Chiarella

[Milo]

Hi, I'm new here, just found this site today. And so happy I did!

I have very little information on my maternal grandfather and wondered if anyone knew anything of this name. His name was Thomas/Tomasso Chiarella, I think he was born in 1896 in Bari, Italy, came to the NY area stowed away on a banana boat and jumped ship in NY harbor before it docked. He married Antoinette Cortusa (my Nana - don't know the year). They had their first child, my mom, Mary Chiarella on Sept. 20, 1931 in White Plains, NY.

What I'm looking for is anything about Tom before he came to the US. I have little to no information on that part of my family. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!

edited for spelling

[vj]

Hello Milo!
Welcome to the forum, we're glad you're here !
Before we jump across the ocean, do you have
any of your grandfather's or Nana's US records?
It really helps when you find Italian records to know
you've found the correct fellow .
Valarie

[vj]

For example, you can get closer on birth dates
by using the Social Security Death Index: SSDI
(in case you don't have these)
Family Search

Name: Thomas Chiarella
Birth: 2 May 1895
Death: Feb 1978 - White Plains, Westchester, New York
Civil: New York

Name: Antoinetta Chiarella
Birth: 30 Sep 1901
Death: Aug 1982 - White Plains, Westchester, New York
Civil: New York

for both:
Death Residence Localities
ZIP Code: 10604
Localities:
East White Plains, Westchester, New York
Silver Lake, Westchester, New York
West Harrison, Westchester, New York
Westchester County Airport, Westchester, New York
White Plains, Westchester, New York

[Milo]

Wow, vj, that's both of them! I do remember that my grandfather died Feb. 23, 1978 and Nana was born 9/30/01 and died 8/15/82. I didn't know my grandfather was born in 1895. He was a year older than we thought.

Thanks so much, you're goooood!! And I especially like how you got the three names of the localities of where I grew up...E. White Plains/Silver Lake/W. Harrison are all one in the same. Weird.

[wldspirit]

Have you had the chance to go thru this website?

http://www.co.westchester.ny.us/wcarchives/default.htm

Any records found on your family should be sent for, records can give you additional clues and facts for your genealogy research.
wldspirit

[Milo]

Have you had the chance to go thru this website?

http://www.co.westchester.ny.us/wcarchives/default.htm

wldspirit

Well now I have and now I've become completely obsessed. 8O LOL! I came here just looking to see if I could find some info on my grandfather's roots and wound up downloading family tree software. Guess I'm hooked and it didn't take long.

Thanks so much for the information. I really do appreciate it.

[Biff83]

Well now I have and now I've become completely obsessed. 8O LOL! I came here just looking to see if I could find some info on my grandfather's roots and wound up downloading family tree software. Guess I'm hooked and it didn't take long.

Welcome to the club! We'll see what other information and help we can get you.

A presto.
Biff

[Milo]

Grazie, Biff!

[nuccia]

Have you had the chance to go thru this website?

http://www.co.westchester.ny.us/wcarchives/default.htm

wldspirit

Well now I have and now I've become completely obsessed. 8O LOL! I came here just looking to see if I could find some info on my grandfather's roots and wound up downloading family tree software. Guess I'm hooked and it didn't take long.

Thanks so much for the information. I really do appreciate it.

You think you're addicted now then just wait a week!