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Title: | William Stevens : an English notary and entrepreneur in early nineteenth century Malta |
Authors: | Watkinson, Sarah |
Keywords: | Notaries -- Malta -- History -- 19th century Notaries -- Malta -- Archives Stevens, William John, 1779-1854 British -- Malta -- History |
Issue Date: | 2017 |
Abstract: | While much has been written about the changing administration of Malta during the early nineteenth century, little has been written about the Britons who arrived, worked and settled in Malta during this time. This thesis aims to look at one British man, William Stevens, who arrived in the first few years of British administration, who became a notary, married a Maltese woman and raised a large family here. Why did he come to Malta and what were his reasons for staying? Were these reasons economic or personal, or a combination? As a notary, William Stevens left a formidable quantity of paperwork including notarial deeds, letters, drafts of letters and notes which reflect his clients‟ lives as well as his own. His own career was multi-faceted; in addition to his notarial practice he was a solicitor, a theatre manager and consul, as well as running a domestic staff agency and a money-lender. The first chapter looks at this part of his life, while the second looks in detail at the court case in which he became embroiled. The case shows how Britons were legally treated in Malta; even though it was by now a British colony, they were subject to Maltese law and its implications. The following chapter reviews William and Giovanna Stevens‟ large family of fifteen children. Typically for the time, the sons‟ lives are more traceable, having careers which reflect the international reach of the family, showing adaptability and determination. Finally, a more analytical review of William Stevens‟ notarial volume dating from 1818-1821 shows the working of the commercial community with an emphasis on British and European traders in Malta who were keen to work with a notary who could operate in English as well as Italian. This thesis does not seek to assess British colonial policies nor the Maltese quest for self-government in the early nineteenth century, but seeks to evaluate the socio-economic factors, as well as the personal issues that affected the life and career of William Stevens in nineteenth century Malta. |
Description: | M.A.HISTORY |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/28077 |
Appears in Collections: | Dissertations - FacArt - 2017 Dissertations - FacArtHis - 2017 |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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17MAHST003.pdf Restricted Access | 2.91 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
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