I am new to the forum and wonder if someone might be able to help me locate the town of my grandfather's birth.
Listed on online records for naturalization and the ship SS Citta di Napoli is Angaloro. I cannot find this location. Somehow relatives had gotten the idea that my grandfather was from Palermo. I have searched online for anywhere in Italy, however. His wife, my grandmother, was from a Southern Italian family to the best of my knowledge. He met her in Chicago where he had come to join his brother.
His birth was in 1891 and he arrived at Ellis Island from Naples about April 1, 1907. I want to locate his birth record especially for acquiring Italian (dual) citizenship. My father was 11 by the time his father had become a U.S. citizen, so I believe I should qualify.
I have found the town of Angellara in the Salerno area. I wondered if the name written as Angaloro was misspelled in the records and if Angellara is actually the birthplace of my grandfather.
If you tell us his name, maybe we can help better...
Giuseppe "Pippo" Moccaldi
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My grandfather went by Andrew Sanzone in the U.S. I have seen a middle name of Carl and Charles used. On the ship's manifest, he was listed as Andrea Sanzone, but it was incorrectly transcribed as "Audrea Sautone," I believe. Some relations in Chicago spelled the surname as "Sansone."
I believe your grandfather's surname was Sansone not Santone per the following 1891 birth act from Vallo della Lucania. #93 bottom right.
Presented in the town hall of Vallo della Lucania on 23 June 1891 by father Antonio Sansone, 51, a farmer, living in (the frazione of) Angellara, who stated on 22 June from his wife Mariangiola Puglia, a farmer, was born a male child he named Andrea.
I am stunned to have an answer so quickly. I had suspected that Angellara was the right place, but was unable to confirm that. All of my life I have wanted to know where my grandfather was from in Italy. He died when I was very young, but I had established a deep love for him and bond with him. I am full of gratitude and joy to know this vital information! am also glad to know that my family name is actually Sansone,as well as the other information given in the record. So much for me to take in right now!
I wonder about the date of his birth - on his naturalization records it states June 23, 1891. I see from the information provided that he was born on June 22 and his father recorded the birth on the 23rd. Is that day of record the date that was used as what we call the birthday?
Two of my grandparents gave their birthdates as the one on which they were presented by their fathers in the town hall rather than the actual birth da,
Biff
"Mintammicce impizzu mpizzu ca pue largu minne fazzu sule!"
This is the Vallo della Lucania marriage act for Andrea's parents (your great grandparents) which gives the names of their parents (your great great grandparents). Right hand image.
Marriage--16 Aug 1890
Groom--Antonio Sansone, 50, a farmer, born and residing in Angellara, son of the deceased Andrea and the deceased Rosa Lettieri.
Pride--Angiola Puglia, 26, a farmer, born and residing in Angellara, daughter of the decease Tommaso and Anna Maria Majese.
I am thrilled to have this information. It means more than I can express.
I am thinking from the ages of my great great grandparents that my great grandfather Antonio could have been married before; and especially, if it is correct that my grandfather had a brother, Angelo, already living in Chicago when he came to the U.S. I have found census records that list Angelo Sansone in Chicago at the appropriate time period, but I cannot be sure that was really a brother or half-brother- maybe a cousin? My father did not talk about an Angelo that I can recall, but then people had lots of nicknames. (Interesting that Angelo's name was spelled Sansone rather than how my grandfather's was recorded on the ship and later as Sanzone.)
It was on the ship's record that he was joining a brother, Angelo, in Chicago.
Thank you, Marty. Thank you, Biff. You researchers are so kind. As I had said, I had always wanted to know about my grandfather's family and story, but the recent need to find his birth record gave it all an urgency. This means more than I am able to express to you right now.
Biff that is no Leva of Angelo Sansone in Vallo della Lucania check other places in Salerno also with those parents Antonio Sansone and wife Mariangiola Puglia.
Thank for checking Marty. So Andrea had a younger brother Tommaso. Since the Andrea was the first male child and Tommaso the second following the naming tradition, it's likely that this was both Antonio and Maria Angiola's first marriage.
Biff
"Mintammicce impizzu mpizzu ca pue largu minne fazzu sule!"
Contrary to popular belief, not all Italian given names have Christian or classical roots. Many names encountered in older records are almost whimsical, and some cannot be translated into Latin or any other language. In order to avoid possible mistranscription of a given name with which the research...