Estevão Jeremias Mascarenhas was born in the village of Bastora in Bardez, Goa in 1800 to parents of little means. He studied Latin, Humanities, Rational and Moral Philosophy, he then studied theology at the seminary of Chorao. he was appointed by the Vicar and governor of the archbishopric, José Paulo da Costa Pereira e Almeida as Prior to the collegiate of Nossa Senhora do Rozario in 1832, quaternary of the primatial see in 1833 – half canon in 1838 – and canon in 1840. He obtained a diploma of law in the ecclesiastical court. He was also the administrator of the Convent of S Francisco in 1842 and was honored by Pope Gregory XVI with the title of Apostolic notary.
He was a staunch defender of the cause of legitimacy in 1835 and, due to his civic virtues, he was elected attorney to the general district council in successive two-year terms from 1841 onwards; in 1843 he was a member of the government council; in 1844 he took the post of Governor; in 1848 he was elected deputy to the courts and reelected in 1855 and 1856; as a deputy he made many important proposals; and he died always supporting his popular party on 29 December 1857.