"Libro d'Oro di Melita"

"Key to The Most Noble Testaferrata family, descendants of the medieval Princes Capo di Ferro, who after settling in Malta, held the titles of Patrizii di Messina (1553 and 1792),Patrizii di Roma (1590), Patrizii di Citta’ di Castello (1739), “Most Illustrious and Noble” (1725),Noble Tornearii and Armigers of the Holy Roman Empire (1637), Baroni di Castel Cicciano (1695), Baroni di Gomerino (1710 grant), ‘Marchesi di San Vincenzo Ferreri’ (1716 grant(?)), Marchesi Testaferrata (1717 grant), with subformations etc. etc. "

All Corrections/Additions are Welcome

 

* Arfio Capo di Ferro (Testaferrata), married to Costanza Montalto dei Baroni di Milocca, with issue (Just Click on Arfio Capo di Ferro for origins)


1. Angaraldo Capo di Ferro (Testaferrata), married to Margherita Montalto dei Baroni di Milocca, Prato e Arcimusa, with issue

1.1. Giacomo I. Testaferrata, married 1503 to Margherita de Vaccaro, with issue
1.1.1. Simone Testaferrata, married Maddalena.., with issue

1.1.1.1. Salvatore Testaferrata, married Laura Cilia, (See Cilia in Extinct titles for ancestry), with issue

1.1.1.1.1. Gaspare Testaferrata, (1566-), married Paolina Tabone, with issue

1.1.1.1.1.1. Eleanora Testaferrata, married 1625 to Angelo Bonici, with issue, (See Qlejjgha for descendants)

1.1.1.1.1.2. Grazia Testaferrata, married 1631 Valletta to Gio Paolo Borg of Naxxar.

1.1.1.1.1.3. Grazio Testaferrata, married (1) 1629 Valletta to Maria Pace, married (2) 1632 Axiak to Maria Bonavia.

1.1.1.1.1.4. Gio Simone Testaferrata, married 1647 Senglea to Lucrezia Buttigieg.

1.1.1.1.1.5. Sebastiano Testaferrata, married 1653 Senglea to Onorata Burlo.

1.1.1.1.1.6. Baldassare Testaferrata, married 1638 Axiak to Giovanna Bonnici.

1.1.1.1.2. Argentine Testaferrata, married 1585 to Dr Niccolo Cilia MD, Baron di Budaq, with issue. (See Cilia in Extinct titles).

1.1.1.1.3. Imperia Testaferra, married 1589 to Bartolomeo Tabone, with issue, (See Fiddien for descendants)

1.1.1.1.4. Giuseppe Testaferrata, (1567-)

1.1.1.1.5. (Illegitimate) Vittoria Testaferrata, (1585-)

1.1.2. Mariano Testaferrata, -See Below.

1.1.3. Tomaso Testaferrata , married 1545 to Imperia Gallo, with issue

1.1.3.1. Alfonso Testaferrata, (died 1592), married Margherita Firenzo, with issue

1.1.3.1.1. Pietro Testaferrata

1.1.3.1.2. Imperia Testaferrata, married 1592 to Antonio Fiteni, (See Fiteni in Extinct titles)

1.1.3.1.3. Tomaso Testaferrata, (1588-).

1.1.3.1.4. Elena Testaferrata, (1579-)

1.1.3.2. Caterina Testaferrata, married (1) 1569 to Ippolito Xiriha, married (2) 1572 to Mario Bartolo, with issue

1.2. Pietro Testaferrata

1.3. Aloisea Capo di Ferro, married Francesco "Plotaplasti" dei Duchi Platamone, with issue.

 

Footnote #1: The Testaferrata tradition that Arfio Capo di Ferro sive Testaferrata was a descendant of the longobard prince Pandulf Ironhead has been recorded for a long time. See: for example, Abela’s Della Descrizione di Malta, Malta, 1647 and Abela and Ciantar’s Malta Illustrata, 1772, 1780. A reference to this claim is only found in passing in the 1878 Report where the Marchese Nicola Testaferrata de Noto is described in one of the claims as Marquis Testaferrata, of the Ancient Princes Capo di Ferro, Charge d’Affairs Maltese. 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 Report Paras. 122-172)

Mariano Testaferrata, (1503-71), Patrican of Messina., Depositario of the Inquisition, married to Maddalena Coremasco Cassia, with issue.

1. Antonio Testaferrata, married 1570 Bernardina Abela, with issue

1.1. Paolo Testaferrata, Patrician of Rome, See Below

1.2. Bartolomeo Testaferrata, married 1613 to Maria Falsone, with issue
1.2.1. Pietro Testaferrata, married 1646 To Veronica Testaferrata (See Below), with issue
1.2.1.1. Bernardina Testaferrata, married to Paolo Antonio Saliba, with issue.
1.2.1.1.1. Veronica Saliba, married 1701 to Guiseppe Abela, with issue
1.2.1.1.2. Veneranda Saliba
1.2.1.1.3. Policarpo Saliba, married Anna Manduca (See Manduca, Counts of), with issue
1.2.1.1.3.1. Angelica Rosa Saliba Manduca, married 1737 to Lorenzo Galea Feriol, 3rd Barone di San Marciano, with issue
1.2.2. Bartolomeo Testaferrata, married 1642 to Teresa Cassar, with issue
1.2.2.1. Maria Testaferrata, married 1664 to Dr Gio Paolo Sceberras, with issue
1.2.2.1.2. Margherita Sceberras, m. 20 Apr 1692 (S. Paolo, Valletta) to Nicola Emanuele Moscati, with issue.

1.2.3. Leonardo Testaferrata
1.3. Giovanni Testaferrata, married Clerica Gauci
1.3.1. Lorenzo Testaferrata, married 1651 to Vincenza Testaferrata de Robertis, .-See Below.
1.3.2. Carlo Testaferrata
1.3.3. Gio Batta Testaferrata
1.3.4. Vincenzo Testaferrata, married Polixemia Bonici
1.4. Dott. Gio Domenico Testaferrata
1.5. Elena Testaferrata, married Clemenzo Tabone, (Fiddien for descendants)
2. Pietro Testaferrata, , married 1572 Imperia Busutil, with issue
2.1 Pasquale Testaferrata, married 1608 to Antonia Muscat
2.1.1. Veroncia Testaferrata, married Pietro Testaferrata (see above for descendants)
2.1.2. Domenica Testaferrata, married 1629 Valletta to Pasquale Caruana.
2.1.3. Cecilia Testaferrata
2.1.4. Bonaventura Testaferrata, 'Nun', dunm
2.1.5. Maria Testaferrata, married 1669 to Vincenzo Bonici, with issue (See Qlejjgha for descendants)
2.1.6. Caterina Testaferrata, married 1638 to Dr. Michele Sceberras
2.1.7. Antonio Testaferrata, 'Canon', dunm
2.1.8. Policarpo Testaferrata, married Lauria Cassia
2.1.9. Nicol'Antonio Testaferrata, 'Sacerdote', dunm.
2.2. Lucrezia Testaferrata , married 1600 to Guiseppe Ebejer
2.2.1. Orlando Ebejer-Testaferrata, married Maria Cumbo
2.2.1.1. Ludovico Ebejer-Testaferrata, married 1670 to Anna Farrugia
2.2.1.1.1. Pricinda Ebejer-Testaferrata, married 1709 to Enrico Parnis
2.2.1.1.1.1. Gabriella Parnis, married 1746 to Teresa Caruana
2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Margherita Parnis, married 1784 to Guiseppe Spiteri
2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Anton Spiteri
2.2.1.1.1.1.1.2. Aloisea Spiteri
2.2.1.1.1.1.1.3. Concetta Spiteri
2.2.1.2. Giuseppe Ebejer Testaferrata, married Beatrice Bovorido, with issue
2.2.1.2.1. Anna Ebejer-Testaferrata, married Antonio Pace, with issue
2.3. Maddalena Testaferrata, married 1604 to  Gio Simone Falsone
2.4. Agata Testaferrata, married 1614 to Bartolomeo Mifsud, with issue
2.5. Angelica Testaferrata, married 1606 to Giovanni Camenzuli, with issue
2.6. Petronilla Testaferrata, 'Nun', dunm.
2.7. Augustino Testaferrata, (1577-)

2.8. (Illegitimate) Lucia Testaferrata, (1580-)

2.9. (Illegitimate) Domenica Testaferrata, (1582-)

2.10. (Illegitimate) Marco Testaferrata, ( 1583-)

2.11. (Illegitimate) Britio Testaferrata, (1586-)

2.12. (Illegitimate) Gioanne Testaferrata, (1587-)

2.13. (Illegitimate) Cecilia (Sives Alessandra) Testaferrata, (1590-), married 1619 Valletta to Crispino Limiero.

3. Giacomo II Testaferrata-See Below.
4. Agata Testaferrata, married Matteo Vassallo, with issue.

 

Footnote#1: The Dignity of Patrician of Messina was granted to Mariano Testaferrata on the 20th December 1553 by the Jurats of the City of Messina. However, the 1878 Commissioners held that this dignity was a mere municipal honour and not one emanating from a foreign sovereign, or fons honorum.  Thus, as far as the Commissioners were concerned, once they regarded this dignity as a municipal honour, it did not fall within the remit of the Commission because the Commissioners were of the opinion that once it is a municipal honour it does not qualify to be registered in accordance with the rules of 1739 and 1795 as enacted by Grand Masters Despuig and Rohan. (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 Report Para. 237-238)). See also http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/marianotestaferrata.html

 

Footnote #2: It appears that the 1553 dignity in favour of Mariano Testaferrata is the basis of a similar dignity granted on the 28 August 1792 by the Senate of Messina to Marchese Don Mario Testaferrata Castelletti, Don Daniele and Don Pandolfo Testaferrata De Noto, and the Barone Pietro Paolo Testaferrata Abela. The later dignity is described elsewhere in this section. It appears that the later 1792 dignity was only granted to four of Mariano Testaferrata’s male-to-male descendants. This consideration therefore raises the inevitable question whether this dignity is transmissible to the non-agnatial descendants of Mariano Testaferrata. It is to be noted that of the ten persons asserting a claim in 1878 to this dignity, it appears that only two were descended in the female line. 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 also http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/mariotestaferrata.html

 

Footnote #3: Antonio and Giacomo are the progenitors of the two main lines of the Testaferrata family. Many published sources regard Giacomo as the elder of the two. However, this has been the subject of some debate in recent years because their birth dates have so far, remained undocumented. According to “Date Order Sequence”, it results that Antonio was in fact older than Giacomo (See: The Testaferrata family (A reappraisal of the family’s early history), Giles Ash, Classic Press, Malta (undated) As seen below, Antonio’s line was the first to receive a nobiliary title granted by the Grand Masters.

 

* (line of Antonio, son of Mariano) Paolo Testaferrata, Patrician of Rome, married firstly 1596 to Marietta Cumbo, married secondly 1606 to Enziona Guevara.

1. (First mariage) Fabrizio Testaferrata (c 1598-1674), married 1655 to Speranza Xara Cagliares, with issue
1.1. Paolo Testaferrata (c 1656-1713), 1st Barone di Gomerino (joint),, married 1674 to Beatrice Cassia, Baroness di Castel Cicciano and joint Baroness of Gomerino, (Beatrice was granted the right to be styled “Most Illustrious and Noble” – See below)

1.1.1  Fabritio Testaferrata Cassia -See Castel Cicciano (Fabritio was granted the right to be styled “Most Illustrious and Noble” – See below)

1.1.2  Ercole Martino Testaferata Cassia  See Gomerino 

1.1.3  Pier Giacomo Testaferrata Cassia, Prelate of the Order of Saint John within the German Langue. He was also on the recommendation of Emperor Leopold I despatched by Grand Master Zondadari to hold the commandery of Saint Peter in Carniola with power to “godere qualunque bene dell’ Ordine Gerosolimitano in Germania, come fosse nativo” , Noble and Patrician of Citta’ del’ Castello (1739)

 

1.2. Leonora Testaferrata, married Carlo Falzone, with issue
 

Footnote#1: The Dignity of Roman Patrician was granted jointly to Monsignor Don Leonardo Abela, Bishop of Sidonia, Placido and Alessandro Abela his brothers, and upon his three nephews ex sorore Pietro di Ferro, Ascanio Surdo and Paolo Testaferrata on the 11 June 1590 by the Roman Senate. However, the 1878 Commissioners held that this dignity was a mere municipal honour and not one emanating from a foreign sovereign, or fons honorum. Thus, as far as the Commissioners were concerned, once they regarded this dignity as a municipal honour, it did not fall within the remit of the Commission because the Commissioners were of the opinion that once it is a municipal honour it does not qualify to be registered in accordance with the rules of 1739 and 1795 as enacted by Grand Masters Despuig and Rohan. (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 Report Para. 239)). See also http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/abela.html

 

Footnote#2: From a reading of the 1878 Report, it appears that of the six persons asserting a claim in 1878 to this dignity, not all were descended in the male-to-male line of the (joint) grantee from whom they were claiming. Whilst it is clear that the Testaferrata claimants were claiming by virtue of their agnatial descent from Paolo Testaferrata, it is unclear whether the basis of the other claimants was also being made in virtue of a female descent from Paolo Testaferrata or from another (female) descent from one of the other original (joint) grantees. 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.)

 

Footnote#3: This line (line of Antonio) retained the office of Depositario of the Inquisition in Malta.

 

Footnote#4: For Gomerino (1710)  and Gomerino (1737) see  Gomerino 

 

Footnote#5: For Dignity of Patrician of Messina (1792) see http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/mariotestaferrata.html

 

Footnote#6: For Castel Cicciano (1695) see Castel Cicciano

 

Footnote#7: The Dignity of Patrician of Citta’ di Castello  was granted to Pier Giacomo Testaferrata on the 19 September 1739. There is no mention of this dignity in the claims presented to the 1878 Commissioners. 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.)

 

Footnote#8: Owing to a great abuse which had crept in, of notaries and lawyers giving the style of Nobile and Illustrissimo to many persons indiscriminately in public documents, the Grand Master de Vilhena issued a Pragmatic in the year 1725 in which he criminalized such unauthorized use. A copy verbatim of the Pragmatic dated 30th April 1725 is found in the sub-Enclosure in Enclosure No. 3 in the letter from Governor Simmons to The Earl of Derby dated 28 October 1884 which is published in Copies or Extracts of Correspondence with reference to the Maltese Nobility (In Continuation of C-3812) presented to the House of Lords by Command of Her Majesty, May 1886.

 

Footnote#9: In the said copy verbatim, there is what appears to be an exhaustive list of the persons who at different times received from the said Grandmaster and his successors, an exception from the aforesaid pragmatic, thereby allowing them the right to use the styles of Most Illustrious and Noble, namely: (1) Milite Barone Marc' Antonio Inguanez (See Djar il-Bniet) and his wife Baronessa Inguanez (See Gomerino) (30 April 1725); (2) Barone di Cicciano Fabritio Testaferrata (See: Castel Cicciano) and his mother the Baronessa di Gomerino Beatrice Cassia Testaferrata  (See Gomerino), (11 May 1725), (3) Marchese di San Vincenzo Ferreri Mario Testaferrata (See: San Vincenzo Ferreri) (9 July 1725), (4) Carlo Falson (See Falson), and Eleanora Testaferrata (See: Capo di Ferro) (13 June 1726), (5) Barone di San Marciano Diego Galea Feriolo (See: San Marciano), (2 September 1726), (6) Barone Gio Pio De Piro (See De Piro) (19 March 1727), (7) Canon Giuseppe di Costanzo (See Paganica), and Donna Rosa (See De Noto),widow of Gio Battista di Costanzo (24 May 1729), (8) Barone Isidoro Viani (See: Tabria), (27 June 1730), (9) D. Vincenzo Platamone (See Platamone),and Antonio Bonnici (??), (10) Baldassare Bonnici (13 January 1732), (11) Calcerano Mompalao (See: Mompalao)), Giuseppe and Caterina Cuschieri (See: Frigenuini) (6 March 1732), (12) Barone Saverio Gatt (See: Benwarrad) (23 August 1737), (13) Signor Ludovico Bianchi (See: Bianchi) (25 October 1741), (14) Dr. Ugolino Bonnici (5 September 1794), (15) Dr. Saverio Crispo (See: Crispo) (??) See also: http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/mostillustriousandnoble.html

 

Footnote#10: These exceptions form the basis of the (only) argument which was brought before the 1878 Commissioners to prove that the titles of Djar il-Bniet and Buqana, Castel Cicciano and San Vincenzo Ferreri were recognized by the Government of the Order of Saint John in Malta thereby satisfying the criteria for recognition . See http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/djarilbniet.html  for Djar il-Bniet and Buqana,  http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/castelcicciano1.html for Castel Cicciano and http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/sanvincenzoferreri.html for San Vincenzo Ferreri.

 

 

* (line of Giacomo, son of Mariano) Giacomo II Testaferrata, died 1588, married 1560 to Vincenza Pace Cumbo, with issue

1.Gian-Tomaso Testaferrata, married 1608 to Elena de Robertis, with issue.
1.1 Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis- See Below
1.2. Vincenza Testaferrata de Robertis, married 1651 to Lorenzo Testaferrata, with issue
1.2.1. Dr Giacomo Testaferrata, married 1661 to Teodora Bonici, with issue.
1.2.2. Gio Batta Testaferrata, married 1692 to Maria Sceberras, with issue.
1.2.2.1. Margherita Testaferrata, married 1719 to Gabriele Haxisa, with issue.
1.2.2.2. Maddalena Testaferrata, married 1721 to Gaspare Dandolina (See Inguanez for ancestry), with issue.
1.2.2.2.1. Maria Dandalona, married 1747 to Pio Vidal, with issue
1.2.2.2.1.1. Rosa Vidal Testaferrata, married 1768 to Dr Guiseppe Vella, with issue.
1.2.2.2.1.1.1. Emmanuele Vella Testaferrata, married 1826 to Helena Perini, with issue.
1.2.2.2.1.1.1.1. Dr Filippo Vella, married 1858 Rosa Cacciutolo
1.2.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Elena Vella, married 1880 to Carmelo dei Marchese Alessi, with issue.-See Taflia, for descendants.

1.2.2.2.1.1.2. Giuseppe Vella, married 1842 Valletta to Maddalena Falzon.
1.2.2.2.1.2. Giovanni Vidal Dandalona, married 1781 to Catarina Andre, with issue.
1.2.2.2.1.2.1. Francesca Vidal Dandalona, married Salvatore Vella, with issue.
1.2.2.2.1.3. Francesco Vial Dandalona, married 1797 to Barbara Farrugia.
1.2.2.2.1.4. Paolo Vial Dandalona
1.2.2.3. Don. Gio Batta Dandalona, dunm
1.2.2.4. Teresa Dandalona, married 1772 to Dr. Tomaso Gatt LLD, with issue

1.2.2.5. Anna Maria Testaferrata, married 1747 Matrice Gozo to Giuseppe Marchese.
1.2.3. Rosanna Testaferrata, married 1688 to Leonardo Montalto, with issue.
1.2.4. Clara Testaferrata, married 1679 to Dr Carlo Bonici, with issue.
1.3. Fr. Eugenio Testaferrata de Robertis, dunm.
1.4. Fr. Aldovandino Testaferrata, dunm. Knight of the Order of Saint John (elected 7 June 1631)
1.5. Silvestrino “sives Vincenzo” Testaferrtata, married (1) Veronica Testaferrata (See Above), married (2) Nobile Silvia dei Baroni Sanchetta., with issue

1.5.1. (First Marriage) Basileo Testaferrata, married 1649 Valletta to Francesca di de Lodura.
1.5.2. (Second Marriage) Cesare Testaferrata de Sanchetta, married 1657 Senglea to Maruzza Mifsud, with issue.
1.5.2.1. Teresa Testaferrata de Sanchetta, married 1676 to Vincenzo Vancell, with issue.

1.5.3. Geronimo Testaferrata de Sanchetta, married 1657 Senglea to Donna Maria d'Daniele.
1.6. Faustina Testaferrata, married 1651 to Carlo Testaferrata (See Above)

1.7. (illegitimate) Anna Testaferrata, “Bastarda di Giacche detto sponsulizio sequi nell abazia delli Orfanelli”., married 1609 at Valletta to Giovanni Bea of France.

2. Gio Matteo Testaferrata, (1582-), married to Marta N, with issue.

2.1. Basilio Testaferrata, married (1) to Onorata Barbara, married (2) 1677 Gudia to Maria Schembri.
3. Fr Mariano Testaferrata
4. Giovanella Testaferrata, married 1593 to Gio Paolo Cuzkeri,with issue.-See Extinct Titles-Frigenuini.
5. Vincenza Testaferrata, married 1602 to Michele Allegritto, with issue.
6. Marfiglica Testaferrata, married 1600 to Giacomo Farrugia, with issue.

7. (Illegitimate) Maria Testaferrata.)

 

 

* (line of Giacomo, son of Mariano) Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis, Capitano della Verga of Malta-1636-37, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, married Teodora Bonici, with issue

1. Mario Testaferrata de Robertis, (1654-1747), 1st Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri, (Cr: 1716), 1st  Marchese Testaferrata. (1717), “Most Illustrious and Noble” (See below) married Firstly 1677 to Anna de Noto Cumbo, with issue. Married Secondly 1697 to Elisabetta Castelletti, with issue. Married thirdly 1727 to Alticunda Vassallo Castelletti, with issue

1.1. (First Marriage) Marchese Enrico Testaferrata de Noto, 2nd Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri and Testaferrata, Married 1730 to Felicita Cassar Desain, with issue

1.1.1 Donna  Saveria Testaferrata., d.inf.
1.1.2.Marchese Gregorio Testaferrata., d.inf.
1.1.3.Marchese Daniele Testaferrata,
1.1.4.Marchese Pandolfo Testaferrata de Noto, 1st Marquis Testaferrata Olivier.-See Testaferrata Olivier.
1.1.5. Donna Asteria Testaferrata, married 15th Baron di Djar-il-Bniet, with issue.
1.2. (Second Marriage) Marchese  Gilberto Testaferrata Castelletti, 1st Marquis 'Testaferrata-Castelletti'.-See Cassar Desain..
1.3. Donna Pulcheria Testaferrata Castelletti, married Pietro Antonio Testaferrata dei Baroni di Castel Cicciano.
1.4. (Third Marriage) Marchese Gregorio Testaferrata Vassallo, (1740-...), dunm.

1.5. Donna Anna Teresa Testaferrata Vassallo, (1742-), married 1770 to Cmdr. Martino dei Conti Preziosi.

2. Camilla Testaferrata, maried 1673 to Nott. Giuseppe Cagnano JUD.
3. Leonora Testaferrata, dunm.
4. Maria Rose Testaferrata, married 1679 to Paolo Cassar

4.1. (illegitimate with a Knight of Malta) Anna de Testaferrata, married 1690 Valletta to Francesco Martin.

5. (illegitimate) Teresa Testaferrata, married 1668 Cospicua to Francesco Grabot.

 

Footnote#1: In the patent granted moto proprio at Vienna by Emperor Ferdinand III Emperor of the Romans and of Germany to Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis on the 6 November 1637, one finds: Te Jacobum Testaferrata, tuosque liberos, haeredes, posteros ac descendentes, masculos et foeminas, natos et nascituros in infinitum, ex legitimo matrimonii foedere ortos, et aeterna serie orituros, in numerum, coetum et consortium, statum gradum atque dignitatem Nostrorum et Sacri Romani Imperii aliorumque Regnorum et dominiorum Nostrorum haereditariorum Nobilium Militarium et Torneariorum, assumpsimus et aggregavimus; vosque omnes et singulos, juxta qualitatem conditiones humanae, Nobiles, Militares, et Tornearios dicimus, nominamus, et declaramus, adeoque ab omnibus et singulis cujuscumque status, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, dignitatis et proemineentia existent, pro veris Nostris et Sacri Romani Imperii Regnorumque et Ditionum Nostrorum Haereditarum, Nobilibus Militaribus et Torneariis dici, nominari, atque reputari volumes…...

 

Footnote#2: From the tenor of the foregoing, it is clearly intended to raise the said Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis to the dignity, and to elect into the Order, of the Noble Tornearii or Ecuyers and Armigers of the Holy Roman Empire. Moreover the grant clearly extends this in favour of all of Testaferrata de Robertis’s issue male and female in infinitum. 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 Report Paras. 227-228, 230-233, 235-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60) and http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/testaferrataderobertis.html

 

Footnote#3: As the grant to Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis was made moto proprio it follows that it is susceptible to a wide and liberal interpretations, that is to say extensively construed to benefit all of Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis’s descendants.  This principle was in fact explained by the 1878 Commissioners elsewhere in their report as follows: The claimant lastly contends that the diploma and the rescript must be extensively construed; for although it is a legal maxim, Privilegia sunt stricte interpretanda, the privileges, however, granted by a sovereign authority, and which do not act to the prejudice of third parties, are susceptible of a wide and liberal interpretation. Although this is admitted by the common opinion of civilians, yet that principle holds good with regard to those privileges which are granted by the sovereign’s mere motion (moto proprio) and not at the request of the party concerned (Jasonii Comment. Quoted by Altograd. Consilia Con. 71, No. 9, 10, 11, and by many other legal writers). 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 Report Paras. 41-57.

Footnote#4: The descendants of Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis contended that they have a right to bear the generic designation of noblemen prefixed to their baptismal, and the male descendants assert moreover a right to the prefix of cavalieri. The 1878 Commissioners expressed their concern about this saying:- It appears from what has already been stated, that if the distinction referred to is to be taken to extend to all the contemporary lineal successors of the grantee, the male lawful holders of it would be very numerous, as that dignity would be inheritable by all the male and female descendants, without any limitation. Among such descendants there are persons of all classes, and whilst some live on income from their own property, others pursue mean occupations and have slender means of support. 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 Report Paras. 41-57. See also http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/testaferrataderobertis.html

Footnote#5: At Maltese Law the dignity conferred on Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis is only a foreign title and, as such, it can be considered for the purposes of precedence only if registration or Magistral recognition has been achieved. in accordance with the rules of 1739 and 1795 as enacted by Grand Masters Despuig and Rohan.  In this case, this title/distinction conferred to Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis received direct recognition from the Grandmasters. This is in fact clearly stated by the Royal Commissioners who whilst admitting that although the decree issued by Grand Master Despuig, on the 16th September 1739, providing that all foreign titles should be registered in the Cancelleria and in the Court of the Castellania, was published subsequently to the date of the above-mentioned patents, this circumstance could not have certainly dispensed with the said registration. This omission is, however, supplied by the recognition of the distinction we are considering, on the part of the Grand Masters, who at different times, and in their official acts, styled Nobiles Sacri Romani Imperii some of the descendants of (Testaferrata de Robertis). 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 Report Paras. 227-228, 230-233, 235-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60). See also http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/testaferrataderobertis.html

Footnote#6: Probably prompted by their realization of the magnitude of the remainder, the 1878 Commissioners using the pretext that they were unsure whether this title, although recognised, was in any way affected by the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and wrote to the British Secretary for the Colonies in this sense. Instead the British Secretary dismissed this title saying that there was no proof that it ever received recognition. In fact, the Secretary wrote: I observe that the patents in question were never registered as titles of nobility in the Cancelleria, or in the High Court of the Castellania of the Grand Masters; and that no proof is given that the alleged dignity was ever recognised in Malta. I do not therefore, perceive that the gentlemen claiming that dignity have made out sufficient grounds for being allowed the special precedency which has been accorded to the heads of families who before the annexation of Malta to the British dominions had obtained titles of nobility. 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 Report Paras. 227-228, 230-233, 235-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60) See also http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/testaferrataderobertis.html

Footnote#7: Owing to a great abuse which had crept in, of notaries and lawyers giving the style of Nobile and Illustrissimo to many persons indiscriminately in public documents, the Grand Master de Vilhena issued a Pragmatic in the year 1725 in which he criminalized such unauthorized use. A copy verbatim of the Pragmatic dated 30th April 1725 is found in the sub-Enclosure in Enclosure No. 3 in the letter from Governor Simmons to The Earl of Derby dated 28 October 1884 which is published in Copies or Extracts of Correspondence with reference to the Maltese Nobility (In Continuation of C-3812) presented to the House of Lords by Command of Her Majesty, May 1886.

Footnote#8: In the said copy verbatim, there is what appears to be an exhaustive list of the persons who at different times received from the said Grandmaster and his successors, an exception from the aforesaid pragmatic, thereby allowing them the right to use the styles of Most Illustrious and Noble, namely: (1) Milite Barone Marc' Antonio Inguanez (See Djar il-Bniet) and his wife Baronessa Inguanez (See Gomerino) (30 April 1725); (2) Barone di Cicciano Fabritio Testaferrata (See: Castel Cicciano) and his mother the Baronessa di Gomerino Beatrice Cassia Testaferrata  (See Gomerino), (11 May 1725), (3) Marchese di San Vincenzo Ferreri Mario Testaferrata (See: San Vincenzo Ferreri) (9 July 1725), (4) Carlo Falson (See Falson), and Eleanora Testaferrata (See: Capo di Ferro) (13 June 1726), (5) Barone di San Marciano Diego Galea Feriolo (See: San Marciano), (2 September 1726), (6) Barone Gio Pio De Piro (See De Piro) (19 March 1727), (7) Canon Giuseppe di Costanzo (See Paganica), and Donna Rosa (See De Noto),widow of Gio Battista di Costanzo (24 May 1729), (8) Barone Isidoro Viani (See: Tabria), (27 June 1730), (9) D. Vincenzo Platamone (See Platamone),and Antonio Bonnici (??), (10) Baldassare Bonnici (13 January 1732), (11) Calcerano Mompalao (See: Mompalao)), Giuseppe and Caterina Cuschieri (See: Frigenuini) (6 March 1732), (12) Barone Saverio Gatt (See: Benwarrad) (23 August 1737), (13) Signor Ludovico Bianchi (See: Bianchi) (25 October 1741), (14) Dr. Ugolino Bonnici (5 September 1794), (15) Dr. Saverio Crispo (See: Crispo) (??) See also: http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/mostillustriousandnoble.html

 

Footnote#9: These exceptions form the basis of the (only) argument which was brought before the 1878 Commissioners to prove that the titles of Djar il-Bniet and Buqana, Castel Cicciano and San Vincenzo Ferreri were recognized by the Government of the Order of Saint John in Malta thereby satisfying the criteria for recognition . See http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/djarilbniet.html  for Djar il-Bniet and Buqana,  http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/castelcicciano1.html for Castel Cicciano and http://www.maltagenealogy.com/SME/sanvincenzoferreri.html for San Vincenzo Ferreri.

 

 

Other titles enjoyed by the Testaferrata family (brackets show family of origin)

 

Baroni della Tabria (Viani, 1728)

Baroni della  Culeja (Bonnici, 1737)

 

 

Other titles/dignities which so far have not been determined:

 

“Two similar diplomas of Roman Patricians are mentioned in the Committee list, dated respectively the 6th July 1674 and the 4th July 1744, the former grant being claimed by Emmanuel Testaferrata Asciack (See San Vincenzo Ferreri )and by Lorenzo Cassar Desain (See Cassar Desain) ……... No proof or document whatever having been produced concerning these grants, such claims cannot be consequently allowed.” 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 Report Para. 240)).

 

 

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