[Malte] WILLIAMS George – b. Malta c.1833 – Birgu baptism?

[bmahrrr]

Bonjour / Hello everyone,

I'm looking for the baptism of my 3rd great-grandfather, George WILLIAMS, born in Malta around 1832–36. He was a Catholic seaman who couldn't read or write, went to Sydney in 1856 and died there in 1899. His parents are unknown.

What I know from Malta:
• 21 Nov 1849, passport register: "George Williams" was added to passport no. 508 of Lieut. and Mrs Guthrie R.N., bound for Alexandria (probably as their servant).
• He always said he was born in Malta. His wife sometimes gave Italy or Palermo.

Already searched with no result: Senglea baptisms 1831–37; Cospicua 1829–39 (front index); Valletta St Paul Shipwrecked 1831–37; Malta Roots; the Geneanum databases; the garrison registers.

My main gap is BIRGU (St Lawrence) baptisms 1831–37, which are not yet online.

Could anyone with access to the Birgu registers (or Porto Salvo or St Augustine in Valletta, or Floriana) check 1831–37 for:
• a Giorgio/Georgius WILLIAMS (also Villiams, Viliams, Guglielmi), or
• any illegitimate or foundling (esposto) child baptised Giorgio with an English-sounding surname?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Merci / Thank you!
Braith

[Gander Georges]

Bonjour,

On MyHeritage, we have on the Site of Ramon SIDOTI, few information regarding George Samuel WILLIAMS married with Sarah READ on 10-02-1862.

Is it yours ?

[bmahrrr]

Bonjour Georges,

Thank you! Yes, that's my family. George Williams married Sarah Read on 10 February 1862 at Redfern, Sydney.

One correction: his name was George Williams, with no "Samuel". That comes from a mix-up with his son Samuel George, born 1863, and the error has been copied into several trees.

What I'm really looking for is his origin in Malta. He was Catholic, a seaman, born about 1834, and his parents are still unknown.

[NSV]

Hello,

In Birgu baptisms between 1832 and 1837, there is only two baptims with Guglielmo/Willams

- 1837-03-25 : Guglielmo GALLAGHER son of Verner and Maria
- 1835-01-21 : SPITERI Willielmus Joseph Franciscus son of Josepho and Maria Anna VELLA

The first one concerns clearly a foreigner, son of a foreigner.
The second one is more interesting in your case. The child have "Willelmus" as firstname. If he was maltese, the priest would have used Guglielmo
The parents marriage seems to match with this one :
Date: 1826-01-29 | Husband name: SPITERI | Husband first name: Giuseppe | Husband father first name: Pietro | Husband mother name: GAUCI | Husband mother first name: Rosa | Wife name: VELLA | Wife first name: Maria Anna | Wife father first name: Giuseppe | dead: dcd | Wife mother name: PACE | Wife mother first name: Vittoria | Parish: Porto Salvo | Source: Registre de l'église | Update: 2024-03 | Film: Mat. 14 | Photos: 193

So Willams could be an abandonned child, raised by a maltese family.

Do you know all the name of the children of of Georges Willams ? Some Joseph or Mary in it ?

I think you have to ask the Birgu parish to obtain the certificate of this baptism. Maybe there is more information on it.

N.

[bmahrrr]

Hello N.,

Thank you very much for searching the Birgu baptisms, it's very helpful to know there's no George Williams there for 1832–1837.

George's children were Samuel George, Francis Edward, Albert Victor, Selina Maud, Florence Josephine, Mary Jane and Henry Charles. So there is a Josephine and a Mary, although both names were very common at the time I believe.

On the Spiteri baptism, I notice the father is also written in Latin ("Josepho"), so I wonder whether "Willielmus" is simply the priest writing in Latin rather than a sign of foreign origin.

May I ask two things?

1. Could you check for any Georgius / Giorgio baptised in Birgu between 1830 and 1838 with a foreign surname, or with blank or unknown parents (a possible foundling)?
2. Which database are you using? Does it also cover Senglea and Cospicua?

Thank you again for your help,
Braith

[NSV]

Hi,

For Willielmus, I supposed it's weird, because Guglielmo is always written in this archive "Gullielmus" and only one time "Willielmus"

1. :
- 1837-08-20 : Giorgio Lorenzo, no name no parents
- 1838-09-08 : Guglielmo SUELLY/SWALY son of Tomaso and Caterina
- 1841-03-27 : Giorgio VARCHLIN/WARCHLIN/WANHUIN son of Guglielmo and Esther
- 1844-11-16 : Giorgio FORDYCE son of Guglielmo and Giovanna

There is a Giorgio without name or parents, could be him. But why Guglielmo then ?
I also search in 1838, adding another foreign Guglielmo.
For Giorgio, between 1831 and 1838, there is none foreigner. After 1838, there are some, with two "funny" acts with Giorgio son of Guglielmo.

Made me think that a Giorgio son of Guglielmo, could be transformed in Giorgio Guglielmo -> Giorgio WILLAMS

2. It's a written index of Birgu, it don't cover Senglea not Cospicua.

[bmahrrr]

Hello N.,

The Giorgio Lorenzo of 20 August 1837, with no surname and no parents, is the most interesting to me. George's ages suggest a birth around 1834–36, but ages were often approximate, and a foundling would have needed a surname later.

Does the index give a volume or page reference for that entry? If so, I could ask the Birgu parish for the original baptism, in case there are notes in the margin.

Also, did you notice any other foundling named Giorgio (no surname or parents) between 1830 and 1837?

Your idea of "Giorgio son of Guglielmo" becoming Williams is clever, but the two cases (1841 and 1844) are a little too late for my George.

Thanks again for all your time,

[NSV]

The reference is : Volume 8 folio 85b
Yes with some luck, there will be something to help you

No there isn't any other foundling named Giorgio.

[bmahrrr]

Thank you very much