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Gomez

Gomez Articles

The Gomez Family: An Old Family Record

"As A Matter of 'arti'-Fact!" Newsletter

The Search for the Gomez Past: Old Castile to Newburgh, N.Y.

A Few of the Books Published by Benjamin Gomez

Don't Forget The Cousins

Benjamin Gomez — Bookseller

The Gomez Collection

Gomez Family Prayer Book

Act of Denization from Queen Anne Recorded for Luis Gomez

Queen Anne

Queen Anne

Queen Anne Portrait

Queen Anne, born February 6, 1665, was the last English monarch to preside over cabinets and veto parliamentary legislation. The daughter of James II, she remained devoted to the Church of England despite her father’s conversion to Roman Catholicism. To uphold the Anglican church, she unhesitatingly joined her brother-in-law, William III, when he invaded England in 1688 and forced her father into exile. During William’s reign, Anne became great friends with strong-minded Sarah Churchill, later Duchess of Marlborough, whom she called “Mrs. Freeman.” When Anne came to the throne in 1702, she gave Sarah the highest court appointments and made her husband, the Duke of Marlborough, commander-in-chief in the War of the Spanish Succession.

Anne had a mind of her own, however. After seven years of the war against France, she realized her subjects were tiring of it. In 1710, she employed her influence to overthrow the Whig government, which was committed to an uncompromising peace treaty, and instituted a Tory government instead. Like her, the Tories staunchly supported the Church of England and favored an immediate peace. Anne ruthlessly broke with the Churchills, turning for comfort to other women friends and to her chief minister, Robert Harley, who concluded the Peace of Utrecht in 1713.

Anne adored her husband, Prince George of Denmark. Despite frequent pregnancies, however, none of her children survived childhood. Suffering from constant ill health, she enjoyed cards and gossip to distractions. Through overeating, she grew fat and finally had to be hoisted into her coach. Patriotic and conscious of her rights, she aimed at improving her people’s welfare, and they loved her. She died August 1, 1714, as members of her Privy Council jostled for power around her deathbed. The Hanoverian George I succeeded her.

Act of Denization from Queen Anne Recorded for Luis Gomez

Anne, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, Scotland, France & Ireland Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings. Know ye that for various good reasons and causes, moved by kindly considerations and from positive knowledge and for honorable purposes, we have granted and by these presents in our own name and for our heirs and successors hereby do grant to Luis Gomez (a man) chosen by us, who, although born across the sea is hereby made our faithful subject and will ever be our licensed denizen; and our heirs and successors of our English realm are to so consider him And in respect to this, his heirs are and will be licensed subjects, and he and his heirs are to be held reputed, treated & governed as our faithful subjects born within the Kingdom of England & he and his heirs may hold, possess, use and enjoy all property and acquisitions of whatever kind or nature in whatever places & jurisdictions within our Kingdom of England. Furthermore, he & they may engage in and carry on, may appear and contest, may defend & be defended in all places and for all things, just as may any of our subjects or any of our faithful lieges dwelling within our kingdom born or to be born therein.

And that the said Luis Gomez & his heirs may be able to acquire and receive, take, hold, have, buy, & possess lands, holdings, inheritances within our English Domain & any of our Dominions to use and enjoy for himself and his heirs in perpetuity or to give, purchase, buy, sell, alienate and dispose of in any manner whatsoever to whatever person or persons he or they choose or shall choose as freely, fearlessly, fully, wholly, peaceably, quietly, and without disturbance as he or they may desire, just as may any faithful citizen born within our Kingdom.

And that the said Luis Gomez & his heirs may as freely and fully as he or they may desire declare, retain & enjoy all such lands, tenements and hereditaments, given, granted, or assigned; and they may transfer the same as freely, wholly, peaceably and quietly, as may any of our faithful subjects native to our Realm.

And that the said Luis Gomez and his heirs may peaceably, freely & fully, have, possess, use & enjoy each and all franchises & privileges as any of our loyal citizens born within the kingdom, without any disturbance, molestation, hindrance or vexation, without trouble or annoyance by our heirs and successors, or ministers or Officials, or by anyone whatsoever, or for any cause or reason, anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Moreover, we wish and through these patents we charge the said Luis Gomez that the same Luis Gomez and his heirs be vassal and subject to us and to our heirs and successors, and as such shall one and all pay & contribute the lot & scot (the customary duties according to the ability of each), in the same manner as our subjects do and shall each & all pay & contribute as is just; and that the said Luis Gomez & his heirs shall pay and contribute to our heirs and our successors the custom duties and subsidies for materials and merchandise, just as immigrants and aliens are always required to do.

It is further decreed that Luis Gomez shall observe each & every act, statute, ordinance, & proclamation of the English Realm (issued in the past or to be issued in the future), and shall regard them & be obedient to them in conformity with the laws and statutes and each provision thereof.

We also wish that the said Luis Gomez & his family, which he now has or shall have in the future shall be and continue to be residents within our Kingdom of England or elsewhere within any other of our Dominions.

And finally, it is our decree & with this condition that if the said Luis Gomez shall be a master of a vessel or shall act as a mercator within the boundaries of the English Realm contrary to the liberties & privileges of an incorporated licensed alien, and counter to those given to each and all merchants of our English Kingdom, through my charters or letters patent, or those granted by each or any one of our predecessors up to this time, by this very decree these letters patent shall be void and of no effect.

In testimony of which we hereby cause these letters patent to be issued & our seal to be affixed by my own witness.

Given at Westminster the eighteenth day of April in the fourth year of our reign. (April 18, 1705)

Attachment of seal and endorsement (per breve deprivato sigil)

(signed) Cocks

Thank you to Sister Mary Francis McDonald, Ph.D., St. Mary’s College, Newburgh, NY for her fine translation.

 

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