Looking for my Nonna

Are you looking for an Italian surname? Do you need more information about your family heritage?
This is the right place to start your genealogy search.
Post Reply
VIVERE2012
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Aug 2012, 00:46

Looking for my Nonna

Post by VIVERE2012 »

I am trying to find information about my grandmother who was brought over to the US to Boston as an infant, I was told. She lived in the Calabria region and her name here was Lillian A. Niosi. She was born in 1891 and I have tried to look at passenger manifests from 1891-2 but am not coming up with the information I want. I would like to know her mother and father's names. My mother's name was Concetta, but she never used that name and I am wondering if my Nonna also switched her name a bit. I see that there are some Antonia's and Anthony's in the Niosi family. Now that I have a little grandson, this has become very important to me, and I would like to go to the area she lived in, for a visit. Any assistance would be so appreciated. From what I can tell, she worked as a servant for a family in Boston, until she married.
Michael31
Master
Master
Posts: 824
Joined: 17 Aug 2004, 00:00
Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by Michael31 »

User avatar
Tessa78
Master
Master
Posts: 17514
Joined: 07 Sep 2009, 18:09

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by Tessa78 »

According to the 1910 Census, she is 19 years old (DOB about 1891) and she immigrated in 1892 - so she was about 1 year old when she arrived in US?



T.
User avatar
suanj
V.I.P.
V.I.P.
Posts: 15264
Joined: 20 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Molise region, Italy
Contact:

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by suanj »

Hi Tessa,
Lillian was married at Walter F Bennett; the family in 1920:
1920 United States Federal Census about Lillian A Bennett
Name: Lillian A Bennett
Age: 28
Birth Year: abt 1892
Birthplace: Italy
Home in 1920: Boston Ward 20, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Walter F Bennett
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Walter F Bennett 24
Lillian A Bennett 28
Elizabeth C Bennett 1
[1 2/12]
Ernestine M Bennett 0
[2/12]


in 1930:
1930 United States Federal Census about Walter Bennett
Name: Walter Bennett
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1897
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Race: White
Home in 1930: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
View Map
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Lillian Bennett
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: Canada
Occupation:

Education:

Military Service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:

View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Walter Bennett 33
Lillian Bennett 39 imm. 1892, naturalized
Concetto Bennett 11 (Concetta, female)
Ernestine Bennett 10
Walter Bennett 8
Onafrio Bennett 6
Lillian Bennett 4

Lillian Niosi Bennett death: 11/5/1934 in Massachusetts

I believe that her father was Onofrio and not Antonio as in the genealogic tree on ancestry.com; also I believe that the mother first name was Concetta..

I found this 1900 census:

1900 United States Federal Census about Neorfi Neossi
Name: Neorfi Neossi
[Onofrio Neossi]
[Neorfi Niosi]
[Neorfi Neosse]
Age: 54
Birth Date: 1846
Birthplace: Italy
Home in 1900: Boston Ward 6, Suffolk, Massachusetts
[Suffolk]
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1897
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Marriage Year: 1877
Years Married: 23
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Occupation: View on Image

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members: Name Age
Neorfi Neossi
54
Peter Neossi
22
Amelia Neossi
17

sure this Onofrio had another daughter, Rose married at Antonino Sacco:
1900 United States Federal Census about Antonino Sacca
Name: Antonino Sacca
[Antonine Sacca]
Age: 33
Birth Date: Jan 1867
Birthplace: Italy
Home in 1900: Boston Ward 6, Suffolk, Massachusetts
[Suffolk]
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1888
[1898]
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Rosie Sacca
Marriage Year: 1893
Years Married: 7
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Occupation: View on Image

Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members: Name Age
Antonino Sacca
33
Rosie Sacca (imm. 1891 marr 1893)
26
Conjetta Sacca
6
John Sacca
4
Josephine Sacca
2
Salvatore Sacca
3/12

Rose died soon:

name: Rosa Sacco

titles & terms:
event: Death
event date: 18 Aug 1912
event place: Boston,,Massachusetts
residence:
street address:
gender: Female
age:
marital status: Married
occupation:
birth date:
birthplace: Italy
estimated birth year:
burial date:
burial place:
cemetery:
father: Onofrio Niosi
father's titles & terms:
father's birthplace:
mother: Congetta Fellucia( maybe Fileccia)

mother's titles & terms:
mother's birthplace:
additional relatives:
spouse: Antonio Sacco

volume/page/certificate number: 265
film number: 2396421
frame number:
digital folder number: 4283290
image number: 01030

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... cc=1463156

the son Peter Niosi ( Pietro Niosi) coming from Patti town, Messina province, Sicily, IT
First Name: Pietro
Last Name: Niosi
Ethnicity: Italy, Italian
Last Place of Residence: Messina
Date of Arrival: Sep 06, 1898
Age at Arrival: 22y Gender: M Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: Patria (1882)
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0010

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0010
going to father Onofrio in Boston, MA Peter married at Rose De Luca


1920 United States Federal Census about Peter Niose
Name: Peter Niose
[Peter Niosi]
Age: 43
Birth Year: abt 1877
Birthplace: Italy
Home in 1920: Boston Ward 20, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1895
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Rose Niose
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Home owned: Own
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Peter Niose 43
Rose Niose 38
Lillian Niose 14 ( born with first name of Letteria)
James Niose 11
Parmenia Niose 8
Joseph Niose 6
Rose Niose 4
[4 9/12]
Eleanor Niose 1
[1 6/12]

Letteria birth ( daughter of Peter Niosi)
name: Letteria Niosi
titles & terms:
event: Birth
event date: 22 Apr 1905
event place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
gender:
race:
registration date:
registration place:
christening date:
christening place:
christening age:
death date:
death age:
father: Pietre Niosi
father's titles & terms:
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother: Rosa De Luca
mother's titles & terms:
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
paternal grandfather:
paternal grandmother:
maternal grandfather:
maternal grandmother:
additional relatives:
volume/page/certificate number: v 553 P 65 #2888
film number: 2057532
digital folder number: 4341238
image number: 677

other daughter:
name: Palmina Niosi
titles & terms:
event: Birth
event date: 08 Apr 1911
event place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
gender:
race:
registration date:
registration place:
christening date:
christening place:
christening age:
death date:
death age:
father: Peter Niosi
father's titles & terms:
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother: Rosa Delucca
mother's titles & terms:
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
paternal grandfather:
paternal grandmother:
maternal grandfather:
maternal grandmother:
additional relatives:
volume/page/certificate number: p 90
film number: 2409818
digital folder number: 4401725
image number: 104

other:
name: Rose Niosi
titles & terms:
event: Birth
event date: 08 Apr 1915
event place: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
gender:
race:
registration date:
registration place:
christening date:
christening place:
christening age:
death date:
death age:
father: Peter Niosi
father's titles & terms:
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother: Rose Deluca
mother's titles & terms:
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
paternal grandfather:
paternal grandmother:
maternal grandfather:
maternal grandmother:
additional relatives:
volume/page/certificate number: p 308
film number: 2409902
digital folder number: 4401726
image number: 983

name: Onofrio Niosi
gender: Male
baptism/christening date:
baptism/christening place:
birth date: 12 Apr 1909
birthplace: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
death date:
name note:
race:
father's name: Pietro Niosi
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother's name: Rosa De Luca
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
indexing project (batch) number: I09724-1
system origin: Massachusetts-EASy
source film number: 598657
reference number: 3729

death :

name: Tomasa Niosi
titles & terms:
event: Death
event date: 17 Apr 1907
event place: Boston,,Massachusetts
residence:
street address:
gender: Female
age: 3
marital status: Single
occupation:
birth date: 1904
birthplace: Boston
estimated birth year: 1904
burial date:
burial place:
cemetery:
father: Peter Niosi
father's titles & terms:
father's birthplace:
mother: Rose Di Luca
mother's titles & terms:
mother's birthplace:
additional relatives:
spouse:
volume/page/certificate number: 106
film number: 2258666
frame number:
digital folder number: 4283025
image number: 00213


also I found by MA archive:
birth of:

Niosi Concetta Giacomina Boston 1901



I believe that the above records could be abt the Lillian A Niosi... I am no sure abt that, obviously, but I am positive...
It is strange that the only daughter living with Onofrio in 1900 census was Amelia Niosi; but she is 17 old in the census...

however because Lillian A Niosi Bennett had children named Onofrio and Concetta as a well Peter Niosi had children with same name... I believe that they was sibling...

but it is just my suggestion...

regards,
suanj
Envy is the most flattering of flattery

----------------------------------------------
Visit my website:
ITALIAN ORIGIN SEARCH
VIVERE2012
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Aug 2012, 00:46

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by VIVERE2012 »

I want to thank you for your response to my request for assistance in finding my Nonna. I regret that I do not understand Italian (yet!) but I appreciate your help and I will investigate the maps further.
vivere2012
VIVERE2012
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Aug 2012, 00:46

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by VIVERE2012 »

Tessa78 wrote:According to the 1910 Census, she is 19 years old (DOB about 1891) and she immigrated in 1892 - so she was about 1 year old when she arrived in US?



T.
Hi Tessa, thank you, yes, that corresponds to the information I have, my grandmother was about a year old when she arrived in the US.
VIVERE2012
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Aug 2012, 00:46

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by VIVERE2012 »

Dear Suanj: I so appreciate all the information you have supplied! It will take me a while to go through all of it, but it is very helpful and will be of great assistance to me. Bless you,
vivere2012
Lilly_Bstn25
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: 07 Apr 2013, 06:37

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by Lilly_Bstn25 »

My great-grandmother was Lillian A. Niosi. She was born in 1892. I am currently trying to find out more about her family as well. I know she lived in the Dorchester area. Thank you to those whom have responded to your initial inquiry. The census information was very interesting. Have you had any further luck determining the names of her Parents?
I have heard my Gram speak of a Concetta, but I don't remember the conversation.
Lilly_Bstn25
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: 07 Apr 2013, 06:37

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by Lilly_Bstn25 »

Concetta was my grandmother's sister. she went by liz
Lilly_Bstn25
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: 07 Apr 2013, 06:37

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by Lilly_Bstn25 »

Hi Tessa,
The people referrenced in this reply were my grand-mother's sisters.
VIVERE2012
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 5
Joined: 04 Aug 2012, 00:46

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by VIVERE2012 »

Concetta was my mother. She was called Liz by her sisters and brothers, or "Auntie Bennie", LOL. I wish I had picked her brain more while she was alive so that I could find out more about our ancesters. Blessings on all of us.
Melijean
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: 03 Jul 2014, 22:28

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by Melijean »

This is fantastic!!!!!! Lillian Niosi was my Great Grandmother! Ernestine Bennett was my Grandmother! I cant believe I stumbled upon this! how wonderful~~~~
User avatar
suanj
V.I.P.
V.I.P.
Posts: 15264
Joined: 20 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Molise region, Italy
Contact:

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by suanj »

Hi, so long time4...!
I found the arrival of Onofrio Niosi -father of Lillian (in Italy her first name was Letteria)
First Name: Onofrio
Last Name: Noisin (NIOSI)
Ethnicity: Italy, Italian
Last Place of Residence: Messina
Date of Arrival: Jan 04, 1898
Age at Arrival: 51y Gender: M Marital Status: D
Ship of Travel: Alsatia
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0024

coming from Messina, widow, shoemaker, final destination: Boston, joining at brother in law Antonio Saccà
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0024

Letteria NIOSI (became Lillian Bennett in USA) birth:

Name: Letteria Niosi
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 31 Jan 1889
Event Place: Messina, Messina, Italy
Gender: Female
Father's Name: Onofrio Niosi
Mother's Name: Concetta Fertucci
Entry Number: 196

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... 8-25572-62
Letteria Niosi was born in 1889 and not in 1891....
Envy is the most flattering of flattery

----------------------------------------------
Visit my website:
ITALIAN ORIGIN SEARCH
User avatar
suanj
V.I.P.
V.I.P.
Posts: 15264
Joined: 20 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Molise region, Italy
Contact:

Re: Looking for my Nonna

Post by suanj »

a correction :
the son Peter Niosi ( Pietro Niosi) coming from Patti town, Messina province, Sicily, IT
First Name: Pietro
Last Name: Niosi
Ethnicity: Italy, Italian
Last Place of Residence: Messina
Date of Arrival: Sep 06, 1898
Age at Arrival: 22y Gender: M Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: Patria (1882)
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0010

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0010
going to father Onofrio in Boston, MA Peter married at Rose De Luca
Pietro Niosi coming from MESSINA town and not Patti town.. sorry... I mistaken the last residence
here the record:
Pietro Niosi ( son of Onofrio and brother of Lillian/Letteria) arrival:
Given Name: Pietro
Surname: Niosi
Last Place of Residence: Messina
Event Date: 06 Sep 1898
Age: 22y
Nationality: Italian, W
Departure Port: Naples
Arrival Port: New York
Gender: Male
Marital Status: S
Ship Name: Patria

joining at father Onofrio Niosi in Boston, MA
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0010
sunaj
Envy is the most flattering of flattery

----------------------------------------------
Visit my website:
ITALIAN ORIGIN SEARCH
Post Reply