Suppliche per l’Elemosina Frumentaria : a set of 18th century petitions submitted by Maltese widows

Abstract

The loss of a spouse invariably leads to changes in the life of the surviving partner. In late eighteenth century Malta, a widowed female faced numerous challenges in her struggle to adapt to a new existence. For a poor widow, the provision of assistance was vital. The governing Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Catholic Church, private entities and familial sources contributed to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by widows in different manners. The Statutes of the Order of St John included stipulations in support of the poor, the infirm, orphans and widows. This paper examines one method that enabled widows to seek poor relief from the authorities through the submission of a supplica (a petition) and evaluates a number of original petitions submitted by widows between 1784 and 1788. These suppliche were specific requests to the governing authorities for an elemosina frumentaria.