Palma in 1920 or 1930 Census

[abruscino]

I would appreciate any help in finding Leo and Theresa (Summa) Palma in the 1920 or 1930 census. They lived in Westbury, Nassau, New York, and their children's names were: Florence, Salvador (Ted), Assunta (Sue), Martin, Carmen, Rose, Marie, and Ralph (Bob). All children were born between 1911 and 1925 in New York. Parents were born in Italy.

Leo could also be listed as Leopardo or Leopoldo, and Theresa could be Maria.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

[nuccia]

Was able to find him in SSDI which at least gives us his year of birth (if this is the correct person..)

Social Security Death Index Record
about Leo Palma
Name: Leo Palma
SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
Last Residence: 11590 Westbury, Nassau, New York, United States of America
Born: 22 Jan 1886
Died: Jul 1965
State (Year) SSN issued: New York (Before 1951 )

nuccia

[abruscino]

Was able to find him in SSDI which at least gives us his year of birth (if this is the correct person..)

Social Security Death Index Record
about Leo Palma
Name Leo Palma
SSN xxx-xx-xxxx
Last Residence 11590 Westbury, Nassau, New York, United States of America
Born 22 Jan 1886
Died Jul 1965
State (Year) SSN issued New York (Before 1951 )

nuccia

That's the correct person, I too found that info, but I can't find much of anything else.

[nuccia]

This is a long shot but interesting to look at!

1920 United States Federal Census Record
about Leo Palmer
Name: Leo Palmer
[Lon Colmer]
Home in 1920: North Hempstead, Nassau, New York
Age: 33 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887
BirthPlace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouses's Name: Jessie
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of immigration: 1910
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Image: 744
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Leo Palmer 33
Jessie Palmer 22
Florence Palmer 8 3/12
Therese Palmer 2 2/12
Salvador Palmer 4 11/12
Caroline Palmer 3 4/12
Caman Palmer 1 8/12

What do you think?

nuccia

[abruscino]

That is VERY close. I checked the scan on Ancestry.com, but it's quality is bad. The age difference between Leo and Jessie (probably should be Tessie, that's what her SSDI had as her name) is correct, as is the age for Florence. I'll keep an eye on this one as I do more research. Thanks, and please post anything else you might find.

[nuccia]

Have you seen this?

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record
about Leopold Palma
Name: Leopold Palma
City: Not Stated
County: Nassau
State: New York
Birth Date: Jan 22 1885
Race: White
Roll: 1753850
DraftBoard: 2

nuccia

[mfjp]

Hi,

You may have seen this record before.

This manifest mentions that he would be going to "W.Bury" joining his cousin Francesco Catalano ?

Also mentions that father in Italy is Salvatore Palma in S. Gennaro

First Name: Leopoldo
Last Name: Palma
Ethnicity: Italy, South
Last Place of Residence: S. Gennaro, Italy
Date of Arrival: Apr 05, 1910
Age at Arrival: 23 y Gender: M Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: America
Port of Departure: Napoli
Manifest Line Number: 0030

Link to Manifest page 1

Manifest page 2

Looks like "love at first sight" for Tessie and Leo

Maria

[abruscino]

I had not seen that, but it appears to be a match. Would you happen to know if those cards are written by the person, or someone else? Because I'd finally like to settle on a proper first name. I was first told by my grandmother that it was Leopardo, then I found Leo on the SSDI, then Leopoldo on ship manifest info given by his wife, and now Leopold. Do you know if it was common for Italians to go by different first names? Because I have certainly found that to be true in researching my Italian side of the family. Thanks again!!

[abruscino]

Hi,

You may have seen this record before.

This manifest mentions that he would be going to "W.Bury" joining his cousin Francesco Catalano ?

Also mentions that father in Italy is Salvatore Palma in S. Gennaro

First Name: Leopoldo
Last Name: Palma
Ethnicity: Italy, South
Last Place of Residence: S. Gennaro, Italy
Date of Arrival: Apr 05, 1910
Age at Arrival: 23 y Gender: M Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: America
Port of Departure: Napoli
Manifest Line Number: 0030

Link to Manifest page 1

Manifest page 2

Looks like "love at first sight" for Tessie and Leo

Maria

I did see that along with two other manifests (another Leopoldo and a Leopardo) on Ellis Islands site. I'm having a hard time deciding which one might be correct, but I am leaning towards the one you cited mainly because in 1914 Tessie came back from Italy with her two children, and the town she returned from was San Gennaro. I just like to be sure. And thanks for the info!!

[mfjp]

Do you know if it was common for Italians to go by different first names? Because I have certainly found that to be true in researching my Italian side of the family. Thanks again!!

With a name such as Leopoldo... I'd expect to see a few variations... Leopold or Leo (and Leo could then be mistaken for Leonardo...)

It's not uncommon to change the given name once they leave Italy...

My GGGrandmother used her middlename on some of her childrens' birth records... can be a nightmare...

Maria

[nuccia]

Leopold is the American version for Leopoldo so I vote that one in too!

Maria and I have been on the phone for almost 2 hours going through all this stuff...I'll try to link the draft card but not now...don't want to lose my place on ancestry right now since I'm

Still looking for the 1930 census...

Must be about midnight in California...its 3:20 am here. 8O



nuccia

[mfjp]

Wait don't go to bed just yet...

I did see that along with two other manifests (another Leopoldo and a Leopardo) on Ellis Islands site. I'm having a hard time deciding which one might be correct, but I am leaning towards the one you cited mainly because in 1914 Tessie came back from Italy with her two children, and the town she returned from was San Gennaro. I just like to be sure. And thanks for the info!!

So when did Tessie go to Italy?

I guess she went over for a visit... but with a young family? I couldn't handle to boat ride...

Leopoldo came over as a single man... in 1910...

But all children were born in NY... from 1911 to 1925 ??

I thought that Tessie was born in the USA... but according to the census record... it looked like she immigrated in 1910??

I do think this is the correct manifest... age, name, timeframe, destination.. all seem to match up...

Also, didn't Tessie and Leo name one child Salvatore...? Just like Leo's father Salvatore that was mentioned on the boat record...

Plus he's going to W.Bury... It's gotta be him...

Maria

Nuccia .. we were on the phone for that long? ... probably...

[nuccia]

We were on the phone for that long? ... probably... Surprised

Yeah..Used a quarter of my battery on the cell phone!

1930 census is proving to be challenging. I'm either missing something or the mother and children were in Italy at the time the census was taken.

Will have another go at it and then off to bed...

nuccia

[nuccia]

Ok Maria..

You talked me into staying up a while longer...see what happens when you twist my arm? I think I just got my second wind anyway.

Find anything else yet?

nuccia

[abruscino]

So when did Tessie go to Italy?

I guess she went over for a visit... but with a young family? I couldn't handle to boat ride...

Leopoldo came over as a single man... in 1910...

But all children were born in NY... from 1911 to 1925 ??

I thought that Tessie was born in the USA... but according to the census record... it looked like she immigrated in 1910??

Maria

Actually Tessie first came to the US in 1898 as Maria Somma with her mother Rose Bruscino at age one. According to my grandmother and the records Tessie started having children at a very young age. And when she came back to the US in 1914 with two children, she was eight months pregnant with my grandmother.