A photo of the Valletta skyline - Valletta, Malta

Angelica Alessandro

She married at a young age to an older man, possibly because of her father’s death. She escaped Malta’s densely packed harbour area to move to the fishing village of St Julian’s.

She is one of my maternal 3 x great-grandmothers.

A photo of a vedette - Senglea, Malta

Paolo Farrugia

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.

A photo of the Valletta skyline - Valletta, Malta

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.

A photo of the balconies above Victoria Gate - Valletta, Malta

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.

A photo of the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic - Valletta, Malta

Teresa Imbroll

Valletta-born and bred, Teresa lived within the same 0.61 square kilometres for her whole life.

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

A photo of the Porte de Bombes - Floriana, Malta

Ludcarda 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.

A photo of the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic - Valletta, Malta

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.

A photo of St James church - Valletta, Malta

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.

A photo of the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic - Valletta, Malta

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.

A photo of the Valletta skyline - Valletta, Malta

Salvatore Bonnici

Having moved from the hustle and bustle of Valletta, Salvatore saw St Julian’s grow from a summer village to a town in its own right.

He is one of my maternal great-great-grandfathers.