Fortunato Pietro Luigi Josa
(1851-1922), Rector of St Endellion, CornwallSitter in 1 portrait
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Costanza d’Andrea
29 November 2020, 11:16
Luigi was my great grandfather. He had two daughters: Marjorie and Sylvia Marietta who were born in British Guiana. The first one was my grandmother who married an American, John D. Crimmins. They had a daughter, my mother, Jennifer Mary. The second one was my great aunt and we all called her Auntie Bill and she died in Florida. Her sister, my grandmother, died in New York.
Luigi spoke Chinese and among several books he wrote a Hindi grammar.
My mother has several copies of the picture in this article. Luigi was wearing a brown suit.
Chris Parrott
10 August 2020, 21:23
Luigi, my great grandfather too, passed away at what is known as the St Endellion Rectory in north Cornwall in 1922. Yes he was a prebend & served there from 1916. But he also received some remuneration as after 40 years as a SPG missionary he had no no other income or pension!
He wrote many interesting books too.
The Revd Dr David van Krieken Vannerley, Canterbury Christ Church University.
25 June 2020, 12:55
Very grateful indeed for the clarifications! Canon Josa is likely to be one of the old St Augustine's students who feature in the new website that the St Augustine's Foundation are setting up. Please get in touch as we access to his student photograph (1874). ([email protected])
Abi Evans
16 June 2020, 13:55
Luigi was my great grandfather. He died in St. Endellion in 1922 where he was Rector. Edgar Filippo was his son, my grandfather, who was born in Guiana and where he died in 1930.
Rupert Armstrong Evans
15 June 2020, 16:38
Hello,
Luigi, as he was known, was brought up a Roman Catholic in the Vatican and attended the Vatican school and was an altar-boy. He came to England and 'changed sides' before going to British Guiana where he was Archdeacon at the cathedral in Georgetown. He retired to St Endellion where he was vicar until his death. He is buried next to the tower. He has a long an colourful history and was known to sing Italian arias while strolling along the Cornish lanes. He is my great grandfather. Edgar was his son and was a missionary in British Guiana but died young of typhoid I think. My mother and the rest of his family moved to Antigua (where her uncle was governor of the prison) before moving to England, getting married and moving to Cornwall where all her children and grand children still live (about 30 miles from ST Endellion). I have copies of some of his books (one is still in print) and a short biography.
He spoke many languages and was married four times, losing all but the last (known to us as Granny 'Bee') through tropical diseases I think.
Revd Dr David van Krieken Vannerley, School of Humanities, Canterbury Christ Church University.
31 January 2020, 15:30
Canon Fortunato Josa was a missionary in Guiana who trained at St Augustine's College in Canterbury (subject of a research project at this university). His memorial in the college chapel says that he died in Guiana, it seems unlikely that he was Rector of St Endellion but he may have been one of the Prebends - these are honorary posts to which three clergy are appointed. Abp. Rowan Williams is currently (2020) among their number. Canon Josa was followed at the college by a younger man, Edgar Filipo, who may well have been a son or nephew, this is currently under investigation. He wrote several books including a manual of the Hindi tongue to assist missionary work among the South Asian population of Guiana.
Danny Parrott
20 October 2021, 01:01
Hello Costanza, and any others that are interested, I am putting together the family history of Luigi Josa’s line. Please email me to chat.
I have made some interesting discoveries and would love to hear from you.