Mandates: What is a mandate and why would someone need one?

In a former life, I was the attorney for the vital records department of the State of Louisiana.               One of my jobs was to verify (in the case of individuals trying to establish a birth certificate in their name & - that for some reason was not in the State's records) -- that the individuals were born on the dates & at the places & of the parents that they were declaring to be true.  If they could not collect enough information (a family Bible, witnesses, immunization records, notices in the newspaper) to convince us of the validity of their claims, we would not be able to issue a backdated certificate & they would have to file a lawsuit, go to trial, & provide evidence of their birth & birth facts. 

As far as I can tell, a MANDATE is a  procedure in the Catholic Church which a person can use to establish an event that happened in the past but is not recognized in writing or document form in the existing Church records.  The person petitions the Church for a declaration that the event occurred & they give/provide/establish facts to support their assertion. Similarly, there appears to be a way a person can obtain a REAFFIRMATION of an event that does exist in the records (as in the case of Joao Jose da Cruz (below)) who drowned in 1872 but his widow obtained an affirmation/reaffirmation of the event in 1876.

************************************************************

These are the mandates that I have found:

*******************************************************************

SAO NICOLAU:

N.S. do Rosario 

1821   -  Efigenia Maria dos Santos -  do Rosario Baptisms 1842 - 1852 - 74/ - On 1/2/1845, Efigenia Maria dos Santos, sought a JUSTIFICATION from the Church that she was b. on 12/28/1821, d/o Manoel Francisco do Rosario & Maria dos Santos ?Thadea?, baptized by Rev. Bartholomeo Antonio Almeida  gods - Joao Soares d' Andrade & Efigenia de Almeida, mulher de ?Adriao Gomes da ?Colao?(Colaco?).      

1822 

Margarida Rosa d' Araujo - Daughter of Joaquim Ramos da Silva & Rosa Soares d' Araujo.             do Rosario Baptisms 1842 - 1852 - 20/- On 3/26/1843, Margarida Rosa d' Araujo sought a JUSTIFICATION from the Church that she had been baptized on 8/1/1822, & that she had been legitimated by a marriage subsequent to her birth, namely that of Joaquim Ramos da Silva & Rosa Soares d' Araujo which marriage (or baptism) took place at N.S. da Lapa, & that her godparents were Antonio Alberto da Silva & Margarida da ? Cortona / Costa mulher de Joze Francisco d' Almeida;  

Maria das Neves Ramos   do Rosario Baptisms 1842 - 1852 - 50/ - On 4/8/1844, Maria das Neves Ramos sought a JUSTIFICATION from the Church that she was born on 2/5/1822 & baptized on 2/12/1822, d/o Joze dos Santos da Cruz & Francisca dos Reis Ramos, gods - Manoel dos Santos Colaco & Clara dos Reis Ramos mulher de Luiz SoaresTeque;  

1826

Margarida Maria do Rosario - Daughter of Maria Duarte da Luz --   do Rosario Baptisms 1842 - 1852  74/ - On 1/4/1845, Margarida Maria da Roza sought a JUSTIFICATION from the Church to declare that she was baptized on 11/2/1826,  that she was the d/o Maria Duarte da Luz, & that her godparents were Antonio ? Neves & Margarida, d/o (?Gaspar da Cruz?);

1830 -

Barbara (? later Barbara Maria do Carmo?), d/o Antonio Vieira da Costa & Maria Micaela do Carmo, b. 9/4/1830 - do Rosario Baptisms 1842 - 1852 213/ - refers to the record for Barbara continued from page 212 - it is a Justification of Baptism dated 12/12/1848, about Barbara (d/o Antonio Vieira da Costa & Maria Micaela do Carmo) who was b. 9/4/1830, baptism by Rev. Miguel da Silva, gods - ? & Rosa Lopes Duarte, mulher de Manoel Jo__ Santa Ana (both of Sao Nicolau), & the priest declared that this was the truth & that he signed the record & he declared that Barbara was baptized on 9/2/1830; 

Rosa Antonia da Cruz  - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - (but the margin has the name of her mother - Antonia da Cruz da Piedade) -  331/  On 4/24/1884, Rosa Antonia da Cruz petitioned the Church for a Mandate, to have the Church declare that she had been baptized in 1830 more or less, (d/o Antonia da Cruz da Piedade).  No godparents are mentioned. 

1835 -

Maria Rosa do Livramento -  do Rosario Baptisms 1852 - 1864 -  28/ - On 12/7/1853,  Maria Rosa do Livramento sought a  JUSTIFICATION from the Church that she had been  baptized in Boa Vista on 4/2/1835, "na frequensia de Sao Roque", by Rev. Padre Innocencio do Rosario (?Moraes/Horacio?), gods - Jeromino Lopes Bentinho & Maria Cazemira. 

****************************************************************

Sao Nicolau - Nossa Senhora da Lapa 

1830

Rosa Antonia da Cruz da Piedade -  da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 331/no number - This is a Mandate - On 4/24/1884, Rosa Antonia da Cruz petitioned the Church for a Mandate, to have the Church declare that she had been baptized in 1830 more or less, d/o Antonia da Cruz da Piedade.  (Note that the margin says Antonia and the body makes it clear that it is about the daughter, Roza). 

1849

da Lapa Baptisms 1866 - 1881 - NO NUMBER - MANDATE- 138/- On 2/15/1872, Anna Rosa da Silva, b. in 10/1849, baptized (probably in early 1850 - edit) by Rev. Padre Manoel Antonio do Espirito Santos, d/o Antonio Thome da Silva & Anna Roza Ramos, gods - Francisco Soares Ramos & Anna Roza da Graca:    

1850 

Maria Rofina Rodrigues - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 22/ - On 4/24/1875, Maria Rofina Rodrigues sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that she had been baptized on 4/15/1850 & was born on 3/29/1850, & that her parents were Belchior Francisco d' Oliveira & Rufina Gertrudes Rodrigues, & that her godparents were Antonio Miguel do Rosario & Rufina Gertrudes Rodrigues.  

Julio Francisco Araujo - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 27/  On 5/18/1875, Julio Francisco d' Araujo sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he had been baptized in 3/1850 (no specific date is mentioned), by Rev. Vigario Valentim, da Costa Barradas (dec'd) & that he was the son of Francisco Simao (dec'd) & Roza Maria da Encarnacao, & that his godparents were Antonio Rodrigues Branco & Maria Michaella do Carmo. 

Julio Manoel de Brito - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 191/ - On 4/11/1881, Julio Manoel de Brito sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he had been baptized on 6/2/1850, that his parents were Manoel Domingos de Brito & Clara Antonia Soares, & that his godparents were Julio Daniel Fermino & Maria Roza de Brito.

Joao Antonio Lopes  da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 247/ - On 6/26/1882, Joao Antonio Lopes sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he had was born on 10/17/1850 & that he was baptized in the same month by the Rev. V. Barradas, that he was the s/o Antonio Luiz Lopes & Anna Margarida do Rosario, & that his godparents were Joao Antonio de Brito & Maria Basilia Duarte. 

1851 

 Francisco Jose Goncalves - Son of Maria Isabel Silva -  da Lapa Baptisms 185 - 1895 - 139/ - On 8/16/1878, Francisco Jose Goncalves sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he he had been baptized in January 1851, by a priest who is now deceased (V. Barradas), & that he was the s/o Maria Isabel da Silva, & that his godparent was Francisco Antonio Martins, & he presented the testimony of  Theresa Antonia Lopes to support his claims. 

Nicolau Joaquim da Silva -da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 180/ - On 2/2/1881, Nicolau Joaquim da Silva sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he had been baptized in 1851 (no other info re the date), that he was the s/o Joaquim da Silva Tantuna & Roza Anna Motta, the baptizing priest was Rev. Valentim da Costa Barradas, & that his godparents were Nicolau Manoel Almeida & Gertrudes Anna Motta.  

Roberto Antonio de Brito - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895  - 208/ - THIS IS MY FAMILY -  On 7/11/1881, (Although this record says Antonio Roberto de Brito in the left margin it is clear that Roberto Antonio de Brito sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he had been baptized on 11/2/1851, & that his parents were Antonio Roberto de Brito &  Roza Maria da Cruz  (this is RMdC # 1) & that the godparents were Venancio Jose Marcello & Anna Maria Silva.   

Joaquim Antonio Ganeto   da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 335/no number - On 5/23/1884, Joaquim Antonio Ganeto petitioned the Church for a Mandate to recognize that he was born on 2/18/1851 and then baptized by Rev. V. Barradas (but no date is apparent), s/o Antonio Manoel Ganeto & Archangela Anna da Conceicao, the gods were Manoel Mauricio Soares & Roza Anna dos Reis. 

1852

Antonio Rolao de Brito - Son of Antonia Anna de Brito -  da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 55/ On 2/21/1876, Antonio Rolao de Brito sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that he had been baptized "in the month of March, 1852) by the Rev. Vigario Valentim da Costa Barradas & that he was the s/o Antonia Anna de Brito, & that his godparents were Antonio Lopes Solidade & Ignacia Dorotheia Fortes. 

1854
Julia Antonia do Rosario -  da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 160/  - On 3/1/1878, Julia Antonia do Rosario sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that she had been born on 1/10/1854, that she had been baptized on 1/20/1854, & that her parents were Joao dos Santos de Brito & Antonia Magdalena do Rosario, baptized by Rev. V. Barradas, gods - Francisco Joaquim Almeida & Maria Fortes Santiago. 

 Antonia Roza dos Reis  - Daughter of Pedro Constantino Almeida & Roza Anna dos Reis -   da Lapa Baptims 1875 - 1895 - - 205/ - On 6/29/1881, Antonia Roza dos Reis sought a Mandate from the Church in order to verify & proclaim that she had been baptized in 1854 (no other info about the date), by the Rev. V. Barradas & that her parents were Pedro Constantino Almeida & Roza Anna dos Reis & her godparents were Nicolau Miguel Soares & Antonia Roza de Brito.

1856

 Maria Rosa Soares - da Lapa Obits 1874 - 1879 -  61/ In 1879, the husband of Maria Roza Soares, filed a Mandate with the Church seeking to declare that his wife had died of cholera on 9/17/1856.  The husband was Antonio Manoel d' Oliveira. 

Candida Maria do Rosario  - Wife of Francisco Raphael Silva -  do Rosario Obits 1874 - 1886 - Boa Vista tab -   7/22 - On 5/31/1874, Francisco Raphael Silva petitioned the court for an ACKNOWLEDGMENT that his wife, Candida Maria do Rosario had died in 1856 as a victim of the epidemic of cholera.

1862

Domingos Martha Gomes   - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 351/  On 12/5/1884, Domingos Martha Gomes sought a Mandate from the Church to declare that he was born in 8/1862 (no specific date) &  baptized in 8/1862 (no specific date) by Rev. Nunes de Pino, & that his mother was Anna Martha Gomes,Romualdo Nunes de Pino. the godparents were Domingos Joaquim dos Reis & Anna Maria Lopes.  A Martha Maria do Rosario was mentioned but I am not sure of her role.  

1863 
Josepha Roza Monteiro - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 338/no number -  On 6/2/1884, Josepha Roza Monteiro petitioned the Church for a Mandate to declare that she had been born in 2/1863 (no specific date is given) & baptized thereafter by the Rev. Romualdo Neves de Pina & that she was the d/o Roza Maria Monteiro & that her godparents were Antonio Pedro Gomes & JosephaTheresa da Silva. (Note that in the margin it says "Miguel, natural, digo Josepha" ---- the digo means that the priest made a mistake.  He wrote Miguel, the natural child of & then realized that he was dealing with someone entirely different - Josepha). 

Jose Antonio da Silva - da Lapa Baptisms 1875 - 1895 - 20/no number - Jose Antonio da Silva petitioned the Church for a Mandate to declare that he had been baptized in 4/1863 (no specific date) by the Rev. Nunes de Pino, , & that his mother was Anna Antonia da Silva.  The godparents were Antonio Manoel Fortes & Francisca Anna Catherina.
Note:  These few pages are a mess.  Page 20 starts with this mandate but then skips to a record on a child named Antonio & then follow with a missing page from way before in the records & then it goes back to the proper numbering system and also back to the file about Jose.  Follow the three CROSSES.  

1872  

Joao Jose da Cruz-  This man drowned in 1872, & then in 1876 his wife went to the Church to reaffirm his death so there are two records of his death (the original & the reaffirmation). b. 1827, d. 12/22/1872
Husband of Josefa Maria de Brito,   da Lapa Obits 1871 - 1876  - 14/16, On 12/22/1872, Joao Jose da Cruz drowned in the sea, at around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in the bay of Ribeira Alta.  He was 45y & the h/o Josefa Maria de Brito.  He had 3 children.  The witnesses were Joao Mathias ?Gomes, married & Estevao Vicente Alves, married.  da Lapa Obits 1871 - 1876 - 38/no number.  On 7/7/1876, Josefa Maria de Brito who was the widow of Joao Jose da Cruz sought an affirmation from the Church that he had drowned (andando a pesca) on 12/22/1872

******************************************************

*************************************************************

SAO VICENTE

1857

Manoel Antonio Fortes - da Luz Baptisms 1878 - 1885457/13 - On 1/5/1885, Manoel Antonio Fortes sought a Mandate from the Church to declare that he had been baptized in that Church in 1857, that he was the s/o Antonio Hilario Fortes & Antonia Eufemia Evora, & that his godparents were Manoel de Jesus Evora & (Dona) Vicencia de Jesus Federico. 

1861

Maria da Luz Pereira - da Luz Baptisms 1878 - 1885481/67 - On 4/27/1885, Maria da Luz Pereira sought a Justification from the Church that she had been baptized in 1861 & that she was the d/o Francisca Lopes Duarte;  

1864

Diogo Manoel Evora  -   da Luz Baptisms 1885 - 1889 - 518/153 - Diogo Manoel Evora sought a Mandate from the Church to declare that he was b. on 8/13/1863 & baptized on 1/31/1864, s/o Manoel de Jesus Evora & Margarida Fortes Evora. 

1865

Antonia Maria Pires - da Luz Baptisms 1878 - 1885506/125 On 9/3/1885, Antonia Maria Pires sought a Mandate from the Church to the effect that she had been baptized on 3/19/1865, that she was the d/o Maria da Cruz Pires; & that her godparents were Miguel Antonio da Graca & Maria Anna de Jesus.

1869

 Isabel Maria de Lima      da Luz Baptisms 1885 - 1889 - 294/19 - On 2/15/1887, Isabel Maria de Lima, single, sought a Justification from the Church that she had been born on the island of "?Demerara?" on 10/23/1869 & baptized at Egreja d' Ascencao by a missionary on 12/10/ "do Oito anno", & that she was the child of Ignacia Antonia Lima, widow, & that her mother was from Santo Antao.  Also that her godparents were Joao Antonio da Luz e sua mulher (& his wife, Roza Anna da Luz). 

1872
 

Joao - da Luz Baptisms 1850 - 1877 - 461/  On 11/5/1874, a Mandate was sought to justify the baptism of a child named Joao who had been baptized in November or December of 1872, the parents were Thomas Francisco (?Nunez?) & Candida Rose.  

1874

Maria das Dores de Brito  for her child CANDIDA (Later ? Candida Maaria das Dores?)   - da Luz Baptisms - 1888 & 1889 (in the Boa Vista tab - 52/83 - On 4/3/1888, Maria das Dores Brito (of BV) (d/o Ricardo Soares Brito & Candida Soares Brito) sought a Justification from the Church on behalf of her minor child Candida (b. 4/3/1874) (baptized 5/3/1874), (it appears that the baptizing priest is now dead), the godparents were Francisco Antonio ?Fialho?, married, (of Portugal) & Anna Maria do Rosario Alves, widow, (of BV);