Hassett, Father Thomas

Processes in the provision of one of the two canonries of the Cathedral Church of New Orleans in regard to Father Thomas Hassett.

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1795 ? ?

Hassett, Father Thomas

to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans)

1.) Father Thomas Hassett former Pastor Vicar of St. Augustine of Florida, encloses, with his petition to Bishop Penalver y Cardenas, two documents: a.) The Royal Mandate, dated Aug. 14, 1794, in virtue of which His Majesty presents Father Hassett for one of the two canonries of the Cathedral Church of New Orleans. b.) A pledge to pay the half of an annate. (The two documents are presented later on).
2.) Moreover Father Hassett states that he is to make application within the legal time and that he has only to prove:
a.) That he has not been expelled from any religious order, and for proof of this he offers the certification of two, three or more witnesses. b.) That he does not have any benefice incompatible with the one he seeks.
3.) Furthermore, he asks the Bishop: a) for the canonical collation. b) That, after he has made his profession of faith, the legal possession may be granted him. Signed by Thomas Hassett.
--To this is added a note signed by the Bishop certifying that the royal order and the pledge have been presented on Aug. 29, 1795 and that he orders the three witnesses to appear.
--To this is added a note by Joseph Maria de Rivas as secretary certifying that the above decree was issued and signed by the Bishop on Sept. 4, 1795.
--Another note is added by Rivas certifying that on the same day he notified Father Hassett of the above decree.

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1794 Aug. 14

Charles IV, King of Spain

to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans)

1) The King, reminds the Bishop that the right of patronage belongs legally to him and that his right has been recognized by apostolical bulls. In virtue of this privilege: a) He has the right to present the candidates for the dignities, the canonries and the ecclesiastical benefices both in the Peninsula and in the Indies. b) He has also the right to set up new dioceses and divide them, when he judges it convenient, with the proper dignities and prebends. c) That in the particular case of Louisiana he has decided after consulting the Council of Chamber of Indies on Oct. 22, 1792 to found the Bishopric of Louisiana with only two canonries, each one of them having the annual rent of 600 pesos. d) These amounts will be paid by the bishoprics of Mexico, Puebla de Los Angeles, Valladolid de Mechoacan, Caracas and Havana. For that purpose schedules have been sent to their Prelates, dated Nov. 23, 1793, in order that they may understand their obligation. 3.)(?) That after having consented on Dec. 18, 1793, the Council of the Indies, the King presents Father Thomas Hassett for the above mentioned canonry. Moreover, the King asks the Bishop to examine in conscience the merits of Father Hassett.
2) Moreover the King orders that: a) Father Hassett must come in person before the Bishop of Louisiana within two months from the date on which he is notified of the present decree by the Bishop. b) Hassett must give guarantee of the payment of the half an annat within the time allowed. c) Finally he has to prove that he was not expelled from any religious institution and does not have any dignity, Canonry of Benefice in the Indies, or that, if he has had, he has already resigned them.
3) Moreover if the Bishop does not act according to the King's will, the appointment will be considered as null.
4) Finally, His Majesty commands this order to be written down in the general auditorship of the Distribution of the Exchequer and in those of the Council of Indies, both in the Peninsula and in New Orleans, with the guarantee of the payment of the half an annat, otherwise this grant to Father Thomas Hassett will be considered as null. Signed by the King.
--To this is added a certification by the Secretary of the King, D. Antonio de Viutura Taranco, that by royal order he caused the above decree to be drawn up.
--Another note certifies the receipt of 180 reales de peseta.
--Another note is added certifying the presentation of Father Hassett for the second of the two canonries of the Bishopric of Louisiana and Florida, and that the (Marquis of Bajamar, Bernardo Triarte and Josef de Cistud have been consulted.
--Other certifications of the course of the royal process follow. A copy of the royal order has been made in the general auditorship of the distribution of the Exchequer. Dated Sept. 10, 1794, Madrid. This is certified by Lorenzo de Vioz because of occupation of the general Auditor.
--It is countersigned by Juan August de Cerain, lieutenant of the high Chancellor. Twelve "reales de Peseta" were charged as rights. this document is sealed.
--To this document is added a certification, dated Aug. 29, 1795, New Orleans, that the Bishop Penalver y Cardenas received the royal order about Father Thomas Hassett and ordered it to be delivered to father Hassett who arrived today at New Orleans in order to expedite the process. This is signed by the Bishop and witnessed by Rivas as Secretary.
--another note is added by Francisco Rendon, Sept. 1, 1795, New Orleans, certifying that a copy of the royal order will be placed in both the general auditorship of the Army and the Exchequer of this Province.
--Finally another note is added by Joseph de Orue, dated as above, certifying that a copy of the royal order was placed in both the general auditorship of the Army and the royal Exchequer under his charge.

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1795 Sep. 1

Karric, Santiago

to Jose De Orue in behalf of Father Thomas Hassett
(New Orleans)

1) D. Santiago Karric, neighbour and a merchant at New Orleans, obliges himself to answer to the Exchequer for the payment of the half an annat or three hundred "pesos" which must be paid by Father Hassett.
2) The time to pay is two years after Father Hassett enters into possession of the canonry. Signed by Thomas Hassett and Santiago Karric.
--To this is added a decree, dated as above, by Francisco Rendon in which he approves the above obligation and pledge in behalf of the Exchequer. It is signed by Rendon and Orue certifying his intervention.
--Another note, dated as above, is added in which Jose Orue certifies that the above document is a copy of the original and that it has been made to be delivered to father Hassett for his ends.

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1795 Sep. 4

Father Thomas Hassett
presents the following witnesses:

1) Patrick Walsh appears before Bishop Penalver and testifies that: a) Father Hassett studied in the Royal Irish college of Salamanca in whose Dioceses, that of Valladolid and Sejovia, he was ordained. b) Father Hassett was never a religious nor has been expelled from any community. c) Father Hassett has not (?) other office in the church but that of Pastor of St. Augustine of Florida.
--The document is signed by the Bishop and Patrick Walsh and notorized by Joseph Maria de Rivas as secretary.
Immediately, Father Hassett presented as witnesses the captain Antonio argote who, besides certifying to some facts as above, testified that: a) he had known Father Hassett since 1783 when the latter was sent, with the approval of His Majesty, to Philadelphia, the capital of Pennsylvania, to set up a primary school. b) Hassett does not have any dignity, canonry or benefice in the Indies.
--This is signed by the Bishop, Antonio Argote and notorized by Rivas.
Immediately Father Hassett presented as witnesses D. Carlos Ximines, native of St. Augustine, a notary public and neighbour of this town, who besides certifying to same facts as above, declared that he had known Father Hassett since 1791 or 1792 in the Island of Cuba. This is signed by the Bishop, Carlos Ximenes and notorized by Rivas.

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1795 Sep. 5

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis
(New Orleans)
The Bishop announces:

1.) That Father Thomas Hassett was proposed by the King of Spain in his royal order of Aug. 14, 1794 San Ildefonso, to occupy one of the two canonries of the Cathedral Church of Louisiana with the annual rent of 600 "pesos."
2.) That Father Hassett, whom the Bishop has known since 1770, fulfilled all the requisites for occupying the above mentioned prebend by: a) The testimonial proof and notoriety: b) by arrangement for the payment of the half an annat.
3.) That in view of these facts, the Bishop decrees that in obedience to the royal order, he granted Father Hassett the canonry.
4.) Furthermore, the Bishop ordains that Father Hassett appear before him: a)to make the declaration of faith and the oath of fidelity; b) to receive afterwards the canonical collation and get possession of the Benefice; c) so that he will have the right to the annual rent with all the emoluments.
--Signed by the Bishop and witnessed by Rivas.

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1795 Sep. 7

Certification that Father Thomas Hassett has received the collation of his office from Bishop Penalver y Cardenas.
The ceremony took place in the Cathedral church of New Orleans before the following witnesses: Fathers Patrick Walsh, Ramon Palao and Isidro Quintero and many other persons.
The canonical collation comprehends the following parts: a) The protestation of faith and the oath of fidelity. b) The Symbolical collation. c) The real possession of the chair Father Hassett will occupy in the choir of the cathedral.
The Protestation of Faith:
Before the Bishop Penalver sitting in his episcopal chair of the Cathedral Church, canon Hassett, on his knees, made his declaration of faith. This declaration contains the whole Nicene Creed; the doctrine of the Church about the Sacraments, the apostolical traditions, the Holy Scriptures; about the declarations of the Tridentine council, the sacrifice of the Mass and the transubstantation; about the Purgatory, etc. In fine, Father Hassett pledges to believe and teach all the Church believes and teaches.
The Oath of Fidelity:
Father Hassett swears: a) to obey the mandates of the Church. b) Not to oppose directly or indirectly the rights of the Church. c) Obedience to the occupant of the Holy Church of Louisiana and to all his legitimate successors. d) That he will not act against the capitulars or enter into any conspiracy. e) That to obtain this prebend he will defend the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. g) That he will not teach even under the title of probability the bloody doctrine of regicide and tryannicide.
The Symbolical Collation:
Afterwards the Bishop made the Symbolical Collation by putting a biretta on the head of Father Hassett who kissed the episcopal ring in signal of gratitude. Signed by the Bishop.
--To this is added a note by Rivas certifying the he was present to all that took place and caused a copy to be made by the Bishop's order.
The real possession:
1) Immediately after and in the same cathedral church, Bishop Penalver gave Father Hassett the real possession of the prebend.
2) Ceremony. The Bishop took Father Hassett by the hand and gave him possession of the chair of the choir of the Cathedral, sitting him down and standing him up as a sign of the possession without encroachment on the rights of Father Francisco Peres Guerrero, the other canon of the Cathedral.
Signed by the Bishop, Father Hassett and witnessed by Rivas.

IV-5-b D.S. 20pp. 4to. (Spanish)
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