Chica da SilvaChica da Silva

Chapter 4 to 6Chapter 4 to 6

ManumissionManumission

Date chosen for Chica’s manumission – Date chosen for Chica’s manumission – Christmas Day, December 25Christmas Day, December 25

MeaningsMeanings

Manumission practiceManumission practice

Process of Process of coartationcoartation – self-purchase – self-purchase Freedom - owner’s will – most common Freedom - owner’s will – most common

practicepractice Advantages – perspective of the ownerAdvantages – perspective of the owner

ConcubinageConcubinage

consensual unions – consensual unions – advantages for the black or mulatto advantages for the black or mulatto

women and their descendantswomen and their descendants Focus on Chica da SilvaFocus on Chica da Silva Children born from consensual unions Children born from consensual unions

– received their freedom at baptism– received their freedom at baptism

Freed womenFreed women

in many instances they claimed that in many instances they claimed that they had earned their freedom by their they had earned their freedom by their own means (by paying for it)own means (by paying for it)

Acquired assets and/or properties on Acquired assets and/or properties on their own agencytheir own agency

Evidence – found in last wills and Evidence – found in last wills and testamentstestaments

Slave women who lived as concubines Slave women who lived as concubines had better opportunities of being had better opportunities of being manumitted, according to Furtadomanumitted, according to Furtado

irmandadesirmandades

Common practice – Common practice – membership in Brotherhoods – membership in Brotherhoods – irmandadesirmandades

Religious functionReligious function Associated with status in the Associated with status in the

communitycommunity

Marriage – Church sacramentMarriage – Church sacrament

No civil marriages at this time – only No civil marriages at this time – only through the Churchthrough the Church

Concept of marriage – idea of Concept of marriage – idea of “marriage of reason”“marriage of reason”

To make alliances; social and To make alliances; social and economic reasons; family strategieseconomic reasons; family strategies

Ideas of love and passion were not a Ideas of love and passion were not a consideration at the timeconsideration at the time

Consensual unionsConsensual unions provided appearance of “legality and provided appearance of “legality and

stability” without the blessing of the Churchstability” without the blessing of the Church In many instances, the relationship lasted In many instances, the relationship lasted

longer than the ‘legal marriage’longer than the ‘legal marriage’ Evidence in the relationship between Evidence in the relationship between

Francisca da Silva de Oliveira [Chica da Francisca da Silva de Oliveira [Chica da Silva] and Joao Fernandes de OliveiraSilva] and Joao Fernandes de Oliveira

Measures of ‘stability’Measures of ‘stability’ Early manumissionEarly manumission Acquisition of patrimony (assets and Acquisition of patrimony (assets and

properties)properties)

Los Los ‘Oliveira’‘Oliveira’Use of the name ‘Oliveira’Use of the name ‘Oliveira’Number of children they had Number of children they had

together – named after together – named after members of the parents’ members of the parents’ familiesfamilies

Longevity of the relationshipLongevity of the relationship

Family lifeFamily life Refer to the thirteen children, their names Refer to the thirteen children, their names

and family references – evidence of ‘stability’and family references – evidence of ‘stability’ Chica gave birth at regular intervals – Chica gave birth at regular intervals –

evidence that she lived with Joao Fernandes evidence that she lived with Joao Fernandes de Oliveira for a long timede Oliveira for a long time

Did not breastfeed her children – use of wet Did not breastfeed her children – use of wet nurses – common practice of ladies of the nurses – common practice of ladies of the upper classes – the role of these women was upper classes – the role of these women was to perpetuate the family lineto perpetuate the family line

Chica’s case – to assure that there were male Chica’s case – to assure that there were male heirs – important evidenceheirs – important evidence

Baptism – public ceremonyBaptism – public ceremony Introduction of the child to the Catholic Introduction of the child to the Catholic

religion – also provided social status in the religion – also provided social status in the community community

Selection of godparents – important way to Selection of godparents – important way to create social alliances [equivalent of create social alliances [equivalent of networks in contemporary times]networks in contemporary times]

Obligations of godparents; considerations of Obligations of godparents; considerations of loyalty and friendship; alliances createdloyalty and friendship; alliances created

Social RolesSocial Roles

House owned by Chica – status associated with House owned by Chica – status associated with propertyproperty

Hierarchical society – Tejuco societyHierarchical society – Tejuco society External appearances revealed the social position of External appearances revealed the social position of

the individualthe individual Evidence – way a person dressed; whether a person Evidence – way a person dressed; whether a person

attended a public ceremony or not; a walk around attended a public ceremony or not; a walk around the village – represented opportunities to affirm the village – represented opportunities to affirm one’s position – a social role for the individualone’s position – a social role for the individual

Dress was not as simple, included the right Dress was not as simple, included the right accessories and jewelryaccessories and jewelry

Social StatusSocial Status

Slave ownershipSlave ownership Sign or evidence of social status – patrimony Sign or evidence of social status – patrimony

of the individual; meant that the person was of the individual; meant that the person was not involved with physical labornot involved with physical labor

Chica owned slaves and her descendantsChica owned slaves and her descendants Common practice at the time; many Common practice at the time; many

generations of freedmen and women had generations of freedmen and women had owned slavesowned slaves

Evidence found in last wills and testamentsEvidence found in last wills and testaments

Parish records [death, baptism, and marriage Parish records [death, baptism, and marriage records and brotherhood [irmandades] records and brotherhood [irmandades] memberships] – evidence that Chica da Silva memberships] – evidence that Chica da Silva owned at least 104 slaves at different times – owned at least 104 slaves at different times – see p. 154-155see p. 154-155

Comparison of Chica’s assets with those of Comparison of Chica’s assets with those of other people from the regionother people from the region

Evidence of Chica’s patrimonyEvidence of Chica’s patrimony Practices of local society in Tejuco – Practices of local society in Tejuco –

establish connections with the local eliteestablish connections with the local elite

Public ceremonies – opportunities to Public ceremonies – opportunities to demonstrate one’s social position in the demonstrate one’s social position in the villagevillage

Participating in religious processions – Participating in religious processions – common practice [equivalent of going to common practice [equivalent of going to social events in contemporary times] – social events in contemporary times] – distinctiondistinction

Sponsor of weddings and baptisms – created Sponsor of weddings and baptisms – created ‘networks’ and interdependence between ‘networks’ and interdependence between different social segmentsdifferent social segments

Built a chapel – grounds of Palha Built a chapel – grounds of Palha farmhouse near Tejucofarmhouse near Tejuco

Slaves married at this chapelSlaves married at this chapel Fulfilled their role as faithful masters Fulfilled their role as faithful masters

and good Christiansand good Christians Chica da Silva as a sponsor – her Chica da Silva as a sponsor – her

status as a parda and freedwoman status as a parda and freedwoman limited her selection as godmother to limited her selection as godmother to children of equal or lesser statuschildren of equal or lesser status

BaptismBaptism

Slave owners did not baptize the children of Slave owners did not baptize the children of their own slaves – not acceptabletheir own slaves – not acceptable

Evidence that Chica da Silva de Oliveira and Evidence that Chica da Silva de Oliveira and Joao Fernandes de Oliveira did baptize a Joao Fernandes de Oliveira did baptize a child – son of Severina creole – baptism held child – son of Severina creole – baptism held in San Antonio parish churchin San Antonio parish church

Charity – not only a Christian obligation – Charity – not only a Christian obligation – considered an obligation of the wealthy – considered an obligation of the wealthy – perceived as a sign of prestigeperceived as a sign of prestige