Alvar 'Eanes (bef. 1558)

Born before 1558 in Portugal

Husband of Inez (Pires) 'Eanes — married about 1560 in Laura, Ponte de Barca, Portugal

Descendants

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Biography

Alvar 'Eanes probably was born in Portugal. Sources labeled A.R.F.are from the Arquivo Regional da Madeira ( Regional Archives of Madeira at Funchal. B# = Book number/ reg.# = Registration number

Sources

• Alvar 'Eanes was one of the early settlers to Madeira. He came with his wife Inez Pires whom he married about 1540, and his son, Joao Fernandes, from the little village of Laura in the district of Ponte de Barca on the Portuguese mainland just northwest from Oporto.

This was the days of the "tall ships". The island was strategically situated along the major routes the Armada was travelling in search of trade along the African coast all of which passed through Madeira.

The timber from the mountainside was cut to refit the ships damaged by storms. Other islanders produced food to supply not only themselves but also the crews of these ships. Fishing was one of the major industries in the beginning as well as a major source for food.

The Prince divided the island into three parts and gave one piece to each of the Captains who had taken on the mission to colonize Madeira. Zarco received the section south of an imaginary line running from Oliveira Point, in the southeastern corner of the island, to Tristao Point, in the northwestern corner of the island. This included the area known as Funchal today. Tristao Vaz received the area on the northern side of the line and built the settlement on the area known today as Machio. The Island of Porto Santo went to Bartolomeu Perestrelo the third captain on the colonization voyage.

At first these lieutenants held title to the land by heredity but by 1497 the descendants of these lieutenants were abusing their rights and not improving the conditions for increased colonization. Therefor the titles to the land were restored to the crown.

Funchal is the principal port as well as the capital of the island. The city lies at the end of a beautiful bay encircled by green hills whose summits overlooking the town are wrapped in mist. It was on this spot which Zarco established his first colony and where our ancestor made his first home.

The town was at the junction of three rivers which supplied life giving water to the new colony.The original city was confined on the west and east by two forts, Sao Lourence (St. Lawrence) and Sao Tiago (St. James), Zarco ruled the colony for more than 40 years until his death in approximately 1467. The town was named for the wild crop, of sugar cane (funcho) which became the first major export of the colony.

Christopher Columbus, who later became the discoverer of the New World, spent some time in Madeira, studying the theories then current in navigation which would later inspire his exploration of America. Columbus married Isabela Moniz the daughter of the administrator of Porto Santo.

Sources

A.R.F. B#51 pg. 104v.

Historical information from Michelin Guide to Europe (192) and A New History of Portugal by H.V. Livermore. (1966) [1]