Earliest Maltese Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area
A selection of Maltese Americans who were the first to arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area
There were at least 30 Maltese Americans who arrived in the SF Bay Area before 1900, besides those listed below. The majority were laborers or peddlers. All below were born on Malta and immigrated to the Bay Area.
Giovanni Agius (1792-1896): Earliest known Maltese in the San Francisco Bay Area; a fruit peddlar in Oakland, CA for 55 years.
Catherina Carmel (1805- after 1880): a 75 year old Maltese nurse in 1880
Rafael Galanti (1813-): In 1853, this 40 year old Maltese bartender from Monterey, CA, was sentenced to 5 years in prison at San Quentin for homosexuality
Joseph J Zammit (1822-1893): An egg and chicken dealer in San Francisco
Salvo Brincat (1834-1905): A San Francisco poultry dealer
Michael Cassar (Goss) (1836-1898): In 1864, enlisted in US Navy in Civil War. He was a carpenter's mate. Served on 6 ships, was wounded and eventually pensioned.
Father Vincent A.Testa, S.J. (1841-1919): He taught for 20 years at Saint Ignatius University in San Francisco.
Raphael Schembri Bugeia (1847-1938): A telegraph operator who turned to farming.
Saverio Bajada (1867-1943): Immigrated in 1914; a wood industry laborer.
Gaetano Vella (1870-1953): Immigrated in 1885. He ran a wholesale poultry business.
Fr. Andrew Azzopardi, OFM (1870-1936+): First pastor of St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church in 1915.
Joseph J Zammit (1822-1893): An egg and chicken dealer in San Francisco
Salvo Brincat (1834-1905): A San Francisco poultry dealer
Michael Cassar (Goss) (1836-1898): In 1864, enlisted in US Navy in Civil War. He was a carpenter's mate. Served on 6 ships, was wounded and eventually pensioned.
Father Vincent A.Testa, S.J. (1841-1919): He taught for 20 years at Saint Ignatius University in San Francisco.
Julian Portelli (1842- ??): The only Maltese in California to be convicted of murder in 1889 and imprisoned at San Quentin and Folsom prisons for 19 years.
Raphael Schembri Bugeia (1847-1938): A telegraph operator who turned to farming.
Saverio Bajada (1867-1943): Immigrated in 1914; a wood industry laborer.
Gaetano Vella (1870-1953): Immigrated in 1885. He ran a wholesale poultry business.
Fr. Andrew Azzopardi, OFM (1870-1936+): First pastor of St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church in 1915.
Sam Vella (1883-1967): Owner of Sam's Anchor Cafe in Tiburon and Boyes Springs Resort
Francis P Grech (1884-1939): Founder and first president of the Maltese American Social Club
Bartholomeo Vassallo (1885-1967): Arrived in US in New Orleans and then came to San Francisco where he worked as a house wrecker and lumber yard laborer.
Father Theopilius Cachia, OFM (1891-1959): Pastor of St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church for 30 years
Carmelo Felice (1883-after 1930): At first a horse dealer, then worked as a sugar mill refinery laborer.
Samuel Bajada (1885-1965): A sugar refinery laborer, fruit dealer, and a shipyards janitor.
Carmelo Deguara (1888-1964): Served in US Army in WWI. Drove street cars for Market Street Railway until 1922. Then owned a hog ranch.
Frank Zammit (1891-1969): He was a machinist at American Can Company for 35 years.
There were 2354 Maltese who were born before 1900: 634 were born on Malta. (Many of the 2354 have Maltese surnames, but have no known listed birth location).
There were 998 Maltese who were born between 1900 and 1920: 297 were born on Malta
There were 1565 Maltese who were born between 1920 and 1940: 92 were born on Malta.
Francis P Grech (1884-1939): Founder and first president of the Maltese American Social Club
Bartholomeo Vassallo (1885-1967): Arrived in US in New Orleans and then came to San Francisco where he worked as a house wrecker and lumber yard laborer.
Father Theopilius Cachia, OFM (1891-1959): Pastor of St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church for 30 years
Carmelo Felice (1883-after 1930): At first a horse dealer, then worked as a sugar mill refinery laborer.
Samuel Bajada (1885-1965): A sugar refinery laborer, fruit dealer, and a shipyards janitor.
Carmelo Deguara (1888-1964): Served in US Army in WWI. Drove street cars for Market Street Railway until 1922. Then owned a hog ranch.
Frank Zammit (1891-1969): He was a machinist at American Can Company for 35 years.
There were 2354 Maltese who were born before 1900: 634 were born on Malta. (Many of the 2354 have Maltese surnames, but have no known listed birth location).
There were 998 Maltese who were born between 1900 and 1920: 297 were born on Malta
There were 1565 Maltese who were born between 1920 and 1940: 92 were born on Malta.
Compiler: Charles J. Vella, PhD
Copyright (c) 2023 by Charles J. Vella, PhD. All rights reserved.