My Great-Great Grandfather. The son of John Baptist Orlando and Giovanna Tanti, Nicola Amabile Spiridione Orlando was born in Cospicua, Malta, on April 12, 1864, and rose to become one of Malta's most renowned Blacksmiths of the early 20th century. He was baptized at the Collegiate Parish Church of Cospicua the day after his birth by Father Paul Brincat.
Married to Caterina de Barro from Senglea, they had four children: two died in childbirth; Peter died in the United States of America following an accident while still unmarried; and Giovanna, who later married John Baptist Barbara from Tarxien in 1921, and had three children, two of whom, Katy and Joe, emigrated to Australia and eventually died there unmarried. The other one, Carmela, married the late President and Founder of Cospicua's Feast Group "Għaqda Delettanti tal-Festa", Joseph Baldacchino.
Nicola's wife died at the early age of 25, in 1901, shortly after the birth of their last child, M'Carmela, who also succumbed. Heartbroken and with two young children to look after, Nicola re-married again for the their sake, this time to his servant - Euphemia Tonna from Zurrieq. They had six children: Catherine, the first born, who entered the Society of the Sacred Heart and formed part of Communities across Japan and Canada, who later left the Society due to health reasons; Joseph, who died shortly after his birth; Carmelo who died at the young age of 7; Teresa, also a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, whose memory remains very vividly alive in Malta, Japan and Korea where she worked for almost 50 years; Maria, likewise a professed member of the Society of the Sacred Heart; and Marcello, who emigrated to Australia following his marriage and died there in Merrylands in 1995.
"Nikol il-Ħaddied", as he was commonly known, had his blacksmith shop at Strada Marsacirocco in Zejtun. His works include various items still found at the local Parish Church, such as all the iron work on the main Parish door, the "tużell", and the cradle of St. Catherine of Alexandria, to whom the Parish Church is dedicated. In the Parish Archives, we find the then Archpriest Lawrenz Degabriele, presented Orlando a small gift, "Al Mro. Nicola Orlando - ferrario - per lavoro e spese nella bradella", as a sign of appreciation towards his work on the main door, which he did for free every Sunday.
The two columns on which once stood a Victorian bridge, completed in the early 20th century, in the Valletta Grand Harbour, which was destroyed in a German E-Boat attack during the Second World War, were among Orlando's works.
A statue of St. Nicholas of Bari carved in Maltese stone, which he ordered and had placed atop the entrance of his residence, No. 8, Strada Marsacirocco, can be seen to this day.
Following the death of his second wife, Euphemia, which occurred on February 13, 1933, Nicola Orlando lived his last years in retirement, cared by his daughter, Giovanna. A deeply cultured man, who spoke fluent Italian and held a great knowledge of Latin, his warm and gentle character was appreciated by many. A nice, quiet, deeply religious man, he was what me might call an examplary, affectionate father and grandfather. All his children and grandchildren used to recall various anecdotes about his deep patience and delightful temperament with his young nephews and nieces, with whom he tried to cope in their childhood spirit, though an old man. He died at his residence in Strada Marsaxlokk, Zejtun, on the day in which the Second World War reached the Maltese Islands, September 1, 1939, at the age of 75. He was interred beneath in the main crypt located beneath Zejtun's Parish Church, clothed in a white "kunfratija".
Married to Caterina de Barro from Senglea, they had four children: two died in childbirth; Peter died in the United States of America following an accident while still unmarried; and Giovanna, who later married John Baptist Barbara from Tarxien in 1921, and had three children, two of whom, Katy and Joe, emigrated to Australia and eventually died there unmarried. The other one, Carmela, married the late President and Founder of Cospicua's Feast Group "Għaqda Delettanti tal-Festa", Joseph Baldacchino.
Nicola's wife died at the early age of 25, in 1901, shortly after the birth of their last child, M'Carmela, who also succumbed. Heartbroken and with two young children to look after, Nicola re-married again for the their sake, this time to his servant - Euphemia Tonna from Zurrieq. They had six children: Catherine, the first born, who entered the Society of the Sacred Heart and formed part of Communities across Japan and Canada, who later left the Society due to health reasons; Joseph, who died shortly after his birth; Carmelo who died at the young age of 7; Teresa, also a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, whose memory remains very vividly alive in Malta, Japan and Korea where she worked for almost 50 years; Maria, likewise a professed member of the Society of the Sacred Heart; and Marcello, who emigrated to Australia following his marriage and died there in Merrylands in 1995.
"Nikol il-Ħaddied", as he was commonly known, had his blacksmith shop at Strada Marsacirocco in Zejtun. His works include various items still found at the local Parish Church, such as all the iron work on the main Parish door, the "tużell", and the cradle of St. Catherine of Alexandria, to whom the Parish Church is dedicated. In the Parish Archives, we find the then Archpriest Lawrenz Degabriele, presented Orlando a small gift, "Al Mro. Nicola Orlando - ferrario - per lavoro e spese nella bradella", as a sign of appreciation towards his work on the main door, which he did for free every Sunday.
The two columns on which once stood a Victorian bridge, completed in the early 20th century, in the Valletta Grand Harbour, which was destroyed in a German E-Boat attack during the Second World War, were among Orlando's works.
A statue of St. Nicholas of Bari carved in Maltese stone, which he ordered and had placed atop the entrance of his residence, No. 8, Strada Marsacirocco, can be seen to this day.
Following the death of his second wife, Euphemia, which occurred on February 13, 1933, Nicola Orlando lived his last years in retirement, cared by his daughter, Giovanna. A deeply cultured man, who spoke fluent Italian and held a great knowledge of Latin, his warm and gentle character was appreciated by many. A nice, quiet, deeply religious man, he was what me might call an examplary, affectionate father and grandfather. All his children and grandchildren used to recall various anecdotes about his deep patience and delightful temperament with his young nephews and nieces, with whom he tried to cope in their childhood spirit, though an old man. He died at his residence in Strada Marsaxlokk, Zejtun, on the day in which the Second World War reached the Maltese Islands, September 1, 1939, at the age of 75. He was interred beneath in the main crypt located beneath Zejtun's Parish Church, clothed in a white "kunfratija".
My Great-Great Grandfather. The son of John Baptist Orlando and Giovanna Tanti, Nicola Amabile Spiridione Orlando was born in Cospicua, Malta, on April 12, 1864, and rose to become one of Malta's most renowned Blacksmiths of the early 20th century. He was baptized at the Collegiate Parish Church of Cospicua the day after his birth by Father Paul Brincat.
Married to Caterina de Barro from Senglea, they had four children: two died in childbirth; Peter died in the United States of America following an accident while still unmarried; and Giovanna, who later married John Baptist Barbara from Tarxien in 1921, and had three children, two of whom, Katy and Joe, emigrated to Australia and eventually died there unmarried. The other one, Carmela, married the late President and Founder of Cospicua's Feast Group "Għaqda Delettanti tal-Festa", Joseph Baldacchino.
Nicola's wife died at the early age of 25, in 1901, shortly after the birth of their last child, M'Carmela, who also succumbed. Heartbroken and with two young children to look after, Nicola re-married again for the their sake, this time to his servant - Euphemia Tonna from Zurrieq. They had six children: Catherine, the first born, who entered the Society of the Sacred Heart and formed part of Communities across Japan and Canada, who later left the Society due to health reasons; Joseph, who died shortly after his birth; Carmelo who died at the young age of 7; Teresa, also a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, whose memory remains very vividly alive in Malta, Japan and Korea where she worked for almost 50 years; Maria, likewise a professed member of the Society of the Sacred Heart; and Marcello, who emigrated to Australia following his marriage and died there in Merrylands in 1995.
"Nikol il-Ħaddied", as he was commonly known, had his blacksmith shop at Strada Marsacirocco in Zejtun. His works include various items still found at the local Parish Church, such as all the iron work on the main Parish door, the "tużell", and the cradle of St. Catherine of Alexandria, to whom the Parish Church is dedicated. In the Parish Archives, we find the then Archpriest Lawrenz Degabriele, presented Orlando a small gift, "Al Mro. Nicola Orlando - ferrario - per lavoro e spese nella bradella", as a sign of appreciation towards his work on the main door, which he did for free every Sunday.
The two columns on which once stood a Victorian bridge, completed in the early 20th century, in the Valletta Grand Harbour, which was destroyed in a German E-Boat attack during the Second World War, were among Orlando's works.
A statue of St. Nicholas of Bari carved in Maltese stone, which he ordered and had placed atop the entrance of his residence, No. 8, Strada Marsacirocco, can be seen to this day.
Following the death of his second wife, Euphemia, which occurred on February 13, 1933, Nicola Orlando lived his last years in retirement, cared by his daughter, Giovanna. A deeply cultured man, who spoke fluent Italian and held a great knowledge of Latin, his warm and gentle character was appreciated by many. A nice, quiet, deeply religious man, he was what me might call an examplary, affectionate father and grandfather. All his children and grandchildren used to recall various anecdotes about his deep patience and delightful temperament with his young nephews and nieces, with whom he tried to cope in their childhood spirit, though an old man. He died at his residence in Strada Marsaxlokk, Zejtun, on the day in which the Second World War reached the Maltese Islands, September 1, 1939, at the age of 75. He was interred beneath in the main crypt located beneath Zejtun's Parish Church, clothed in a white "kunfratija".
Married to Caterina de Barro from Senglea, they had four children: two died in childbirth; Peter died in the United States of America following an accident while still unmarried; and Giovanna, who later married John Baptist Barbara from Tarxien in 1921, and had three children, two of whom, Katy and Joe, emigrated to Australia and eventually died there unmarried. The other one, Carmela, married the late President and Founder of Cospicua's Feast Group "Għaqda Delettanti tal-Festa", Joseph Baldacchino.
Nicola's wife died at the early age of 25, in 1901, shortly after the birth of their last child, M'Carmela, who also succumbed. Heartbroken and with two young children to look after, Nicola re-married again for the their sake, this time to his servant - Euphemia Tonna from Zurrieq. They had six children: Catherine, the first born, who entered the Society of the Sacred Heart and formed part of Communities across Japan and Canada, who later left the Society due to health reasons; Joseph, who died shortly after his birth; Carmelo who died at the young age of 7; Teresa, also a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, whose memory remains very vividly alive in Malta, Japan and Korea where she worked for almost 50 years; Maria, likewise a professed member of the Society of the Sacred Heart; and Marcello, who emigrated to Australia following his marriage and died there in Merrylands in 1995.
"Nikol il-Ħaddied", as he was commonly known, had his blacksmith shop at Strada Marsacirocco in Zejtun. His works include various items still found at the local Parish Church, such as all the iron work on the main Parish door, the "tużell", and the cradle of St. Catherine of Alexandria, to whom the Parish Church is dedicated. In the Parish Archives, we find the then Archpriest Lawrenz Degabriele, presented Orlando a small gift, "Al Mro. Nicola Orlando - ferrario - per lavoro e spese nella bradella", as a sign of appreciation towards his work on the main door, which he did for free every Sunday.
The two columns on which once stood a Victorian bridge, completed in the early 20th century, in the Valletta Grand Harbour, which was destroyed in a German E-Boat attack during the Second World War, were among Orlando's works.
A statue of St. Nicholas of Bari carved in Maltese stone, which he ordered and had placed atop the entrance of his residence, No. 8, Strada Marsacirocco, can be seen to this day.
Following the death of his second wife, Euphemia, which occurred on February 13, 1933, Nicola Orlando lived his last years in retirement, cared by his daughter, Giovanna. A deeply cultured man, who spoke fluent Italian and held a great knowledge of Latin, his warm and gentle character was appreciated by many. A nice, quiet, deeply religious man, he was what me might call an examplary, affectionate father and grandfather. All his children and grandchildren used to recall various anecdotes about his deep patience and delightful temperament with his young nephews and nieces, with whom he tried to cope in their childhood spirit, though an old man. He died at his residence in Strada Marsaxlokk, Zejtun, on the day in which the Second World War reached the Maltese Islands, September 1, 1939, at the age of 75. He was interred beneath in the main crypt located beneath Zejtun's Parish Church, clothed in a white "kunfratija".
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