Brank and Skepes

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brutus16125
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Brank and Skepes

Post by brutus16125 »

Searching for info on Frank Francesco Brank-Born June 5, 1886 in Calabrese, Italy.
And Rose Alea Skepes Brank-Born January 10, 1903 in Sicily, Italy.
They had 13 children.
These are my Gr. Grandparents and i do not know much about them at all and would like to make a family tree.
I would also like to find out who there parents where, their D.O.B. and any info on them too.
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by BillieDeKid »

Hi Brutus

I think you may have to give more information, if it's possible.

Did your great grandparents shorten their surnames to americanize them? I tried doing a ships manifest search for Brank and Skepes and those names aren't coming back as being from Italy. Maybe you can check with your parents and/or grandparents to see what they can tell you about the last names.

Do you know about what year each one came to the USA? What are the names of their children? Do you know if they had relatives they were coming to stay with when they got to the USA? What year did they get married and where did they get married at?

The more info you can give the easier it will be for people on the site to help you.

Regards,
Elizabeth
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brutus16125
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by brutus16125 »

I cannot find any information on the internet about this, and alot of the people in my family who would know anything are deseased. I know they did come from the places i said. I know most of their childrens names;
John James Brank D.O.B.-Dec 14, 1922 -Died- Jan 5, 2007, Samuel Brank D.O.B.-April 3, 1935 Died-Sept.8,1998, James John Brank D.O.B.-July 25, 1930 Died-June 5, 2005, Anthony Brank D.O.B.-April 8, 1928 Died-October 9, 1997-He was a twin, but i don't know twins name-the twin died.,Madelynn Brank-Stillborn, Elizabeth Josephine Brank D.O.B.-1924 Died-July 29,1957,Geraldine, Frankie, Dominic, Mary and Madeline.
I know Rose Skepes came to the United States in 1906, when she was 3 years old.
The last name may have changed once in the USA though. I will do some more researching too.
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by brutus16125 »

I THINK the name could have been spelled Branca in Italy-not 100% on that though.
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by BillieDeKid »

This are the manifests for Francesco and I used just the Bran part of the name for the search with a birth year of 1886.

http://ellisisland.jewishgen.org/gold.p ... ECTION=asc

These are for Rosalia - I searched by first name born 1903 arriving 1906

http://ellisisland.jewishgen.org/gold.p ... lNumber=65

I think you're going to have to find out what the actual town names were. If you know what funeral home they were buried from you can get your grandfather and grandmothers parents names. That might be a big help. Also do you know if your grandparents ever naturalized?

Look at the manifests and see if the relatives that any they are going to might sound familiar.

Regards,
Elizabeth
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by suanj »

brutus16125 wrote:I cannot find any information on the internet about this, and alot of the people in my family who would know anything are deseased. I know they did come from the places i said. I know most of their childrens names;
John James Brank D.O.B.-Dec 14, 1922 -Died- Jan 5, 2007, Samuel Brank D.O.B.-April 3, 1935 Died-Sept.8,1998, James John Brank D.O.B.-July 25, 1930 Died-June 5, 2005, Anthony Brank D.O.B.-April 8, 1928 Died-October 9, 1997-He was a twin, but i don't know twins name-the twin died.,Madelynn Brank-Stillborn, Elizabeth Josephine Brank D.O.B.-1924 Died-July 29,1957,Geraldine, Frankie, Dominic, Mary and Madeline.
I know Rose Skepes came to the United States in 1906, when she was 3 years old.
The last name may have changed once in the USA though. I will do some more researching too.
Hi, I found the 1942 draft registration card of Frank:
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7434 ... 942sy0.jpg

the surname is wrote as Branki..... the birthdate is right, no italian birthplace wrote.... it seem to be a miner, if I understand well... and I found a Frank Branki in 1930 Loyalhanna, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania; the children name are right, also the age, and this Frank was a coal miner also , wife Rosie, frank imm. 1911, Rosie in 1918.... but the age don't matching, because was 32 in 1930 and or this is a error or is another person.. the twins was:
Madalan Branks
age 5 1/12
Jearland Branks
age 5 1/12
[hr]

1930 United States Federal Census
about Frank Branks
Name: Frank Branks
Home in 1930: Loyalhanna, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania
Age: 32

Estimated birth year: abt 1898
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Rosia
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military Service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:
View image

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members: Name Age
Frank Branks
32
Rosia Branks
25
John Branks
7 1/12
Josephine Branks
6 4/12
Madalan Branks
5 1/12
Jearland Branks
5 1/12
Toney Branks
2 8/12
[hr]
frankly I don't know is this 1930 census could be right, and the age of Frank wrong.... I cannot find the 1917-18 registration draft card ......regards, suanj
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by Essgee »

Found the 1930 census late last night, suanj, but didn't post. But I do think you have the right census. The name looks like Branchi....is this correct or a possbility?

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5029 ... susuz9.jpg
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by suanj »

In Calabria exist BRANCA as probable surname; also: Brancatisano, Brancato, Brancati, Brancaccio, Brancaleone, Brando, Brandi, Brancatella ...
it is important to know the right surname spell.. and to hope WWI draft registration card finding, for to know the birthplace.... regards, suanj
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by NOLA »

Hi,

I also posted a reply for Brank/Skepes in another category. There are Brancadoro in Fuscaldo, Provincia di Cosenza. Also Branca.. Apparently the name is common in the Albanese communities located in the Sila, an alpine region just north of Fuscaldo and Paola.
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by Essgee »

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3438 ... susuj7.jpg

This is a census that includes a Rose Skepo. There appears to be an arrival for a Rosaria Schepis on Oct 28, 1907. Rosaria is listed as a boy, but the children are Domenico, Francesco, and Rosaria as they are in the census. The ship is the Roma. They are from Lipari, which would fit.

There are a lot of the name Schepis and it might well the name we are looking for....

Does this look like it might apply?
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by Essgee »

Now I think I understand....

Rosalia..... Not Rose Alea. Kept thinking that Alea was a strange middle name...sounded like a surname.

Now...are Rosalia and Rosaria one and the same in this instance?
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by vj »

from essgee:
name Schepis and it might well the name we are looking for
----
A likely Schepis change to Skeps on military records
Could be Domenic Schepis from 1907 manifest & 1920 census
vj

1917 WWI Draft Registration Card
(pretty hard to read)
Name: Dominico Schepis
City: Not Stated
County: Armstrong
State: Pennsylvania
Birthplace: Italy
Birth Date: 1892
Race: Caucasian (White)
Roll: 1852736
DraftBoard: 1

1942 WWII Draft Registration Card
(note: pg 2 incorrect)
Name: Dominic Skeps
Birth Date: 26 Dec 1892
Residence: Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Birth: Mesiua, Italy (Messina)
Roll: WW2_2281105
---

edit: added here for clarity
SSDI
Dominick SCHEPIS
Birth Date: 26 Dec 1892
Death Date: Feb 1975
Social Security Number: 209-xx-xxxx
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Pennsylvania
Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 15212
Localities:
Allegheny, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Pgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Pitt, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by Essgee »

Good hunting vj!

...that could be the key...

Making more and more sense

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by vj »

Hey essgee :D !

Everyone,
Any idea's on Madelina's last name on the
1907 manifest?
I can't noodle out anything that suanj could
confirm for us.
essgee's manifest find:
lines 4-7
1907 manifest
pg 2
vj
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Re: Brank and Skepes

Post by brutus16125 »

Why could men register for the draft at the age of 50 or older for WW II?
That confuses me.
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