Penella : Trying to research my last name

[meticulousmobile]

I've had some luck on both of my grandmothers' sides, Bottini from Parma, and Defeudis/Laposta from Manfredonia and Caserta, but my fathers' fathers' family is eluding me, and noone in my family seems to know if the spelling changed or not on emigration. So here is what I think I know. My name is Matthew Joseph Penella b 1981 in Quincy, MA. My father is John Vincent Penella born 1957 in MA. My mother is Maureen Therese Gaudet born 1960 in MA. My grandfather was Michael Penella, he died in 1991 I believe, Born around 1910-1915 in Boston, MA and served in WW2. I'm told his fathers' name was Vincenzo Penella, and that he was a sheep tender, and he used to say he was from 100 miles from Napoli, which is hard to interpret, sounds like he wasn't very fond of Napoli if you ask me. I'm told his wife was Vincenza Liuzzi, born in Montemoro (possibly died 1972 in Quincy, MA). Thats as far as I've reached. I used the italian surname page I saw the link to on this site, and theres a ton of liuzzi, but only 2 comuni with the name Penella. Ellis island records were confusing to me. Can anyone help me find where my actual surname is from, and help me find a few more generations back? Thanks!

[Poipuo4]

If you add another "n" and make it Pennella, there are quite a few hits in the Italian White Pages: www.paginebianche.it Put Pennella where it says Cognome. Tell us more about the Ellis Island searches you did. Maybe someone here can help to pinpoint the problem.

[vj]

Welcome to the forum!
Do these appear to be the correct records for
Vincenzo Penella?
There is a location in Italy...

1942 WWII Draft Registration Card
1917 WWI Draft Registration Card

[meticulousmobile]

Not sure on those records, the ww1 says Benella, the ww2 says Panella, both say oneida st in boston, I'll have to ask if that address is right. Not sure if he worked for a shoe company though. The ww1 is hard to read, maybe says Potenza?
As far as the ellis island records, only ones i found had 2 n's. I've heard that my g.g.grandmothers name was actually maria vincenza liuzzi, and they list one maria liuzzi from Tortorici, Messina, arr. 6-4-1909 at 25 yrs old but single. She arrived on the Neckor. The only Vincenzo close to that was from lauropoli, cosenza, arr. 4-12-1909 on the Batavia, age 28, married.

[misbris]

I am a little confused. Is Vincenza Liuzzi the wife of Vincenzo or of Michael?
Town for Liuzzi is probably Montemurro, Potenza, but could not find a Vincenza.


A couple of possibilities

First Name: Vincenzo
Last Name: Pennella
Ethnicity: Italy
Last Place of Residence:
Date of Arrival: Apr 25, 1892
Age at Arrival: 38y Gender: M Marital Status:
Ship of Travel: Burgundia
Port of Departure: Marseilles via Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0026

Manifest is misfiled and I can't bring it up



Vincenzo Penella Occupation Laborer
Age 16
Sex M
Literacy N
Arrived 27 Sep 1899
Origin Italy
Port Genoa
Last Residence Saponara
Destination San Francisco
Plan Unknown
Ship Trojan Prince
Passage Unknown

Saponara is in Sicily, not Naples.

I'll keep looking.

Mary Jo

[vj]

Here are a couple of census records for
Vincenzo. Do the children’s names look
Correct?
1930 census
previous census page

1920 census
edit: added
Note the last name of the boarder in 1920...

Note possible relatives at the same address in 1920 & at
#7 & #9 in 1930...

[vj]

If it is Saponara, Potenza on the WWI Card
this may be a possibility

"Grumento Nova
Province of Potenza, Region Basilicata, Italy
The Locality: Located in the valley of the Agri river,
was called Saponara until 1863, and
Saponara di Grumento from 1863 to 1932.
It was seriously damaged by the earthquake of
November 1980."

[Biff83]

Great work Valarie.

Common surnames in Grumento Nova Includes Pennella

Common surnames in Montemurro, Potenza Includes Liuzzi

Grumento Nova and Montemurro are about 9 miles apart.

Biff

[jolynn]

hello, i don,t know if this is any help but my great grandmother,s maiden name was possibly denalla, it was on a birth cert in england for her grandchild, her daughter had put it on by mistake thinking they were requesting her mothers maiden name not her own. now it could be spelt correctly or poss. not, it is another possibility that it could be the same name as your family penella, either could be spelt wrong, there is one thing in common and that is she came from what was then cassen (cassino) which was then 1856 in the province of caserta, which at that time was probably in the kingdom of the two scicilies, what do you think, regards john

[vj]

Hey Biff !
The WWI card was tough.

Possibly related SSDI records

Name: Vincenzo Penella
SSN: 012-18-xxxx
Last Residence: 02171 Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Born: 3 Nov 1888 Died: Jun 1974
State (Year) SSN issued:


Name: Michael W. Penella
SSN: 023-03-xxxx
Last Residence: 02171 Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts
Born: 22 Oct 1914 Died: 30 Jul 1992
State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts

[vj]

A possible 1908 manifest for Vincenzo (2nd one?)
1908 pg 1
page 2
- age 21? (abt 1887-1888) or age 31? (abt 1877-1878)
- married
- last residence Saponara, Potenza
- wife in Saponara, Maria ???
- destination Fitchburg, (Worcester County) MA
- in US 6yrs 1900-1906? in Los Banos, CA??
- joining b-i-l (a sister’s husband?)
- born in Saponara, Potenza
Note: non-immigrant alien
---

Interesting, possible 1st trip? 1899 manifest find by Mary Jo (above)
Vincenzo Pennella 16 & Vincenzo Liucci 38
and several others from Saponara, destination San Francisco

[Biff83]

Dupe post of 1899 manifest

Biff

[suanj]

Hi vj

Interesting, possible 1st trip? 1899 manifest find by Mary Jo (above)
Vincenzo Pennella 16 & Vincenzo Liucci 38
and several others from Saponara, destination San Francisco

In Grumento Nova it are the surname LIUCCI, right spelling, so it is probable right the ship's manifest
kisses, suanj

[vj]

Hey suanj !
Thank you!
Valarie

[vj]

Matthew,
Lots of possibilities!
If the address at 7 Oneida turns out to be correct,
it may be worthwhile to order Vincenzo's
Naturalization paperwork.
Valarie

Index Card

Publication Number: M1545
Publication Title:
Index to Petitions and Records of Naturalizations of
the U.S. and District Courts for the District of Massachusetts, 1907-1966
Publisher: NARA
State: Massachusetts

Admission Year: 1944
Immigrant Full Name: PENELLA VINCENZO
Court: D.C. (District Court)
Birth Year: 1889
Wife Name: [Blank]
---

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