McCaffrey, O.Carm., Father Constantine
Testimony in the proceedings against Father Constantine McCaffrey.
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1796 Sep. 1
O'Reilly, Father (Michael) Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
O'Reilly sends to Penalver the attached testimony in the investigation against McCaffrey made necessary by the public scandals of this religious, so that Penalver could determine what was to be done, with the understanding that McCaffrey was to go to Havana and remain there until he received orders from Penalver.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 23
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
O'Reilly, vicar general and ecclesiastical judge of this city and province, was summoned between 8 and 9 o'clock yesterday evening to the house of Governor Enrrique White, Commandant of this province, and met there Bartolome Morales, Colonel of the Royal Armies and Commandant of the Third Battalion; Antonio Matanzas, Adjutant and Adjutant Manuel Martinez, both captains; Manuel Rodriguez and Benito de Pangua, Lieutenants; Miguel Zevallos and Juan Pierna, Second Lieutenants; Ensign Bartolome Morales; and Juan Lenee. A little later Captain Pedro Marrot having arrived, the governor explained that the Commandant and the three officers present had entered a complaint that Father Constantino McCaffrey had insulted them during a dispute that he had with Rodriguez in Antonio Miranda's billiard room. At this point Matanzas went out, on the order of the governor, to look for McCaffrey. Finding him in the street on horseback, and informing him of the order of the governor, McCaffrey burst out in unbecoming language so that Matanzas was obliged to arrest him, putting him first in McCaffrey's own house but then the commandant and officers stating that he might break out and fearing disgrace because he seemed unbalanced, he imprisoned him in the Castle of St. Mark. Since O'Reilly cannot remain indifferent to such behavior, he ordered proceedings to be started, asking the help of the governor and civil authorities. O'Reilly signed before the assisting witnesses, Bartolome de Castro y Ferrer and Fran(cis)co Rovira who also signed.
D.S. (Copy) (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 23
White, (Enrique)
St. Augustine, Florida
It is to be done as petitioned above. This is signed also by Rovira and Castro.
D.S. (Spanish) Copy
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1796 Aug. 25
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
O'Reilly and the two witnesses went to the home of Colonel Morales who swore that on August 22 Martinez and de Pangua came to his house about 5 o'clock and told him that McCaffrey was at the door of Miranda's billiard hall and had insulted the officers of the battalion in a scandalous way. When asked if they knew the motive for this, they answered that Pablo Mestre, surgeon of the battalion and Miguel Costa of the neighborhood were in the billiard hall when the priest entered and began to insult Mestre and all Catalans. Then turning to some other players, the priest bet two bottles of beer on Costa. Rodriguez who was there also, responded to this by saying that the one who made the bet could drink the beer. At this the priest began to insult him, menacing him with a stick and threatening to take his sword away. Rodriguez took out a knife. (The testimony which follows gives the same story as given above under August 23).
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 26
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Martinez appeared before O'Reilly and the two witnesses and swore to (his testimony of the same incident as given above). He signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 26
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
(St. Augustine), Florida
Pangua appeared before O'Reilly and the two witnesses and swore to (his testimony of the same incident). He signs with O'Reilly and the witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 26
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Mestre appeared before O'Reilly and the two witnesses swore (to his testimony of the same incident). He signs with O'Reilly and the witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 26
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Costa appeared before O'Reilly and swore to (his testimony of the incident). He does not sign because he does not know how. O'Reilly and the two witnesses sign.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Antonio Montero, Corporal in the Artillery, appeared before O'Reilly and the two witnesses and swore that McCaffery came to him for powder and bullets under the pretext of going hunting. McCaffery took two pistols and loaded them and said that he was going to look for Rodriguez. Montero rushed to warn Rodriguez. Montero signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Antonio Miranda, a resident of the city, appeared before O'Reilly and the witnesses and swore that the quarrel between McCaffrey and Rodriguez occurred in his billiard room. He did not see whether Rodriguez unsheathed his sword because he rushed to hold McCaffery. Miranda signs with O'Reilly and the witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Nicolas Sanchez, resident of the city, appeared before O'Reilly and the witnesses and swore that he was an eyewitness of the quarrel and intervened by taking Rodriguez away. Later he accompanied him to the gate of the hospital. Sanchez signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Juan Rodriguez, a resident of the city, appeared before O'Reilly and the witnesses and swore that he did not see the quarrel. He was in the billiard room but did not pay any attention to the quarrel because he considered it a delicate matter. Juan Rodriguez signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
Manuel Fernandez Bendicho, a revenue collector and director of mails, appeared before O'Reilly and the two witnesses and swore to (his testimony of the quarrel). Bendicho signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
McCaffery, O.Carm., Father Constantino
St. Augustine, Florida
to Father Miguel O'Reilly
(St. Augustine, Florida)
McCaffery asks O'Reilly to change his place of imprisonment from the Castle of St. Mark among criminals to his own house or a place where his priesthood would be respected. He is ill, but not seriously.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 27
O'Reilly, Father (Michael)
St. Augustine, Florida
(McCaffery) is to be transferred to the room beside the choir in the Cathedral. The aid of the Governor and the Commandant are to be asked for the transfer. Rovira and Castro sign with O'Reilly.
D.S. (Spanish) Copy
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1796 Aug. 27
White, (Enrique)
St. Augustine, Florida
The guard of the Castle is to permit the transfer arranged for in the
above decree. Castro and Rovira sign with White.
Castro and Rovira add in following notes that they went to the Castle
of St. Mark and having notified the Commander of the Castle of the two
above decrees they went to the cell of McCaffery whom they also
notified. McCaffery promised to comply with the order and said he
would move after sunset to avoid notice. He signs with Rovira and
Castro who state that when they went to the room next to the choir in
the Cathedral about 8 o'clock they found McCaffery there.
D.S. (Spanish) Copy
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1796 Aug. 29
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
O'Reilly, with the two witnesses, went to the room where McCaffery was jailed. (McCaffery again gives his version of the quarrel, adding that) it was well known that Manuel Rodriguez and he had been good friends. When he called to Rodriguez later on horseback, it was in order to restore that friendship. He acknowledged that he probably uttered some harsh words in the governor's house. When asked who his superior was, he answered that O'Reilly was. McCaffery signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. (Spanish) Copy
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1796 Aug. 29
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
Manuel Rodriguez, lieutenant of the Third Battalion appeared and swore (to his version of the quarrel between himself and McCaffrey). He signs as Manuel Rodriguez de la Veza, with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 31
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
O'Reilly and the two witnesses went to the room where McCaffery was confined because of the request McCaffery had made to the governor, Enrrique White, for permission to go to Havana in order to regain his health. McCaffrey presented two certificates from local physicians. He swore that if the permission was granted he would remain in confinement until Penalver makes a decision. McCaffery signs with O'Reilly and the two witnesses.
D.S. (Spanish) Copy
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1796 Aug. 10
(Fitz-Patrick?) Fiz-Patris, Valentin
St. Augustine, Florida
Fiz-Patris, a doctor of the Royal Hospital certifies that McCaffery suffers from a continuous headache and stomach disorder and his health cannot be regained with a change of climate.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Aug. 10
Sterling, Thomas
St. Augustine, Florida
Esterling, surgeon in the Royal Hospital certifies that having treated McCaffery for headaches and stomach trouble, he advised him to change climate in order to regain his health.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Sep. 1
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
O'Reilly certifies that the above copies (of the two doctors' statements) conform with the originals in his possession. Rovira and Castro sign with O'Reilly.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 15
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
To be joined to these proceedings are the letter of O'Reilly to McCaffrey dated January 16, 1796; also the order sent (by Penalver) on March 5 of the same year to the Vicar General and to McCaffrey; the original signed copies sent by the vicar general of the letters of the Governor on October 8, 1795; that of secretary Manuel Rengil of the following day; the translation by Carlos Pope of the 12th of that month; the original letter of O'Reilly of September 1, 1796. All are to be gathered together. Father Isidro Quintero notarizes this as pro- secretary.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 16
O'Reil(l?)y, Father Mig(ue)l
St. Augustine, Florida
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
McCaffrey because of drinking has been unable sometimes to celebrate Mass and to fulfill his ministry and so O'Reilly was obliged to start proceedings against him and take testimony. He begs Penalver to grant McCaffrey the permission to leave the country for the peace and edification of the place.
D.S. (Spanish) Copy
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1797 Jan. 15
Quintero, Father Isidro
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Quintero certifies that the above corresponds to the one sent to him and at the order of the bishop's decree of today, Quintero makes a copy of it.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Mar. 15
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis) Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Constantino McCaffrey
(St. Augustine, Florida)
Penalver exhorts McCaffrey to not give scandal and to moderate his drinking. If the incident with Captain Pop(e) is over looked, (Penalver) is persuaded that McCaffrey has been impressed by the exhortations of his bishop; if not, he will have to take other measures.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 15
Quintero, Father Isidro
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
(The above) is a copy of the letter found in the correspondence from Florida.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Mar. 15
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Mig(ue)l O'Reil(l?)y
(St. Augustine, Florida)
O'Reilly is to call upon McCaffrey and by Penalver's order announce to him that he must correct his habit of drinking; if he does not, he will suspend him in order to prevent scandal and offense against God.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 15
Quintero, Father Isidro
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
(The above) is a copy of the letter found in the correspondence from Florida.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Oct. 8
Quesada, Juan Nepomuceno de
St. Augustine, Florida
to Father Mig(ue)l O'Reilly
(St. Augustine, Florida)
The repeated excesses of McCaf[f]rey have obligated Quesada to commission Hassett, the pastor, to admonish him and Quesada himself has reprimanded him. McCafrey said everything was due to his drinking and promised to amend. The cause seems to remain, however, because the incidents have been repeated, as with Carlos Pop(e) of the American sloop just arrived from Havana on the 6th in the house of the innkeeper, Santiago Clark. Eyewitnesses of this incident were the secretary of the governor, Q(uesada), Man(ue)l Rengil, Mrs. Clark, Corporal Manuel Bernal and the soldiers, Pedro Stellers and Mig(ue)l Prat. Quesada finds it necessary to communicate with O'Reilly so that these wrongs may be corrected.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1795 Oct. 9
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
to Manuel Rengil
(St. Augustine, Florida)
O'Reilly continues very reluctantly to investigate the incident at Clarke's house between McCafrey and the owner of the American sloop returned from Havana, Carlos Pope, as he has been commissioned to do by the governor. He asks Rengil as the principal witness to tell all that he saw and knows about the case.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1795 Oct. 9
Rengil, Manuel
St. Augustine, Florida
to Father Miguel O'Reilly
(St. Augustine, Florida)
Rengil swears that on the night of October 6, at the door of Clarke's house, McCaffrey insulted Pope without any reason. He challenged Pope to a fist fight; the Captain answered that he could not do that but that his slave, Isaac, was ready if McCaffrey wanted to vent his anger. The priest tried to hit Pope with his club but Rengil prevented it, then McCaffrey shouted insults. Rengil asked Pope to go into the house and the priest went to look for the police. He came back with Bernal and two soldiers to arrest Pope. Rengil explained the incident to the soldiers who did not arrest Pope. McCaffrey went away shouting more insults.
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1795 Oct. 12
Pope, Carlos
St. Augustine, (Florida)
to Father Miguel O'Reilly
(St. Augustine, Florida)
Pope (gives his version of the incident at Clarke's house) adding that when McCaffrey returned with the three soldiers they reasoned with him and the soldiers. The priest answered in Spanish but Pope could not understand. In a note following this letter, Carlos Howard states that it is a true translation of the original letter made at the request of O'Reilly in January 1796.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Sep. 1
O'Reilly, Father Miguel
St. Augustine, Florida
to Bishop Luis de Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
O'Reilly (reviews all the incidents given already in the case). McCaffrey leaves that afternoon in the sloop S(an)ta Maria. Her captain and owner being Miguel Costa of this city. O'Reilly hopes that his temperament, life and habits will change with the climate.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 16
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bihsop of
(New Orleans) Louisiana
Copies are to be made of the letter of the vicar general of Florida about the conduct of McCaffrey dated January 16, 1796; of that of the governor sent October 8, 1795; of the paper of Rengil the following day; of the letter of Pop(e) of the 12th; of the orders given on March 15, 1796 to McCaffrey and to the vicar-general; with the decree to proceed sent on August 23, 1796; the certification on the 25th of Morales; the proceedings of the 31st in which McCaffrey asked to go to Havana are to be brought together for testimony. Quintero certifies this decree as pro-secretary.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 17
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Baron (Francisco Luis Hector) de
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
(Penalver) has reason to believe that McCaffrey may arrive on the Borja. His destination was East Florida from where he would go to Havana with a permit from O'Reilly authorized by the Governor of St. Augustine. To prevent the scandal given by McCaffrey who gets into a rage when he drinks, it has been arranged that he go to Havana to his convent. He asks Carondelet to order the Commandant at Placamina (Plaquemine, Louisiana) to arrest McCaffrey if he arrives there so that he may return to Havana and from there to Cadiz. This is a copy of the letter sent.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 17
Carondelet, (Francisco Luis Hector), Baron de
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Bishop Luis Penalver (y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
In consequence of Penalver's order of today Carondelet has sent orders to the Commandant of Placaminas for the arrest and detention of McCaffrey.
D.S. (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1797 Jan. 17
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
This letter (above) and a copy of the one which gave rise to it, are to be added to the proceedings. Quintero certifies this decree.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1797 Jan. 19
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Conde de Santa Clara
(Havana, Cuba)
With the permission of the vicar general of Florida and the governor, M[a]cCaffrey went to (Havana). The true cause for his journey is the scandal he caused, his immoderate use of liquor and his insults to officers and the governor which he did not stop even with the vicar- general's corrections nor (Penalver's). Consequently, since he is useless for the purpose he was to serve, he must go back to Spain at the disposition of the Minister of Grace and Justice, whom he has notified. Since the only way of communication is through Havana, (Penalver) asks Santa Clara to intervene so that McCaffrey does not come back to Florida or Louisiana. He has already informed His Majesty. In a note below (Penalver) states that this is a copy of the letter sent.
A.L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Mar. 27
Santa Clara, El Conde de
Havana, (Cuba)
to Bishop luis Penalver (y Cardenas
New Orleans, Louisiana)
In answer to Penalver's letter of Jan. 19, Santa Clara replies that McCaffrey was placed in the Convent of the Bethlemites until an opportunity came to send him to his destination, but when some warships were leaving for Cadiz, he was informed that McCaffrey had fled from this convent. In case the priest is retaken, who is to pay his passage as Santa Clara does not think the treasury should pay it.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1797 May 19
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Conde de S(an)ta Clara
(Havana, Cuba)
McCaffrey came to America by sovereign order for the parishes of East Florida with the pension assigned by the king, until he came to this city and since he returns to Spain to rid this place of a man who is useless and to (relieve) the king of the stipend, Penalver thinks that this priest has other means to defray the cost of his passage. As Santa Clara, in his letter of March 27 has said that he does not believe that the royal treasury should defray the expense in case McCaffrey is returned to the convent, (Penalver) has ordered his attorney, Jose M(ari)a Penalver Navaretto, to find out what the king determines in this case and others like it which may come up. A note signed with the bishop's flourish states that this is a copy of the letter sent.
A.L.S. Copy (Spanish)
V-1-a D.S., A.D.S., A.L.S., and Copies (Spanish) 83pp. 4to.
34