St Anthony of Padua, Watchbell Street, Rye - drawn by Brian Hargreaves

FREDERICK SEDLEY AND HIS FAMILY

1805Frederick Sedley born, Colombo , Ceylon now Sri Lanka

1825 A Mr Sed1ey, a clerk to the Chief Secretary, is recorded as living, rent free, at I, Strada Scozzese, Valetta , Malta, by authority of the local government.

1832 Caterina Alessi, a minor, married with the consent of her Guardian. She was the daughter of Dr. Francesco Alessi dei Marchesi di Taflia and was married to Frederick Sed1ey aged over twenty one years of age, bachelor, from Colombo ,Ceylon employed in the office of the Chief Secretary to the Government. The marriage was on 1st January 1832 and was celebrated by Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy.

10th October 1832 birth of Thomasina Antonia Sed1ey Alessi, later Marchesi di Taflia, to Caterina Sed1ey nee Alessi and Frederick Sed1ey.

1st August 1833 death of Fanny Sed1ey, daughter of Frederick Sed1ey, Inspector of Police. She had just returned from school in England

18th September 1836 birth of Frederick Sed1ey Alessi, later 5th Marquis of Taflia, to Caterina Alessi and Frederick Sed1ey 1st

28th June 1852 Thomasina Antonia Alessi dei Marchesi di Taflia, daughter of Frederick Sedley, Superintendent of Police in Malta , married Hon. Richard Cornwall - Leigh, Assistant to the Government of Malta, in the British Embassy. Later celebrated at the Church of The Madeline in Paris .

1856 Frederick Sedley II, a clerk in the Customs Department is living at 153, Strada Stretta. He is on the 1852 Electoral Roll

1860 during the China War of that year it is recorded that there is a "Cornet Sedley in B Troop as assistant Surgeon to Edward Mc Sheehy."

NB It has not been possible to trace the date of the death of Frederick Sed1ey I

22 November 1866 Mrs Caterina Sed1ey nee Marchesi Alessi died, she was the wife of Frederick Sedley I.

c1870 Frederick Sed1ey II married Edith Fanny Langdon

1872 Ethel Maud Sedley Alessi born ( later 6th Marchioness di Taflia). Parents, Frederick Sedley and Edith Fanny Langdon.

1880 Frederick Sedley II retired with rank of Lieut Colonel.

1901 In the 1901 UK Census, Frederick Sedley II is listed as being aged 63, born in Malta , a retired Colonel in the Army. He is living in Kensington.

August 1910 at a Parish Bazaar held at St Walburga’s Church in Watchbell Street , Rye, it is recorded that ‘Colonel the Marquis Sedley (sic) ran the pottery and ceramics stall while the Marchesina Sedley superintended the event and had special commodities ergo Maltese lace, pottery etc. sent by Mr Buggiba of Malta’.

1914 saw the beginning of the first world war and the arrival of refugees in Rye . It seems that the Marchesina Sedley formed a committee arranging for Henry James to make his studio in Watchbell Street available as a recreation room for them. When they arrived at Rye railway station they were greeted by Colonel Sedley, the Marchioness Sedley and the Rev. Father Bonaventure. Special services were arranged and they were accommodated in a hostel in Cinque Ports Street .

1918 & 1922 Kelly’s Directories of Rye for these years show Captain James Williamson - Waring JP. listed as living at Badger's Gate, Ferry Road , Rye .

At some point and place, as yet undiscovered, Ethel Maud Sedley, Marchioness of Tatlia married Captain James Williamson Waring. JP

18th March 1921 Frederick Sedley Alessi, 5th Marquis of Tatlia, died in Rye , East Sussex .

Upon the death of her father Ethel Maud Sedley Alessi became 6th Marchioness of Taflia.

Not long after the death of the Marquis, the Marchioness moved from Rye and settled in St. Leonards were she was to die thirty years later on in 1953

In 1953 the title went into abeyance. As the direct line was now extinct the next of kin was from the first Marquis’s other son, with the de jure Marquis, Dr. Giuseppe Borg-Falzon-Alessi MD, dying in 1978. Dr Giuseppe was succeeded by his first cousin Joseph Sammut Testaferrata Alessi. In 1982 The Committee of Privileges of the Maltese Nobility called the title from abeyance with Joseph becoming 7th and present marquis. His daughter and only child is his heir.