Paolo was one of the first of my ancestors to be born a British subject in Valletta, Malta.
He is one of my maternal 3 x great-grandfathers.
Paolo Farrugia
Eastern Maltese region
Susanna Xuereb
Valletta-born, she settled in the then-growing seaside town of Sliema to avoid the overcrowding in the capital city.
She is one of my paternal great-grandmothers.
Giuseppe Salvatore Borg
There is more than one Giuseppe Borg in my family tree – this is the quintessential generic Maltese name, after all. It makes research harder because everything needs to be triple-checked. This Giuseppe ran a wine shop in Valletta next to the popular Victoria Gate.
He is one of my paternal great-grandfathers.
Anthony Darmenia’s Scholarship
Anthony M. Darmenia (1915 – 1986) was a 20th-century Maltese pharmacist who pioneered the profession in the Maltese islands. He completed part of his education in the UK, thanks to a British Council scholarship.
This article explains all I know about his scholarship, and his time in the UK.
Ludgarda Cremona
Ludcarda was born in Floriana before it was a parish in its own right, and moved to Sliema before that was a parish in its own right. She saw Malta evolve and gain new parishes, and towns.
She is one of my maternal great-great-grandmothers.
Girolamo Bonnici
Girolamo was part of the 19th century migration out of Valletta to the (at the time) calmer village of St Julian’s. He loved Valletta enough to move back later on in life.
Grazia Balzan
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.
Rosina Grech
With a life spanning half the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, Rosina was part of upwardly-mobile society that moved from the capital to the quieter town of Sliema.
She is one of my maternal great-great-grandmothers.
Emmanuele Farrugia
As the Imperial government’s Attorney General, Emmanuele must have been influential in 19th century Maltese society.
He is one of my maternal 3 x great-grandfathers.
Paolo Borg
A male nurse, at a time when this was not common, Paolo moved from Sliema to Attard after getting married. He was my paternal grandfather.
Fondly remembered as Nannu Paul, he was my paternal grandfather.