Researcher Needed for Malta family history

[Graham2]

Hello. Please can members let me know of anyone that can help me to research my family tree in Malta. My mother left Malta during the war and sadly died many years ago. Earlier in the year, someone on the Island did agree to do the research for me but I have been unable to obtain any further response from him. So if you can help, I would be very grateful as I really want to see if I have any surviving family members over there. Thank you.

[Valice in Wonderland]

Would it be worth writing to one of the newspapers in Malta, asking if there are any people related?

[Graham2]

Thanks Val. That's a kind thought. The problem is that it's approaching 80 years since my mother left the Island and she was never able to return, so memories will have faded. She sadly died more than 40 years ago. I feel this needs a specialist on the Island to try and do the tracing. Any suggestions would be gratefully received as I am really struggling to find family members. Best wishes.

[Valice in Wonderland]

I though maybe there might be other younger family members who might recognise some of the names, or even someone interested enough on the island to know where to go to get the information.

[cbcarolyn]

Hi and welcome to the forum, I am afraid I can't help with a researcher but

to get info on line you could try:

are any of the historical papers over there on line now?

local facebook groups? people are posting all sorts of historical info on groups, I have got various pictures and maps for my research. try a search for Malta "old" or something similar, language maybe a problem, do you speak Maltese?

https://www.facebook.com/Maltese-old-photos-514679125284350

https://www.facebook.com/groups/466573304152221

maybe this one

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1233039633440130

is her surname not so common, like Val says could still have relatives there?

Do you know what the family did there? a family business that could have continued?

have you tried Ancestry.co.uk WW? you can possibly get access at home via your library during covid

[Caroline]

You may find some of the links in our own Reference Library to be useful. I've not checked them recently to see if they are current.

World Index > Malta

[Graham2]

Thanks Val and Caroline. I really appreciate you are trying to help. One problem, however, Is that my mother was adopted. I have been able to get hold of a copy of her birth certificate from the Records Office in Malta. It probably needs someone on the Island to do some detective work to move things forward. I need a genealogist!

[Valice in Wonderland]

Would something like this help, which I googled
https://www.cyndislist.com/malta/professionals/

[Graham2]

Thanks Val. I have looked at those links. I have tried the first link but without success. The second link seems to be an advert for My Heritage. But thank you for your helpful suggestions.

[cbcarolyn]

what are you hoping to find? her birth mother, or her adopted family?

[Graham2]

hi Carolyn. If my mother had blood siblings, their children or grandchildren could be traced. If my mother had aunts/uncles, I may have some more distant relatives through those lines. The children of the adoptive family would also be of interest.

[Anne in Carlisle]

Have you considered a DNA test might possibly give you some leads? Of course it would depend on how many people from Malta had done a test to have a chance of success.
Anne

[Graham2]

Hi Anne Thanks for the suggestion. I have had the DNA test but unfortunately, they only found people with a tiny percentage of match - usually about 0.5%. Interestingly, they were all well scattered round the globe.

[PhotoFamily]

Did she naturalize to the UK? Do you have her naturalization papers? There may be interesting information on them.

+1 for the DNA testing. Search ("Fish") as many "ponds" as possible. Usual progression:

Test at AncestryDNA, export results to gedmatch.com, myheritage.com, familytreeDNA.com

Test again at 23andme.com.

The genetic analysis test at AncestryDNA and 23andme are quite similar, but you are looking for matches in their databases. AncestryDNA and 23andme do not accept results from other testing companies, but the other sites do. Not cost to upload to the other databases, but you may be charged for access to some features.

You could also move your results over to LivingDNA.com - they are a small, predominantly UK database.

FamilySearch's wiki about Malta

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Malta_Genealogy

[Graham2]

Thank you PhotoFamily. I regret I have no naturalisation papers. She came to England during the War having lived through a lot of the bombing on the Island. I have undertaken the DNA analysis with a major company but only very distant cousins have been located. It would be great if someone knows a genealogical researcher in Malta that they can recommend to me. If anyone can help, please get in touch.