Submitted by Manuel Psaila
The Marmara` surname comes from the island of Rhodes. The original family was made up of Antonio and Agatha Marmara and their children. They came here with the Knights when these came to Malta in 1530. They lived mainly in the Rhodiot community of Birgu 1530 – 1550.
Mention of Antonio is found in the litigation annals of a Rhodiot notary Lor. De Leonardiis concerning a partnership of a vessel between A. Marmara and S. Burlo`. Also in Preca A vs Marmara A (notary Johannes Calamia) regarding a partnership.
Then he is again mentioned as a procurator for Antonius Preca, Stephanus Pacla, Petrus de Verra, Lionora de Rhodon.
Marmara Antonius had 4 properties (being house, warehouse, building site etc) in Birgu.
Antonius Marmara and Antonius Antonio formed a partnership to deal in slaves and their redemption.
He also held slaves, these were -
1 female (Turca) sold to Antonius de Antonia, aged 45
Messauli a Jewess aged 12
2 sold to Francesco corso
6 bought from Alfonso Capano (a corsair) aged around 18
Joanna (Negro) sold seven months after purchase aged 24 and sold for 55 scudi
1 male, bought from Nardu de Bordino, a corsair
Zereiffe di Tunisie (45 years)and her daughter Gudmila (6) + Jermyauda (a Jewess)(12 years) – bartered for 13 barrels of Zante Wine.
Ali (Turk) aged 13
8 slaves paid in advance
Moyses de Patra (Jew)bought for 49 scudi and was 17 year old..
Another interesting instance were Marmara is found concerns tuition this relates to the eclectic Antonio Marmara`, who made an agreement with the Greek Aloysius Canrad, whereby, for a fee of 5 scudi, he was promised to be taught the five joca seu sona leudi sive citharas, with lessons to be held twice daily.
Other Marmaras in that period are
Fr Grimaldo
Guido
Joannes
Agatha
Agatha is reported to have been granted a pension of 1 scudo per month as alms after her husband’s death. Nat Library of Malta Archives of the order 90, f. 5710 April 1559.
Her husband Antonio was pardoned a debt of 40 scudi lest his children should suffer (R 439/13 f.48v 4 July 1534)
Antonius (Antonio) Marmara` was a corsair. He co-owned and captained a Fusta of 16 benches called Santa Katerina. The other owners were two other Rhodians the Calamias and Burlos). Antonio was also a financier of the corso (payment of slaves in advance).
A. Marmara is reported to have had commercial links and deals with other Rhodiots outside Malta, such as Barcelona Spain.
The Rhodians took quite a long time to integrate with the local Maltese community and normally intermarried. Some Rhodiot surnames, including Marmara, Drago, Ros (Ross) and Ruggier (de Rogeriis) survived down to the present. There is no connection between the present day Precas who entered the islands around 1700, and the Rhodiots.
In 1687 Marmara could be found in Senglea, (7) and in Zurrieq) The Rhodiots generally preferred the more cosmopolitan environment of the conurbation surrounding the harbour to the villages of the campagna.
Bibl.
See The Rhodiot Community of Birgu, A Mlatese City 1530-c1550. by Stanley Fiorini Univ of Malta
See also Library of Mediterranean History Vol 1 , 1994
Submitted by Lawrence Attard Bezzina
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