information on families Aversi/D'Aversi/Patagna & P

[kearneyb]

Looking for help tracking down the origins of my gg grandfather, whose anglicized name was John Davis but according to family history, his real surname was either Aversi or D'Aversi, first name may have been Anthony.

Supposedly born 1811 in/near Sorrento. Went to sea, then eventually settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, and finally Natchez, Mississippi.

In the 1870s, a relative of his from Italy, Louis F. Patagna (or Patagnia) arrived in Natchez with at least two children, Frank and Adelaide Marie. Louis born about 1838, Frank about 1861, and Adelaide about 1867, all in Italy. Louis's wife was Louisa Perisco, but she apparently died before 1872 and it is unknown whether she died in Italy or the US. Louis remarried in Natchez in 1872.

Adelaide appears in the 1886 census of Natchez living with John Davis and is identified as his niece.

Appreciate any information or pointers to where I can find out more. Thanks.

[lmclean1968]

Anthony D'Aversi was born in Sorrento, Italy in1811. He was a stow-away on a ship to America about 1855. Since he could not speak English the ship's captain gave Anthony the name John Davis. He came to settle in Natchez, MS about 1860. He married Honore and had several children. He ran a very profitable restaurant in Natchez. He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral and died in 1897. In 1872 Anthony had relatives who came from Italy to Natchez. Louisa Perisco was I think Anthony's niece. She married Louis Petagna from Palermo. They had a son named Frank and a baby girl named Adelaide Marie born Oct 5,1871. Louisa died from yellow fever shortly after arriving in Natchez. She is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Natchez. Louis Petagna remarried and had other children but Adelaide was adopted by her great- uncle Anthony D'Aversi a/k/a John Davis. Louis Petagna was a saloon keeper in Natchez. He died in Natchez from gout and heart disease at age 74 on 24 March, 1911. Adelaide Petagna married William Niel McLean (1872-1939) and had 4 sons. She named the oldest son after her uncle Anthony D'Aversi. His name was Neil Anthony McLean. The name has been carried on since with Neil Anthony McLean V born 1996. It is not clear what the relationship is with the Periscos and Petagnas.Adelaide could be great niece of Anthony
D'Aversi with Louisa Perisco being the daughter of Anthony's sister who married a Perisco or it could be D'Aversi's sister marrying Louis Patagna wno married Perisco.