of Ribeira Grande the privilege of town on 4 August 1507, that included a league around the centre, counted from the [central] pillory, comprising one parish (called Nossa Senhora da Purificação or Nossa Senhora da Estrela). It was Lopo Arês who brought the signed document from Lisbon, when he returned in 1508. On 3 April 1508, then donatary captain, Rui Gonçalves da Câmara, oversaw the swearing in of Jorge da Mota (ordinary judge of Vila Franca do Campo) and João do Penedo and António Carneiro, noblemen of Ribeira Grande, to select twelve residents to vote on the six elected officials for the new town. It was this process that eventually elected the first municipal council, that served until 24 June 1509. Writing at the beginning of the 15th century, Gaspar Frutuoso wrote about the settlement, in these terms: "The town of Ribeira Grande, noble by its residents, rich in its lands, well shaded with its fields and fertile with its fruits, is situated in and around its great ravine, from which it received its name, almost in the middle of the island, in a large bay in a band of the north, at the feet of a sierra very fresh [that is near its plain, is a thing highlights the other, making its grouply more gracious then other towns]; and the ravine cuts the town in two parts, of a small time, because until the year one thousand and fifty-five there was no bridge to the western part to more than two houses only. But, later after much growth, that it is today the largest town, richer and more people then there are in all the Bishopric of Angra. Before it was suffragate of Vila Franco do Campo, until the King Dom Manuel, explain on his pillory for all parts around." Settlers continued to be sent to the area of Ribeira Grande, by Lopo de Ares, owing to the location's access to water and the pre-existing colonists that already provided land rents. Since it was located far from the provincial capital of Vila Franca, the town was elevated to the status of town by King Manuel in 1507. Until 1515, the western margin of the Ribeira Grande river was occupied by just two homes. A few years later, from a land record of 4 July 1520, there was a contract for stone to build a bridge alongside the main square,