vas de Fontes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, make the following contract of sale in advance. Starting 1 January 1627 Meffert will deliver at the end of every month 32 dozen Spanish playing cards at a price of 30 stivers a dozen for a period of two years. Mefferdt has 90 or 92 dozen ready that he may deliver immediately instead of the 64 dozen that are due for the first two months at the end of March. During these two years Mefferdt is not allowed to make or to have Spanish cards made for others, to sell them or have them sold at a fine of 100 guilders to the benefit of the poor. Should either party fail to deliver or receive and pay, he will have to pay the other party a fine of 50 guilders, and he will have to comply with the contract if that is what the other party desires. Valerius van der Hoeven and Thomas Fernandes Junior stand surety for Pieter Mefferdt and Simao Vas de Fontes respectively.

1627 January 7

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 10-10v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3502

Copy of the will of Jozef Nahemias, alias Gaspar Nunes Torres, dated 26 October 1626. He appoints his brother Jacob Nahemias Torres, alias Antonio Nunes Torres and Jacob Israel Dias, alias Gonsalo Dias Pato as the executors of his will.

He bequeaths a silver lamp that is used by the Beth Jacob congregation to the same. He leaves to his wife Reijna Nahemias 1,200 pounds Flemish and half of all gold and silver jewellery, in addition to what is due to her in the ketuba: he leaves the other half to his daughter Judica Nahemias Torres. He leaves to the congregations Beth Israel and Neve Salom 20 guilders each for escava to be divided among the poor. He leaves 1,500 guilders to his late brother Manuel Lopes’s daughter, living in Livorno, for her dowry. He leaves to her brother Daniel, his nephew, 500 guilders for the necessary medicine for his mother. He leaves to the two daughters of his late brother Matthias Lopes 1,000 guilders each for their dowries. He leaves to each of the three daughters of his brother Jacob Nahemias Torres 1,000 guilders for their dowry. He leaves to the four sons of his sister Violante Nunes and Abraham Navarro 400 guilders each and additional 10 guilders to her eldest son Izak Navarro. To the daughter of his niece Felipa Nunes in Lisbon he leaves 3,000 guilders for her dowry. To the daughter of his cousin Clara Nunes, wife of Vastanho, he leaves 300 guilders for her dowry.

To the three daughters of his cousin Maria Nunes, who are living with her mother, the daughter of Manuel Laurenço in Amsterdam, 50 pounds Flemish each. To the daughter of Ergas and his cousin Ilena Nunes he leaves 40 pounds Flemish for her dowry.

To the three daughters of his cousin Sebastiao Nunes 500 guilders each. To Izak de Jonge, who is growing up in his house, 2,000 guilders. To his nieces, daughters of Felipa Nunes 120 guilders each for their marriage. To his nieces, daughters of his cousin Beatrix Nunes, wife of Laurenço Rodrigues, 120 guilders each for their marriage. He leaves 40 pounds Flemish to the poor of Amsterdam. He leaves to his niece Francisca Nunes, who is daughter of his sister Rodriga Nunes, and married to Vasco de Mesquita, 150 guilders. To his nephew Francisco Nunes, son of his sister Rodriga Nunes, he leaves 150 guilders. To his cousin Izak Israel Nunes, alias Domingos Nunes 100 guilders that will be administered for him by Diego Fernandes Dias.

He appoints his daughter Judica Nahemias Torres as his principal heir. He wishes her to marry his cousin David Nahemias Torres, son of Jacob Nahemias Torres, alias Antonio Nunes Torres. In which case he will give David Nahemias Torres 500 pounds Flemish. Should the relatives to whom he leaves a gift for their marriage, remain single, these gifts will remain with his daughter Judica. A sum of 1,000 crusados (400 pounds Flemish) will have to be used to set up a fund, the proceeds of which should be used to support his relatives or for gifts at their marriage.

Witnesses are Rodrigo Fernandes, alias Abraham Navarro, Samuel Israel Dias, Izak Israel Dias, David (Israel) Dias, Jacob Baruch, Daniel Nunes, Jacob (Fernandes) Burgos and Izak Navarro. On 26 October 1626 Gaspar Nunes Torres ratifies his testament in the presence of Gaspar Febos, Daniel Nunes, Matias Rodrigues Cardoso and Jozua Egas as witnesses. He wants his wife Rifica Nahemias Torres to be the guardian of his daughter Judica.

1627 January 10

Not. Arch. 633, f. 134-135

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3503

Isabel Rodrigues, widow of Manuel Rodrigues de Olivença, assisted by her son Jacob Messia, conveys to Diego Nunes Belmonte an insurance of 225 pounds Flemish in a policy of 350 pounds Flemish, the rest of which concerns another person. The insurance was taken out on money and goods loaded in Salé for the journey to Amsterdam in two ships. These ships are De Bloempot with Skipper Abraham Jansen and De Blauwe Duif with Skipper Aert Ariaensen. The insurance was underwritten by the following insurers.

Willem and Henk de Vries for 100 pounds, Jean le Roux for 100 pounds, Fernando de la Faille, Michel Cornelisz Blau and David Otsenborn each for 50 pounds. She further conveys to Belmonte her share in 20 cases of muscovado sugar that are in the hands of Manuel Esteves in Hamburg and further all securities that are administered by Aron Querido in Salé.

These conveyances serve in payment and reduction of 2,666 guilders and 9 stivers that Belmonte paid for her to her son Izak Messia. Witness is Jacob Jesurun.

1627 January 15

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 29-29v.

Not. Jacob and Nicoleas Jacobs

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3504

Guillaume Quibors, serge worker, 67 years old, makes the following statement at the request of Felipe Dorta Henriques, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. All serge workers who work outside the house of their employer, are given money by him to buy two warp frames and to pay for the spinning and combing. If the serge worker quits his master’s employment, he will have to pay this money back. This money is reserved for the serge worker as wages because the masters, besides bringing each piece of serge to their homes, pay their serge workers for their labour and give them money to buy a new warp frame. These conditions were also drawn up in his presence between the said Henriques and Sijdrach Danielsz, also serge worker, who was employed by Henriques. On 22 January 1627 Aron de Pas, Portuguese merchant, 28 years old, declares, also at the request of Henriques, that he was present when this contract was drawn up between Henriques and Danielsz. Henriques then provided Danielsz with two warp frames and money for the spinning and combing of two pieces. Danielsz still owes the greater part of this money.

1627 January 18

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 38-38v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.²

No. 3505

Willem Erick from Lübeck, aged 27, Claes Croon from Hamburg, aged 25 and Mattheus Vet from Hamburg, aged 25, skippers of the ships De Twaelf Apostelen, De Eenhooren and De Paerle respectively, make the following statement at the request of David Senior, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam.

On 10 August last they left from Lisbon with their ships, Willem Erick destined for Livorno, and the other two destined for Venice. After they had dropped anchor near Almeria, they were approached by captain Cornelisz Moens, who commanded a large man-of-war armed with 20 pieces and a crew of about 100 men, and by captain Anthony de Ledekerke, commander of a man-of-war with 10 pieces and a crew of about 60, who was accompanied by an English ship armed with 18 pieces and another six Dutch ships that were mostly well armed. When this fleet approached them, they neared the coast as much as they could. They were approached by a boat from this fleet twice and were ordered to come to the fleet, but they answered that they did not know if they were Moorish or what kind of ships they were. Then the whole fleet sailed up to them. When they saw this they went by boat to the man-of-war of Captain Moens who was the admiral of the fleet. When they showed him their passports he took over and occupied their ships. Their ships were looted and taken to Holland with the cargoes. The De Twaelf Apostelen arrived at Texel around 12 October last and was taken to Amsterdam. The ships were unloaded on the orders of the Admiralty and the goods were stored. Part of the goods from De Twaelf Apostelen was sold by the Admiralty.

1627 January 18

Not. Arch. 692B, p. 246-248

Not. Jan Warnaerts.

No. 3506

Wiggert Jansz, rope-maker, declares for himself and for Marry Jansz, Jan Olfert’s widow, to have sold to Jeronimo Rodrigues de Sousa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, 200 to 220 ship’s pounds of rope-work of genuine Westkappel yarn with the Amsterdam hallmark, smooth and well structured and tarred. The sellers will have to have half or more of this consignment ready as soon as the ice has melted and the rest a fortnight or three weeks later if the waterways remain open. The rope-work is to be shipped from Amsterdam to St Malo at the expense of the sellers, to be delivered there to the buyer’s agent. When news is received from St Malo that the rope-work has been delivered, the buyer will have to pay the sellers the sum of 33 guilders and 5 stivers for each ship’s pound of rope (reckoning 300 pounds as a ship’s pound). Juan Gonçales signs as broker.

1627 January 21

Not. Arch. 846, f. 32-33

Not. Jozef Steijns

No. 3507

Bartholomeus Sijmonsz and Hendrick Aggesz, rope-makers, sold to Jeronimo Rodrigues de Sousa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, 200 ship’s pounds of rope-work of genuine ‘Westkappel’ yarn with the Amsterdam hallmark, smooth and well structured and tarred. The sellers will have to have half or more ready as soon as the ice has melted and the remainder in a fortnight or three weeks after if the waterways remain open. The rope-work is to be shipped from Amsterdam to St Malo at the expense and risk of the sellers, to be delivered to the buyer’s agent there. When the message is received that the rope-work has been delivered, the buyer is to pay the sellers in Amsterdam the sum of 34 guilders for each ship’s pound, reckoning a ship’s pound as 300 pounds.

1627 January 21

Not. Arch. 846, f. 41-42

Not. Jozef Steijns

No. 3508

Notice served at the request of the Tobacco Impostmasters of Holland and West Friesland upon Emanuel Lopes de Lion, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. The Impostmasters request Emanuel Lopes de Lion to have the five casks of tobacco that he received from outside the city and the cask that he is to receive at the Weigh House of Amsterdam or at his own home, to be weighed by sworn weighers in the presence of the Impostmasters or their collector in accordance with the third article of the Ordinance on the strength of which this impost was leased out. De Lion answers that he will comply with the notice.

1627 January 29

Not. Arch. 846, f. 51

Not. Jozef Steijns.

No. 3509

Notice served at the request of Rodrigo Alvares de Pas, acting for his father Francisco de Pas, upon Pieter Seullijn, Jan Bicker and Bartolomeus Bertels, merchants in Amsterdam, who insured for the said Francisco de Pas hemp and other goods loaded in the ship of Skipper Goosen Gerritsz. The journey went from Danzig to Porto and the said hemp was unloaded in Hoorn and is now in the hands of Francisco Coutinho in Amsterdam. Coutinho keeps the hemp as security for the bail that he put up for the freight price that is claimed by the skipper, with whom he is involved in a litigation. De Pas requests that the insurers collect the hemp according to the abandonment made to them and to reach an agreement with Coutinho as if it were their own case, and requests them to allow him to transfer the policy to the Insurance Chamber to be dispatched.

1627 February 3

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 64

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3510

Notice served at the request of Barbara Thomasdr. upon Abraham da Costa, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. The rolls of tobacco that she bought from Da Costa at 1,400 guilders, of which the first payment of 350 guilders was made by her, are partly rotten and dried. She does not want to keep the tobacco and wants restitution of the sum she paid, with deduction of the tobacco that she sold, possibly to be determined by arbiters. Abraham da Costa acknowledges receipt of the notice.

1627 February 4

Not. Arch. 634, f. 7v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3511

Dr Joseph Bueno, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, serves the following notice upon Jan van Nudt. Van Nudt bought from Bueno 6 bags of Segovian wool at 600 guilders. Van Nudt was to pay immediately but failed to do so. On the day of the sale, contrary to good business practice, he obtained letters of cession from the High Council of Holland, which letters are only meant for those who suffered damage and loss but not for those who transfer goods in bad faith to others or embezzle them and thus commit fraud upon the legal owner. He notifies Van Nudt to restitute the wool to him or to pay immediately. Van Nudt’s servant asks for a copy of the notice.

1627 February 5

Not. Arch. 634, f. 8v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3512

Francisco de Caceres, 54 years old, burgher and Joao Rodrigues, 42 years old, inhabitant of Amsterdam, declare at the request of André Alvares that the said Alvares has lived in Amsterdam with his wife and children for more than 10 years. Some time ago, after his wife died, he made a trip to France and returned to his house and children in Amsterdam about two months ago. They have known Alvares for more than ten years and are well acquainted with him on the whole.

1627 February 15

Not. Arch. 394 A, f. 88

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3513

Pieter Jansen Flassenbaert, Walich Cornelissen and Wijer Janssen, living at Wieringen, declare, also in the name of their helpers, to have received 340 guilders from Sebastiao Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam.

This sum was awarded to them because of a verdict of arbiters Wessel Becker and Dirck de Leeu, merchants in Amsterdam for their trouble in salvaging the ship Sta Maria with Skipper Hendrick Schult from Lübeck and its cargo. This ship, coming from the Condado had been sailed aground at the northern side of ’t Vlaeck, ⁴ by a pilot from Huisduinen after which they raised the ship and its cargo and sailed it around Wieringen and then to Amsterdam.

1627 February 23

Not. Arch. 634, f. 20v.-21

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3514

John Stuart from Dumbarton (Scotland) declares he has reached an agreement with Jozef Justo, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, concerning his claims on the late Francisco de Pas, Justo’s father and Michael Cardoso and Rodrigo Alvares de Pas. It concerns expenses made by them for his ship on its journey to Malaga in 1623 and during his imprisonment there. He declares that Justo paid him a sum of 100 guilders.

1627 February 26

Not. Arch. 634, f. 32v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3515

Testament of Isabel Nunes, wife of Izak Chamis, living in Amsterdam in which she appoints her sister Francisca Rodrigues as her universal heiress.⁵

1627 March 5

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 133-133v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs

No. 3516

Statement made by Maria Nunes, Manuel Lourenço’s widow. After the death of her brother Gonçalo Lopes a sum of money was handed over to her brother-in-law Diogo Lopes Estonçes. Moreover the late Gaspar Nunes Torres gave him a little money for some raisins (?)⁶ on the orders of Gaspar Nunes Castello. On 26 January last the said Estonçes gave her all the money, capital as well as interest through the intermediary of Diogo Fernandes Dias. She paid this sum to Dr Diogo Lopes Telles together with the value of 500 crusados for the account of her brother Antonio Nunes de Oliveira on 25 February last, all this for the marriage of her daughter Rachel. She declares that the said Estonçes gave her a sum of 29 guilders and 5 stivers, with which all accounts between her and her brother-in-law have been settled so that she has no further claims on him. Rodrigo Fernandes signs as witness.

1627 March 5

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 134-134v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3517

Manuel d’Orta, merchant in Amsterdam, makes the following statement at the request of Duarte Fernandes. About three years ago he was in Paris where he heard that a certain Rusco, Italian merchant there, had been condemned to be hanged for having forged some notarial instruments but that through a petition for clemency to the queen he had been pardoned and released. The notary however, with whom he had committed the forgery, was hanged.

1627 March 8

Not. Arch. 394A, f. 139

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3518

Jan Werbrouck, merchant in Haarlem, acting for himself and as guardian of the minor children of the late Jan Verschuyren de Oude, gives power-of-attorney to Hans Collosijs, burgher of Amsterdam, to settle a dispute with Jan Gonsalvo, Portuguese. The dispute concerns certain pieces of woven cloth that were sold for him and for the said Jan Verschuyren de Oude, his grandfather, by his brother-in-law Hans Verschuyren, sworn broker, to Jan Gonsalvo in June 1617. He is authorised to collect the money due to them.

1627 March 18

Not. Arch. 550B, f. 78

Not. Jacob Westfrisius

No. 3519

Statement made by Antonio Martins Viegas, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam and his son Manuel Viegas. Mattheus de Quester, postmaster in London, and his son have committed themselves before the Court of the Admiralty in London as surety for the sum of 12,000 guilders concerning the release of goods loaded in Faro for the account of Antonio Martins Viegas in the ship, the St Pieter of Skipper Cornelis van Berchem. The ship ran into trouble in England and was released on bail paid by the said Mattheus de Quester. Now that IJsbrant Dobbesz, merchant in Amsterdam, has committed himself as counter-surety for De Quester and his son, Antonio Martins Viegas and Manuel Viegas stand surety for 12,000 guilders for the sureties and counter-sureties. On 27 April 1627 Pedro Homem de Medeiros stands surety for Antonio Martins Viegas and Manuel Viegas, his father-in-law and brother-in-law respectively.

1627 March 18

Not. Arch.634, f. 35-35v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3520

The notary makes the following statement at the request of Jeronimo Doria d’Andrade, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. Yesterday he went to Jan van Hoorn for Doria d’Andrade to notify him that because of his insolvency ⁷ he would not carry any risk for the 100 pounds Flemish that he had insured for Doria d’Andrade for a journey to the Azores and back with Skipper Claes Douwesz from Vlieland, unless Jan van Hoorn provided security for his own signature. Moreover Doria d’Andrade would remain creditor to Jan van Hoorn for half of the premium at 10 pounds Flemish that was paid to him for the insurance. Van Hoorn answered that he was satisfied that he had been released from the risk and that he had not received any premium for the insurance from the broker.

1627 March 24

Not. Arch. 634, f. 42

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3521

Skipper Hijmrijck Schutte from Lübeck declares that Sebastian Mendes Pimentel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, paid him the freight-price for a journey with the ship Sta Maria from Hamburg to the Condado and then to Amsterdam, which ship was freighted in Hamburg by André Fernandes Cardoso.

1627 March 25

Not. Arch. 634, f. 43v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3522

Statement made by the notary at the request of Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam. On 26 February last he went to the St Anthonisluis in this city to see a flatboat with a consignment of sugar that Simon de Goijer declared to have unloaded from the ship of Skipper Hendrick Hoijer, coming from Lisbon. He found that one case of muscovado sugar of this consignment that concerned the said Medeiros, was two-thirds empty. Apparently the sugar had been washed away by water and the remaining sugar was watery. Simon de Goijer had declared that this case had been stowed at the main mast and that other cases that had been stowed there and concerned other people, were also damaged. On 15 March the notary went to the Weigh House where De Medeiros delivered 10 cases of muscovado sugar to Hans Wijn, confectionner in Amsterdam, including the said case of muscovado sugar. This one appeared to have a gross weight of 302 pounds.

1627 April 12

Not. Arch. 634, f. 57v.-58

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3523

At the request of Jeronimo Rodrigues de Sousa, Portuguese merchant, Hans Hendricksz, aged 37 and Hendrick Claesz, aged 23, labourers at the Weigh House with the Scottish warehousing company, make the following statement. Around 24 December 1626, they were in the attic of De Sousa’s warehouse with the ‘De Morgenstont’ signboard, handling four bales of Portuguese pepper in double bags. These bags had been cut open and had been inspected by the buyer Anthony Aertsz. They sewed up the holes of these four bales of pepper that were the foremost of 36 similar bales of pepper, and had them weighed at the Weigh House in the city. The bales were dry and in good condition at the time. They had not noticed any dampness or damage. ⁸

1627 April 13

Not. Arch. 846, f. 109-110

Not. Jozef Steijns

No. 3524

Daniel Nunes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, makes the following agreement with Skipper Jan Willemsz from Amsterdam and his owner Daniel de Vos in Amsterdam. With the approval of Diego Fernandes Dias who transferred the charter to Daniel Nunes, the skipper will make four journeys according to the freight contract of 16 November 1626 adhering to the conditions specified in the contract. Nunes will make an advance payment of 150 guilders to the skipper and his owner for which 600 reals in silver will be deducted from the freight price. This sum is to be paid back plus 100 guilders if the journey is not made or if the ship is wrecked or seized by privateers. The skipper and his owner have been sentenced to pay this sum by the judicial authorities of Amsterdam and Nunes may charter another ship at their expense to make this journey. If after the release of the attachment the skipper does not begin his journey immediately or if he accepts another charter, this sum of 150 guilders should also be paid back.

1627 April 16

Not. Arch. 632, f. 232

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. ⁹

No. 3525

Copy of an affidavit of Pieter Janssen from Lübeck, skipper of the ship Den Jaeger, that lies ready in Viana to sail to Hamburg. He declares he has received from Gaspar Caminha Rego 14 cases of sugar for the account and risk of Diego Carlos in Hamburg, to be delivered to the said Diego Carlos at a freight price of 21 marks a case.

1627 April 18

Not. Arch. 634, f. 124

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3526

At the request of Pedro Homem Coronel, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, the notary declares that on 3 March last he went to Coronel’s house in Breestraat near St Anthonispoort where 21 cases of panelado sugar were stored in the cellar. Coronel had received the sugar from Lisbon with the ship Den Engel Gabriel of Skipper Hendrick Hoijer from Hamburg. The notary established that some of the cases were wet and damaged by seawater. Some cases had a gross weight of 542, 618 and 420 pounds according to the Weigh House in this city.

1627 April 19

Not. Arch.634, f. 59v.-60

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3527

Francisco de Caçeres from Amsterdam, about 54 years old, makes the following statement at the request of Antonio Martins Viegas. In 1622 he mediated between Viegas and Leonard de Beer so that both parties would submit their dispute concerning certain accounts to arbitration by Francisco Mendes de Medeiros and Michael Corael. De Beer effected an attachment with some grocers who owed Viegas money. De Caçeres had the attachment lifted by Willem Pietersz, sheriff’s officer, according to an instrument passed to that effect. From information supplied by De Beer, De Caçeres knows that Manuel Viegas, the son of Antonio Martins Viegas, looked after his father’s affairs in Spiritu Santo in Bahia. De Beer had asked Viegas junior in a letter to help Dirck Pietersz with a ship with Brazil wood. All expenses, including gifts, would be refunded by him. In his letter De Beer promised De Caçeres a share in the wood. When the affair was discovered Dirck Pietersz was imprisoned and the ship sailed out. Manuel Viegas was suspected and arrested in Bahia and was found to be carrying De Beer’s letter. Viegas junior was then tried and put in jail endangering his life. Through gifts he managed to get his sentence converted to 7 years forced labour in Africa. De Beer, who had told all of this to De Caçeres, said that he considered the expenses to be very high and that he would settle the matter with an verbal agreement. When Viegas senior noticed that De Beer failed to comply and was about to leave for Hamburg, he tried to have him jailed but failed. De Beer then went to Hamburg. Viegas senior then applied to the courts in Amsterdam and Hamburg to compel De Beer to settle the matter before he returned to Amsterdam and if he failed to do so, to have him tried in absence. De Caçeres refers to the applications to the courts for particulars.

1627 April 20

Not. Arch. 394B, f.278-278v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs.

No. 3528

Freight contract between Francisco Vas de Leon and Ruy Gomes Fronteira, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, as freighters, each for one half and Lucas Jansen from Enkhuizen, skipper of the ship De Swarte Leeu, large 60 lasts, armed with 4 iron pieces and 4 stone pieces and a crew of 10. The journey will go from Enkhuizen with a cargo to Salé, unload and load within eight weeks and back to Amsterdam. The ship is to sail around the back of England and Scotland or through the Channel in case of bad tides and heavy storms. The freight price amounts to 3,300 guilders. Arbiters in Amsterdam will determine the compensation for extra lay-days. The freighters will only pay the expenses for anchorage and piloting in Salé.

1627 April 20

Not. Arch. 634, f. 61-62

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3529

Protest of non-payment. Jeronimo Rodrigues Mendes, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests Michael Cardoso and Rodrigo Alvares de Pas, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, to pay the remainder of a bill of exchange of 35 guilders and 1 stiver. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 2 October 1626 for a sum of 1,080 thaler at 34 stivers a thaler, to be paid within 26 weeks. The drawer is Jacob Justo, the value received from Manuel Esteves. Cardoso and De Pas accepted the bill. The reason for non-payment is not given.

1627 ¹⁰ April 21

Not. Arch. 634, f. 62-62v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3530

Statement made at the request of Duarte Saraiva and Michael Cardoso, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, by Albert Dauberck, alias Alberto Montera, sojourning in Amsterdam, also acting for Rodrigo Alvares de Pas.

He borrowed 2,400 guilders on bottomry conditions from Saraiva and De Pas on the ship St Philippo of which he was skipper. The ship later returned to this country as a result of the crew’s lawlessness and was given a new skipper, Hendrick Pietersz from Norden. The destination was changed to Viana. The bottomry remained valid for the journey to Viana, according to the two letters of bottomry for Saraiva, Cardoso and De Pas that were passed before notary Sibrant Cornelisz for that sum.

1627 April 21

Not. Arch. 634, f. 63v.-64

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3531

Statement made by Gabriel Fernandes, merchant in Amsterdam, who has a conveyance from Philips van der Steijn, merchant in Antwerp, according to a notarial instrument passed before Guilhaume Rousseau, notary in Antwerp on 28 September 1621. He owes Wilhelm van Welij, merchant in Amsterdam, the sum of 133 pounds, 6 shillings and 8 groats Flemish for money received from Van Welij. He promises to pay this sum on October 1 next. He gives the following items as securety. First of all the sum of 600 pounds Flemish that is owed by Lamoral, Baron de Tassis, postmaster-general of Brabant to Philips van der Steijn, according to a bond of 8 February 1618, to be paid in three annual terms, the last term of which fell due on 8 February 1621. Secondly the sum of 500 pounds Flemish that the said Baron de Tassis owes to Philips van der Steijn, according to a bond of 10 December 1620, to be paid within three years that became due on 8 February 1621. Thirdly a bond of 250 pounds Flemish given by Philips van der Steijn to the benefit of Fernandes, to be paid to him or on his orders to someone else. Fourthly a bill of exchange of 100 pounds Flemish drawn by Harman van der Pellens on Nicolaes van der Pellens, which bill has been accepted. Even though the bill reads: value received from Wilhelm van Welij, to be paid to Daniel Deegbroot or order, this bill concerns him only. Fifthly a bill of exchange of 150 pounds Flemish drawn by Harman van der Pellens on Nicolaes van der Pellens, which bill has been accepted, to be paid to Jehan Paulo Dorco or order. Although the value was received from Gaspar Fernandes Vega, this bill concerns him only. Then twelve large maritime paintings, each three ells long and as high as the linen and one narwhal horn weighing more than ten ounces. Finally a ‘Lucretia’ of palmwood, supposedly made by Albert Dur.

1627 April 25

Not. Arch. 394B, f. 286-287v.

Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobs

No. 3532

Jacob Nehemias Torres and Jacob Israel Dias, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, executors of the will made on 26 October 1626 by Josef Nehemias Torres, alias Gaspar Nunes Torres, authorise Israel and David Nehemias and Pascoal and Daniel Nehemias Torres, living in Livorno and Pisa respectively, to defend the said persons against David and Abraham Navarro and to collect from them the money that they owe to the estate of the late Josef Nehemias Torres.

1627 April 26

Not. Arch. 632, f. 33

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

Instrument in Portuguese.

No. 3533

Freight contract between Jeronimo and Duarte Rodrigues Mendes as freighters, both for one half and Michael de Pas and Francisco Coutinho for the others half, with Skipper Antoni Heijnderick, burgher of Amsterdam who is assisted by his owner Francisco Coutinho. The journey will be made by the ship De Gratie Godes, large 80 lasts, armed with 8 iron pieces and 4 stone pieces and a crew of 15. The ship will sail from Amsterdam with a general cargo and wood to Salé, where the ship will be unloaded and reloaded in 8 weeks by Abraham de Leon, agent of the freighters, or in his absence by Daniel de Leon and Jozef de Pas. Back to Amsterdam and unload there. The primage is 30 guilders for a new flag. The freight price is 3,950 guilders. Arbiters in Amsterdam will determine the compensation for extra lay-days. If one freighter cannot load his half completely, the other freighter can make use of this space at payment of the freight price pro rata. This freight price may not exceed 45 guilders a last.

1627 April 26

Not. Arch. 634, f. 67v-68v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3534

Sworn statement made by Pieter Bussel, 36 years of age, tailor and Jacob Harmanssen, 24 years of age, shoemaker, living in Amsterdam, at the request of substitute sheriff Tengnagel for Stijntgen Tijsdr., widow. Bussel declares that on Saturday eight days ago he travelled to Delfzijl at the request of Tengnagel and the said widow to hear from a Jew called Samuel, brother of a certain Isack who recently received corporal punishment in Amsterdam, what had happened between this Samuel and a certain Julius Cruijsberghen who had been there earlier. Both declare that Samuel had a letter written about this by someone that he signed in Hebrew in their presence and that he handed it to Bussel to be delivered to the substitute sheriff. In this letter Samuel described what had happened; he also mentioned that he had given Cruijsberghen 80 guilders to be handed to the widow to compensate her for the goods that had been stolen from her and that had been sold by his brother Isack, this to prevent a scandal for his brother. He had also given Cruijsberghen 4 rix-dollars for his travel expenses and a diamond ring for his wife, which was confirmed by many Jews who were present. Both further declare that in Emden Cruijsberghen posed as a servant of the sheriff and that he showed a letter that, according to him, was signed by two Amsterdam burgomasters and by the said Izack, who was then in prison here, authorising Cruijsberghen to investigate certain articles of clothing and goods that were supposed to belong to Izack. The said Jews in Dam ¹¹ had confirmed that by these means Cruijsberghen had obtained clothing from some people and money from others, so that he would not bring trouble upon them.

1627 May 3

Not. Arch. 749, f. 410-412

Not. Pieter van Perssen ( Jozef Steijns)

No. 3535

Freight contract between Francisco da Costa d’Elvas and Matias Rodrigues Cardoso, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, as freighters and Skipper Pieter Franssen, burgher of Amsterdam. The ship De Lieffde, large 50 lasts, will sail from Texel to Madeira with goods; unload and load within two months and back to Amsterdam and unload there. The freight price amounts to 3,000 guilders. Arbiters in Amsterdam will determine the compensation for extra lay-days.

1627 May 11

Not. Arch. 634, f. 73v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. ¹²

No. 3536

Hendrick Pietersz from Hamburg, notifies Simao Pinto and Manuel Rodrigues to accept the 29 rolls of tobacco that he sold to them 10 days ago through the intervention of Manuel de Campos, sworn broker. Manuel Rodrigues answers that he will appear before the authorities and say to them what he has to say.

1627 May 12

Not. Arch. 704B, f. 124

Not. Jan Warnaertsz ¹³

No. 3537

Protest of non-acceptance. Marten Aernouts requests that Duarte de Palaçios, merchant in Amsterdam, pay a bill of exchange of 500 thalers at 34 stivers a thaler. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 15 January 1627 with a term of 21 weeks by Henrique de Lima. The payee is Diderich Boshart. The bill was endorsed by Marten Aernouts in Hamburg on 28 April 1627. Duarte de Palaçios answers that he accepted the first bill of exchange and that he therefore does not accept the second one and that he will pay either one of them on the date of maturity. The notary says that he has no evidence of the acceptance of the first bill and he therefore protests against the bill.

1627 May 19

Not. Arch. 543A, f. 18 (portfolio 1627)

Not. Jacob Westfrisius

No. 3538

Hendrick Ruben, living in Altena and sojourning in Amsterdam, husband of the daughter of the late Thomas Leamer, an Englishman who died in Amsterdam, authorises Thomas Couper, burgher of Amsterdam and Francisco Coutinho, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, to start legal proceedings before the Court of Amsterdam against Fredrick Leker, merchant in Amsterdam.

1627 June 2

Not. Arch. 634, f. 87-87v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3539

Protest of non-payment. Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests from Antoni and Leonardo de Schot payment of a bill of exchange of 800 thalers at 34 5/8 stivers a thaler. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 21 April 1627 by Jean Rijcquelsmo and is due on 8 June 1627. The value was received from Louis Gomes. Antoni de Schot is rumoured to be insolvent. De Schot’s servant answers that there are no orders for payment.

1627 June 10

Not. Arch. 634, f. 93

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3540

Protest of non-payment. Thomas Fernandes and Pedro Homem de Medeiros, Portuguese merchants in Amsterdam, request Antoni and Leonart de Schot, merchants in Amsterdam, to pay a bill of exchange of 500 thalers at 33 a thaler, with a term of 8 weeks. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 2 May 1627 by Antoni and Leonart de Schot. The value was received from Luis Gomes de Medeiros. Antoni de Schot accepted the bill. His servant declares that Antoni de Schot is not at home and that he has no orders for payment. Antoni de Schot is rumoured to be insolvent.

1627 June 10

Not. Arch. 634, f. 94-94v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3541

Protest of non-payment. Diego Fernandes Dias, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests Antoni de Schot to pay a bill of exchange of 303 1/3 crowns (écus) at 125 groats a crown. The bill was drawn in Rouen on 2 May 1627 by Henri van Okhuisen. The payee is Jacob Hendrix; the value received from Rene Pietersz and Nicolaes Dircksz; the endorsed party is Abraham van Cleef. Antoni and Leonart de Schot accepted the bill. Antoni de Schot’s servant says that his employer is not at home and that he has no orders to pay the bill and advises Dias to go to Paulus and Samuel Timmerman. Antoni de Schot is rumoured to be insolvent. Hendrick de Picquer, merchant in Amsterdam, declares that he will pay the bill for the account of the drawer, in the name of the refinery in Rouen.

1627 June 12

Not. Arch. 634, f. 98-98v.

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3542

Protest of non-payment. Diogo Martins, Portuguese merchant in Amsterdam, requests that Antoni de Schot pay a bill of exchange of 917 thalers at 33 5/8 a thaler; the bill is due on 15 June. The bill was drawn in Hamburg on 14 April 1627 by Antoni and Leonart de Schot; the value was received from Louis Gomes de Medeiros. Antoni de Schot’s servant answers that his employer is not at home. He is rumoured to be insolvent. The notary declares that the current rate of exchange from Amsterdam to Hamburg is 33 1/8 stivers a thaler if paid from Hamburg.

1627 June 12

Not. Arch. 634, f. 99v.-100

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.

No. 3543

Stephanus Rodrigues da Costa, ¹⁴ Portuguese, at present in prison, 31 years old, makes the following statement at the request of Captain Benedictus de Rego, also in prison. About eight months ago he agreed with a button-maker that the latter would make 20 dozen buttons for him according to a sample, at 30 stivers a dozen. When these buttons were delivered it appeared that they did not match the sample and he refused to accept these buttons. At the insistence of the button-maker he accepted and paid 17 dozens of buttons but there was no mention of further buttons to be made. About 12 days ago the button-maker visited him in prison with a few other dozens of buttons that had been made perfectly according to the first sample. He refused to accept these since he had not given such an order, contrary to the button-maker’s claims.

1627 June 21

Not. Arch. 550B, f. 168-168v.

Not. Jacob Westfrisius

No. 3544

Pedro and Jan Pinto, Portuguese merchants who have been living in Amsterdam for a long time, give power-of-attorney to Jean Letheullier, merchant in London. Letheullier is authorised to claim in Dover and elsewhere three casks of tobacco that were loaded for their account in Bayonne in the ship De Schoenmaker of Skipper Jan IJsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk by Jacomo Luis. The ship was arrested by English ships and taken to Dover.

1627 June 28

Not. Arch. 634, f. 109-110

Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. ¹⁵

	Notes

Top Notes

1. Prepared by the staff of the Amsterdam Municipal Archives. Translations by S. Hart.
2. The instrument was not signed.
3. On f. 37 a combined copy of both instruments.
4. Probably Wieringer Vlack.
5. She revokes this will on 22 April 1627 (f. 133v.)
6. Litterally: ‘pasas’.
7. The instrument reads: ‘insolentie’.
8. Annexed to this instrument the following statement: On April 14 Antonio Fernanades, 35 years old, Portugese in Amsterdam, makes the following statement at the reqeust of De Sousa with David Abiatar, Portugese, acting as interpreter. Around 23 December 1626 Artsz bought four fardels of cinnamon and four bales of Portugese pepper in double bags in the attic of De Sousa. Before the purchase Aertsz took some pepper from the bags and inspected it in a wooden bowl or dish and being satisfied, asked for the pepper to be delivered at the Weight House (Not. Arch. 846, f. 110-111, Not. Jozef Steijns. 1626 April 14).
9. This instrument is written in the margin of the instrument passed on 16 November 1626, f. 231-232.
10. Erroneously: 1626.
11. Probably Appingendam.
12. In the margin it is mentioned that this freight contract was not passed.
13. Draft instrument.
14. Notary: a Costra.
15. In the margin the notary refers to the following power-of-attorney as having been passed in a different form: Pedro and Jan del la Faya, brothers and Portugese merchants who have lived in Amsterdam for a long time, authorise Jean Letheullier, merchant in London, to claim 3 casks of tobacco in Dover or elsewhere. Jacomo Louis had loaded these casks for their account under the name of Pedro and Jan Pinto – which is the name they use in business because of the threat from the Inquisition in Spain – in the ship De Schoenmaker of skipper Jan IJsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk. This ship was taken by the English and brought to Dover. A similar power-of-attorney was passed on the sane day by Diego Fernandes Dias, Portugese merchant in Amsterdam, for Jan Luce, merchant in London, to claim tobacco that had been loaded by Dias in the ship of Jan Ijsbrantsz from Krommeniedijk and Claes Fransz from Rotterdam (Not. Arch. 634, f. 115. Not. Sibrant Cornelisz. 1627 June 28).

AMSTERDAM NOTARIAL RECORDS-AZORES, TERCEIRA


No. 3577

Statement made by Michael de Crasto, Portuguese merchant in
Amsterdam. He has
bought a ship in Enkhuizen from the widow of Lambert Cornelisz
Cruyff. The
ship, called Estrele Dourada (Gouden Ster) was rebaptised as St
Miguel. The
ship is about 50 lasts large and its skipper is Harke Gerritsz from
Enkhuizen.
Michael de Crasto and the other shareholders agree that this ship
will sail to
Terceira and from there back and forth to Brasil with a Portuguese
skipper and
a Portuguese crew. Shareholders are: Diogo Martins, David Abeniacar,
Jacob
Franco, Manuel Lopes Nunes, Afonso Henriques, Thomas Fernandes,
Antonio Lopes
Pereira, Felipe Henriques. In Terceira also: Sebastiao d’Andrade and
Manuel
Roiz d’Oliveira.

1627 August 20
Not. Arch. 634 f. 142-142v.
Not. Sibrant Cornelisz.
Instrument in Portuguese.



No. 3575

Freight contract between Francisco and Manuel Mendes Trancoso, Diogo
and
Rodrigo Drago, Francisco Lopes de Azevedo and Manuel Alvares
Henriques as
freighters on the one side and skipper Michiel Dircksz from
Huisduinen as
hired skipper on the other side.
The ship Bõa Ventura, large 60 lasts will sail with goods from
Amsterdam to
Terceira, sailing around England; unload and reload with goods and
back to
Amsterdam. The freight amounts to 220 guilders as rent for the whole
journey.
There is a primage of about 100 guilders for the skipper. The skipper
will
engage six men and a boy with the owners’ advice. The crew will be
paid two
months’ wages in advance and the rest upon return. If there is no
return cargo
the ship will either be sold in Terceira or wait there. The skipper
and the
crew can return to the Netherlands with other ships. The crew’s wages
will run
until their return to Amsterdam.

1627 August 18
Not. Arch. 395A f. 133-134
Not. Jacob and Nicolaes Jacobsz.

AZORES GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES

GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES/VITAL RECORDS/LIBRARIES (ONLY if you know the
town)

1. The Bibliotecas and Arquivos (generally, write here for
information 100 years or older). They
do not do research for you. They only issue certificates for the
vital events.

SANTA MARIA & SÃO MIGUEL: Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo de Ponta
Delgada, Rua Largo Colegio, 9500 Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açôres
(Azores)
TERCEIRA, GRACIOSA, SÃO JORGE: Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo de
Angra do Heroísmo, 49 Rua da Rosa, 9700 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira,
Açôres (Azores) (Holds records up to 1911).
FAIAL, PICO, FLORES, CORVO: Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo de Horta,
Rua Dom Pedro IV, 25 Horta, 9900 Faial, Açôres (Azores)

2. The Civil Registries (generally, write here for the past 100
years or so). (Established 1 Apr. 1910)

Address the letters the following way:
Conservatória do Registo Civil
ZIP City -Island, Açôres (Azores)

Municipal councils and their Civil Registries: (ZIP, city)
SANTA MARIA: 9580 Vila do Porto
SAO MIGUEL: 9560 Lagoa, 9630 Nordeste, 9500 Ponta Delgada, 9650
Povoação, 9600
Ribeira Grande, 9680 Vila Franca do Campo
TERCEIRA: 9700 Angra do Heroísmo, 9760 Praia da Vitória
GRACIOSA: 9880 Santa Cruz da Graciosa
SAO JORGE: 9850 Calheta, 9800 Velas
FAIAL: 9900 Horta
PICO: 9930 Lajes do Pico, 9950 Madalena, 9940 Sao Roque do Pico
FLORES: 9960 Lajes das Flores, 9970 Santa Cruz das Flores****
CORVO: 9980 Vila Nova

For both the Bibliotecas and the Civil Registries, you must send the
name of the ancestor, date of event (or at least a span--e.g. 1881-
1883), the freguesia (the town) and the municipal council. Enclose
$15 U.S. dollars, personal check or U.S. money order (this covers
return postage and the document). International money orders do not
exist for Portugal.

3. The Family History Center (FHC) of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints (LDS), aka the Mormon Church:

Your local phone book should list a local branch or stake. They are
open to the general public, free of charge. Records can be found
under "Topic List" PORTUGAL, AZORES. Topics include: archives and
libraries, biography, church directories, church records, civil
registration and more. You will want to order the church records.
Although your FHC may not have the film at their center, it may be
ordered (for about $3.50 for 2 months) and viewed at the center.
(The film may be renewed for a fee, and a second renewal will keep
the film permanently at your center.)

Also, the FHC publishes a booklet to assist you in the reading of
documents: "Genealogical Word List, Portuguese." The booklet "Basic
Portuguese Paleography" is now only available on fiche from the LDS
and the fiche may be used only at their libraries. Photocopies can
be made from the fiche.

COMPUTER SOURCES
Azores-Online: http://www.azores-online.org Good general info and
history site.

Azores World GenWeb Project:
http://www.pacifier.com/~kcardoz/azoresindex.html

Destination Azores: http://www.destinazores.com/ (general info and
history)

THE AZORES: A FASCINATING PIECE OF THE DIASPORA,
By Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer

(Speech delivered in Longmeadow, Mass., Summer 1999)

We thought this afternoon to take you back with us to the Iberian world although not the Iberian peninsula. Instead let us share with you a double story with Jewish themes in one of the most unique places we have ever visited -- a volcanic archipelago known in mythology as the remnants of the lost continent Atlantis, the Azores.

Living in Massachusetts, you have undoubtedly come across Azoreans -- most of the Portuguese who immigrated to the United States came to the New Bedford area from these islands and spread out to other parts of New England. Their connection with New Bedford goes back to the days of the whaling industry. Azoreans worked on American boats that hunted whales in the Atlantic. Whales are still populous in the waters surrounding the islands, and whale-sighting is a major activity.

The Azores were discovered by Portuguese navigators in the 15th century, and since then they have been a stopping point for traders heading both east and west, and all have left their mark on the islands. In the early days of transatlantic flight, the Azores were a refueling station. The English had an airbase there during the Second World War, we have one there today.

These days, Azorean-Americans keep going back and forth from New England to the Azores, one generation lives here, another there. It’s kind of analogous to the Jews in the northeast going back and forth to Florida. Although the Azores are nothing like Florida. They are like no place else on earth.

When they were first discovered around 1427, there were no people, no animals on the islands, only birds and vegetation. There had however been many volcanic eruptions. Because these sparkling green islands are actually the tips of underwater mountains with volcanoes at their peaks.

There is a profusion of vegetation, flowers, many, many birds, great mountain peaks, volcanic craters, lakes, terraced vineyards, rolling pastures. The feel is European and at the same time Caribbean -- although the Azores are not tropical. There is a paradoxical, conflicting quality to the islands. The Azoreans are indebted to the volcanoes for their lush landscape and fertile earth. Azaleas, hydrangeas, even hot-house flowers like calla lilies, white irises, and roses grow wild like weeds in the fields. Vegetable and grain crops are plentiful. There are thermal baths, hot springs, yellow pools with curative properties on the islands.

But when these same volcanoes erupt, there is great devastation. They have erupted before, and undoubtedly they will erupt again. Azoreans live with this uncertainty.

They also live on nine islands, stranded in the middle of the Atlantic. The sea is a major source of food and also a maritime industry. But it is a fickle friend who has many times turned treacherous and wrought its own kind of destruction. Imagine what it’s like to live on an island far from any continent, during a major hurricane or tornado - and you’ll get the idea.

So the mood in the Azores is a strange mixture of optimism and fatalism. And you see it. There are the dramatic vistas, the beautiful scenery, the lush vegetation on the one hand. And the 17th century Baroque architecture on the other -- which is heavy and brooding.

We were there in April 1997, right after Passover. We went to three of the nine islands in search of a Jewish story. From what we were able to learn beforehand, Jews had been among the original Portuguese settlers of the islands in the 15th century, and like those on the mainland, they had been forced to convert. But unlike the situation in Spain, no trace of their existence remains, not a former synagogue, or cemetery, or neighborhood.

But there was another Jewish story that began in the 19th century, we were told. And that was what we were after. Let Harvey tell you what happened. We began our journey on San Miguel, largest of the islands. There are about a quarter of a million people in all the Azores and nearly half of them live here. And of those, 63,000 live in its capital city Ponta Delgado. It is a bustling place with a beautiful harbor front promenade and colorful gardens.

Most of the buildings are 17th century Baroque,and nearly all are restored. There are many plazas with statues, but the most dominant is that of St. Michael, San Miguel’s patron saint, which overlooks a fountain-filled pool.

We were headed just across the way from St. Michael’s statue to the offices of a small import/export company where we had an appointment to meet its owner, a man with an unusual distinction: he is the last Jew in the Azores.

Jorge Delmar is a stocky, good-looking man in his early 50s. He is warm and friendly, but he has an air of sadness about him.

Thirty years ago, he told us, there were sixteen Jewish families on the island of San Miguel. They were a community. They held services in a synagogue. They celebrated the festivals in each other’s home. But little by little, all of them have died or converted or moved away. Jorge Delmar is the only one left.

“I try to observe Jewish laws,” he says. “On Saturdays, I close my store. But it is sad to be the only one.

“My wife and children are Catholic. We have no problems over religion, although my wife is curious. She’ll ask, ‘Why do you say you are a Jew? What happened to the Jews?’

I say, ‘As my mother is a Jew, I am always a Jew. That’s all.’”

Jorge Delmar’s connection to the Azores goes back 180 years to the time a Moroccan family named Bensaude took a look at the islands and saw possibilities with the orange trees that grew so profusely there. The Bensaudes came to this isolated and sparsely populated area and began growing oranges, harvesting them, and exporting them to England. Sometimes they were paid with cash, sometimes with bills of exchange. They took these bills of exchange on trading journeys to Brazil , sold them there or traded them for sugar and rum. They became very, very rich and in the process, they transformed the Azorean economy. By getting into the bill of exchange business, they effectively began banking in the Azores. They went on to establish a chain of retailers throughout the archipelago who sold imported goods on easy terms. They developed a maritime transport industry.

Today the Bensaudes are an international financial empire -- a mini Rothschilds -- and they remain the chief economic entity in the Azores -- in banking, insurance, travel agencies, retail stores. Only they are no longer Jewish. Most converted during the Second World War fearing the Nazis would invade Portugal. The last Jew of the dynasty died some twenty years ago. But interestingly enough, the current president of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, is the grandson of a Jewish woman from this Bensaude family.

What happened in the Azores was typical of Jewish emigration patterns -- someone led the way, others followed. Starting in the 1820s, the Bensaudes became a beacon for other North African Jews who followed them to the Azores

and established Jewish communities in all the islands. One of them was Jorge Delmar’s great-grandfather. He emigrated from Tangiers to work in one of the Bensaude’s tobacco factories.

At one time, there were synagogues throughout the Azores. Today, only one remains, Sahak Hassamain, and it is falling apart. It is the synagogue in Ponta Delgado that Jorge Delmar attended as a boy. And it has become his life’s mission to rescue and restore it.

“Let me show the synagogue to you,” he said to us and so we followed him down a busy street to a rundown sixteenth century building. We climbed up a rickety staircase and walked through an arched wooden door, and suddenly we found ourselves in a high-ceilinged sanctuary with a bima of beautiful old wood, and an ark draped with a green curtain on which the Ten Commandments were embroidered in gold. Standing on the bima, Delmar pointed out the second row where as a child he would sit beside his uncle. His grandfather sat next to the reader’s desk.

“We never had a permanent rabbi,” he told us. “The oldest Jew was in charge, and that for many years was my grandfather.

But there was a rabbi on the American Naval base in Terceira and sometimes he came here by plane.

“I spent many hours of my life here with all my family,” he added. “I was educated here. This is where I learned to read Hebrew and daven.” Delmar led us up a second unstable stairway to the women’s balcony. Its walls were decorated with plaques dedicated to the synagogue’s founders; three were members of the Bensaude family. But the entire place was in a terrible state of disorder and disrepair. Books were mildewed from the humidity. Plaster was falling off the walls.

We looked out a window and saw a restored building across the way whose cornerstone read 1719. It seemed every building in the area, except for this one, had been restored. Walls were whitewashed. Pretty gardens were dotted with little orange trees and enclosed by neat stone walls; narrow cobblestone lanes were swept clean. Only in this aging house of worship did we see such desolation.

This synagogue was consecrated in 1893. It was in use until the mid 1960s, and afterwards it was maintained by two Jewish sisters who lived in the building. But since their death, it has fallen into disrepair. Only Jorge Delmar stands between the synagogue’s existence and extinction. “I pay the taxes and for the electricity and water.” he says. “As I am the last, I keep everything in my home, the Torah, six silver candelabras, and the other heirlooms. What will happen to them after I am gone? Maybe my oldest girl will take care of these things. She is Catholic, and she lives in Lisbon, but she knows that my big dream is that one day the synagogue will be rebuilt and all these things can be put back in their rightful place.

“It is easy to be a Jew anyplace now,” he says. “But here we are soon to be no more. This synagogue should remain as a reminder that once we were here. Many good things happened here. People who played an important part in the local history worshipped there.

“We did a study and found restoration would cost about $200,000. I keep trying to get it done. I write letters, I meet with government officials and potential donors. I don’t give up. The government spends lots of money rebuilding churches, why not this synagogue? We have a new government now so I am more hopeful.

“Why do I do this?” he asks. “Because I feel I have to do something. It all ends with me.”

From the synagogue, we accompanied Jorge Delmar on a ten minute drive from downtown Ponta Delgado to a suburban area. There, unidentified, behind a basalt wall, was the Jewish cemetery. A number of the Bensaudes are buried here. All the Delmars are. Jorge pointed out his grandfathers, mother’s and uncle’s graves and the one last place reserved for him. He regularly recites Kaddish for his relatives at the appointed times, but he knows there will be no one to say Kaddish for him.

From San Miguel, we headed out to the second island on our itinerary: Faial. Some of you may remember hearing of it in 1958 when one of its volcanoes erupted. Before the eruption, the island had a population of 28,000 people. After, the population dropped to 16,000. There was a special allowance for emigration to the United States, and many people from Faial came here to Mass and to California. Horta, the capital city of Faial, is a famed seaport. To this day, it draws clippers and yachts from all over the world, and sailors gather and swap tales in the world renowned Peter’s Sports Bar. When the first submarine telegraph cables were laid across the Atlantic, Horta was a relay station and interchange point for telegraph companies from the United States, England, Germany, and Italy. So there is sophisticated, international flavor to the island.

There was once a thriving Jewish community here too.

But when the orange growing industry declined towards the end of the 19th century , it declined as well. The synagogue closed in 1886, and its rabbi took the Torah and religious objects to Lisbon.

The last Jew in Faial died some years ago, but his daughter still lives on the island and we met her. Oddly enough, her name is Luna Benarus -- the same name as the wife of the head of the Spanish Jewish Federation we spoke of this morning. It is Benarroch in Spanish, Benarus in Portuguese. She is an amiable middle aged woman who, together with her husband, operates Quinta Das Buganvilias, a luxurious seaside inn on the renovated property of her mother’s family’s farmstead.

In the guest house, one experiences a mini- history of Faial. One of the bedrooms has a dresser made in Boston that came over on one of the old whaling ships. The dining room is filled with Chippendale furniture purchased from some Germans who were working on the submarine cable lines. The bar is an old grist mill filled with domestic items from times gone by like butter churns, tankards, and mortars and pestles.

Luna is a practicing Catholic. But she is also the final link to a Jewish presence on this island and she told us she feels a need to hold on to a heritage she dimly remembers from her childhood. “My father used to talk to me about his family’s history all the time,” she says. “He would tell me about his grandfather, Joseph, who came to the Azores in 1860 and his father, Moses, who became a diplomat and hosted visiting dignitaries from the United States. In 1907, his guest was President Theodore Roosevelt.

“Moses was a practicing Jew,” Luna adds. “He would go to the synagogue in Lisbon and observed all the Jewish customs. My father identified himself as a Jew, but he could have no Jewish life here because by the time he was grown, there was not one other Jew left on the island.”

Luna maintains the townhouse in Horta that belonged to her father and grandfather, and it is here that she stores the treasured mementos of a Jewish past. There are fading photographs of family members including her grandfather’s sister Luna for whom she is named. This Luna married a Jewish man but moved to Lisbon with him. There is an old oak bookcase fronted by glass doors that holds siddurs, worn copies of the Old Testament, a book of Psalms, a Haggadah, all of which are succumbing to the island’s humidity. There is great carved desk with a framed photograph of Luna as a little girl that is draped with a golden ornament on which, in Hebrew, the word “Shalom” is inscribed. And in her mind are the memories of a former Jewish life. She remembers there were mezzuzahs on the door. She remembers the trips to Lisbon when they would attend services in the big synagogue. But there is not much else.

Late in his life, Luna’s father converted to Catholicism so that he would be buried beside his wife. But before he died, he arranged for someone to take care of the Jewish cemetery where his father, grandfather, and brother who died in infancy are buried.

We wanted to visit this cemetery. The man hired to attend to the graves had promised to leave the key for us, but mysteriously he was not at home when we called. Then, hours before we were to leave, we received word that if we went down to the cemetery, the workmen there would let us in.

We were taken to a Catholic cemetery on a hillside overlooking the sea. The setting was calming and peaceful. Tombstones were arranged in neat rows and heaped with calla lilies and white irises. Not a blade of grass was out of place.

But this was not our destination. The workmen directed us to a low wall beyond a flower-dotted field at the bottom of the hill.

Here the Catholic cemetery ended; on the other side was the old Jewish cemetery established by royal decree in 1851. It was a steep descent to the other side, and we had to climb down a ladder to reach the ground.

What a difference a wall made. This cemetery was unkempt and overgrown. Clearly, the man Luna’s father had hired was not doing his job. Still we were able to see seventeen Jewish gravestones, all marked with names and dates.

The most recent grave is that of Luna’s grandfather, Moses Benarus, who died in 1942. Beside him is a very small grave marked Samuel Benarus. That was Luna’s uncle who was born in July 1920 and died the next month.

We wanted to leave our presence in this forsaken spot and so we looked about for little stones to put on the graves. But we could not find a single one. Then we noticed some broken glass lying about. And so we picked up several shards and placed them on the graves.

The moment gave us pause. We looked up and saw the sea in the distance and thought to ourselves, “When will another Jewish person set foot in this lonely resting place?”

Later that day, we headed to our third island, Terceira, the final stop on our itinerary. We had already learned that all that remains of the 19th century Jewish presence on this island is a cemetery. There are no known descendents of Jews so it seemed there would be no story for us to go after. Well, we thought, we’ll just enjoy the pleasures of this beautiful island like ordinary tourists.

We stayed in a renovated manor house just outside of the capital city Angra -- a place worth visiting on its own. It is a UNESCO world heritage site by virtue of the way the streets are laid out in geometric precision according to Renaissance ideals. Angra had became a port of call during the sixteenth century for ships going to and from the Americas, Africa, and India, and it developed a rich economic life which is still reflected in the splendid palaces and churches that overlook the sea.

But our plan to be just ordinary tourists did not work out because by chance we met a man who directed us to yet another story of the Jews of the Azores, perhaps the most fascinating of all.

Francisco dos Reis Maduro Dias is the Director of the Department of Culture and History in Terceira. He is a formal, intellectual, very well spoken man with a great passion for his island, the Azores and Portuguese history.

And he is intrigued with Jewish history. Maybe that is because he believes the name Maduro is the key to his own Jewish heritage.

We had come across the name Maduro before, in Curacao. The Maduros are one of the oldest and most distinguished Jewish families on that Caribbean island. Maduro Dias was not surprised to hear this.

“Today I must tell you I am a Christian,” he said. “I was baptized, as was my father, grandfather, and so forth. What I know of my ancestors is that they came here in the 17th century. They were running away from something, but, as my great grandmother used to tell my grandfather, they were not bad people.

“One of my ancestors decided to stay here, the others decided to go to the Indies. At the time it was not easy to understand where that was because when they said Indies, it could be the West Indies or the East Indies. But I must tell you I was at a conference in Boston several years ago, and I met a Jewish woman who represented the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, and her name is Sarah Maduro. She told me there is a branch of the Maduros in Boston. We spent some interesting time speculating about the possibility of our being related.”

Then he turned to the subject of the Azores. “The Jewish presence in the Azores had two moments,” he said. “The second, moment you already know about. It began at the start of the 19th century with the Bensaude family and continued through the 20th century. This is well documented.

“The first moment you know nothing about. It coincided with the discovery and settlement of the Azores in the 15th-16th centuries, and it is not documented at all.”

Well that was what we had heard before we came here, we told him.

He interrupted us. “But we are just beginning to recognize there is something of that earlier presence here in the Azores. There are attitudes, habits that have persisted. We believe today that there was some connection between the Jews of that long ago time and the evolvement of the Cult of the Holy Spirit.” He asked if we had noticed little chapels as we drove around the islands. Indeed we had, and we wondered what they were. There are scores of them in the countryside, on the sides of roads in little towns, structures that look something like a cross between a one-room schoolhouse and an elaborate wedding cake decoration. Each was different, some were fancier than others. Generally they were white-washed stone and trimmed with bright vivid colors: yellow, green, pink, bright blue and decorated with all kinds of geometric and floral designs. We had seen people working around these little houses, painting, cleaning, landscaping. What could they have to do with a Jewish presence from 500 years ago?

Maduro Dias filled us in. These structures are known as chapels or emporiums. And they are used to house a uniquely Azorean festival that is held each year on the seven Sundays following Easter, roughly corresponding to the period between Passover and Shavout -- or the counting of the omer. Throughout the rest of the year, they are closed up and unused. But for the seven Sundays after Easter, they come to life. Re-painted, re-decorated and profusely adorned with flowers, they become the place where people gather to worship the Holy Spirit. Children go through confirmation-type ceremonies in these chapels and pledges made earlier in the year are fulfilled usually with elaborate feasts to which the entire community and even strangers are invited.

Sometimes they use a peculiar kind of bread in these feasts, a flat bread made without yeast and stamped with the seal of the crown of the Holy Spirit.

“No one will tell you the cult of the Holy Spirit is a Jewish custom,” Maduro Dias says. “It was born within Christianity during the 11th and 12th centuries through brotherhoods who contested the divinity of Christ. But we are now beginning to think that it was used and perhaps developed by the Jews at a certain moment as a means of coexisting with the larger culture.” Maduro Dias is speculating that Jews used the festivals of the Holy Spirit to be, as he put it, “together in a separate moment

where they could keep some of their original attitudes and perform some acts meaningful to them while, at the same time, appearing to be within the frame of Christianity and accepted as normal by the Christian community.”

How obvious! It is easy to see why New Christians, still Jewish in their hearts, would be attracted to the cult. The entire procedure has nothing to do with the church. The emporiums have no crosses, and no representations of Jesus, Mary or any of the saints. Those in charge of the chapels have no position of authority in the church.

And most important of all, the Holy Spirit is the most abstract part of the Catholic trinity. It is God with no Christ, an abstract God. Maduro Dias told us that feasts and brotherhoods connected with the cult of the Holy Spirit were widespread in Medieval Europe and lingered in Portugal into the 19th century. But while the cult died out everywhere else, inexplicably it developed a powerful following in the Azores, and to this day it continues to be a defining aspect of the islands’ culture.

Azoreans focus their prayers to the third aspect of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit to spare them from the destruction of the volcanoes. They are always an unpredictable presence. You never know when they will erupt. Why the Holy Spirit?

“I can’t explain it,” Maduro Dias said. “Maybe because it seems more accessible.”

The cult of the Holy Spirit has even been brought over to the United States where confirmation ceremonies take on the proportions of lavish bar and bat mitzvahs. Perhaps you have heard about them. And there is a group of Azorean-American that still maintains its emporium on the island of Flores. Every year, a number of people return to Flores, paint and decorate the chapel they left behind, perform the rituals and partake of the festival. Afterwards, they clean up, close the doors to their little temple, and return to America.

What an amazing and unexpected twist of Jewish history. Who would believe that a totally Catholic institution had once served as a spiritual sanctuary for Azorean Jews. Forced to convert, they found in the festival of the Holy Spirit an opportunity to use a time of the year that resonated with sacred overtones, to relate to their vision of God in an environment absent of Christian symbolism.

After we left Maduro Dias, we drove around the island and stopped off at some of these little emporiums. Young girls were attending to them, cleaning and decorating them in anticipation of the festival to be held that Sunday. Were any of them descendents of New Christians? Did any of them know how Jews had used these festivals hundreds of years before? Not yet.

The historical theories Maduro Dias shared with us are brand new. There are books that have yet to be written, There is a message that has yet to be spread.

But our visit to the Azores had ended with a happy surprise.

We left the islands feeling we had come away with some really unique knowledge, a particular bit of Jewish history not publicized, not earth-shattering, yet a revealing and fascinating piece of the enormous jig-saw puzzle that is the Diaspora.