Trying to find Leo/Ciancio relatives of my ggrprnts-san fili

[twirleygrl]

I have found the December 1910 Ellis Island ship manifest for the Duca Delgli Abruzzio where my ggrandmother, Concetta Ciancio, 26, b. 1885 is on it with her first child Raffaele Leo 3 years old. They went to New Rochelle NY. In NJ they raised 5 children including Ralph, Angelina, Lena, Ralph, Jenny (my grandmother's nickname...I don't know her real italian name) and Mary.

Her husband Guiseppe Leo b 1883 emmigrated a few years earlier and I am told worked on the construction of the Lincoln Tunnel in NYC as a laborer (unconfirmed).

I have found them on subsequent census's in NY and NJ but I know nothing about their life or families in Italy. They must have been married around 1906/7 in Italy.

It is rumored that Concetta was an orphan in Calabrese raised with nuns, but who truly knows the truth. The ship manifest states that her location before coming to america was in San Fili, Italy. That is all I know.

Guiseppe died in NJ, USA in 1974 and I am told by the state archives, that in order to get his death cert I need to know his parent's names...and that was the only reason for me wanting to get the death cert! Any help would be appreciated for I can find nothing. Thanks!!!

[nuccia]

Your grandmothers name was most likely Eugenia..a very common Italian name from the area of San Fili in Cosenza. If Giuseppes first son is Raffaele, its highly possible that his fathers name was Raffaele as well. Tradionally, Italians name their first children after the fathers parents..

You can check out our Home page for more on the naming tradition..

http://italiangenealogy.tardio.com/index.php

I have some friends who have done some research from San Fili...let me see what I can do. No promises though, ok...but I'll try.

[nuccia]

I was able to locate his WW1 Draft Registration Cards..have you seen them?

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Giuseppe Leo
Name: Giuseppe Leo
City: New Rochelle
County: Westchester
State: New York
Birth Date: 15 May 1883
Race: White
Roll: 1753932
DraftBoard: 0
Age:

Source Citation: Registration Location: Westchester County, New York; Roll: 1753932; Draft Board: 0.

WW1 Draft Registration Cards for Giuseppe

[nuccia]

Can you link Concetta's manifest? I'd like to have a look at it...

[Biff83]

Nuccia,

Concetta Ciancio Ship Manifest

page 1

http://ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup_wei ... &line=0015

page 2

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0015

Birthplace looks like Rende. See link to map below

Rende, ne of city of Cosenza
San Fili, nw of city of Cosenza

http://www.italycyberguide.com/Geograph ... senzap.htm

[nuccia]

Thanks John!

You're right..they are from Rende which is very close to San Fili (and close to my mothers home town of Malito). Giuseppe is also on that same manifest and it looks like his fathers name is Pasquale?

Do you agree??

[Biff83]

Took another look, and the Giuseppe Leo above Concetta's name is going to Philly. What a coincidence.

[nuccia]

Yes, but it doesn't make any sense. Hes 2 years younger then her so it can't be the same Giuseppe...a nephew/cousin maybe? Plus, hes going to Philly, father Pasquale and is listed as single. Living in San Fili, born in Rende.

Concetta is going to New Rochelle, Living in San Fili, born in Rende, father Raffaele and married.

Definitely different Giuseppes. Her Giuseppe must have been born in San Fili and thats why she was living there.

twirleygrl,

I contacted my friend who has some microfilms on permanent loan from the Family Histroy Centre from San Fili. Hopefully she can help find Giuseppes Birth Act or their Marriage Certificate. Now we wait....

[Biff83]

Took another look and the Giuseppe Leo above Concetta shows last place of residence as Cagnano, birthplace same

[nuccia]

Yes, I noticed it too and was about to edit my post...thanks for the link to the maps. I was just printing them out to add to my research file. I always wanted to add a map to identify where each person came from...

[twirleygrl]

niccia and biff...wow. Over the past year that I have been researching, I have met so many kind and generous people. The genealogy community is definitely a community of friends. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your responding.

I had the ship manifest but had no idea that there was another page...although the writing is hard to read (at least for me), I can see that she is from Rende (I probably would have thought something else according to that chickenscratch!)

My fingers are definitely crossed that we can find something on them. I hope that some cert will lead me to her parent's names as well as a location of birth. I would like to know what city or village in Italy. Rende is a good start. I have never heard of Rende before and you betcha I plan on looking it up. Perhaps if I find the family names I can go there one day and visit the city and perhaps find a grave or two. But that is wishful thinking...Because the family lore is that Concetta was raised by nuns (as of what age...who knows? she could have been 6 months or 6 yrs!) I never had much hope for finding her family.

I had seen the Raffaele as a father, but didn't know which father, but according to those traditions I guess it would have been Guiseppe's father. So if you find anything (or not) please let me know. Anything is better than nothing!!!

With my heartfelt thanks

[jcsm400]

Guiseppe died in NJ, USA in 1974 and I am told by the state archives, that in order to get his death cert I need to know his parent's names...and that was the only reason for me wanting to get the death cert!

Is this the correct death information?

Social Security Death Index

Name: Guiseppe Leo
SSN: XXX-XX-2102
Last Residence: 07063 Plainfield, Union, New Jersey, United States of America
Born: 10 May 1883
Died: Feb 1974
State (Year) SSN issued: New Jersey (Before 1951 )


If this is the correct information, try writing to the town clerk of Plainfield for the death record. If that doesn't work, hsi SS application, if filled out properly, will list town of birth & parents' names.

Hope this helps.

jcsm

[Biff83]

The official site of the comune of Rende.

http://www.comune.rende.cosenza.it/index.php

Some pictures

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com ... _rende.htm

[twirleygrl]

That is his ss death index. I had called the state archives for his death cert and they said I need to pay a $25 fee (a bit excessive), fill out the app (no prob I have it), supply his parents names, a copy of my birth cert, marriage cert, Driver's license, Utility Bill, my father's birth cert, and my grandmother's birth and marriage. She said they are pretty strict about it.

Well I definitely have my info and may be able to convince my father for his but no one in the family has any of my grandmother's certs even though she died in April of 1999 in NJ (Jenny Price). So that poses a problem. The lady said I NEEDED Guiseppe's parent's names, but that was the reason for getting his death cert.

The lady said that I could try by writing a letter, but there is no guarantee...that is alot of hoops to jump thru for no guarantee's...

That is why I took a chance here, I was hoping that someone knew something or had access to Italian birth records and marriage records before I went crazy. LOL.

[Biff83]

Here's a link to the names/addresses/phone numbers of the local registrars in Union County, NJ, alpha order by town name. Perhaps the local official can help to process your request.

http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/vit ... unty=Union