Chapter 1: Introducing Isidro Oriol and the Oriol Family in Spain
Isidro in Perth in 1861
Isidro Oriol y Costa, a Spanish cabinet maker, and our great-grandfather, arrived in Fremantle on the barque James Panter on 15 August, 1853 with a group of Benedictine missionaries led by Bishop Rosendo Salvado. He spent the next four years as a postulant and artisan at New Norcia Mission, then in Perth and Fremantle. In January, 1857, Isidro left the Benedictines and decided to settle in Perth, where he became a successful furniture maker and businessman. This is his story. .
The Oriol family in Spain
Most of the information we have about Isidro’s ancestry is based on Isidro’s birth certificate, which details of the baptism and birth locations of his parents and grandparents in Catalonia. We have been so far unable to locate other details of family history, notably a 1827 census from La Bisbal de L’emporada, but meantime have drawn on public sources and general information about the Oriol family. The family were originally land owners in Catalonia in northern Spain, and have played a significant role in the history of Spain since the 17th century.
It includes prominent industrialists, politicians and members of religious orders and, according to family tradition, St. Joseph Oriol (1650-1702) a miracle working parish priest who lived in Barcelona, where he is still venerated today. Visiting Barcelona and finding out more about St. Joseph has become a popular family pilgrimage for Isidro’s descendants.
Saint Joseph Oriol, is buried in the basilica of
parish priest and is said to have performed
many miracles. There is also a chapel dedicated
to him in the Barcelona Cathedral and a square,
Placa Josep Oriol, in the old city near the
basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. He was
beatified in 1807 and canonised with great
ceremony in 1908
This image is from the basilica of St Mary del
Pino.
St Josep Oriol was the youngest of eight sons of Joan Oriol i Vaquer and Gertrudis Bogunga i Marti. He was born on Carrer d’en Cuc on 23 November, 1650 and baptised on the same day at the Benedictine monastery Sant Pere de les Puelles, in the old city of Barcelona ( Wikipedia Jan. 2018) His father, a manufacturer of velvet textiles, died in 1651 of the plague ‘that exploded in Barcelona at the end of the Reapers War’. Josep and his mother were the only survivors. His mother later remarried and he was brought up with great piety and was said to have miraculous powers.
(FN 1. See Appendix for details on St. Joseph Oriol)
Other Oriol family members
A prominent branch of the extensive Oriol family is based near Bilbao on the north west coast of Spain and has held high government positions. They included Jose Maria de Oriol y Urquijo, an industrialist and politician (Urquijo is his mother’s name as the Spanish custom is to use both).In the 1870s his father Jose Luis was made first Marquis of Oriol by King Carlos and built Oriol Castle near Bilbao in north -western Spain.
Castello di Oriol at
Santurtzi near
Bilbao which was
built in 1870s and
converted into an
hotel in 2003.
(Wikipedia)
His son, Jose Maria de Oriol y Urquijo, 3rd Marquis of
Casa Oriol (1905-1985) was a Spanish entrepreneur
and a Carlist and Francoist politician and Mayor of Bilbao,
the largest city in Northern Spain. He was known mostly
for his business activity, especially for his role in the
Spanish power and energy sector. According to Wikipedia
he is among the most influential Spanish business
managers of the 20th century. (Wikipedia see appendix 2)
When Antonio Maria de Oriol, President of the Council of State in Spain was kidnapped in December by the Basque separatists 1976 the event threatened the balance of power in the Spanish Government. (See West Australian, Dec. 1976).
For a detailed account of the Oriol business and political activities and connections with Franco and the Carlist monarchy see the article on Jose Maria de Oriol y Urquijo in Wikipedia - part in Footnotes)
A more recent celebrity is Jose Maria’s granddaughter, Basque / Spanish businesswoman Monica de Oriol and Icaza, b. Madrid 1961, who became the President of the Business Circle of Empresarios in 2012.
She has lead a number of companies and
‘her management was marked at all times
by controversy’. This included her
comment that she ‘preferred a woman
under 25 or over 45’ to avoid the
‘problem’ of getting pregnant. and after
three years she was replaced as President.
She has a diploma from the London
School of Economics, is married to the
owner of the Marqués de Riscal winery
and has six children. (See Wikipedia)
Isidro Oriol y Costa b. 1825 in Santa Maria de la La Bisbal
Isidro Salvio y Juan Oriol y Costa was born in La Bisbal, (now La Bisbal d’Emporada) in the province of Girona and baptised the same day at the parish church Santa Maria de la Bisbal on 15 February, 1825.
The first Santa Maria de la Bisbal church was built in 905 but the current baroque church dates from 1757. It is a large church with a nave, side chapels and a tower and the entrance, elevated above the Plaza Mayor, includes a rose window and a statue of the virgin (ca-m-wikipedia.org-translate) (Photo taken by descendant Melissa McElhone in 2017)
The Interior of Santa Maria, damaged in the Civil War of 1836-9, was restored by architect L Martinez in 1953. (Santa Maria La Bisbal d’Emporada, Bisbal de Gerona website for a photo)
Isidro and his family
Isidro’s parents were Armengol Oriol, a shoemaker, and Marguerita Costa and his full name, Isidro Salvio y Juan Oriol y Costa, includes his mother’s name. La Bisbal, now La Bisbal D’Emporada, is on the Costa Brava about 70 kms east of the town of Gerona, 200 kms north of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia.
Isidro’s father Armengol Oriol, was a native of La Seu de Urgel, in Lleida, and his mother Margarita Costa, was a native of Gerona. His paternal grandparents were Armengol Oriol and Antonia Augner both natives of La Seu de Urgel, his maternal grandparents were Bartholomeo Costa from San Lorenzo de Saritas and Francisca Costa from Gerona. (FN 3: Isidro Oriol’s baptism certificate see Footnotes)
in the Basque country near Andorra and the French border. St
Ermengol (or Armengol) an 11th century bishop, is the patron
saint of the diocese, hence the popularity of the name. (See
image left and Wikipedia entry
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Ermengol )
This is where Isidro’s branch of the Oriol family originated.
The Autonomous community of Catalonia consists of four provinces – Girona, Lleida, Barcelona and Tarragona and the official languages are Catalan and Spanish. There are currently strong moves for independence from Spain which has precipitated a constitutional crisis in October, 2017.
Isidro’s family photos
These photos of Isidro’s family are from the O’Hara family bible. Although Isidro may have brought some with him when he came to New Norcia in 1853, others may date from 1860s when cartes de visite became popular. He corresponded regularly with his family, including his brother Francisco, but unfortunately no letters survive and, at a time when overseas travel by ship was dangerous and expensive, he never returned to Spain.
The Oriols, like most Spanish families at the time were fervent Catholics and in this studio photo – a hand tinted carte de visite taken by Antonio F. Napoleon in Barcelona - his mother Marguerita is holding a prayer book.
popular pose as the photographer’s subject needed to stand
still for the long exposure times.
Isidro's grandmother Micheala Costa was aged 68 when this photo was taken in Gerona. She is sitting on a chair similar to one Isidro would later make in Perth so perhaps it was taken at home.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, but kept in touch with Isidro. In
1865 he tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade Isidro and family
to join him in Buenos Aires (DDS interview)
Isidro‘s education
Isidro was educated by the Benedictines (FN4 DDS) either at a monastery in Girona or possibly the great monastery of Santa Maria de Monsterrat in the mountains near Barcelona. There he learned to read and write and his later business success suggests he had a good grasp of mathematics. He was literate in Spanish and later English and also spoke the regional dialect of Catalan.
Isidro also began training as a carpenter and cabinetmaker.
Timothy Harris describes the lengthy process of apprenticeship required by the Guild in Barcelona and believes Isidro completed this training as he became a skilful cabinet maker as well as a carpenter and joiner (FN 5 T.Harris.) However, part of his training may have been undertaken at the Monastery of Monsarrat as he specialised in church carpentry (FN 4 DDS or family tradition).
Isidro decides to become a Missionary in WA
But while Isidro was developing his skills as a cabinet maker the Catholic Church’s demand for experienced artisans was diminishing. Spain was still a strongly Catholic country but the Church was losing its power in Europe. In the 1830s, anti clerical governments had closed some of the wealthy monasteries and seminaries, distributed their land to the poor, and restricted the roles of the clergy.
Work also became scarce for the brothers and artisans who had previously been employed by Catholic Church organisations. But as one door closed, another opened – the overseas missions were flourishing in the Spanish and particularly the new British colonies. These were funded by the Propagation of the Faith organisation in Rome and supported by devout Catholics in Europe. (FN 6 O’Brien Griver Unearthed p.51)
One of the new missions founded to bring Christianity and civilization to the Aboriginal people, was established in 1846 by two members of the first Catholic group to arrive in Western Australia, Benedictine monks Rosendo Salvado and Jose Serra. They named it New Norcia. But there was no funding for the new Perth diocese or the Mission and the leader, Bishop of Perth, Irishman John Brady quickly accumulated huge debts. In 1848 and again in 1849, Brady sent Serra and Salvado to visit Europe and Spain to raise funds and recruit artisans (skilled tradesmen) to develop their Mission,
Serra and Salvado were received with great enthusiasm as successful missionaries by Queen Isabella II in Spain, by the Pope and the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, and were both made Bishops: Serra co-adjutor Bishop of Perth with Bishop Brady and Salvado Bishop of a new diocese ‘Port Victoria’ (near where Darwin is today).
Serra and Salvado represented the romantic side of missionary life – promotion, travel and celebrity. They received widespread media and publicity and ‘demonstrated success, not only in their new titles, but their popularity in Spanish society’ including with Queen Isabella who made Serra a Knight of the Grand Cross of Isabella the Catholic. (FN 6 Ibid p.53) They were greeted as celebrities wherever
they went attracting donations and volunteers with tales of their missionary adventures.
Becoming a missionary in Australia appealed as an exciting and rewarding vocation for energetic and idealistic young men. ((FN 6 Ibid p.53)
The group of 1849
The first group of Benedictine missionaries – 39 Spanish and Italian priests and artisans or lay brothers –led by Bishop Jose Serra departed for Western Australia in August 1849. They travelled in a Spanish warship, the Ferrolana supplied by Queen Isabella. But when it was decided that the ship would only land at Fremantle in WA, Bishop Salvado, uncertain of his future, remained in Europe.
The when the frigate Ferrolana arrived four months later in Cockburn Sound on 29th December, Captain Quesada fired an 18 gun salute, causing consternation among the authorities. Nevertheless Serra and his missionaries were warmly welcomed by Bishop Brady and the Catholic community.
Isidro joins Salvado’s Missionaries, The Group of 1853
Meanwhile, Salvado was busy writing his Memoirs, a dramatic and colourful account of the foundation of New Norcia, published in Italian in Rome in 1851, and in Spanish in Barcelona in 1852 under the title Memorie Storishe di Nuova Norcia. The Memoirs described Salvado and Serra’s early missionary experiences and stressed the heroism of the enterprise, and helped attract financial support as well as encouraging new missionaries to join the adventurers.
approval, financial support and a present and
future supply of missionaries – artisans or lay
brothers and clergy - for the New Norcia
monastery and the Diocese of Perth.
In Spain he formed committees in major cities to
raise funds and sought tradesmen among the
brothers from the disbanded monasteries. In 1852
he was again in Barcelona, visiting monasteries
and parishes as he recruited the second group of
missionaries for Western Australia. (FN 7
O’Brien passim and p.58)
Among those inspired by Salvado’s vision was young cabinet maker Isidro Oriol. He was 27 years old, of slight build, with a serious disposition and a strong religious faith and he decided to leave his home and family to begin a new life in the British colony of Western Australia. A skilled artisan, he was older than some of the missionaries, many of them ‘skilled workmen’ from various trades, some aged about eighteen.
By October 1852 Salvado had recruited over thirty new missionaries and arranged for them to assemble at the Benedictine seminary in Barcelona, as many, like Isidro Oriol, had links to the Monastery of Montserrat and came from neighbouring areas of Catalonia. So Isidro farewelled his family and friends, knowing he would probably never see them again, and joined the other missionaries at the Benedictine Seminary in Barcelona. There would have been many tears shed as Isidro was close to his family, but as devout Catholics they would have been proud of Isidro’s decision.
Becoming a Missionary in Spain: The diary of Manuel Martinez.
As well as Isidro, the group of new missionaries included Manuel Martinez, a former seminarian from Valencia, who kept a diary. It begins on 8 November 1852 when, aged nineteen, he leaves his home in Valencia to travel by mail coach to Barcelona and joins the group of missionaries at the Seminary there.
In it he gives a detailed record of the group’s year-long journey from the Seminary in Barcelona in October 1852, through Spain to Cadiz, the four month voyage of the John Panter via Cape Town, their arrival at the Bay of Fremantle on 15 August 1853, their moonlight walk to the Monastery at Subiaco and their departure for New Norcia a couple of months later in October 1853.
and was a ‘comb maker’ for the weaving
industry, or ‘skilled workman’ (a category
used by Salvado in his memoirs). He left the
group in September 1853 due to ill health, and
joined the household of Bp. Serra at the Palace
in Perth. A former seminarian he was admitted
as a novice and was ordained a priest in 1857.
Manuel Martinez (later Fr. Bernardo) at New
Norcia c.1857 (NNA 73638P)
Although Martinez does not mention particular Brothers, we know Isidro shared many of his experiences. Below are a few highlights of their journey. (For more detail see my article ‘Salvado and the Group of 1853’ in New Norcia Studies No 27, 2021.)
When Manuel arrives with his friends at Barcelona on 11 November he writes: …..Immediately we presented ourselves to the custodian of the mission, Senor Don Pedro Naudo…who received us with much affection and pleasure, and afterwards told us that the other missionaries, our companions, were in the seminary. We went there, and we greeted each other with great pleasure; embracing one another and calling ourselves already brothers in Jesus Christ.i(FN 8 Martinez p. 1)
The missionaries bonding was strengthened over the next months by their new, shared experiences. Developing this sense of unity would become vital to help sustain them during the hardships they would endure as missionaries in a strange land. While in Barcelona the new missionaries toured the cathedral, various `churches, the orphanage and some convents. (FN 9 Woodward, pp. )
Cadiz on 13
November 1852
the missionaries
assembled at the
church of Santa
Maria del Mar
(Holy Mary of
the Sea) a 14th
century Catalan
Gothic church in
the old city. (Wikipedia)
Martinez writes:
There where we received the holy habit of our Father and Patriach, St Benedict, by his very humble son Fr. Michael Moutadas.…After a very solemn mass in which we received holy communion, we left in procession, the 39 missionaries carrying the standard of the Most Holy Virgin accompanied by important personages of the Court of Mary and many priests, all singing the Litany, in the direction of the wharf, and on arriving there we intoned the Hail Mary, after which we left the soil of this blessed city whose citizens for the second time witnessed such a precious act of public worship.ii (FN 10 Martinez p.1 )
As a condition of volunteering for Western Australia, Salvado and Serra required all the recruits to embark on the monastic way of life by being clothed in the Benedictine habit and by making a simple or first profession of vows, confirming their status as monks or postulants. FN 11 O’Brien p.55
At the wharf Isidro and his fellow missionaries embarked on the coastal steamer ‘El Barcino’ to sail south around the coast to Cadiz. There they would meet Bishop Salvado and the ship, John Panter, which would take them to Western Australia.
Such colourful ceremonies and rituals would play an important part of the future life of the Benedictine missionaries. Celebrations such as these would continue at New Norcia where events and feast days, particularly the Assumption on 15th August, would be marked by elaborate rituals, which impressed not only the Aborigines but the Catholic and Protestant populations (Salvado Report 1883).
END OF CHAPTER 1 (15 JULY 2023)
Foot notes for Chapter 1: Isidro and the Oriol family in Spain
FN 1. See Appendix on St. Joseph Oriol (find)FN 2. (WIKIPEDIA see appendix 2 on Maria de Oriol y Urquijo )
FN 3 Baptism Certificate: of Isidro Armengol Costa Vol 17 of Baptism archives, folio 150,
In parish of Santa Maria de la Bisbal, Bishopric of Gerona, Province of Gerona. Isidro Salvio Y Juan legitimate son of Mr Armegol Oriol, natural of Leo de Urgel and Mrs. Margarita Costa, natural of Gerona. Baptism of boy born on the same day (15 February 1825)
(La Bisbal, Signed 8 July 1969 Rev. P. Pablo Arza, Estella.)
FN 4 - DDS = Doreen Daly Smith conversations and DS family traditions
FN 5 - Timothy Harris ‘Isidro Oriol, furniture maker and entrepreneur’, New Norcia Studies No 2009, pp 71-3 )
FN 6 Odhran O’Brien, Martin Griver Unearthed: the life of a Spanish missionary priest who became a bishop in colonial Western Australia, 1814 – 1886, (2014) St Paul’s Publications, Society of St. Paul, Strathfield N.S.W. (p.51)
FN 7 Ibid p.53
FN 7a Ibid p.58 and. passim
FN 8 Martinez y Sanchez, Manuel, Diary first 12 pages, Translation Anon, Transcribed Hilaire Natt 2019, New Norcia Archives.
FN 9 , ‘Formation of Identity and Kinship: 19th Century Preparation of Monks for the Mission of New Norcia’, New Norcia Studies No 3, July 1995 pp.29-38
FN 10 Martinez p. 1
FN 11 O’Brien p.55
.
ii ibid., p. 1.
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