The Recolhimento (Shelter House) do Bom Jesus in Funchal – Documents and Notes for its History (17th and 18th Centuries)

Abstract

This paper comprises two parts. The first one, which is primarily intended to provide some notes to the knowledge of the early history of the Recolhimento (Shelter House) do Bom Jesus, deals with: general and contextual aspects of assistance in Early Modern Times, in particular women’s shelter houses, and the foundation of religious and assistance institutions in 17^th century Madeira; the important figure of the founder of the Recolhimento do Bom Jesus, the archdeacon Simão Gonçalves Cidrão; the foundation of the institution and the goal, which was not achieved, of it becoming a convent. The Recolhimento do Bom Jesus was founded in the 1660s and the first recolhidas (sheltered women) entered around the year 1658. Globally, the profile of these women is consistent with a precarious economic and social status: orphans and suffering from a state of poverty (actual or imminent).
The second part aims to publish the transcription – preceded by notes and transcription rules – of relevant documents, from the 17^th and 18^th centuries, for the history of the Recolhimento do Bom Jesus: the first statutes of 12-01-1669; the subsequent statutes, of 10-01-1702; and appointments of visitations, covering the years 1708 to 1775.

Keywords

History of Social Assistance; History of the Church; Women’s Shelter Houses; Recolhimento do Bom Jesus; Funchal; Archdeacon Simão Gonçalves Cidrão; Donation; Foundation; Professed House or Convent; Recolhidas; Orphanhood; Poverty; Statutes; Appointments of Visitations.