Research Work and Certificates in Malta
I am very deeply involved in Genealogy. I am in Australia and have spent a total of 20 months in Malta on three visits. First of all, costs of research and obtaining Certificates in Malta is cheap compared to what you have to pay in UK and here in Australia. I have found the Public Registry in Valletta, the Health Dept and the local Parishes very helpful. You must go along the proper way.
Parish priests are always very busy. You must plan all your approaches. It is best to write to them, give them all detail and ask for a time when they can see you. Do not push them. When I arrived there I wrote to the head of the Public Registry. I said I was from Australia and asked for a time to visit the Office. That was granted. I was greeted and also was given special help by one of the Officers. The same took place at the Health Dept., the Passport Office and the Main Office at the Addolorata Cemetery at Paola.
I wrote to the Parish priest at Floriana, Senglea and Zurrieq. Each one of them gave me an hour of their time. They issued 8 certificates, all FREE. Some were in Latin but they wrote them in English. The Senglea Parish priest was extremely helpful, so was at Floriana. If you offer them a donation of 5 to 10 Malta Liri they are more then pleased. The Health Dept. not only helped me on the spot but also posted 3 sheets of records of burial at the Addolorata Cemetery to my home in Australia. All free.
I wish that kind of service was available in UK and Australia. Remember, plan your approaches, write with good detail and be very polite. It does get results.
Now another thing, You all know the PRO in Valletta has only records going back to Sept 1863. Some parishes, for example Senglea have all records going back to c1600. But not all Parishes are like that. Floriana only have records going back to 1844. So for anything linked to Floriana before that date, you need to go to St Paul's church in Valletta. They are always very busy there, so it is better to get someone to help you obtain records from there. They will help you if you just need one certificate.
One important thing. If you are doing Genealogy and applying for certificates from the PRO, always ask for the large, fully detailed certificate. The standard small certificate is of very little help.
At times one only needa dates, so if thats what you are after then make that clear. One final very important point. Be careful of how YOU spell surnames and also how the PRO people write them down. One example. My grandmother Carmelina 'Carrie; Poustie died on the 19th of April 1943. That was during WW2, I was a young kid and went to the Cemetery. The PRO and the Health Dept had no records on her. I kept insisting. Finally discovered, she was listed as Carmelina POSTILL instead of Poustie. So be a wake up and read the certifictes very carefully as soon as you receive them. Also be patient when you go to the Cemetery Offices. These place are always busy. Do your homework and plan it well.
William Coxhead (ex Birzebbuga Malta)
More Replies:
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
Gen Com 2/26/05
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
Michael Pye 4/29/04
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
William J. Coxhead 4/29/04
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
jan ellis 7/09/05
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
William J. Coxhead 7/10/05
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
jan ellis 7/10/05
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta
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Re: Research Work and Certificates in Malta