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Archiver > CARRICO > 1999-01 > 0915722984


From: Carol Mitchell <>
Subject: [CARRICO-L] CARRICO, Peter The Emigrant & Children ref. 15cont-18
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 10:29:44 -0500


The Italian word(s) for carrico: canna di pantano. Source; Italiano,
Portuguese, Italian. Maria Cattarine Carrico, The Family Name. From Tavora, D.
Luiz de Lancastre. Dicionario Das Familias Portuguesas. Quetzal Editores, 1989.
Lisboa. ref. p 130. "Tratase de uma familia sem historia conhecida com um nome
quetanto podederivar de alcunha como ter raizes toponimicas. Usam por armas:
de prata, tres carricos de verde, saintes de um pedeagua de azul. Nao se ihes
conhece timbre." (This is from a family without known history having a name
that may either derive from a nickname or has roots in names of places. Their
coat of arms is of silver with three carricos of green placed where blue water
comes from the earth. Their seal is nknown.) A drawing of the above mentioned
Carrico Coat of Arms appears in the Grande Enciclopedia Portuguesa e
Brisileira, Editorial Limitado. Lisboa Rio de Janeiro. Vol 6. An explanation
of the colors and shape of the Carrico crest from: Heraldica Ciencia de Temas
vivos por Almeida Langhans, Lisboa, 1966. Translation: Shape of the Crest.
The basic form is the square from which it has the result of a peninsular
shape. Its very common stands out because it is the shape of the national
coat of arms and municipal coats of arms. Colors. Green reflects the fields
and suggest the state of mind (soul) something not quite defined but of a calm
expectation. Green is the color of hope and it means virtue. Green contains
in it the idea of liberty, freedom that you have in the large open country
side. Silver. This color refers to peace, rest and silence attributes of the
same conscience that is the environment of saintly, holy. The silver crest is
one of eloquence, of holiness, humbleness without losing its meaning of wealth.
Blue. In this case the color is azure blue and the lines are straight
representing a river The Mondego in Central Portugal. Along with privileges
and perhaps lands this coat of arms was pparently granted to the Carrico
family by the king for service in helping drive the Moors from Portugal. The
coat of arms may have been awarded by Dom Afonso Henriques for services in
liberating the Alentejo. This effort was completed by around 1200 so the
Carrico coat of arms is ancient. Carrico, The Town. The only inhabited town of
Carrico that I have located is in the Beira Litoral near Figuiera da Foz.
Another smaller hamlet, Carricos, was found nearby. Both are in the fertile
valley of the Mondego River in the wide flood plain that extends southward from
the river's mouth at Figuiera. The town itself is called Matos do Carrico
(country side of marsh grasses). It is a place of 1300 inhabitants located in
an area of small farms, nearly all of which are vineyards. The fields are rich
with the soil deposited by the Mondego, which is the only river of Portugal
that begins and ends entirely within the Portuguese borders.The vineyards,
there at least since the Romans, and probably before, are cultivated on the
flat land of the valley and irrigated from artesian wells. The vineyards are
relatively small, perhaps an acre or two. Because of the method of cultivation
and the abundant supply of water from the Mondego, the area is alive with
marshy plant life especially the carricos. There is an important connection
between the carrico plant and the cultivation of grapes. The cane from the
carrico plant is used throughout the region to hold up the grape vines. My
speculation about vineyards predating the Romans is based upon the common
physical characteristics of people in this coastal flood plain area. They are
fair of complexion, having light brown or blond hair, blue, gray or hazel eyes
and Germanic features. The Carrico family that I met and interviewed near
Matos do Carrcio at the Convento de Seice confirmed that all of the Carricos in
their family were of fair complexion, blond or of light hair and had blue or
bluegray eyes. They told me that the family had historically intermarried as
was the custom in this region to preserve land. The 81 year women we talked to
and photographed, herself a Carrico, was the first cousin of her husband. She
had a fair complexion, bluegray eyes and the traditional Carrico nose straight
with narrow bridge. 2. PERO (PETER) DIAS CARRICO, THE INQUISITION RECORDS:
16291633 >From the National Archive, Lisbon (Torre do Tombo) Inquisicao de
Evora (Inquisition od Evora). No. 13 990A pp. 2324. (Carraoea Castilho).
Note. In the index, Carrico is misspelled by the librarian who indexed the
volumes as "Conica". The correct spelling is found in the actual records.
Source: Inquisicao de Evora. maco 438 processo 4211 1633. This record was
produced at the request of Thomas Perdigao Freire, natural born in
MontemoroNovo, a descendent of the brother of Pero Dias Carrico. It appears
that his request was first made 28 April 1683 and again 26 Aug. 1683.
Apparently this information was sought by this relative to clear the family
name perhaps to qualify for a position or privilege. The entire case is 148
pages long written in the original hand on parchment and still in very good
condition. The record states that the accused, Carrico (Pero Dias), the son of
Manuel Pires Carrico and Brites Fernandez was born in MontemoroNovo, married
Isabel Lima. (grew grapes). Note. According to Dr Jorge Fonseca, Librarian of
MontemoroNovo, the name "Pero" is the version of Peter the Portuguese used up
to the end of the 1500s for a person not of nobility. Pedro was the name used
for the nobility. After 1600 Pedro was commonly used for both classes and Pero
was seldom used. Pero Dias Carrico was arrested 1629 Feb 25. "Auto de Fe" 1633
Oct 23 (meaning that his confession was accepted Oct 23 1633 and that he was
free). Crime: "Judaismo. ondemnation: incarcerated "arbitrio" (at the will
of the Inquisitors,
could be treated as they wished tortured, burned at the stake, etc.).
Observations: Accused, when he was heard, was 52 years old and lived at
MontemoroNovo. He has a very complete genealogy. It is a "curious process"
for the number of witnesses he has suggesting he was quite respected. Came out
free December 2, 1633. Made his original confession Oct 23 1633 for the civil
responsibles of the town. (Religious Authorities must do a separate trial
based on evidence, thus, the difference in dates).
Genealogy that we could decipher: Grandfather's name: Pero Dias Carrico
Grandmother's name: Maria Simoes. His mother's grandfather was a traveling
merchant. Inquisitor appeared to be Manuel Gomez. Costs in fees paid to the
Inquisition; 1931 made in four separate payments. Dr Jorge Fonseca estimates
that this would have been the equivalent of about one year's taxes on the
average property. It is important to note that this was the period of the
Spanish domination, 15801640 a time when Spain looted Portugal. According to
Dr Jorge Fonseca, Librarian of MontemoroNovo, the Spanish Inquisition targeted
wealthy Jews, or people accused of being Jews, primarily to take their money.
Historical Notes Regarding Evora and the Alentejo Pero Dias Carrico was
incarcerated in the Antigos Pacos do Concelho Evora, or the Ancient Municipal
Prison of Evora located in the main town square. The building still stands and
is now used as the Bank of Portugal. I visited the bank and found out that the
ancient cells had been destroyed ten years ago to make room for more bank
offices. Although from MontemoroNovo, Pero Dias was charged and condemned in
nearby Evora, one of three places in Portugal where the Inquisition process was
carried out. Evora and MontemoroNovo are located in a part of Portugal called
the Alentejo. This is an area of farms and is very sparsely populated
even now. Evora, a walled medieval city, is the major city in the region.
Evora was originally settled by the Romans and was known at the time of Julius
Caesar as Liberalitas Julia. The Roman temple of Diana still stands on the
highest point of the city. Evora is also called the "Muslin City" because of
the strong architectural influence of the Moors. Alentejo literally means
"beyond the Tejo," which is the large river that flows westward to Lisbon and
the sea. The region between the Tejo and Guadiana River to the south was
ingeniously laced together by the Romans through a road and water network that
connected large farms to the major city of Evora and to warehousing along the
rivers Sado, Mira and Guadiana. These farms were the forerunners of the large
estates that characterize the region today the Latifundios, villae such as
Torre de Palma/monforet, Santa Vitoria do Ameixial/Estremoz, Sao
Cucufate/Vidigueira and Pizoes/Beja. The availability of these lands,
following the expulsion of the Moors, was a strong motivation for families to
migrate from Beira Litoral where land was scarce and the vineyards much
smaller. In short, the Carricos were after land. The Alentejo was fully
reconquered in the 13th century (Evora was captured in 1165). Evora became the
center of royal power, the arts and wealthy merchants in the 16th century under
Joao III. It is now a living monument of Roman, Moorish, Gothic and Baroque
architecture. At the time of Pero Dias Carrico's condemnation and
imprisonment, the city had passed its golden era and was under Spanish control.
The vineyards in the Alentejo are of very ancient stock dating back to ,the
Romans. A series of rivers and lagoons allow for the irrigation of much of the
land which otherwise would be too dry for cultivation. There are five
determined regions of viniculture: Borba, Redondo, Reguengos, Portalegre, and
Vidigueira. Wines have been produced through ancestral wine making techniques
in clay pitchers from the Roman period up to the end of the nineteenth century
while the wines today are finished in stainless vats and oak casks. The
Alentejo wines owe their high quality to the soil of the region. A tourist
book describes the wines as follows: White wines, somewhat fullbodied, straw
coloured, lightly tart, with a delicate and smooth aroma, lightly fruity with a
refreshing flavor, firm and yet balanced; while red wines, fairly fullbodied,
garnetred, with a smooth aroma, rather firm and yet mellow, balanced with a
sustained flavor, these are the characteristics defining the Alentejo wines.
Source: Alentejo, Hidden Treasure of Portugal. 1st Edition, Regional Tourism
of Evora, 1991. MontemoroNovo, home of Pero Dias Carrico, means the new major
hill [fortress]. The castle or fortress still stands and is surrounded by the
village of MontemoroNovo. Dr Jorge Fonseca confirms that the Alentejo
historically is known to be populated by families who come from the central
coast where the village of Carrico exists. MontemoroNovo is named after
MontemoroVelho, the ancient Montemor of the Mondego valley located about 20
miles from Coimbra. The distance between these two Montemors is approximately
250 miles. The original ancient fortress in the Beira Litoral, still standing
and a splendid example of a medieval fortification, was built to protect the
rich farm land of the Mondego valley, including the area around Carrico. This
is a very old part of Portugal. The ancient Roman city of Conimbriga, which
was almost certainly predated by the CeltoIberain settlement dating back to the
Iron age, is a few miles from Coimbra and less than 20 miles from
MontemoroVelho. The ruins of Conimbriga date from the second to fourth
century. 3. LOURENCO ANES CARRICO & MARTIN LOURENCO CARRICO, THE ANCIENT
COUNCIL MEETING, 1443 Source. From the Biblioteca Municipal de MontemoroNovo
(Municipal Library of MontemoroNovo. Dr Jorge Fonseca, Director Historical
Archive. Municipality of MontemoroNovo, Book of the Council Meetings for
1443. ref. A1B1. This list of names (from the Book of the Council Meetings)
was made in order to authorize those people to hunt within the limits of the
king's hunting grounds. This is one of the most ancient "books of the council
meetings" in all of Portugal. It is in this council of MontemoroNovo that the
king, Dom Manuel I made a decision in 1496 to go to India by sea and requested
Vasco da Gama to attempt the trip. The council meetings included the nobility,
authorities of the church a kind of parliament that could for the kings to do
things ("cortes"). The 1443 list includes: Lourenco Anes Carrico, of the
Quadrela of the way of Alcacer toward Lisbon (known as an excellent place for
vineyards). Martin Lourenco Carrico, of the Quadrela of the way of Alcacer,
through Alcacovas. 4. BAPTISMAL, MARRIAGE AND DEATH RECORDS: MONTEMORONOVO,
15331678 Archive of Evora. Baptisimal, marriage and death records of
MontemoroNovo: 1. MontemoroNovo Nossa Senhora do Bispo Martriz. Baptismas
15421632. Within this folder there are four sets of records. We examined
three of the records:. a. Nossa Senhora do Bispo L. N. 1 Baptisimas Principio
18 12 1542 Fini 17 2 1550 (Our search of this record turned up nothing) b.
Nossa Senhora do Bispo L. N. 3 Baptisimas Principio 15 3 1556 Fini 28 10
1561 On the 136th page of the 3rd Baptisma book is registered the baptism of
Maria Carrico, daughter of Pero Dias Carrico and Maria Lima. This daughter is
one of the sisters of Manuel Pires Carrico and the aunt of the Pero Dias
Carrico condemned by the Inquisition. Maria was born on the 15th of August
1561 at the parish of Na Sa do Bispo. c. Nossa Senhora do Bispo L. N. 4
Baptisimas Principio 1 3 1557 Fini 9 11 1632 (Our search of this
record turned up nothing) 2. Nossa Senharo da Villa L. N. 2 def a 86 e de/94 a
183 Baptisma Principio 16 4 1563 Fini 29 3 1694 Casamentos /204a /215
Principio 15 8 1665 Fini 8 11 1693 Obitas de /87 a/93 e de/184a/203
Principio 26 9 1558 Fini 4 8 1693 (Our search of this record turned up
nothing) 3. Nossa Senharo da Villa L. N. 1 Baptisma Principio 20 2 1533
Fini 16 8 1678 Casamentos Principio 11 9 1556 Fini 6 11 1664
Obitas de /87 a/93 e de/184a/203 Principio 21 11 1557 Fini 20 8 1651 (Our
search of this record turned up nothing) 5. TAX LIST OF MONTEMORONOVO,
16991700 MontemoroNovo Library. Decima. A2F1 and A2F2. Tax lists 16991700.
A2F1 and A2F2. Translation: This book should serve to register for ways of
census after payment of decima for MontemoroNovo and surroundings. Taxes were
imposed upon each head of household based upon his total estate (lands,
occupation). These were partially searched and turned up no Carricos. Files
A3F1 were completely searched and A2F2 searched up to page 74. Hereinafter
cited as "Carrico Family".
16. Weaver, "Carrico Family," email to Carol R Mitchell, 1998, Peter "Currico"
who was transported to Maryland in 1674. I have the proven document (list of
immigrants to Maryland 16381698)
showing his arrival. We also have the document showing him taking posession of
50 acres some seven years laterwhich makes sense because that would have been
his compensation for an indentured sevant.
17. Skordas, The Early Settlers of Maryland (No place: no publisher, no date),
Peter Currico transported to the U.S. in 1674. Liber 18 Folio 80..
18. Juanita Watson, "Transportation of Peter Carrico to Maryland," email
message from Juanita Watson () to J D Sissom, Fri, 22 May
1998, 15th June 1674 Came Samuell Dobson of Charles County and proved his Right
to the hundred and fifty acres of Land for Transporting John Daniell, Roger
Roberts, Thomas Thompson, John Tibbot, Alexander Samcoe?, Samuell Lee, Henry
Keeling, Ralph Ervin, William Marsh, George Sutton, John Dourbin? , Peter
Curricoo and Mary Cooke into this Province to Inhabit. 17 June 1674 Warrant
then granted the said Samuell Dobson for the hundred and fifty acres for
Transporting the thirteen above mentioned persons into this province to Inhabit
in Anne 1674Cert. ret the 17th of September 1674. Hereinafter cited as "Peter
Carrico".
Carol (Gehrs) Mitchell, 134 Schnauzer Lane, Beaver Falls, PA 15010
<> 724-847-4473 [using The Master Genealogist 3.5, WP8,
Eudora]

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