“To the North, the Heirs…”: Undivided Lands, Social Networks, and the Transmission of Sugar Mills in the Vaza-Barris River Basin (São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Nineteenth Century)

In the mid-19th century, sugar mill ownership in Ribeira do Vaza-Barris, a district of São Cristóvão (Sergipe), was intricately linked to family cohesion and social networks. This study reveals that land acquisition and transfer were not merely legal processes but were shaped by kinship dynamics, either preserving undivided property or allowing external access. Using probate records, parish documents, and Social Network Analysis, researchers mapped relationships among mill owners, demonstrating how social strategies influenced the 'realization' of sugar mill ownership. The findings highlight the fluid nature of property rights in this period, challenging traditional notions of land division.

Jesus, L. O. d., Malaquias, C. d. O., & Costa, D. S. d. (2025). “TO THE NORTH, THE HEIRS…”: UNDIVIDED LANDS, SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND THE TRANSMISSION OF SUGAR MILLS IN THE VAZA-BARRIS RIVER BASIN (SÃO CRISTÓVÃO, SERGIPE, NINETEENTH CENTURY). Baraúnas: Revista de História, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.13102/barh.v3i4.12494