October 2009
UPDATED
Request for information on a house, that may have a connection to Maria Teresa Nuzzo
|
The following extract is taken from Victor F. Denaro’s article ““Still more Houses in Valletta” and published in “Melita Historica” which is the journal of the Maltese Historical Society. [3(1962)3(42-58) Copyright © The Malta Historical Society, 2005]
In the early days of Valletta, Old Mint Street was known as Strada San Sebastiano, later, owing to the Mint being housed in this street, it became known as “Strada della Zecca” or “Strada Zecca.” The French, during their short occupation of the Island, named the street “Rue de la Monnaie.”……………………… "The “Casa Casaux” (Nos. 115/116 Old Mint Street) was the property of the family de Beon de Casaux and was enjoyed by members of this family who formed part of the Religion. As in 1739 there were no knights of the de Casaux family in the Order, the premises were leased for the term of two lives to Comm. Bisigniani. From the 1st May 1779 the house was incorporated with the Plaignes Commandery which had been founded, in juspatronage, by Fra Paul François de Beon de Casaux, Prior of Toulouse."
The original may be viewed at: -
http://melitensia.250free.com/melitahistorica/MH03/0303/stillmorehouses.pdf
http://www.geocities.com/melitahistoricab/19622.html
A friend of Maltagenealogy.com understood that this is the same house that was used also as a school run by Maria Teresa Nuzzo (the foundress of the religious order Daughters of the Sacred Heart – established 1903).
It is recorded elsewhere that Maria Teresa hailed from Valletta and that in 1867, aged sixteen, Maria Teresa became responsible for a school run by her aunt, who had become blind and who died on 4 March 1867. (See http://www.en.teresanuzzo.tripod.com/id2.html and http://www.dshnuzzo.org/foundress.htm )
However, we at www.maltagenealogy.com have failed to establish the location of the aunt’s school and on the 6th October 2009 we floated a request on the internet for more information.
On the 8th October another friend of ours kindly provided us with his detailed research on this very property as well as a list of licensed schools for the period 1839-1888.
Here are his results (Research by Vincent Ellul Malta 8th October 2009-10-08 Reference CSG 43/01 1827/1903, Malta Gov. Gazzette (various), Malta Family History Website - Copyright © Vincent Ellul Malta)
List of people who resided from time to time in any of the above mentioned addresses from 1860 to 1903 and who were eligible to vote during the elections held over the 43 years in question.
In the search conducted the name of the street is referred to in the Italian language, hence Strada Zecca is the same street as Old Mint Street
House number 115 Strada Zecca was the residence of the following
1860 Mr. Giovanni Lebrun
1867 Mr Giuseppe Mula
1869 Dr. Roncali Zaccari
House number 116 Strada Zecca seems to have been more in demand since it shows the following people residing there
1866 Mr Giuseppe Di Pietro Spiteri
1867 Mr Giuseppe Di Pietro Spiteri
1869 Not Teodoro Bonavvita
Mr. Alessandro Bonavita
Mr. Emanuele Lebard
1870 Not Teodoro Bonavita
1880 Mr. Paolo Naudi
1900 Mr. Gio Batta Vella
1920 Mr. Albert Mercieca
SCHOOLS THAT HAD A LICENCE DURING THE PERIOD 1827 TO 1903 AND WERE LOCATED IN VALLETTA
The first recorded licence to be issued by the Chief Government Secretary was in 1827. Up till 1849 no proper record or cross reference exists and only a mention is made in the official records of the time.
The list of schools that operated from Valletta are as follows:-
Date License Holder Description and
Address
Oct 16 1827 Rev. Geo Maturin A day school in
Valletta
Nov 7 1827 Mr. W.S. Maturin A day school in
Valletta
Nov 15 1838 Dr.Salvatore Cumbo A public school for
literature in Valletta.
Nov 25 1839 Mr Gius. Naudi An infant school
according to
the plan of
education.(location
not mentioned in
permit)
Sept 13 1845 Mr. G.B.Falzon A school to teach
Children Italian
Language (location
missing)
Feb 7 1846 Dr. Dom. Cuschieri A school for primary
Education of youths
(No Location)
Apr 6 1853 Mrs. Parsons A school in Valletta
for the Teaching of the
Eng Language and the
branches of knowledge
forming a course for
English females
Dec 14 1853 Miss Smeralda Abbud A School in Valletta to
Teach Arabic language
Dec 22 1853 Mr. Giacomo Sessa To keep an elementary
commercial school in
Valletta
Dec12 1854 Mr. Joseph Anton To keep a school in
Valletta for the
teaching of Arabic
language, literature and
arithmetic.
Sept 19 1863 Mr. Goffredo Borg To keep a school in
Valletta for primary
instructions of
Italian English
Language Aritmethic
and calligraphy
At no 51 St.
Christopher Str.
July 25 1866 Giovanna Locano To keep an infant
school in Valletta
Strada Ponente.
May 5 1868 Teresa & Elisabeth To keep an elementary
Tomani School for girls at 105
Strada Forni Valletta
Nov 3 1882 George Caruana To keep a private
school in Valletta
Feb 22 1883 Teresa Lupi To keep a private
school at 65, Strada
San Nicola Valletta
July 9 1883 Julie Muller Bartolo To keep an institute
for the education of
young ladies at
43, Strada Stretta
Valletta
Aug 28 1885 Michele Azzopardi To keep a private
school in Valletta to
teach commercial
Arit. And book
Keeping
Feb 28 1888 Marianna Cremona To keep an infant
school at 48 Strada
Levante Valletta.
From the above information it seems that there was no school in 115/116 Strada Zecca. It is also to be noted that there exist no application and or permit in the surname of Nuzzo. It would be interesting to discover Maria Teresa Nuzzo’s aunt’s surname since from the available information (there are 5 schools licensed in the name of women) at the time mentioned (1867++).
If you have any more information, please contact us tancarville@optusnet.com.au.
Thank you.