Name change

[peachy]

My Grandfather's "American" name was Frank Mitchell. His death certificate states he was born in Vella Franca, Italy. How do I go about finding his birth name?
Thank you for any information.

[suanj]

Hi and welcome!
Vella Franca, most probably, it is Villafranca .. in Italy are various town named Villafranca; but I think that your ancestor coming from one of 2 Villafrancas in Sicily ( Villafranca Tirrena or Villafranca Sicula) and the surname could be Miceli ...hoping helpful,
suanj
maybe if you can provide more details, I can be more precise....

[peachy]

Thank you for your response..He was born in 1872 and died in 1953 in Birmingham Alabama USA.His wife's name was Josephine Canova listed as born in Italy(no town). I'm not sure when they arrived here(separately I think).
Both became US citizens at some point according to death certificate.
I'll try researching the name Miceli.

[suanj]

Hi, seeming that your ancestor came around 1888, and in 1930 he was petitioner for US citizenship:
1930 United States Federal Census
about Frank Mitchell
Name: Frank Mitchell
Home in 1930: Cardiff, Jefferson, Alabama
View Map
Age: 57
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Josephine
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 Mitchell 57
Josephine Mitchell 50
Veta Mitchell 18


Josephine Canova (by 1930 census) came in 1889 and she was alien..

other census:
1900 United States Federal Census
about Frank Mitchell
Name: Frank Mitchell
Home in 1900: Pratt, Jefferson, Alabama
Age: 26
Birth Date: Jul 1873
Birthplace: Italy
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1888
Relationship to Head of House: Head
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Spouse's Name: Josephine
Marriage Year: 1895
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 5
Residence : Pratt City, Jefferson, Alabama
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Frank Mitchell 26
Josephine Mitchell 29
Jena Mitchell 2




1910 United States Federal Census
about Frank Mitchel
Name: Frank Mitchel
Age in 1910: 36
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1874
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Spouse's Name: Josephine
Home in 1910: Precinct 51, Jefferson, Alabama
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1898 (1888)
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Frank Mitchel 36
Josephine Mitchel 30
Jesse Mitchel 12
Frank Mitchel 10
Rachel Mitchel 7
Toney Mitchel 4
Joe Mitchel 2



1920 United States Federal Census
about Frank Mitchel
Name: Frank Mitchel
Home in 1920: Cardiff, Jefferson, Alabama
Age: 48 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1888
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Image: 24
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Frank Mitchel 48
William Mitchel 40
Frank Mitchel 18
Inez Mitchel 17
Louie Mitchel 13
Joe Mitchel 10
Victor Mitchel 8


It is your ancestor family???

[peachy]

WOW! You are Good, yes I think this may be my ancestor. Some of the children's name do not match up but that could have been a language or census taker problem. I will check it out.
If I ever decide to try the Italian citizenship route I'll contact you about it.
Thanks so much

[peachy]

WOW! You are Good, yes I think this may be my ancestor. Some of the children's name do not match up but that could have been a language or census taker problem. I will check it out.
If I ever decide to try the Italian citizenship route I'll contact you about it.
Thanks so much

[peachy]

WOW! You are Good, yes I think this may be my ancestor. Some of the children's name do not match up but that could have been a language or census taker problem. I will check it out.
If I ever decide to try the Italian citizenship route I'll contact you about it.
Thanks so much

[vj]

Here are links to the census images that suanj found

1900 census
1900 pg 2
1910 census
1920 census
1930 census

[peachy]

thank you