A study in local history since 1800 : Xagħra

Abstract

The history of Xaghra could be well-traced from government censuses. Unfortunately, no official censuses are available for the first half of the 19th century. This period is bereft of any statistical records which, however, have been provided through ecclesiastical records and secondary sources relying on the later records. As far as government censuses are concerned, the gathered information offers a chequered view of the anthropology and economy of the Xaghra inhabitants. From 1881to1931, the data is based on a district level unlike that of the pre-1881 years, thus causing inconsistencies. Consequently the information had to be taken in the Gozitan perspective and not solely with reference to the particular village of Xaghra. These lacunae were mostly filled through recent published material, which relied on scattered and unorganised sources conserved in government archives. The relatively recent Electoral Registers, Local Council Electoral Registers, Official Annual Statistics and The Malta Government Gazette together with a number of past and current daily papers have proved to be a further source for statistical information with regard to demography and anthropology including the standard of living of the different classes of workers and professionals as well as political activities in Xaghra. This dissertation also contains information based on secondary sources. Naturally, Maltese scholarship has witnessed a great number of publications, authored by established academics, which dealt with social history. These publications served a reliable platform for my research, which more often than not, indirectly, provided me with the necessary information. Other contributions include published material in the village magazines issued by the Xagh.ra Parish as well as by other village entities, which tackle researched articles as well as personal experiences. Added to these were the various dissertations, which were consulted. All these publications have enable me to build up a skeleton of the village social activity, which unfortunately, no specific book about Xaghra has as yet dealt with. I have humbly endeavoured to fill in this gap through this dissertation.