Hieronima de Paiva


Personal life

Hieronima de Paiva , a Paradesi Jew of Madras was a Portuguese Jewish diamond and coral merchant from Amsterdam belonging to Amsterdam Sephardic community. She was married to Jacques de Paiva.

Diamond and Coral Business

After her husband Jacques de Paiva 's death, she took over her husband's Diamond and Coral Business, under the guardianship of Elihu Yale she traded in her own name and was active as a merchant, having invoices and accounts in her own name, trading in textiles, spices, diamonds and corals. It appears she also acted as the business agent of Yale, selling supplies embezzled from East India Company. From 1689, when Elihu Yale's wife had returned to England, Catherine Nicks and Hieronima da Paivia acted as the first ladies of the governor's residence.