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I am considering applying for dual citizenship and am trying to track down my grandfather's records to see if I'm eligible. I've searched the Mormon Church's site online, but can only find a record of his death.
Here's what I know: My grandfather, Frank Marino, was born in Tunisia on April 1, 1902, but was raised in Sciacca, Sicily. His parents were Michele Marino and Bernadette Maniscalco, though I don't know what year they were born or died (I'm having trouble finding their records as well). Also, I don't know if my grandfather's given name is Frank, Franco, Francesco, or some other variation. I do know that he came to America, probably in the 1920s, married Frances Giaimo in Massachusetts, and had three sons. He died in December 1977 in Massachusetts.
Can anybody advise me of where I might find records of his existence in Sicily? Or if perhaps the fact that he was born in Tunisia automatically disqualifies me from gaining dual citizenship?
I haven't been able to find the ship's manifest for my grandfather, Frank Marino, or his parents, Michele Marino and Bernadette Maniscalco, but am still searching. I know that my grandfather is the second of five children. Antonio was the oldest, probably born in Sicily in 1898, and died in Gloucester, Mass., in the hurricane of 1938. The other siblings were Mary, Salvatore, and Vincent. It's possible that the younger siblings were born in Massachusetts. My grandfather and his brothers worked as fishermen in the U.S. Sorry that I don't have much info, but it seems dates/timelines and so much of the important information I need have been forgotten by the surviving family members. I am actually traveling to Sciacca in March and would even love to try to find family records while there, but I don't know where to begin.
www.ellisislandrecords.org
Benedetta Marino Maniscalco
arrived: May 9,1912
Ship: Ivernia
Port: Palermo
Line# 0007 Benedetta age 35
Line # 0008 Marino, Antonio age 11
Line # 0009 Marino, Francesco age 9
Line# 0010 Marino, Giuseppe age 3
I cannot thank you both enough. This is incredible! You have filled in a huge piece of the puzzle.
Do you know the best way to track down birth/marriage records for them? Is the Mormon Church's site the only option? I had trouble locating them on that site. Perhaps I should visit a Family History center and order microfilms?
Has anyone actually used copies of the "mormon" microfilms for a citizenship application? I would think that the OP would still have to obtain proper documents directly from the comune.
Carmine
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!
From 12th October 1946, the national anthem of Italy has been the "Canto degli Italiani" (Chant of the Italians), written in the Autumn of 1847 by a Genoese student and patriot Goffredo Mameli, and set to music in Turin by another Genoese, Michele Novaro. Born during an atmosphere of patriotic fervo...