"The Noble House of Messina holding the title of Conte (1864) and Marchese di San Stefano (1878)"
All Corrections/Additions are Welcome
Conte Giovanni Messina, Barone di Gurafi e di Comichi in Sicily, Governor
of Calabria,
(Executed by orders of Napoleon Bonaparte 1800), married to Giuseppa
Casanova, with issue.
1.
Count Rosario Messina,
Barone di Gurafi e di Comichi in
Sicily, member of the Council of Government
in Malta,
(1796-1875), settled in Malta 1811, Created Conte (1864) by Pope
Pius IX,
married 1836 Valletta to Maria de Ataliottis
(d/o Nicholas de Ataliottis, Merchant from Greece in Malta and Lucia),
with issue.
1.1.
Dr. Giovanni Messina LL.D,
Barone di Gurafi e di Comichi in
Sicily,
2nd Count,
(1842-1911), had a child by Carmela Bugeja, with issue
1.1.1. (Legitimate Jan 1902) Maria dei Conti
Messina, (1883-1962), married
1904 Rabat Malta to Albert
Edwardo
Ganado, with issue
1.1.1.1. Jane Ganado, (1904-49), married Louis Warrington, with issue
1.1.1.2. Mary Rose Ganado, (1911-64), married with issue
1.1.1.3. Victoria Ganado, married Anthony Sceberras, with issue
1.1.1.4. Edward Ganado, married Maria Brandi, with issue
1.1.1.5. Dr. Godwin Ganado, LL.D (1910-64), married Mary Anne Sammut, with issue.
1.1.1.5.1. Lia Ganado.
1.2. Lucia dei Conti Messina, (1845-1912), married 1899 to Count Gaetano Tarabine Castellani, dsp.
1.3. Dr. Francesco Messina, LL.D, Barone di Gurafi e di Comichi in Sicily, 3rd Count, Created (1878) Marchese di San Stefano by Pope Pius IX, married 1906 to Lucia dei Conti Bentivoglio, dsp.
1.4. Giuseppina dei Conti Messina, (1850-1939), married 1885 to Cmdr. Edward N. Price, with issue
1.4.1. Tamara Price, married to N. Crabtree.
1.5. Concettina dei Conti Messina, (1855-1935), married 1876 to Harman Grisewood, with issue
1.5.1. Bettina Grisewood, (d.1961), married 1913 to Robert Sholto Johnstone-Douglas, with issue.
1.5.1.1. Thomas Robert Johnstone-Douglas, (1913-.
1.5.1.2. Elisabeth Johnstone-Douglas, (1916-., married (1) 1954 to William Robert Craven, 6th Earl of Craven (d.1965)., married (2) 1966 to Kenneth Harmood Banner, with issue.
1.5.1.2.1. (First Marriage) Thomas Craven, 7th Earl of Craven, (1957-83)., dunm.
1.5.1.2.2. Simon George Craven, 8th Earl of Craven, (1961-90), married 1988 to Teresa Maria Bernadette Downes, with issue.
1.5.1.2.2.1. Benjamin Robert Craven, 9th Earl of Craven, (1989-.
1.5.1.2.3. Lady Ann Mary Elizabeth Craven, (1959-., married 1978 to Dr Lionel Tarassenko, with issue.
1.5.1.2.3.1. Luke Ivan Tarassenko, (1988-.
1.5.1.2.3.2. Simon Robert Tarassenko, (1991-.
1.5.1.2.3.3. Noami Rachel Tarassenko, (1989-.
Footnote#1:
There is no record nor any claim whatsoever of the
1864 title of Conte Messina in
the records of the 1878 Commission. This is because the date of creation of
this title is not
before
the annexation of Malta to the British Dominions. It should be remembered that
the purpose of that report (as the report reads) was to identify those titles
which were granted or recognized by the sovereign authorities of Malta during
the Government of the Knights of Saint John. Some may argue that this title is
not one of those titles “recognised by the British Monarch”. That argument is
flawed because the purpose of the 1878 Commission was not to “recognize” but
to “identify” those titles which had already been granted or recognized during
the Government of the Order. This is better explained by the terms of
reference to the Commissioners that “the
Secretary of State for the colonies decided that the heads of the families
who, before the annexation of Malta to the British Dominions, obtained
tiles of nobility, should in accordance with a precedent during the
administration of the late Governor, Sir Henry K. Storks, have precedence of
the Chamber of Commerce, and in order to ascertain (etc)“.
In this case, the title of
Conte Messina
is simply not
one of those titles that was obtained during the
Government of the Order. See:
Correspondence and Report of
the Commission appointed to enquire into the claims and grievances of the
Maltese Nobility, May 1878, presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command
of Her Majesty (C.-2033.): see letter of Chief Secretary to Government to
Commissioners dated March 8, 1877 (page 52)
and
http://www.saidvassallo.com/SME/referencegrants.html.
Footnote#2: In addition, had this family enjoyed a title during the Government in Malta of the Order, and even if no claim whatsoever was made during the 1878 Commission, they would still in the words of Governor Straubanzee be “At all events if there are more “Titolati” they are at liberty at any time to prove their claims, and take the precedence to which they are entitled”. . See: Correspondence and Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the claims and grievances of the Maltese Nobility, May 1878, presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty (C.-2033.): see letter of Governor to Earl of Carnarvon dated December, 29 1877 (page 3) and http://www.saidvassallo.com/SME/referencegrants.html
Footnote#3 The 1878 title of Marchese di San Stefano was granted after the conclusion of the 1878 Commission. Therefore there can be no reference to that title in the 1878 report. (See above)
Footnote#4 As Francesco Messina died without issue, the title of Marchese di San Stefano granted in 1878 became EXTINCT. The latter extinction does not affect the other title of Conte which in accordance with the relative law may be succeeded by Francesco’s collaterals in terms of that grant.
Footnote#5 The title of Barone di Gurafi e di Comichi in Sicily is noted from Enciclopedia Storico-Nobiliare Italiana vol IV by Vittorio Spreti, page 572-573. The title of Barone which in accordance with the relative law has been succeeded by Francesco’s collaterals in terms of that grant.
Also note that there is another branch of Messina in Malta but have been in Malta since the 14th century and may be connected to the above family though distantly.
Please Here to read about the Palatial Palace of the Messina Family