Reference code: GB-0298-LC/A11
Title: Lisbon College Legal Papers
Dates of creation: 1713-1891
Extent: 3 files
Held by: Ushaw College Library
Origination: Lisbon College
Language:
Portuguese
The English College of SS. Peter and Paul at Lisbon (or, as it is more commonly known, Lisbon College) was founded by Pedro Coutinho in 1624 as a college for English students training for the priesthood and mission work in England. As a
pontifical college it was awarded the same privileges and rights as other colleges centrally controlled by Rome, such as the English College in Rome, whose aim was the maintenance of the Catholic faith in England, Scotland and Ireland. The driving
force behind the college in its early years was William Newman. Although he was never to become president, Newman founded the college from property entrusted by the estate of the late Nicholas Ashton, a Catholic chaplain in Lisbon. Initial progress
was slow until the arrival of a group of English students and teachers from the English College at Douai in 1628. The first president, albeit briefly, was Archdeacon Joseph Haynes who died the following year. The reputation of the college as a
centre of academic excellence and its relevance as an English institution in Lisbon attracted patronage from varied sources during the seventeenth century, including Pedro da Costa and Maria de Oliveira Leitoa who transferred important funds to the
college in exchange for daily masses for their special intention. In 1679, Pope Innocent XI granted the college the privilege of being considered as a High Altar of Christ on the Cross. In spite of its wealthy benefactors and papal patronage, the
college faced a number of challenges in the following centuries. In 1755, Lisbon was shaken by a terrible earthquake in which 20,000 people died and 60,000 houses and 60 palaces and convents were destroyed. The college suffered badly both in terms
of the physical devastation of its buildings and the mental well-being of many of its students and superiors who, like most of the population of Lisbon, chose to live under tents in the gardens of the college rather than risk being inside in fear of
another quake. The college suffered another setback when it was occupied by French forces during Napoleon's invasion of Portugal in 1807 and, just days before the second French invasion, the president decided to close the college down, with all
students being sent to an Anglo-Portuguese school in England until the war ended in 1814. The college was finally closed in 1973. Since the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act in Britain in 1829, the college's raison d'etre had ceased to exist
although it's high reputation as a teaching and training establishment enabled it to survive for another 144 years.
A small miscellany of stray legal papers relating to the college and its status as a British establishment.
Lisbon College closed in 1973 and this collection, along with the rest of the Lisbon Archive and Library, was transferred to Ushaw College by Mgr James Sullivan the following year.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Lisbonian Society and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners,
but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The papers follow the original arrangement of the collection which is broadly chronological.
Calendared card catalogue
LC/A11/1 20 July 1713
Language: Portuguese
Letter from the dean and chapter (London) to E. Jones: power of attorney for Jones to act for the dean and chapter as patrons or co-patrons in restoring the college
Signed: J. Perrot, T. Yaxley, G. Saltmarsh, J. Herbert, and W. Martin
1f
Old Catalogue Number 331
LC/A11/2 23 January 1732
Language: Portuguese
Rent agreement between Joao Bautista and Lisbon College
2f
LC/A11/3 4 September - 23 October 1747
Language: Portuguese
Declaration by Juiz Conservador confirming that the college holds the privileges of British subjects
2f
LC/A11/4 4 September 1747
Language: Portuguese
Authenticated copy by Juiz Conservador of orders to respect the college's privileges as British subjects
2f
LC/A11/5 14 October 1749
Language: Portuguese
General procuration (and authentication) given by J. Manley to J. Preston
1f
LC/A11/6 8 May 1753
Language: Portuguese
Certificate by J. Manley concerning W. Morice's pension
(W. Morice was the former paymaster of English troops in the war with France and Spain)
1f
LC/A11/7 13 September 1762
Language: Portuguese
Letter from G. Bernard to J. Preston: giving Preston general procuration to act for him
2f
LC/A11/8 1 May - 11 August 1770
Language: Portuguese
Notarised power of attorney for J. Preston to act for T. Taylor (of Durham) when his mother dies
1f
LC/A11/9 12 June 1773 - 1778
Language: Portuguese
Letter from the Queen of Portugal to Lisbon College: exemption from paying tithes on its revenues
Confirmations in 1777 and 1778
9f
LC/A11/10 29 October 1779
Language: Portuguese
Section of an appeal by Lisbon College claiming 270,180 reis as the creditor of Antonio Simoes
2f
LC/A11/11 [1779]
Language: English
Account of the places and books where the
alvaras and
padrose of the college are registered
2f
Old Catalogue Number 339
LC/A11/12 1795
Language: Latin and English
Papers relating to J. Barnard's defence of himself and his executor (J. Williams), including a detailed account of Williams's suspension in 1749 and the controversy surrounding who was appointed as a trustee of the clergy's fund in South
Wales
1 file
Old Catalogue Number 375
LC/A11/13 31 March 1804
Language: Portuguese
Receipt from Damazo Xavier de Cabo to T. Hurst for titles of houses in the Rua Boa Morte, delivered to Damazo Xavier de Cabo
1f
Old Catalogue Number 104
LC/A11/14 6 November 1816
Language: Portuguese
Renewed
aformanto or
reconhecimento made by Joanna Camilla de Piedade Pinto of the
camal of Pera
1f
Old Catalogue Number 109
LC/A11/15 12 December 1832
Language: English
Certificate confirming Daniel Farrell's payment of £5 to leave the army at Gibraltar after fourteen years service
1f
LC/A11/16 4 September 1833
Language: Portuguese
Letter from Juiz Conservador to E. Winstanley: an order to respect college's privileges as British subjects
Includes a certificate of Jeremias Meagher, British vice-consul
4f
LC/A11/17 28 July 1854
Language: Portuguese
Copy of a document recognising Anna de Paiva Martins as
direeita senhora of the college's house at Boa Morte
4f
Old Catalogue Number 440
LC/A11/18 28 April 1856
Letter from the Office of Patents to J. Ilsley: confirming the cessation of his patent unless £50 is paid
1f
LC/A11/19 24 November 1856
Agreement by Joseph Ilsley of Lisbon College to pay Mary Burke of Greenwich an annuity of £30 in consideration of £911 left by the Revd Edward Norris with the reversion of the capital to the college
2f
Old Catalogue Number 448
LC/A11/20 17 September - 5 October 1891
Letters from the Administraçao (of the Bairro Alto) to Lisbon College: requesting information on the constitution and purpose of the college
2 letters
