Genealogy Chat

I've had an interesting request from an old school friend who has lived in Rome for the last 30 years. In order to get Italian citizenship she has to prove that she is of Italian descent. She cannot do through her mother's side as, although born in Rome, she gave up her Italian citizenship when she married a British soldier at the end of WW2 and went to live it England.
Her father was of Italian descent but 4 generations back. The Italian authorities want my friend to show a direct line to someone born in Italy on her fathers side.

I have traced the family back to a Giuseppe Guazzaroni born circa 1776. On the 1861 census his place of birth is shown as 'Aurelia. near Rome, Italy'.
Unfortunately this is too vague in order to do a search through church records in Italy.

The interesting thing is, Giuseppe was Princess Victoria's Italian Master immediately before she became Queen in 1837. For his service he was awarded a £50 per annum pension and was on the Civil List. One of his sons used to read to Princess Sophia (George III's daughter) when she went blind in old age.

I have had a look on the FMP website at the Royal Household records but to no avail. I'm running out of options and places to look. I would have thought he'd be vetted in some way if he was given access to the royal household.

Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received. I am just looking for his date and place of birth. We have everything else.

Thank you.

Have you tried asking for advice on finding the 1776 birth from the Anglo- Italian FHS?

Yes, thank you. I have tried the A-IFHS. They have nothing on my man.

Would ‘vetting’ have happened at that time? Wasn’t it mostly by personal recommendation or by buying favours.

I wouldn’t of thought there would be any details of birth etc unless he became a British Citizen - but did they do that sort of thing then?

Anything here to help ?

https://www.rct.uk/collection/about-the-collection/the-royal-archives