Grazia’s age is a matter of mystery since she married in her 30s, and 2 years later claimed to be in her 20s.

She is one of my maternal great-great-grandmothers.

Like many early state records, Grazia’s birth is a matter of conjecture. Either she was:

• Born in 1850 or 1851 because she was 33 when she married in 1884¹.
• Born in 1861 or 1862 because she was 24 when her second daughter was born in 1886².

She was born in Zebbuġ¹, daughter of Filippo Balzan¹ and Calcedonia Aquilina¹

Family

On Saturday 06 December 1884¹, she married Giovanni Farrugia¹, in St Helen’s Basilica, Birkirkara¹. Canon Pisani Borg officiated¹.

Together they had many children:

• Annetta
• Florentina
• Emmanuele

Notable events

According to official documentation she moved to Birkirkara¹ at some point. Birkirkara was huge at the time, much larger than it is today. Since she registered her daughter’s as having been born in St Julian’s², I conclude that’s where she lived.

Later in life, she may have moved to Ħamrun since her daughter lived there before marriage.

Death

She died between 1908, when her daughter married³. and 1922, when her husband died⁴.

References

1. Act of marriage of Giovanni Farrugia and Grazia Balzan. (1884). [online] (948). Available at: www.certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 20 Aug. 2024][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
2. Act of birth of Florentina Farrugia; Malta Government state records; 1886-10-14[↩][↩]
3. Act of marriage of Giuseppe Felice and Florentina Farrugia. (1908). Malta Government Public Registry. [online] Available at: www.certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 24 Jul. 2024][↩]
4. Act of death of Giovanni Farrugia Gay. (1922). [online] (1678). Available at: www.certifikati.gov.mt [Accessed 06 Nov. 2024][↩]