Messina and Segari Family

[chrly2424]

I am trying to research my family that was from Sicily. They came over to US around 1860. The problem is I think they may have changed their names somewhat. If someone might be able to assist me I would appreciate it.

The family names are Messina and Sigari. I have only found one spelling of Messina but I have come across several spellings of Sigari, Segaree, Seagree. The only thing I know right now is the family left Italy and settled in the panhandle of Florida. The father's name was Joseph Frank Sigari who was married to Mary Messina. Thanks for any help you can give! Charlotte

[Biff83]

Interesting 1870 census for Sigari and Messina families
Yalachicola, Franklin county Florida

1870 census

Previous page, see last line

Could these folks be your family?

Biff

[chrly2424]

Yes this is my family...........I just need to locate them in Sicily. Which seems to be a difficult task for me!

[suanj]

Probable censuses:
1870 United States Federal Census
about Joseph Sigari
Name: Joseph Sigari
Estimated birth year: abt 1817
Age in 1870: 53
Birthplace: Italy
Home in 1870: Yalachicola, Franklin, Florida
Family and neighbors: View Results
Race: White
Gender: Male
Value of real estate: View image
Post Office: Yalachicola

NO Mary in the census; only the children:

Name: Domingo Sigari
Birth: abt 1856 - Italy
Residence: 1870 - Yalachicola, Franklin, Florida

Name: Frank Sigari
Birth: abt 1850 - Italy
Residence: 1870 - Yalachicola, Franklin, Florida

Name: Vena Sigari
Birth: abt 1854 - Italy
Residence: 1870 - Yalachicola, Franklin, Florida

neighbor: MESSINA Antonio
---------------

1880

Joseph SIGRI Household
Male

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Information:
Birth Year <1820>
Birthplace SICILY
Age 60
Occupation Fisherman
Marital Status M <Married>
Race W <White>
Head of Household Joseph SIGRI
Relation Self
Father's Birthplace SICILY
Mother's Birthplace SICILY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source Information:
Census Place Apalachicola, Franklin, Florida
Family History Library Film 1254127
NA Film Number T9-0127
Page Number 132A

living alone;

1880 abt Domenico Sigari, married:
Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Domingo SIGIRI Self M Male W 26 ITALY Sailor ITALY ITALY
Lavinia SIGIRI Wife M Female W 21 FL Keeping House GA GA
Mary A. SIGIRI Dau S Female W 2 FL At Home ITALY FL
Ginsey MCLEAN Other S Female W 25 FL Domestic Servant GA GA
Addie BAREMORE Other S Female W 11 FL At Home GA GA
------------------------------

abt Domenico Sigari:
Event(s):
Birth: 04 AUG 1855 , Sicilia Region, Italy
Death: 15 NOV 1913
Marriages:
Spouse: Luverna Agnes OR Laura Barmore
Marriage: 13 SEP 1877 Apalachicola, Franklin, Florida

..... in the census of 1870( I cannot show the picture because the server don't work) Joseph, if this is your Joseph, it is born in 1817....
regards, suanj

[chrly2424]

Thank you so much for the information! And so quick! Is there any information on when Joseph died?

Or any listing of who his parents were? Do you know how difficult it would be for me to get a copy of his birth certificate in Sicily? I've been able to locate some distance cousins but their information stops at Joseph too.

Charlotte

[BillieDeKid]

Hi Charlotte,

Do you know where in Sicily your family came from. I checked Sigari manifest's and this is what I've come up with -

1 Sigari, Alfonso from Fort Impevile
2 Sigari, Angelo from Pofi
3 Sigari, Antonio from Gallico
4 Sigari, Antonio from Betargoni
5 Sigari, Bernardo ....
6 Sigari, Calogero from Canicatti, Sicily
7 Sigari, Carmela from Spezia
8 Sigari, Carmelo Augusta, from Siracusa
9 Sigari, Carmelo from Melillo
10 Sigari, Francesco from Spezia
11 Sigari, Francesco from Spagice
12 Sigari, Francisco from Mazzara, Sicily
13 Sigari, Gaetano Ferruzzano, from Reggio Calabria
14 Sigari, Leonarda from Canicatti, Sicily
15 Sigari, Michele from New Haven, Conn. (Torro del G. )
16 Sigari, Paolo from Catona

Do any of the locations sound familiar? I can direct you to the microfilm so you can look for birth acts, marriages etc. if you can narrow it down some.

Elizabeth

[chrly2424]

I am told the family came from Palermo, Sicily. Also, Joseph married Mary around 1850.

Joseph worked as an oyster fisherman once he relocated to US. One of their sons born in Sicily was named Francis. That's all I have. Charlotte

[BillieDeKid]

Hi Charlotte,

There is a province called Palermo and a comune called Palermo. Here's a list of the comunes in the Province of Palermo

http://en.comuni-italiani.it/082/index.html

There are films you can order from the LDS church for the town of Palermo in the province of Palermo. The risk you run is that if your family was born in another town in the province of Palermo, and not born in the actual town of Palermo, the films won't do you much good. I'll post the link for the films but maybe you can find out from a family member if Palermo was the town or province.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library ... umns=*,0,0

Select any of the highlighted options, after it comes up in the upper right hand corner you will see view film notes, select that and it will give you the films and their corresponding numbers. There are films for census info, church, civil etc.

Please let us know what the actual town name is after you talk to your relatives.

[suanj]

I am told the family came from Palermo, Sicily. Also, Joseph married Mary around 1850.

Joseph worked as an oyster fisherman once he relocated to US. One of their sons born in Sicily was named Francis. That's all I have. Charlotte

In the 1870 census, it seem that some children was born in Italy: Domenico, Francesco(Frank/Francis), Vena, Daniel and Modestino born in Florida ;
1870 census page 1: http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/576/1870sigari1eh1.jpg
last line Joseph Sigari
page 2: http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8285/1 ... ri2ci5.jpg
because Daniel was 11 old in 1870 and born in Florida, so the family came in USA abt in 1858/9...
regards, suanj