Luigi Criscillo-Immigration and Naturalization Records

[dlc519]

I'm new to this site, and I am hoping you can give me some guidance. Luigi Criscillo is my Great Grandfather. The name went through a spelling change in the early 20th Century, and the last name is now spelled Criscella.

I was able to locate him and the rest of his family in the 1920 and 1930 US Census. He immigrated in 1890, and per extended family I am being told through Philadephia. No records at Ellis Island or Castle Garden.

I have searched at Ancestry and on the web for Philadelphia Immigrants and they have not yielded his immigration record. I am also having issues finding is Naturallization Records even though it indicates on the 1920 Census that he was naturalized in the late 1890's.

Any thoughts on where to look?
Your help is appreciated.
Denise Criscella

[dlc519]

FYI. The family is from the Naples area. I believe Caserta but need some proof of that.

[vj]

Hello Denise
Welcome to the Forum !
Great work on your family pages on ancestry. com!
We'll be happy to see what we can do to help.
For everyone's reference, the 1920 & 1930 census records linked to your family pages
1920 census
1930 census

A couple of questions,

- Married in Manhattan?

Name Marriage Date Marriage Certificate Number County
Criscillo Luigi Jan 7 1899 1021 (1899) Manhattan

- Moved to Pittsburgh area abt 1903?

Thank you,
Valarie

[vj]

Not much help, but here's the 1910 census

probable 1910 census

Home in 1910
127 Larimer Ave, rents
Pittsburgh Ward 11, Allegheny, PA

head Louie Christina 45, abt 1865 IT
- married 12 yrs, abt 1898
- immig 1890, Na
- stone mason
wife Flora Christina 27, abt 1883 IT
- 5 children
- immig 1888
son Nicholas Christina 11, abt 1899 NY
son Raffaele Christina 9, abt 1901 PA
daughter Fanny Christina 6, abt 1904 PA
son Alexander Christina Sr. 3, abt 1907 PA
daughter Josephine Christina 1 1/12, abt 1909 PA

[dlc519]

Valarie,

You are correct. Luigi was married to Fortunata Barretta in January 1899 in Manhattan. And, yes, the family moved to Pittsburgh. Their first child was born in Manhattan in 1901, and then second child here in Pittsburgh in 1904.

If it helps, based on the marriage record in Manhattan, Luigi's parents are Nicolo, and Concetta Petrilli.

Thanks!
Denise

[dlc519]

I just love how the family name changed spelling on the census.

1910 Christian
1920 Criscillo
1930 Criscala

[dlc519]

The 1910 Census you provided is definatley Luigi and his family.
First names, ages,and location all make sense.

[vj]

Denise,
I'm glad we could find at least one record
Interesting immigration year for Fortunata
Do you know if this was an 'arranged' marriage?
Valarie

[dlc519]

Not sure if it was arranged or not, but there a lots of changes in her age in several documents. Some years, she is 20 years younger than her husband, and others its 15 years or so. I noticed on the 1910 census that it's 18 years.

We believe as a family that they lied about her age on the marriage record out of Manhattan. There are only 9 years between them on that record. Luigi was born in 1870 in all the records that I've run across. I have around 1885 for Fortunata as a birth year, and if 1888 is true, she was only 3 or so.

I haven't found a record for her in regards to immigration or naturalization either. Her parents were in the US, and her father lived in Pittsburgh with his son and family for the last few years of his life.

[vj]

Denise, my thinking...
If she had arrived just prior to her marriage, then it may have been arranged - they would have probably been from the same area.

With Luigi's arrival about 1890 there probably won't be much information on his manifest
Since his naturalization is probably in NY before 1906 his document(s) may not have a birth location.
We had the same problem in my family. After years of searching we found an old newspaper article where my g-grandfather had gone back home to visit.
Valarie

[dlc519]

We saw on the marriage record that Luigi and Fortunata lived on Sullivan Street in Manhattan. He lived at 63 and she lived at 65. Fortunata's brother Umberto Barretta lived at 67. Maybe that's where they met?

Fortunata is from Saviano (I know that from her father's immigration record), and my Great Grandfather (Nicola Genovese) on my Mom's side is from Castrovillari. I'm going to head to the Family History Library at some point this month. Maybe I'll look at data from Naples.... who knows maybe I need to work backwards. LOL:)

[misbris]

The name Criscillo is very rare. The only town in Caserta where it appears is Santa Maria a Vico.

http://italia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognomi/cognomi.html

[dlc519]

In some ways, I'm glad that Criscillo isn't a common name. You would think information would be easier to find.

Thanks for this information;) The site you posted is really interesting. It actually helps with my Great Grandmother's family, and Great Grandfather on my Mother's side.

Denise

[Crescella.it]

Da ricerche effettuate nei registri militari di Avellino per gli anni 1862-1865, è stato rinvenuto il solo nominativo di CRISCILLI Luigi di Nicola, nato il 27.05.1863 a Pietradefusi (AV).