Fournier Family
History
Partly researched until the 6th Count Fournier by C.Said Vassallo, 7th of
October, 2000 and updated
The Family of Fournier's were Merchants from France who were of ancient lineage
having direct connections with Papacy Avignon in the
15th century with Pope Benedict XII (r1332-42) formerly Jacques Fournier.
"You have elected a jackass!" cried Jacques Fournier when to
his astonishment he found that he had been elected on the first ballot.
But the self-styled jackass was actually the outstanding theologian in the
college of cardinals. Jacques Fournier was born
at Saverdun in
At first Benedict toyed with the idea of going back to
Since Benedict had been a fervent monk, the "spiritual" Franciscan
minority hoped that the new Pope would be more favorable to them. But
Benedict was a great lover of obedience and orthodoxy, and he soon showed
the recalcitrant friars that the monk Pope had much the same ideas as his
canon lawyer
predecessor. He worked hard to reform religious orders. One
outstanding measure was his determined effort to get wandering monks and
friars back into cloister. A number of maladjusted religious had been roaming
the roads seeking adventure and, of course, giving no end of scandal.
Benedict did his best to shepherd this wandering flock back into the
fold. He enacted other measures which helped the Benedictines, and in
general did much to check abuses and foster regularity in religious houses.
Benedict also tried to reform the abuses which were creeping into the
Roman court. And he gave to all a shining example of detachment by his
steady refusal to enrich his relatives. He loved peace so much that he
declared he would not fight even to preserve the papal kingdom. When the
storm clouds which warned of the coming Hundred Years' War loomed,
Benedict exerted himself to dissipate them. Pro-French he may have been to
the extent of creating a great majority of French cardinals, but when war
threatened, he showed himself a truly impartial peacemaker. Unfortunately
he succeeded only in postponing the terrible war.
Benedict XII has been praised by some of his contemporaries and
harshly criticized by others. This is not strange, for he was a pious man
and an earnest reformer. Reforms tread on toes and cause anguished
outcries.
Besides, Petrarch did not like Benedict because he
would not come back to
History has done justice to this holy and learned Pope. If he had
any weakness it was in the field of diplomacy. His simple monastic outlook
was ill-attuned to the complexities of high policy.
Benedict XII died on
Excerpted from "Popes Through the Ages" by
Joseph Brusher, S.J. Electronic
version copyright © 1996 New Advent, Inc.
The Fournier's held Seignuerships in
His son Lazzaro Fournier upon age
of command of a fleet, also a Merchant who went to
Great success of the ever progressing fleet of merchant ships, their son
was sent and educated in the Austrian Army in
A successful career developed with the Austrian Army with promotions
to Captain along with his brother in-law. Also married
to his best friend's sister Aloisea Sant in 1733, producing a large family.
Giorgio Fournier's career in the Austrian army flourished with such
heroic adventures and successions acquiring ennoblement by Empress Maria Theresia of
This title was to honour a man of such natural talent
and efforts in recent wars against
When Despuig became Grand Master in 1736 Giorgio
Fournier was nominated Alfiere della Cavalleria.
However, prominent persons who were not titled but occupied similiar posts were listed on the roll of Valetta. Amongst
these we find the Fournier brothers, Giuseppe and Lazzaro,
who were both Luogotenente of the Zebbug Regiment. The fact that most of the Nobility were patent holders may have been another reason why they
were not included in the Ruolo, although a number of
clerics are mentioned. In fact, the only four prominent families enrolled in
the Ruolo were the Fournier, Crispo,
Alessi, and Marchesi, all
of whom were ennobled after the list was drawn up.
Upon retirement and finally returning back to Malta, Giorgio Fournier
was presented with an Honour of appreciated to
the title of Count Fournier de Pausier on the
29th of January, 1770 at Vienna with remainder to his descendants in the order
of primogeniture. That same year of 1770 his brother in-law, Salvatore Baldassare Sant was created Count
Sant to his male descendants in the order of
primogeniture for services to Her Imperial Armies of Austria.
Count Giorgio Fournier was granted permission of usage of the title
of Count Fournier at the chancellery of the order of
In 1776, Baron Fournier requested Lante to relieved him of his office within the tribunal of the
Inquisition, as he and his family had decided to emigrateto
The next successor was Giorgio's son Lazzaro who held
the family business in Merchant and set up an Office in
During the up rise against the French, the Count Fournier had his house
and goods confiscated and was banished from the city on the pretext of
his brothers was an insurgent leader. This is strange as the Fournier's
had always been loyal to the French and had entrusted with the first despatch to the King of Naples, only one month before.
Being of French descent, the Fournier's were part of the high society
and held high positions during the French reign in
Gaetano married into French
nobility in
Count Lazzaro Fournier, married in
Maltese-Sicilian nobility and Royalty. This connection
bringing an ancient
noble blood to a new noble family of
Thus only providing an heiress to the titles and fortune.
Luigia Fournier, succeeded
as the 'de-jure' Countess Fournier de Pausier and married the second son of the 2nd Count Sant (a second cousin). Baldassare dei
Conti Sant, a Lord Lieutenant of Mdina, and brother of the Archbishop of Malta.
Baldassare's marriage providing a new legacy of the Sant
Fourniers, two noble families uniting in blood,
and creating a new family. All Sant Fourniers are descendants of this union.
Baldassare dei Conti Sant was the son of the 2nd Count Sant
and the 7th Baroness of Ghariexem e Tabia, (very wealthy heiress with much
estates). The Sants, later Sant Cassia's or Sant Fournier's
or Sant Manduca and Sant Barbaros were one of
the richest families in Malta. The wealth held was beyond belief to todays standards. A note, the Sant's were divided
into several families, as mentioned above. The only family
extinct in a male line are the Sant Barbaro's.
Baldassare's mother was also of ancient lineage, with
connections to all noble and landed gentries of
The next holder was the son of Countess Luigia and Baldassare Sant Fournier.
Lazzaro Sant Fournier
succeeded as the 4th Barone de Pausier
in
The struggles of the Royal Commission started in
Lazzaro Sant Fournier
married in 1838 to
Abela, the daughter of the Fifth Barone
di Gomerino and his third
wife, 'the
Contessa Buzzi-Rainier di Velletri'. From this union
produced several
children, Aloisia, Clotilde,
Calcidone, and 2 other children. Their daughter
married into Spanish and Maltese Nobility.
Lazzaro Sant Fournier, died in 1898, living a life of change under
the British.
Alfred Sant Fournier,
succeeded as the 5th Count and Barone for only a
few years. Alfred was fortunate to travel to
a Bank to their realms, and many other priceless treasures. Olga dei Conti Tagliaferro
eventually became the sole heiress to the Tagliaferro
Banking House.
Alfred had three sons (Hugo, Edward and Charles), Hugo and Edward
were twins, though Hugo being the elder of the twins, and unable due to
his sickly condition, the title remain dormant until his death in 1910,
when his younger twin, Edward succeeded as the 6th Count.
Edward, married Esther Testaferrata
Bonici Ghaxaq dei Marchese Testaferrata dei San Vincenzo Ferreri e dei Baroni
Qlejjgha, the daughter of the 6th Marchese and 5th Baron. From this connection, providing much connections to most of the present Maltese
nobility.
Edward dying in 1951 and succeeded by his son Alfred, as the
7th Count Fournier.
Alfred married in 1935 to Eileen Donovan............
Alfred died in 1973, a year before the
succeeded by his eldest son Alfred, as the 8th Count Fournier
and the 8th Baron de Pausier who died
A Genealogical Account of the Counts
Fournier
Geronimo Fournier married Marilhena,
Lazzaro Fournier married Ariete
Pausier,
0 - Giorgio Fournier married Aloisea Sant (daughter of Gio Francesco Sant and Diana Galea), made Baron
de pausier 1768, by the Queen of Hungary and Bohemia
Giorgio had six children:
0.1 - Lazzaro Fournier married Modesta
Gauci
0.1.2 - Annuzzi Fournier, Zeppino
was assaulted and remained with head injuries, Franca Fournier never married,
Diana Fournier married Alessandro Platamone, Gaetano Fournier married Clotilde,
0.2 - Luigia Fournier married Baldassare
Sant dei Conte Sant
0.4 - Lazzaro Sant
Fournier, 4th Count Fournier, Barone de Pausier. , married
1838 to Adelaide Testaferrata Abela
1. Alfred Sant Fournier ( 1840-1903),
5th Count Fournier, married 1869 to
Olga dei Conti Tagliaferro
1.1 Hugo Sant Fournier ( 1871-1910) Contino Fournier, dsp
1.2. Edward Sant Fournier ( 1871-
,6th Count Fournier, married in 1906 to
Esther dei Marchese Testaferrata-Bonici
1.2.1. Alfred Sant Fournier ( 1911-73),
7th Count Fournier, married in 1935
to Eileen nee' Donovan d.1949)
1.2.1.1.Alfred Sant Fournier ( 1944-2002 , 8th Count
Fournier married in 1964 to Gladys
Meli-Bugeja
1.2.1.1.1. Stephen Sant Fournier (
1965-, Count Fournier e Baron de Pausier De jure Conte Tagliaferro, married
Rita Anne Mary Mackay in 1995 (Scottish descent)
1.2.1.1.1.1. Tyler Sant Fournier (1997-
1.2.1.1.1.2. Connor Sant Fournier (1999-
1.2.1.1.2. Simon dei Contino
Sant Fournier ( 1972- De jure Conte Tagliaferro
1.2.1.1.3. Sean dei Contino
Sant Fournier ( 1977- De jure Conte Tagliaferro
1.2.1.1.4. Silvana dei Contessina Sant Fournier ( 1967-, married 1999 to Matthew
Sultana, B.Sc..
1.2.1.1.5. Sarah dei Contessina
Sant Fournier ( 1969- ,
married 1996 to Mark
Psaila, with issue
1.2.1.1.6. Sandra dei Contessina
Sant Fournier ( 1980-
1.2.1.2. Anthony dei Conti Sant
Fournier ( 1944- , married in 1968 to
Elisabeth Anastasi
1.2.1.2.1. Christian Sant Fournier (
1974-
1.2.1.2.2. Alexander Sant Fournier (
1977-
1.2.1.2.3. . Edward Sant Fournier (
1980-
1.2.2.3. Marie Sant Fournier ( 1936-
, married in 1958 to Dr.Phillip Attard-MontAlto
LL.D
1.2.2.3.1. Edward Attard Montalto
(c 1960- married and has issue
1.2.2.3.2. Patricia Attard Montalto
(c 1959-, married 1983 to Thomas Aguis
Vadala
1.2.2.3.3. Victoria Attard Montalto
(c 1962- married to David Grech and has issue
1.2.2.3.4. Deborah Attard Montalto
(c 1966-
1.2.2.4. Eileen Busietta Dei Conti Sant Fournier (1938 . , married in
1958 to Chev. Adrian Busietta
Snr. Grand Prior of
1.2.2.4.1. Hadrian Busietta jnr.(c 1965- , Married to Deirdre and has issue
1.2.2.4.2. Rowena Busietta (c 1959-, married 1981 to
Simon Mamo and has issue
1.2.2.4.3. Fiona Busietta (c 1961- , married and has
issue
1.2.3. Mary dei Conti Sant
Fournier (1869-, married to Capt. Francis Lawson
(died 1914)
1.2.3.1. Gladys Lawson (c 1895-
1.2.3.2. Elosie Lawson (c 1897-
1.2.4. Carlo Sant Fournier ( 1875-,.
Married to Carmela
Abela-Pulis
1.2.4.1. Guido Sant Fournier ( 1911-, married Vera Vallone
1.2.4.1.1. Charles Sant Fournier (
1951- , married to Mary Anne Felice and has
issue
1.2.4.1.2 Vera Sant Fournier ( ??
1.2.4.1.2.1. James Sant Fournier (
1955 , married to Diana and has issue
1.2.4.1.2.2 Fabian Sant Fournier ( ??
1.2.4.1.2.3 Sonia Sant Fournier ( ??
1.2.4.2. Hugh Sant Fournier ( 1913-,
married to Gwendolyn Wood
1.2.4.2.1. Robert Sant Fournier (
1941-
1.2.4.2.2. Michelle Corinne Sant Fournier ( 1945- , married in 1969 to G. H Minter
1.2.4.2.2.1. James Howard Minter (c 1970-
1.2.4.2.2.2. Tamara Howard Minter (c 1971-
1.2.4.2.2.3. Melita Howard Minter (c 1975-
2. Clara Sant Fournier,
married Saverio dei Conti Manduca
3. Giulia Sant Fournier ( 1844-, married firstly to Jose de
Lavelle, Count of Premio
Real, married secondly to Eliodoro dei Marchese
Barbaro
References:
1)
Families of
2)
Volume Two", Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1992.
3) Gauci,C.A and Mallet, P.,"The Palaeologos Family-
A Genealogical Review"
,Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1985
4) Gauci,
Group (PEG) Ltd,
5) Montalto, J., "The Nobles of
Malta-1530-1800", Midsea Books Ltd,
1980.
6) De Piro, N., "Casa Rocco Piccola",
The Conde' Nast Publications 1999.'
Http://www.vol.net.mt/casarocca '
7) Giles Ash, S., "The Nobility of
(PEG) Ltd, 1988.
8) Said Vassallo, C.M., Unpublished research papers.
9) Said Vassallo, C.M., Maltagenealogy.com Research
site a member of the
'Triple Alliance Site- Maltese Nobiliy'.
10) Sant Fournier S, "Unpublished Materials from
Archives of the Counts
Fournier"