Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sicily

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Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sicily

Post by SondraG »

Looking for info on Gaetano Grizzaffi (later known in US as Guy Grisafi) of Corleone (Corlione) , Palermo, Sicily. DOB - 12/11/1895. Ellis Island records show two records: one, arriving May 27, 1910 from Palermo on ship Mendoza, the other, arriving June 24, 1910 on Tomaso di Savoia, and DOB is listed as 1896 on both, though American passport says 1895. He traveled with relatives (assumption) on Tomaso manifest Appolonia Grizzaffi (23y m), Biagia Grizzaffi (10y M), Ma. Rosa (20y F Single), Maria Rosa (20 Y F Single) (doesn't look like duplication on manifest, but who knows?).

Listed cousin Oliverio Vincenzo, 346 E 105th St, NY, NY as final destination. Vincenzo was mother's maiden name, father Gerlando. Married Angelina Cerald (can find nothing in Ellis Island on her, interviewing old family friends for more info,have SS#, death record, not much else).

Would love to trace any family threads possible for husband. And would love to find family connections in Italy for him.

New at genealogy research. Grateful for suggestions and help on resources here or abroad.
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

Hello and Welcome to the Forum!

Do you need any assistance in locating US records?
Are you interested in help on how to research family in Italian records?

Just for reference, here are your 1910 ship manifests
There may be one more manifest, it appears that the family didn't sail on either of these dates

Thank you
Valarie

27 May 1910 manifest, lined off (did not sail)
page 2


24 Jun 1910 manifest, lined off (did not sail)
page 2
---

note: not the correct Gaetano Grizzaffi

Another possible manifest

1912 manifest
page 2

3 Dec 1912, SS Kaiser Franz Josef I, Palermo to NY
Line 19

Gaelano ((Gaetano) Grizzaffi 17 (abt 1895)
- possible naturalization notations: 2-362632 ?/20/35 Rech 10/28/37
- single
- last residence Palermo Corleone
- in Corleone, father Giovanni Grizzaffi at Via Piazza (?)
- destination NY NY
- joining uncle (?) Apollinare (?) Grizzaffi at 209 E 102nd St
- born in Palermo Corleone
---

about ship manifest markings

about naturalizatiion markings
---

note: not the correct Gaetano Grizzaffi

Here's the Petition for Naturalization for the Gaetano Grizzaffi on the 1912 manifest
Different birth date & unmarried...

Born 26 May 1895
Single
Address in 1938:
1628 Washington Ave, Bronx
vj
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

SondraG wrote:... And would love to find family connections in Italy for him...
This may help you locate family currently living in Italy.
Valarie

White pages:
http://www.paginebianche.it/index_en.html

LDS Family Search Letter Writing Guide

Form Letter to a Possible Relative
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by wldspirit »

Possible manifest for 1931, birth date of 1895, name that appears above his is going to same address and is listed as nephew:

Manifest


New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Name: Guy Grisafi
Arrival Date: 3 Aug 1931
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Genoa, Italy
Ship Name: Conte Grande
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Line: 14
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_5007
Page Number: 97
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by wldspirit »

You already have this marriage record, however, maybe our members can give you further clues on the bride's maiden name:

Marriage Record Detail:
Date: 16 Jul 1919
Place: Montgomery, Fayette, West Virginia
Bride Groom
Name: Argelina Cerald Guy Grisafi
Birth Date:
Birth Place:
Age at Marriage: 17y 23y
Marital Status
Prior to Marriage:
Mother: Maria Vinccenzo
Father: Crats Gerlando

link to details and image
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by wldspirit »

Perhaps the name is Cerato, see the following link for record:

Death record

wldspirit

edit to add possible manifest, however, family not on board, which means there is another manifest to be found.


New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

Name: Angiolina Cerato
Arrival Date: 24 Jul 1904
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1902
Age: 2 Years 6 Months
Gender: Female
Port of Departure: Le Havre
Ethnicity/Race-
/Nationality: Italian (North) (Italian)
Ship Name: La Bretagne
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Line: 19
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_479
Page Number: 8
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by SondraG »

VJ and Wldspirt,you are all incredible researchers. And I clearly need to read much more background material in order to understand the documents. Thanks for the resources.

Had no idea that the ship's manifest could be "tentative". Must read more on immigrant ships.

Not sure this is the right Gaetano, he had a US passport dated April 20, 1931. Doesn't jive with a 1935 naturalization, or does it? The 1931 trip was obviously a return trip to Italy, valuable information.

I learned last night that his Grandmother's last name was Cerrato, DOB 1902.

I do indeed want to locate family in Italy. I know there are Grisafi relatives, Grandma Grisafi and Mario (husband's deceased father) kept in touch. And Angelina's sister came to the US, but moved back to Italy, I guess after WWII.

BTW, death certificate was for husband's uncle. He will be interested, thanks.

I'm off to read and research. Will be back for expertise of group, I'm sure.

Fantastic forum!
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

SondraG wrote:... Not sure this is the right Gaetano, he had a US passport dated April 20, 1931. Doesn't jive with a 1935 naturalization, or does it? The 1931 trip was obviously a return trip to Italy, valuable information...
Hi!
I agree!
Wldspirit :D has found the correct Gaetano in WV
I'll make a notation on the records above
Valarie
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

In case you haven't seen these
from ancestry. com

probable 1917 WWI Draft Registration Card

Gaetano Grisafi 21
Harewood Fayette WV
Born 11 Dec 1895 in Girgenti Italy
Alien
Coal Miner
Kanawah & Hocking Coal Co
Harewood WV
Support Father & Mother & Brother 10 yr
Single

(Before 1927 Agrigento was called Girgenti.
Agrigento is a comune in the province of Agrigento)
---

possible 1920 census

Home in 1920:
Falls, Fayette, West Virginia

head Jae Petra 40
boarder Gey (Guy?) Grisafa 24, abt 1896 IT
- immig 1912 in US 8 yrs, Al
wife Sena (Lena?) 18, abt 1902 IT
- immig 1913, Al
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by SondraG »

Thanks, VJ, very helpful info. DH is interested in Italian citizenship option, and since his father was born prior to Gaetano's naturalization, he may be able to obtain dual citzenship. Back burner, for the moment.

Man, this genealogy stuff is addicitve...lol
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

DH is interested in Italian citizenship option, and since his father was born prior to Gaetano's naturalization, he may be able to obtain dual citzenship.
That would be terrific.

Not sure where Gaetano was indicating he was born on his WWI Card - the town of Agrigento or the Province. Do you have a record stating Corleone?

possible 1930 census

may be living with a relative (sister? sister-in-law?) & her family
possibly the nephew on the 1931 manifest?

Home in 1930:
Falls, Fayette, West Virginia

head Guy Grisgio 35, abt 1895 IT
- married age 23
- immig 1912, Na
- merchant, store
wife Angelina Grisgio 28, abt 1902 IT
- married age 17
- immig 1913 Na
son Petro Grisgio 9, abt 1921 WV
son Marro Grisgio 7, abt 1923 WV
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by SondraG »

Not sure where Gaetano was indicating he was born on his WWI Card - the town of Agrigento or the Province. Do you have a record stating Corleone?

His attempts to sail in 1910 list Corleone as his residence. But his passport says Agrigento. Maybe after failed attempts to immigrate, he went to work in Grigento (Agrigento)??

1930 census corrrect, wife, sons are correct.

In 1931, he was living with wife, sons, maybe newly immigrated relatives from Italy were living with him. Or maybe it was Angelina's older sister....hmmm.

We are planning a visit to close friend of family, age of husband's father, who lived beside them and was like a daughter to Angelina. Hope much of this will be verified, cleared up when we see her. She's in her late 80's, so we'll take information for her to see, as opposed to asking her for raw details. Should be easier for her.

More and more exciting.

Sondra
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

Sounds like a great trip!

In case you don't have these from the Charleston Gazette

27 Feb 1937
Mine Car Jumps Tracks ...

4 Mar 1937
Readers' Forum

from Access NewspaperARCHIVE
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by vj »

wldspirit wrote:You already have this marriage record, however, maybe our members can give you further clues on the bride's maiden name...
link to details and image
My best guesses :wink: , Valarie

If Gaetano's wife Angelina was also from Girgenti, her possible surname spelling could be Geraldi.
Elsewhere in Sicily it could also be Ceraldi (among other possibilities)

from http://italia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognomi/cognomi.html
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Re: Grizzaffi (Grisafi) family search -Corleone,Palermo,Sici

Post by SondraG »

Angelina was from the Piemonte region. And her naturalization papers (SIL has them, haven't seem them yet) say her last name was Cerrato. So I'm hoping to get more info from SIL.

Big wow, VJ, on the Charleston Gazette articles. Don't think husband has ever seen them.
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