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Title: Marchioness
Title in succession: 9th
Date created:10th November 1716
Grant by: by King Philip V of Spain, Sicily and
Naples
Granted To: Mario Testaferrata de Robertis
Rep: Testaferrata-Bonici-Ghaxaq
Remainder to: his legitimate and natural first born male descendants
in perpetuity
Present Holder: Agnes Gera De Petri, Testaferrata-Bonici
British crown recognition: 1878
Foreign Titles not recognised by the Royal 1878 Commission: Marquis
Testaferrata-Bonici
Note: This title was never registered at the chancellory of the
Order in Malta, but full recognition was granted by Grand Master de
Vilhena in a declaration on 30 April 1725
The Prince's standard bearer 'Alfiere',
Marquis Enrico Testaferrata of San Vincenzo Ferreri
The Title of Marquisate di San Vincenzo Ferreri was
created on the year of 1716 by King Philip V of Spain, Sicily and Naples,
with reminder to his legitimate and natural male descendants in
perpetuity.
Mario Testaferrata de Robertis, was
later created Marquis Testaferrata in 1717 (see
Testaferrata) .
Mario Testaferrata de Robertis was
the father of the Marquisate Testaferrata-Olivier, Cassar-Desain,
Testaferrata ,and the Barony of Tabria and Qlejja.
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Esther Testaferrata - married Count Edward Sant
Fournier
photo kindly donated by Ms.Rose Sevitt |
Agatha Testaferrata
photo kindly donated by Mrs. Marie Therese Gera |
Most of
the nobility can claim Mario to be his ancestor. Mario married three times,
with a large family, and died in 1747.
Mario Testaferrata, was
titled the Marquis di San Vincenzo Ferreri and had three sons, two of whom
belonged to two
minor Orders. Both the Marquis and his brother, Canon Testaferrata,
admitted on various occasions that it was always their intention that the
cadets of the family would accept an ecclesiastical life. Lorenzo, the 'secondo
genito' of Mario, was the first to become a cleric, being
encouraged to do so by a promise made by his father and Uncle to present
his family benefices which , they claimed, provided 500 scudi annually. On
the Morning of the 11 April 1797, Mario and his son Lorenzo returned from
Messina. Two days after the arrival, the Marquis wrote several letters to
his eldest son Giuseppe, who had remained in Messina. The Marquis
complained that Lorenzo does not want to wear black socks and, moreover,
he parades the streets of Valletta wearing white socks, slipper shoes
and long hair tied at the back like a layman. His uncle, the Canon, was
also very disturbed and wrote that 'the whole city was gossiping, and
referring to Lorenzo as being Mad'. At the age of 27, Lorenzo decided that he
could no longer comply with the wishes of his father and those of his
'stupid and foolish Uncle'. So he declared that he had never wished to become
a cleric and he 'did not want to have anything to do with black clothes or
ecclesiastical property'. This made the Marquis and the Canon furious and
their subsequent letters are full of references to Lorenzo as 'PAZZO'.
They quickly decided that Filippo, the 'terzogenito' (third generation
child) must become a cleric,
and they instructed him to approach Bishop Labini with a request that he
may receive the first tenure. They argued that 'Filippo' had said on
various occasions, that he would gladly receive the benefice's. Fillippo
subsequently became a cleric. The Testaferrata, like other noble families,
were thus able to retain most of their benefices.
A dispute, which
appears to have shocked everyone, involved Marquis Mario, the first
Marquis of the Testaferrata family. Mario was involved in an incident
which was called 'un successo cosi scandaloso' (a scandalous affair). The Bishop, Cocco Palmeri,
had expressly forbidden the Valletta Jurats to drape their church bench
with green damask, then on the morning of Sunday, 26 June 1707, a mass
held at the church of St Paul Shipwrecked. Just after the host
had been consecrated, Mario Testaferrata, followed by three other Jurats,
entered the Church. Immediately behind them was the 'Gran Visconte'
accompanied by a number of 'sbirri' (private police) carrying a sack containing green
damask. They marched up the central aisle intent on nailing the cloth to
the Jurats bench. Among the surprised congregation there was the Bishop's
Profiscale, who warned Testaferrata not to disturb the divine service, and
instantly snatched the sack from the sbirri. Immediately, the Profiscale
was violently manhandled and thrown to the ground by Mario's faithful
sbirri.
As a sequel to this incident, Testaferrata and his
associates were publicly excommunicated by the Bishop. Moreover, Mario was
sentence to six months imprisonment in the castle by the Judges of Grand
Master Perellos. He was removed from the office of Jurat. He obtained his
release in January 1708, but Mario was determined to apply to the Sicilian
Monarchy for the revocation of his excommunication. The Grand Master did
his utmost to dissuade Testaferrata from this course of action, but
realising his determination the Grand Master signed the necessary permits
for him to leave Malta. On 14 April 1708, Testaferrata boarded a ship for
Sicily, but was later put ashore since the crew refused to sail with a 'publico
scomunicato' because they were afraid of 'il divino Castigo' (the divine
punishmant). A
week later Mario boarded a Sicilian schooner, and news of his arrival in
Palermo reached Malta at the beginning of June that year. The Monarchia di
Sicilia arbitrarily revoked the excommunication and granted Mario a Patent
which placed him beyond Ecclesiastical jurisdiction. On the 18 July of
that year,
Cardinal Paolucci, the Papal Secretary of State, ordered both the
Inquisitor and the Bishop to imprison Mario Testaferrata should he ever
return to Malta. Paulucci was assured that his instructions would be
carried out to the letter.
Testaferrata continued to reside in
Palermo and had no intention of returning to Malta. Since this frustrated
the plan of Cardinal Paulucci, the Inquisitor of Malta then suggested
that, if Mario's properties were to be sequestered, so he would be obliged
either to return to the island or go to Rome. Paulucci accepted this stratagem, and Mario's properties were
sequestered. However, even this
plan misfired. In September, the Sicilian Monarchy denounced the
confiscation and decreed that Testaferrata must be compensated. To ensure
that this would happen the Mensa Vescovale in Sicily was requisitioned and
Testaferrata allowed to enjoy the revenue from the Bishop's properties
which included the lands of Lentini.
When the Bishop found himself
in financial difficulties he requested Perollos to pay him 3000 scudi out
of the Order's coffers in compensation for loss of revenue from his
Sicilian properties. Besides, Mario's estates in Malta did not prove to be
so lucrative since their previous owners had been in debt with various
legatees. When the Bishop's request was not complied with, he commented
'that at all cost the Grand Master intended to impoverish him'. However
the only compensation that he got from Perollos was an invitation to
dinner, but on entering the dining hall, the Bishop lost his appetite when
he saw that his chair was draped in green velvet!
Testaferrata was
more fortunate, his services were recognised by King Philip V of Spain and
the two Sicilies who made him Marquis di San Vincenzo Ferreri in the
Kingdom of Naples. The letter-patent recorded that Mario was ennobled 'in
consideration of what he had to endure for the defense of the Royal
prerogatives.
The Marquis Mario Testaferrata had three sons,
two of whom, Lorenzo and Filippo, did nothing to enhance the family name.
Lorenzo, a cleric, fathered 'several children' by Angela Attard, the
daughter of the family coachman. Filippo, also a cleric, had 'bastard
sons' by one of the family maids, Vincenza Falanca. Eventually both
brothers married the mothers of their children, this nearly drive their
father completely mad. Fortunately for these noble cadets, as Lorenzo and
Filippo are described-the Marquis who was 'feeble-minded and scarcely
capable of managing his own affiars, was on even worse terms with his
eldest son, Giuseppe the Baron di Tabria. Resulting from all the bad
feelings towards the eldest son, Lorenzo was granted the prerogative of
the family benefices and also allowed, by his father, to buy the family
palazzo in Valletta, together with all its contents. On the other hand,
Filipo was their heir to the Castelletti entail. These actions appear
rather strange in view of the Marquis's former attitude towards his
younger sons, and would appear to bear out the above statement on his
mental state. This is even more astonishing since Mario, in his will, had
excluded all bastards, even though they may have been legitimsed at law.
He appears, however to have, possible inadvertently, left a loophole by
withdrawing the exclusion in the case of those bastards legitimised by
subsequent marriage, provided that the marriage was not contracted with an
ignoble female.
His eldest son Enrico succeeded as the 2nd
Marquis , marrying Feliciata Cassar-Desain from the wealthy Primogenture
Cassar-Desain.
The 3rd Marquis, elder son of the 2rd Marquis,
marrying a daughter of the 1st Count Sant .
The Barons Pisani and
Galea-Feriol, Marquis Testaferrata and Count Sant were the first titled
Jurats ever to serve together in 1776. Under the French occupation, the
parents had to pay 800 livres for their sons' board and lodging, and 600
livres for their passage on board French warships. The chosen students had
to wear 'blue trousers and waistcoats, red cuffs, and facing and white
piping'. Those families who refused to send their sons to France were to
be fined 1000 scudi. Among those who were initially chosen were the young
Count Fontani, the three sons of Count Sant, and four other boys whose
fathers were respectively Baron Galea, Marquis Mallia, Count Manduca, and
Marquis Testaferrata.
The 4th Marquis, elder son of the 3rd
Marquis, married in 1817 , the daughter of the Barony of Tabria (Testaferrata-Viani)
The 5th Marquis , elder son of the 4th
Marquis, married in 1840 to a co-heiress of the Barony of
Qlejja
The 6th Marquis, elder son of the 5th Marquis, also
succeeded as the 5th Baron di Qlejja and the Primogeniture Ghaxaq, married
in 1874 to the daughter of the Marquisate de Piro family
The 7th
Marquis and 6th Baron di Qlejja, succeeded on the year of 1903, later
marrying a daughter of the Baroncino di San Marciano, with two sons, whom
each succeeded a title on The 7th Marquis’s death , 1945.
Alfio
Testaferrata-Bonici-Ghaxaq, the elder son succeeded as the 8th Marquis,
and his brother Lino succeeded as the Baron di Qlejja. (see Qlejja)
Alfio, died unmarried in 1988, and for the first time in
this titles history, was succeeded by his late Brother’s eldest Daughter,
Agnes (also noted the Marquisate Testaferrata went to the next Male kin
Testaferrata).
Agnes Testaferrata-Bonici-Ghaxaq, succeeded firstly
after her father’s death in 1982 the Barony di Qlejja, and in 1988, the
Marquisate di San Vincenzo Ferreri.
Agnes married to Alfred Gera de
Petri, and has two sons and a daughter.
The heir to the
Marquisate is her eldest son Daniele, as the Marchesino di San Vincenzo
Ferreri.
A short view of the Family Tree of the Marquis's di
San Vincenzo Ferreri;
Emmanuele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, 6th
Marquis di San Vincenzo Ferreri, e Testaferrata, 5th Baron di Qlejjgha
(1843-1903), married 1874 to Filomena dei Marchese de
Piro-Gourgion
1. Daniele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, 7th Marquis di
San Vincenzo Ferreri, e Testaferrata, 6th Baron di Qlejjgha (1880-1945),
married 1910 to Agnese dei Baroni Galea-Testaferrata
1.1. Alfio
Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, 8th Marquis di San Vincenzo Ferreri, e
Testaferrata (1911-88), dunm.
1.2. Lino Testaferrata Bonici, 7th Baron
di Qlejjgha (1917-82), married Maria dei Baroni Testaferrata Moroni
Viani
1.2.1. Agnese Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq (1949- , 9th Marchioness
di San Vincenzo Ferreri, 8th Baroness di Qlejjgha, married 1973 to Alfred
Gera de Petri, B.Pharms.
1.2.1.1. Daniele Gera de Petri Testaferrata
Bonici Ghaxaq (1974- , Marchesino di San Vincenzo Ferreri.
1.2.1.2. Dr.
Andrea Gera de Petri Testaferrata Bonici, LL.D (1975- , Baroncino di
Qlejjgha.
1.2.1.3. Giulia Gera de Petri Testaferrata Bonici
(1982-
1.2.2. Caren Testaferrata Bonici (1952- , married Dr Josef
Preziosi, 10th Count Preziosi, with issue
1.2.3. Anna Marie
Testaferrata Bonici (1961- , married 1984 to John Spiteri Debono, with
issue
1.3. Elena Testaferrata Bonici (1915- , married Arthur Miles,
with issue
1.4. Florence Testaferrata Bonici , married Colin Davidson
Jensen, with issue
2. Esther Testaferrata Bonici , married 1906 to the
6th Count Fournier, with issue
3. Agata Testaferrata Bonici, married
1905 Philip dei Marchese Testaferrata Bonici (Her first Cousin) Also Her
grand son is the eldest Male member of the Testaferrata Bonici family and
carried the Italian Title of Marquis Testaferrata (See Marquis's
Testaferrata)
Full Genealogical tree:
Giacomo Testaferrata de Robertis, Capitano della Verga
of Malta-1636-37, married Teodora Bonici, with issue
1. Mario Testaferrata de Robertis, 1st Marquis-See
Below.
2. Camilla Testaferrata, maried 1673 to Nott. Giuseppe Cagnano JUD.
3. Leonora Testaferrata, dunm.
4. Maria Testaferrata, married 1679 to Paolo Cassar
Mario Testaferrata de Robertis, (1654-1747), 1st
Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri, (Cr: 1716-Sicily),
1st Marquis Testaferrata, (Cr: 1717-Spain), 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. (First Marriage) Enrico Testaferrata de Noto, 2nd Marquis-See
Below.
2. (Second Marriage) Gilberto Testaferrata Castelletti, 1st Marquis 'Testaferrata-Castelletti'.-See
Cassar Desain..
3. Pulcheria Testaferrata Castelletti, married Pietro Antonio Testaferrata
dei Baroni di Castel Cicciano.
4. (Third Marriage) Gregorio Testaferrata Vassallo, (1740-...)
* Enrico Testaferrata de Noto, 2nd Marquis of San
Vincenzo Ferreri and Testaferrata,
Married 1730 to Felicita Cassar Desain, with issue.
1. Saveria Testaferrata., d.inf.
2. Gregorio Testaferrata., d.inf.
3. Daniele Testaferrata, 3rd Marquis-See Below.
4. Pandolfo Testaferrata de Noto, 1st Marquis Testaferrata Olivier.-See
Testaferrata Olivier.
5. Asteria Testaferrata, married 15th Baron di Djar-il-Bniet, with issue.
4. (Released from Slavery or perhaps an illegitimate child of Enrico).
Maddalena Testaferrata, married 1765 to Martino Lamotta, with issue.
* Daniele Testaferrata, (Born 1733.), 3rd Marquis of San
Vincenzo Ferreri, and Testaferrata.
Married 1781 to Maria dei Conti Sant, with issue.
1. Gregorio Augusto Testaferrata, 4th Marquis-See
Below.
2. Raffaele Testaferrata, married Maria Spiteri
3. Anna Marie Testaferrata, married 3rd Baron of Qlejjgha, with issue
4. Angelica Testaferrata, married 2nd Marquis of Gnien is Sultan, with
issue.
* Gregorio Augusto Testaferrata, (died 1828), 4th Marquis
of San Vincenzo Ferreri, and Testaferrata.,
Married 1817 to Maria Testaferrata Viani dei Baroni di Tabria, with issue.
1. Daniele Maria Testaferrata, 5th Marquis-See
Below.
2. Fr.Giovanni Francesco Testaferrata, dunm.
3. Arfio Filippo Testaferrata, (1823-77)., dunm.
4. Publio Testaferrata, (1821-...),married Regina Galizia, with issue.
4.1. Augusto Gregorio Testaferrata, (1850-
4.2. Tes'Attilio Testaferrata, (1852-
4.3. Niccolo Testaferrata
4.4. Luigi Testaferrata, (1863-
4.5. Carmela Augusta Testaferrata, (1844-
4.6. Giulia Testaferrata, (1860-
5. Asteria Testaferrata, married 1843 to Major Cavarra, with issue.
5.1. Irene Cavarra, married Dr. Alfonso d'Armenia, LL.D, with issue.
* Daniele Maria Testaferrata, (1819-63), 5th Marqis of San
Vincenzo Ferreri, and Testaferrata.,
Married 1840 to Eugenia Bonici dei Baroni della Qlejjgha, with issue.
1. Emmanuele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, 6th Marquis-See
Below.
2. Ignazio Testaferrata Bonici, (1848-1928), married 1877 to Maria Carmela
dei Marchesi Testaferrata, with issue.
2.1. Philip Testaferrata Bonici, (1878-1933), married Agata Testaferrata
Bonici -See Below., with issue.
2.1.1. Dr Victor Emmanuele Testaferrata Bonici,MD., (1907-1976), married
1950 to Victoria Zammit Maempel, with issue.
2.1.1.1. Joseph Phillip Testaferrata Bonici, 9th Marquis Testaferrata-See
Foreign Titles- Testaferrata..
2.1.1.2. Rita Testaferrata Bonici, (1952-
2.1.1.3. Marie Testaferrata Bonici, (1954- , married 1986 to Nicholas
Bianchi, with issue.
2.1.2. Maria Testaferrata Bonici, (1909-
2.1.3. Beatrice Testaferrata Bonici, (1911-, married Joseph Amato Gauci,
(See Gauci-Barony), with issue.
2.1.4. Josephine Testaferrata Bonici, (1913-
2.1.5. Lucy Testaferrata Bonici, Married 1941 to Alfred Bencini, with
issue.
2.1.5.1. Col. Dr Raymond Bencini, (1944-, married Marlena Warstat, with
issue
2.1.5.1.1. Alexander Bencini
2.1.5.1.2. Phillip Bencini
2.1.5.1.3. Tara Bencini, married Timothy Sinclair
2.1.5.1.4. Ramona Bencini
2.1.5.2. Marlene Bencini, married Dr. Anton Zammit Bonett, with issue
2.1.5.2.1. Dr Shaun Bonett, LL.D
2.1.5.2.2. Dr Stephen Bonett, LL.D
2.1.5.3. Freda Bencini, married Herbert Naudi, with issue
2.1.5.3.1. Mireille Naudi
2.1.5.3.2. Roberto Naudi
2.5.4. Denise Bencini, married Udo Turscherl, with issue
2.5.1. Nadine Turscherl
2.2. Eugenia Testaferrata Bonici, (1892-
3. Carmela Testaferrata, (1841-)
* Emmanuele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, (1843-1903),
6th Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri and Testaferrata., 5th Baron of
Qlejjgha.
Married 1874 to Filomena de Piro dei Baroni di Budaq, with issue.
1. Antonio Testaferrata Bonici, (1879- ob.Inf.)
2. Daniele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, 7th Marquis-See
Below.
3. Esther Testaferrata Bonici (1876- , married 6th Count Fournier, with
issue.
4. Agata Testaferrata Bonici (1878-1933), married 1905 to her cousin -See
Above. Philip Testaferrata Bonici, with issue.
5. Antonio Testaferrata Bonici, (1879-)
* Daniele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, (1880-1945),
7th Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri and Testaferrata, 6th Baron of
Qlejjgha.,
Married 1910 to Agnese dei Baroni Galea Testaferrata, with issue.
1. Alfio Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, 8th Marquis-See
Below.
2. Lino Testaferrata Bonici, (1917-82), 7th Baron of Qlejjgha, married
1948 to Maria Testaferrata Moroni Viani, with issue-See
Qlejjgha for all issue..
2.1. Agnese Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, (1949-, Acknowledged
by the COP as the 8th Baroness of Qlejjgha and 9th Marchioness of San
Vincenzo Ferreri., Married 1973 to Alfred Gera de Petri, B.Pharm,
with issue
2.1.1. Daniele Gera de Petri Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, KM, (1974-.,
married 2003 to Enyd Pisani.
2.1.2. Dr Andrea Gera de Petri Testaferrata Bonici,LL.D, (1975-, married
2003 to Kate De Cesare., with issue.
2.1.2.1. Georgia Gera de Petri, (2004-.
2.1.3. Giulia Gera de Petri Testaferrata Bonici, (1982-
3. Helen Testaferrata Bonici, (1915-2004), married 1949 to F/Lt. Arthur
Miles.
4. Florence Testaferrata Bonici, (1919-, married 1949 to Capt. Colin
Davidson-Jenson, with issue.
4.1. Nicholas Davidson Jenson, (1952-.
4.2. Irene Davidson Jenson, (1950-, married 1985 to John Bache.
* Alfio Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, (1911-88),
8th Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri and Testaferrata, dunm.
* Agnes Gera de Petri Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq, ,Alfio, died unmarried in 1988, and for the first time in
this titles history, was succeeded by his late Brother’s eldest Daughter,
Agnes (also noted the Marquisate Testaferrata went to the next Male kin
Testaferrata). 9th Marchioness of San Vincenzo
Ferreri and Testaferrata,
(IF THERE ARE ANY UPDATES TO ANY TREES,
PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO 'bibinomagno@hotmail.com' stating site you seen
the genealogical tree and updates.)
References: 1)
Gauci,C.A.," The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta",
Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1981.
2) Gauci,C.A.," The Genealogy and
Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, Volume Two", Publishers
Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1992.
3) Gauci,C.A and Mallet, P.,"The
Palaeologos Family- A Genealogical Review" ,Publishers Enterprises Group
(PEG) Ltd, 1985
4) Gauci, C.A.," A Guide to the Maltese Nobility",
Publishers Enterprise Group (PEG) Ltd, Malta, 1986.
5) Montalto, J.,
"The Nobles of Malta-1530-1800", Midsea Books Ltd, Malta, 1980.
6) De
Piro, N., "Casa Rocco Piccola", The Conde' Nast Publications 1999.'
Http://www.vol.net.mt/casarocca '
7) Giles Ash, S., "The Nobility of
Malta", Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1988.
8) Said Vassallo,
C.M., Unpublished research papers.
9) Said Vassallo, C.M., www.maltagenealogy.com
Research site
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