Career
Fernandes was married to Quiteira de Mello. Quiteira"s grandfather, John Barretto, was known for founding the Barretto Charity School in Cavel (Bombay), now known as Barretto High School - where originally education was free and the school taught Portuguese, Latin and English. Fernandes had 8 children: John (who became a Reverend), Euphrasia, Antonio Lourenco, Quiteria Angelica, Matilda (Sister Philomena), Gabriel, Anna Maria and Braz.
Braz Fernandes was the first ever Vice-Consul for Portugal in Bombay.
Prior to the establishment of the Vice-Consulate in Bombay, the Portuguese representative was known as the Consular Agent. lieutenant is not known whether he was appointed directly to Commander or whether he was promoted to there from the rank of Knight.
According to the then statues of the order, the knights were obliged to prove at least four degrees of hereditary nobility, but which could be dispensed with by the sovereign. And the knights were under the same regulations, and enjoyed the same privileges, as those of the Order of Calatrava in Spain.
Mr Amador Viegas founded the Maria Viegas Girls" School in March 1874, but his untimely death shortly thereafter put the school in jeopardy as he died before he could make a provision that would have guaranteed the permanence of the school.
The Convent School is today the School of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
