| Manuel Francisco Xavier | |
| Birth Place: | Faial Island, Portuguese Empire |
| Death Date: | 1840 |
| Death Place: | Paty do Alferes, Empire of Brazil |
| Spouse: | Francisca Elisa Xavier |
Captain-major Manuel Francisco Xavier (died 1840) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian plantation owner, who owned, along with his wife Francisca Elisa Xavier, were wealthy land owners in the Vale do Paraíba region of what is now the state of Rio de Janeiro.[1] These included the Freguesia (currently Aldeia de Arcozelo), Maravilha and Santa Tereza plantations, along with Cachoeira farm. The largest slave revolt in the region, led by Manuel Congo and Mariana Crioula, occurred on the plantations they had owned.[2]
See main article: Manuel Congo and Mariana Crioula.
In 1804, he married Francisca Elisa.[3] According to coronel Francisco Peixoto de Lacerda Vernek, Xavier was inconsistent in his treatment of the people he enslaved, at points being lenient, at other points extremely severe. An inventory made of Xavier's property, made in 1840 and two years after Manuel Congo revolted, counted 449 enslaved people, 85% of whom were men and 80% were African.
During the course of the rebellion, Xavier had asked for help from a local squire from the freguesia of Nossa Senhora da Conceição do Paty do Alferes, lieutenant coronel José Pinheiro de Souza Vernek, though was not successful. He had already had a prolonged political conflict with sergeant-major and later padre,[1] the grandfather of José Pinheiro de Souza Vernek and chief colonel of the 13th Legion of the National Guard .
The revolt was very successful, as 300 of the around 400 that were freed were able to escape. Those who escaped eventually reunited to participate in the rebellion. In response, the Brazilian National Guard was called in a contingent of 180 men led by then-Coronel Luís Alves de Lima e Silva. They captured Mariana and 15 other enslaved people, though they were acquitted.[4] Mariana, however, was forced to watch the execution of Manuel Congo.[5]
Xavier died in 1840 in Paty do Alferes.