Balzano family, including the dignity of Noble Tornearii or Ecuyers and Armigers of the Holy Roman Empire granted to Massimiliano Balsano and his descendants (1698)
Balsano was buried in St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
In the 19th century the British Secretary of State ruled that Balsano’s title was never recognized.
In the 19th century the British Secretary of State ruled that Balsano’s title was never recognized.
All Corrections/Additions are Welcome
Last update: 14-06-2024.
Our data online is to share. We do appreciate if you find a connection to share your data, so it can help many others all across this planet. |
1. Mro. Francesco Balsamo of Paris, France, arrives in Malta (c.1600), married (1) to Caterina N, married (2) 1609 Valletta to Filippa Lo Loco, with issue
1.1. (First Marriage) Martino Balzano, married 1614 Valletta to Imperia Aquilina.
1.2. Mro. Salvatore Balzano, married 1639 to Graziulla Aquilina, with issue.
1.2.1. Chco. Diego Balzano, married 1673 Zebbug to Eufemia Cumbo, with issue.
1.2.1.1. Camilla Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.2. Rosa Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.3. Teresa Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.4. Maria Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.5. Gio Franco Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.6. Dr. Don Gio Batta Balzano JUD, dunm.
1.2.2. Don. Ignazio Balzano, Priest, dunm. .
1.2.3. Graziulla Balzano, married 1664 Valletta to Mro Ludovico Calleja.
1.2.4. Teresa Balzano, married 1659 Valletta to Domenico Ciappara.
1.1. (First Marriage) Martino Balzano, married 1614 Valletta to Imperia Aquilina.
1.2. Mro. Salvatore Balzano, married 1639 to Graziulla Aquilina, with issue.
1.2.1. Chco. Diego Balzano, married 1673 Zebbug to Eufemia Cumbo, with issue.
1.2.1.1. Camilla Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.2. Rosa Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.3. Teresa Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.4. Maria Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.5. Gio Franco Balzano, dunm.
1.2.1.6. Dr. Don Gio Batta Balzano JUD, dunm.
1.2.2. Don. Ignazio Balzano, Priest, dunm. .
1.2.3. Graziulla Balzano, married 1664 Valletta to Mro Ludovico Calleja.
1.2.4. Teresa Balzano, married 1659 Valletta to Domenico Ciappara.
1.2.5. Caterina Balzano, married 1650 Valletta to Gio Francesco Ciangialanza.
1.3. Mro Pietro Balzano, married 1635 Valletta to Agnese Rosso, with issue.
1.3.1. Dr. Massimiliano Balzano JUD (created Hereditary Knight of the Holy Roman Empire on 1698), married 1657 Valletta (1656 Notary Giovanni Callus) to Giovanella Meysionat, with issue:
1.3. Mro Pietro Balzano, married 1635 Valletta to Agnese Rosso, with issue.
1.3.1. Dr. Massimiliano Balzano JUD (created Hereditary Knight of the Holy Roman Empire on 1698), married 1657 Valletta (1656 Notary Giovanni Callus) to Giovanella Meysionat, with issue:
1.3.1.1. Don. Saverio Balzano, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, Canon of the Cathedral, (cite 1695 Notary Michele Bonavita), dunm.l. (had a child with Sr Geronima Cassar Desain, see that page).
1.3.1.2. Dr Gio Batta Balzano JUD, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, ‘Priest’, (cite 1695 Notary Michele Bonavita), dunm.
1.3.1.3. Dr. Paolo Rafaele Balzano JUD, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, married 1704 Valletta (1704 Notary Benedetto Vassallo) to Elena Ciantar, with issue.
1.3.1.3.1. Antonia Balzano, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, married 1763 Valletta to Paolo Chircop, dsp.
1.3.1.3.2. (illegitimate with N. Grimaldi) Antonio Carmino de Grimaldi, married 1737 Luqa to Maria Camenzuli.
1.3.1.2. Dr Gio Batta Balzano JUD, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, ‘Priest’, (cite 1695 Notary Michele Bonavita), dunm.
1.3.1.3. Dr. Paolo Rafaele Balzano JUD, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, married 1704 Valletta (1704 Notary Benedetto Vassallo) to Elena Ciantar, with issue.
1.3.1.3.1. Antonia Balzano, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, married 1763 Valletta to Paolo Chircop, dsp.
1.3.1.3.2. (illegitimate with N. Grimaldi) Antonio Carmino de Grimaldi, married 1737 Luqa to Maria Camenzuli.
1.3.1.3.3. (illegitimate with Housemaid) Giovanni de Fenech, married 1733 Valletta to Maria Catania.
1.3.1.4. Gregorio Balzano, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, (cite 1695 Notary Michele Bonavita), dunm.l.
1.3.1.4.1. (illegitimate with Rosa Vigilana) Antonia de Vigilana, married 1720 Valletta to Giuseppe Ventura Camizer of Portaguelles, Aragon, with issue.
1.3.1.4.1. (illegitimate with Rosa Vigilana) Antonia de Vigilana, married 1720 Valletta to Giuseppe Ventura Camizer of Portaguelles, Aragon, with issue.
1.3.1.4.1.1. Geronimo Cannizero, married 1749 Valletta to Anna Maria Libreri, with issue.
1.3.1.4.1.1.1. Antonia Cannizero, married 1774 Valletta to Francesco Borg.
1.3.1.4.1.1.2. Margherita Cannizzeri, sives Cannizzaro., married 1771 Valletta to Giuseppe Moneglia.
1.3.1.5. Agata Balzano, Noble Tornearius and Armiger of the Holy Roman Empire, married 1682 to Calcerano Mompalao., with issue. (See footnote below).
1.3.1.6. (illegitimate and laterAdopted) Francesco de Balzano, married 1660 Qormi to Maria Bellia, with issue.
1.3.1.6.1. Giuseppe Balzan, married 1687 Valletta to Teresa Muscat.
1.3.1.6.2. Tomaso Balzan, married 1688 Valletta to Orsola Sasso.
1.3.1.6.3. Antonio Balzan, married 1694 Valletta to Giuseppa Sasso, with issue.
1.3.1.6.3.1. Pasquale Balzan, married 1731 Cospicua to Grazia Felici, with issue.
1.3.1.6.3.1.1. Michele Angelo Balzan, married 1753 Valletta to Maria de Andicotto, with issue.
1.3.1.6.3.1.1.1. Rosa Balzan, married 1788 Siggiewi to Francesco Zammit.
1.3.1.6.4. Pietro Balzan, married 1709 Ghaxaq to Aloisetta Tabone.
1.3.1.6.5. Andrea Balzan, married 1710 Zurrieq to Domenica Cosbor.
1.3.1.7. (illegitimate and later Adopted to Giovanni and Gioannella) Francesco de Balzan, married 1665 Siggiewi to Caterina Gauci, with issue.
1.3.1.7.1. Giovanni Balzan, married 1699 Siggiewi to Maria Maddalena Azzopardi, with issue.
1.3.1.7.1.1. Caterina Balzan, married 1722 Siggiewi to Gio Domenico Camilleri.
1.3.2. Caterina Balzano, married 1655 Valletta to Cirillo Attard.
1.4. Leonora Balzano, married 1609 Valletta to Ottavio Bracco, with issue.
1.4.1. Angelica Bracco, married 1635 Valletta to Mro Luca Perroni, with issue.
1.4.1.1. Leonora Perroni, married 1655 Valletta to Angelo Roccobeni.
1.4.1.2. Francesco Perroni, married (1) 1659 Valletta to Caterina Micallef, married (2) 1707 Valletta to Caterina Rizzo, with issue.
1.4.1.2.1. (First Marriage) Carlo Perroni, married (1) 1691 Valletta to Anna Felicita Cariola, married (2) 1692 Valletta to Giovanna Bance, with issue.
1.4.1.2.1.1. (Second marriage) Gregorio Perroni, married (1) 1715 Valletta to Elisabetta Felici, married (2) 1740 Valletta to Margherita Villanova.
1.4.1.2.1.2. Anna Maria Perroni, married 1713 Valletta to Giuseppe Martelli.
1.4. Leonora Balzano, married 1609 Valletta to Ottavio Bracco, with issue.
1.4.1. Angelica Bracco, married 1635 Valletta to Mro Luca Perroni, with issue.
1.4.1.1. Leonora Perroni, married 1655 Valletta to Angelo Roccobeni.
1.4.1.2. Francesco Perroni, married (1) 1659 Valletta to Caterina Micallef, married (2) 1707 Valletta to Caterina Rizzo, with issue.
1.4.1.2.1. (First Marriage) Carlo Perroni, married (1) 1691 Valletta to Anna Felicita Cariola, married (2) 1692 Valletta to Giovanna Bance, with issue.
1.4.1.2.1.1. (Second marriage) Gregorio Perroni, married (1) 1715 Valletta to Elisabetta Felici, married (2) 1740 Valletta to Margherita Villanova.
1.4.1.2.1.2. Anna Maria Perroni, married 1713 Valletta to Giuseppe Martelli.
1.4.1.2.1.3. Maddalena Perroni, married 1734 Vittoriosa to Carlo Borg.
1.4.1.2.1.4. Lorenza Perroni, married 1752 Vittoriosa to Carolo Filippone.
1.4.1.2.1.5. Paolo Perroni sives Perrone, married 1726 Vittoriosa to Anna Agius, with issue.
1.4.1.2.1.5.1. Paola Perrone, married 1762 Vittoriosa to Benedetto de Gabriele.
1.4.1.2.2. Luca Perroni, married (1) 1692 Valletta to Rosa Psaila, married (2) 1720 Lija to Maria Gauci, with issue.
1.4.1.2.2.1. (First marriage) Giovanna Perroni, married 1716 Valletta to Giovanni Cron.
1.4.1.2.2.1. (First marriage) Giovanna Perroni, married 1716 Valletta to Giovanni Cron.
1.4.1.2.2.2. Anna Perroni, married (1) 1716 Valletta to Angelo Tonza, married (2) 1736 Valletta to Alonso Grech.
1.4.1.2.2.3. (Second marriage) Giovanni Perroni, married 1748 Zurrieq to Rosa Cutajar.
1.4.1.2.3. Anna Perroni, married 1697 Valletta to Salvatore Xuereb.
1.4.1.3. Mro Matteolo Perroni, married 1671 Valletta to Margherita d’Andrea.
1.4.1.3. Mro Matteolo Perroni, married 1671 Valletta to Margherita d’Andrea.
1.4.1.4. Giovanni Perroni, married (1) 1674 Senglea to Giovanna Simiano, married (2) 1677 Vittoriosa to Mariettina Grech.
1.5. Andrea Balzano, married 1633 to Nobile Girolama dei Marchesi Carafa, dsp.
1.5. Andrea Balzano, married 1633 to Nobile Girolama dei Marchesi Carafa, dsp.
1.6. (Second Marriage) Giovannella Balzano, married 1627 Valletta to Massimo Bernardo Caruana.
Footnote#1: In the patent granted moto proprio at Vienna on the 19th November 1698 by Leopold I., Emperor of the Romans and of Germany, to Massimiliano Balzano, Uditore of the Religious Order of St. John, one finds: Te Maximillanum Balsanum, omnesque liberos, haeredes, posteros, ac descendentes, legitimo ex matrimonio natos et nascituros in infinitum, masculos et foeminas, in numerum, coetum, atque consortium, statum, gradum et dignitatem nostorum et Sacri Romani Imperii aliorumque Regnorum et Ditionum nostrarum Haereditariorum Nobilum Tornearium seu singulos, juxta sortis humanae qualitatem, nobiles et tamquam de nobili genere, domo ac familia procreatos, dicimu ac nominamus, atque adeo ab omnibus et singulis cujuscumque status, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, dignitatis, aut praeheminentiae existent, pro verisNobilibus dici, nominari, haberi, reputarique volumes
From the tenor of the foregoing, it is clearly intended to raise the said Massimiliano Balzano 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 Balzano’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, 229-232, 234-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60).
Footnote#2: As the grant to Balsano 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 Balsano’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 sovereigns 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#3: The descendants of Massimiliano Balzano 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.
Footnote#4: At Maltese Law the dignity conferred on Balzano 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 Balzano 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 (Balsano). 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, 229-232, 234-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60).
Footnote#5: Probably prompted by their realization of the magnitude of the remainder, the 1878 Commissioners using the pretext that they were 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, 229-232, 234-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60).
Footnote#6: It appears that as at 1878, the distinction granted to Masimiliano Balzano was only claimed by Luisa Strickland, nee Bonici Mompalao, in her own name and on behalf of her sons. It appears that the aforesaid lady (whose son eventually succeeded the title of Conte della Catena after a protracted lawsuit) produced to the 1878 Commissioners a genealogical tree, supported by sufficient evidence of her descent from the original grantee. 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, 229-232, 234-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60).
Footnote#7: At this stage, however, it is unclear how said Luisa Strickland claimed a descent from Massimiliano Balsano as she was only descended from Calcerano Mompalaos second wife Anna Perdicomati Bologna and not from Agata Balsano, daughter of the aforesaid Massimiliano Balsano.
The Hereditary Knighthood (Balzano) of the Holy Roman Empire.
Footnote: The “Hereditary distinction of Knight of the Order of Torneari and Armigers of the Holy Roman Empire” was granted “motu proprio” by Emperor Leopold I to the Maltese citizen Massimilliano Balzano on the 19 November 1698. At Maltese Law it is only a foreign title and, as such, it can be considered for the purposes of precedence 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.
VALUE OF REGISTRATION/MAGISTRAL RECOGNITION From the records of the Cancelleria it appeared that the titles so granted were registered in virtue of a rescript from the Grand Master, on an application by the party concerned. The Royal Commissioners of 1878 remarked that they were prone to believe that the Grand Master would not have given his assent to registration without any investigation. From the start, however, the Commissioners pointed out that the Despuig/Rohan Rules on the matter did not deny nobility to a Titolato who failed to duly register his title, but only assigned him no place insofar as precedence was concerned. 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. 101-102). It is also noteworthy that the Commissioners did not consider all the titles which were registered in the Cancelleria: For example the title of Conte granted to Baldassare Fenech Bonnici on the 11 June 1798 by Pope Benedict XIV, which was duly registered under Archives of the Order of Malta (554, f. 176) as well as the Archives of the Inquisition of Malta (102m f. 32) was not considered by the Report. It appears that no descendant of this grantee made any claim to the Commissioners.
In this case, this title/distinction conferred to Balzano received direct recognition from the Grandmasters. This is in fact clearly stated by the Royal Commissioners. The Commissioners appeared 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 thee was no proof that it ever received recognition. (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, 229-232, 234-236, Letter of Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60).
The actual report says the following:
“Two patents or bulls have been produced before the Commission”.., the other granted at Vienna on the 19th November 1698 by Leopold I., who was likewise Emperor of the Romans and of Germany, to Massimiliano Balzano, Uditore of the Religious Order of St. John. In the patent granted also by the sovereign’s mere motion, to Massimiliano Balzano, Emperor Leopold, after having extolled the personal merits of the grantee expresses himself as follows: Te Maximillanum Balsanum, omnesque liberos, haeredes, posteros, ac descendentes, legitimo ex matrimonio natos et nascituros in infinitum, masculos et foeminas, in numerum, coetum, atque consortium, statum, gradum et dignitatem nostorum et Sacri Romani Imperiialiorumque Regnorum et Ditionum nostrarum Haereditariorum Nobilum Tornearium seusingulos, juxta sortis humanae qualitatem, nobiles et tamquam de nobili genere, domo ac familia procreatos, dicimu ac nominamus, atque adeo ab omnibus et singulis cujuscumquestatus, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, dignitatis, aut praeheminentiae existent, pro verisNobilibus dici, nominari, haberi, reputarique volumes”..” From the tenor of the (foregoing patent), it appears that it was thereby intended to raise to the dignity, and to elect into the Order, of the Noble Tornearii or ‘Ecuyers’ and Armigers of the Holy Roman Empire, the said Balzano, and (his) issue male and female in infinitum.
We have no means of ascertaining the difference, as to rank and dignity in the German Empire, between titled persons or persons ennobled by the sovereign with a particular title of nobility descendible to their issue, and the Noble Tornearii or Ecuyers, who possessed a distinction of a hereditary character. From a careful inspection of the patents of the said. Balzano, we are unable to determine whether the order of the Tornearii formed properly a part of the nobility of the German Empire. Nor have the gentlemen (who, as descendents of the original grantees, claim the enjoyment of all the privileges proceeding form the said two patents) supplied us with any satisfactory information on the subject. We can only state that the descendants of Massimiliano Balzano contend that they have a right to bear the generic designation of noblemen prefixed to their baptismal and the male descendant assert moreover a right to the prefix of cavalieri.
We must not, however, omit remarking that the said two patents were not registered in the Cancelleria and in the High Court della Castellania; that of Balzan (enrolled in the office of the Jurats of the city of Notabile) on the 3rd March 1704. And 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 the original grantees.
The distinction granted to Masimiliano Balzano is only claimed by Luisa, widow of Captain Walter Strickland, in her own name and on behalf of her sons, who are all minors. The claimant is the daughter of Dr. Pietro Paolo Bonici Mompalao, lately deceased, and she has produced a genealogical tree, supported by sufficient evidence of her descent from the original grantee. Upon the same grounds might this dignity be claimed by other descendants of Balzano, who all bear family names different from that of the grantee, the male line of Balzano having become extinct, and the female descendants having married into different families. We have no data for determining the number of such descendants.
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.
Having submitted the above-stated circumstances, we beg respectfully to quit the subject under consideration, leaving it to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies to decide:-
1st Whether by the dissolution of the German Empire (A.D. 1806) the Order of the NobilesTornearii ceased to exist:
2ndly. Whether the distinction of ‘Tornearius’ of the Holy Roman Empire must be reckoned among the nobility in Malta, and in case it is to be so reckoned, whether
3rdly, It is descendible to all the grantee’s contemporary lineal successors, or to only one of them under the rule of primogeniture. Should it be decided that the distinction of ‘Tornearius’ is to be inherited by all such descendants, an inquiry will become necessary in order to ascertain the number of Balzano’s descendants.
The British Secretary of State for the Colonies settled the issue regarding this Hereditary distinction as follows: 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 Hicks-Beach at pages 59-60).
“The Commissioners further submitted for the Secretary of State’s decision (para. 236) certain questions arising out of two patents of “Tornearius”.
Without replying categorically to the questions submitted by the Commissioners, and without expressing any opinion as ti the existence or position at the present day of the body into which such a patent admits the grantee, which is described as “numerum coetum, atqueconsortium statum gradum et disnitatem nostrorum et Sacri Romani Imperii aliorumqueRegnorum et Ditionum nostrarum Haereditariorum Nobilium Tornearium seu scutariorum et armigerorum”, 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.”
Titled, De Jures and Heirs. * Titled: (as per 1698 patent to Massimiliano Balsano to all of his descendants, without distinction) * Heir: (as above) Special Terms: omnesque liberos, haeredes, posteros, ac descendentes, legitimo ex matrimonio natos et nascituros in infinitum, masculos et foeminas, in numerum, coetum, atque consortium |