Giacomo Forlenza - Contursi

[DSLOAN]

Hi, Thanks.

Trying to establish Dual Italian citizenship. Both maternal grandparents were born in Italy but may be easier with my grandfather.

My understanding is he was born in Contursi 3/26/1872.
Immigrated from Naples on 2/12/1895.
Date of death 12/13/1952. Indicates parents are Antonio Forlenza and Maria Michele Bruscione.

Married Alfonsa Colatrella from Caposele in NY 8/10/1905. She was born in Caposele, 4/24/1890.

He applied for naturalization 3/18/1929 but don't know if he ever became a citizen.


Help!!!!!

[vj]

Hello!
Here's a start ...
Valarie

possible 1930 census

Home in 1930:
4 St Pauls Ave
Richmond, Richmond, New York

Jack Forlenza 56, abt 1874 IT
- married age 31, abt 1905
- immig 1905, Pa (filed 1st papers)
Florence Forlenza 42, abt 1888 IT
- immig 1900
Jennie L Forlenza 20
Christ L Forlenza 16
Joseph Forlenza 14
Antonia Forlenza 9
Daniel Forlenza 6
Salvatore Forlenza 5
Florence Forlenza 2
---

In case you haven't seen these, they may help you locate New York City records:

Dr Steve Morse One Step Search Pages for New York
NY Naturalization
NYC Birth Records 1891-1902 (requires ancestry. com subscription)
NYC Groom Index 1864-1936
NYC Bride Index ????-1937
NYC Death Records 1891-1948

Ordering NYC Vital Records
New York City Archives

from NYC records by the Italian Genealogical Group
http://www.italiangen.org/

[misbris]

I have some information for you regarding parents of Giacomo, Antonio Forlenza and Maria Michela Briscione.

Town is Contursi Terme in the province of Salerno. Here is some info.

http://en.comuni-italiani.it/065/046/index.html

There is only one Briscione family in Contursi Terme, so we are related!!!

Do you have the Ellis Island records?

I have done quite a bit of research, but haven't put all the pieces together yet. I will find the notes I have and get back to you ASAP.

Mary Jo

[misbris]

Name: Mrs. Michela Briscione
Arrival Date: 14 Sep 1896
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1844
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian
Ship Name: Italia

[misbris]

Maria Michela was travelling with children Giuseppe Forlenza 16, and Vincenza 12.

Richmond NY is Brooklyn where they settled.

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0006

[vj]

Hello Mary Jo !
How neat that you're related.
Valarie
---

Antonio Forlenza & Maria Michela Briscione?

possible 1900 census

Home in 1900:
40 Mulberry Street
Manhattan, New York, New York

head Antonio Folenso 75, born Feb 1825
- married 40 yrs, abt 1860
- immig 1896, in US 3yrs, Al
wife Maggie Folenso 58, born Mar 1842
- 9 children born, 5 children living
- immig 1896
son Nunsiato Folenso 38, born Apr 1862
- married 15 yrs
- immig 1892, Pa
son Constantino Folenso 35, born Jan 1865
- married 10 yrs
- immig 1892, Al
son James Folenso 28, born Mar 1872
- immig 1895, Al
son Joseph Folenso 20, born Mar 1880
- immig 1896
daughter Vincenza Folenso 15, born Jan 1885
- immig 1896
boarder Joseph Pinarello 23
---

possible 1910 census

Home in 1910:
Manhattan Ward 6, New York, New York

Nunizanta Forlenza 46
Tassie Forlenza 45
Tony Forlenza 17
Patsy Forlenza 14
Comelles Forlenza 10

father Antonia Forlenza 84, abt 1826 IT
married 50 yrs, abt 1860
- immig 1896, Na
mother Mary Forlenza 70, abt 1840 IT
- 5 children born
- immig 1896
---

possible death record?
Forlenza Antonio 92 y Jun 1 1918 1020 Richmond 1825 - 1826

[misbris]

Hey vj,

I think that Michela Briscione was a sister to my bisnonno Giovanbattista Briscione who stayed in Contursi. I can't be sure, but family lore says the Brisciones were a big family, and the timeline is right.

Other possible siblings:

Gabriel Briscione b 1857 immigrated to NY

Louisella Briscione b1866 " " married Sabbato Siani b 1865

Maria Giuseppina Briscione b 1844 " " married Antonio Cantore

Unfortunately, so many sisters, so few brothers, makes it hard to trace the name. I have been in touch with Gabriel's descendents and the Cantores, but we have not been able to confirm the relationship.

Thanks, vj, for telling me to save everything because it may someday be valuable.

MJ

[vj]

Thanks, vj, for telling me to save everything because it may someday be valuable. MJ

MJ,
Isn't it just awful .
When I try to find something I've saved 'just in case' I usually find 2-3 copies of the same thing!
In fact I'm sure I have 5 copies of my great grandfather's Civil War index card 8O !
Valarie

[debbiesloan]

I have just begun again search for ancestors again. What can you tell me about Maria Michela Briscione, my great grandmother?

[misbris]

Hi,

Welcome back!

I was in Contursi last summer and spent time with the Briscione family. The Forlenza family is also quite evident in Contursi. In fact, we visited the Forlenza spa.

http://www.termeforlenza.it/index.asp

My Grandfather Angelo was the son of Gianbattista (b approx 1840-50) and grandson of Pasquale Briscione. Maria Michala's birth date would make her a contempory of my great grandfather. She was either his sister or his first cousin (if her father was Salvatore)

If you could find a death certificate which gives her father's name, I have some family history for both Pasquale's and Salvatore's children.

Unfortunately, civil records for Contursi Terme only go back to 1868, so I was able to get my grandfather's birth certificate, but not his father's.
You will have the same problem with Maria Michala's records.

The church may have the records, but they might be difficult to access. Church was rebult after an earthquake.

Most of the Briscione's settled in NYC, Newark, and Hudson County, NJ.

Please let me know if you have any records showing M Michala's father. Once we acertain that, I can give you a lot more information.

[misbris]

Possible manifest for Antonio. Unfortunately, early manifests do not have much info.

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0255

[misbris]

Possible manifest for Giacomo.

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0037

[misbris]

Just bumping this, hoping, DSLOAN will return to the forum. I have more info.

[goku416]

What additional info did you find? Maria Michela Briscione and Antonio Forlenza would be my great-great-great grandparents through their daughter Vincenza.
I found this in the 1905 NY State Census.

[misbris]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Do you know DSLOAN or did you just find this thread? Contursi civil records begin in 1868, so it is difficult to be sure of anything before that time unless I can get into church records.

My great grandfather was Gianbattista Briscione born approx 1850. (I am basing this on the fact his oldest so was born 1869) His father was Pasquale Briscione. Maria Giuseppa Briscione, daughter of Pasquale was born approx 1854 married Antonio Cantore.

Your ggggrandmother was born approx 1844. She was either either a sister or cousin of Gianbattista. The only contemporary of Gianbattista I found was Salvatore Briscione whom I believe was his brother. (I have lots of info on that part of the family as well)

If we can find the father of Maria Michela, I can place her in the Briscione tree.

The name is very rare and there is only one family in Contursi so we are all related. The hard part will be finding records before 1870.

As I said previously, the Forlenza are a prominent family in Contursi. There are many more of them and it may be a lttle more difficult to trace exact family for your ggggrandfather.

Let me know how else I can help.

MJ