Researching records further and further back in italy?

[john_dominic]

Ok, this might be beginner's stuff (so please tell me if it is), but i'd like to be able to get back deeper with my family.

I have gone back as far as the original villiage of all of my ancestors and gotten their birth certificates.

Obviously, it includes the date and their parent's names.

Where on earth do I go from here?

Normally (in America), i'd just start paging through the records, in a window of 15 years for a marriage certificate of their parents, and then (with the birth year / location of the parents), i'd page through get their birth certificate, and repeat the process.

However, not being in Italy, I could imagine this is going to be refused to be done, or at least considered a pain in the butt and an insult to them.

Anyone have advice in researching this way, way far back?

Or, will I have to go there in person and bring someone with me to translate?

Thanks..

-J

[mfjp]

Hi John,

You can research family records - on film- at a local Family History Center. To find the closest FHC, search here... and give them a call...

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... et_fhc.asp

To see what film is available do a search here...

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... umns=*,0,0

Price per film is about $3.50 per month... and you would have to book a light table to view the film.

mfjp

[ptimber]

You can only go back to early 1800's and then to church records back to early 1700's and even further back if there is a historical component to your family or family surname. If you view the films bring along a magnigying glass and purchase the biook Discovering your Italian ancestors by Lynn nelson which is an accompaniment to viewing micrfofilms of the town of origin should one exist. it will be handwritten in old script so be prepared to squint!! peter

[ptimber]

Dear John_Dominic why didn't yopu research all this whe n you were in Italy??? Peter

[john_dominic]

Dear John_Dominic why didn't yopu research all this whe n you were in Italy??? Peter

Because when I went last (5 years ago), it was on a whim (my study-abroad program went to rome and there was a cheap flight to sicily), where I LUCKILY happened to find the one branch of my family I knew at the time.

Realize that my family had not spoken to them in 80 years, and this was quite a surprise to them.

I've been in tough finances over the last few years, but I will go back when I have the time and money for it.

BTW - for the above post, what on earth are you talking about when you say "Local History Center?"

Is that some LDS thing? I'm not exactly keen on working with them.

And are they authentic Italian records, or no?

Thanks...

[ptimber]

Thats not my term!!! The records are copies of original handwirtten records. Peter

[mfjp]

BTW - for the above post, what on earth are you talking about when you say "Local History Center?"

Is that some LDS thing? I'm not exactly keen on working with them.

And are they authentic Italian records, or no?

meaning a Family History Center NEAR YOU... and they are the LDS ...

As you are not to “keen on working with them.... “ then all I can say is good luck with the research.... maybe it is best that you research this in Italy... you obviously have the wrong impression of them.

Yes, they are the authentic Italian records - photographed on film...

At the FHC I attend, there are a variety of light tables that have high magnification lens and regular lens to enlarge all documents. I never had to bring a magnifying glass to read, nor did I ever have to squint...

I hear that different FHC have different equipment... so Peter’s advice about the magnifying glass could be right.

The people who volunteer at my center are researchers like everyone else and have always helped me out...

If you live in a big city or a near one, then you could call your Public Library - explain that you want to research from the LDS film, they will direct you to a Library where film can be ordered, and viewed once the film comes in...

mfjp

p.s. if it wasn't for the LDS taking on this world-wide project of photographing Birth, Marriage, Death records, and thousands of other documents... researching our ancestors would be almost impossible.

[trevisan2]

Italian civil records in Northern Italy can date back to 1871 at the civil records. Anything earlier are found at the parish level.
I have personally been involved with the research process and have view many many records dating back to the 1600's and 1550's.

My advice to contact a professional researcher in Italy. I use Italroots.com I have used them for 10 years now, with great results.

Currently I am involved in a very extensive extraction project, where I am connecting the entire parish into a giant pedigree chart. We are into our third parish. I will share information with anyone that has an interest.
But will not make it available to the general public.
Others, that want to do their own research, are free to do.

What area in Italy are you interested in?
travisan2

[ptimber]

Dear Trevuisan 2 STOP PEDDLING YOUR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS REGARDIN JOEL COLE of ITALROOTS. YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY USE THIS COMMERCIAL ( money making) ACTIVITY BY JOEL COLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW SO IT IS OBVIOUS YOUR PEDDLING. PETER

[VaDeb]

trevisan2

How wonderful for you that you can afford to pay "teams" of researchers to build pedigree charts of the entire parish! Most of us tracing our Italian ancestors do not have this luxury. You also stated that civil records are only available until 1871. This is not true. Many areas (especially in the south) have records back until 1809.

Don't deprive folks the "thrill of the hunt". It is so much more rewarding to discover another generation on your own, rather than just getting some other researchers conclusions in the mail. With the fabulous help available here from Peter, Suanj and others our family genealogies are waiting to be discovered.


Debbie

[ptimber]

I already sent you a message which is not viewed but in which I explained that civil records in what used to be the kingdomof the Two Sicilies have civil records dating back to 1809 and that in the north of Italy some cities,towns and village have civil records of varying dates and some none at all but it was only afgter unification of Italy in 1872 that civil records became regulation for all of Italy and Sicily. Therefore I want to correct the error on your part for any hapless reader who becomes confused by your error about dates of civil records. The church records do indeed go back to the council of Trent inthe 17th century but are not unifrom and go by prelate to prelate and condition to conditon depending on the church and how indifferent the prelate is to requests. That is why it is suggested that people pay $15.00 per request as a "donation". Peter

[john_dominic]

BTW - for the above post, what on earth are you talking about when you say "Local History Center?"

Is that some LDS thing? I'm not exactly keen on working with them.

And are they authentic Italian records, or no?

meaning a Family History Center NEAR YOU... and they are the LDS ...

As you are not to “keen on working with them.... “ then all I can say is good luck with the research.... maybe it is best that you research this in Italy... you obviously have the wrong impression of them.

Yes, they are the authentic Italian records - photographed on film...

At the FHC I attend, there are a variety of light tables that have high magnification lens and regular lens to enlarge all documents. I never had to bring a magnifying glass to read, nor did I ever have to squint...

I hear that different FHC have different equipment... so Peter’s advice about the magnifying glass could be right.

The people who volunteer at my center are researchers like everyone else and have always helped me out...

If you live in a big city or a near one, then you could call your Public Library - explain that you want to research from the LDS film, they will direct you to a Library where film can be ordered, and viewed once the film comes in...

mfjp

p.s. if it wasn't for the LDS taking on this world-wide project of photographing Birth, Marriage, Death records, and thousands of other documents... researching our ancestors would be almost impossible.

Ok, well - this is new to me.

Somehow, up until this point I have used them for ZERO research, whatsoever, and i've got things all the way back to cities of origin, with birth certificates for a lot of them already.

However, the real reason I was apprehensive is my awareness of the fact that they do genealogy, due to some sort of "reverse baptism" into the mormon church for all people in the course of history, and that sort of creeps me out.

Then again, if the deed is done, why should I care?

So, how far back to the LDS records go and are they civil or by parish?

[john_dominic]

Italian civil recoreds date back to 1871 at the civil records. Anything earlier are found at the parish level.
I have personally been involved with the research process and have view many many records dating back to the 1600's and 1550's.

My advice to contact a professional researcher in Italy. I use Joel Cole of Italroots.com I have used them for 10 years now, with great results.

Currently I am involved in a very extensive extraction project, where I am connecting the entire parish into a giant pedigree chart. We are into our third parish. I have teams working full time. Its very grand and exciting for me.
What area in Italy are you interested in?
travisan2

I am currently looking in Caccamo, Santa Cristina Gela and Trecastagni in Sicily. Virtually all of my ancestors (by sheer coincidence) come from there.

The only exception to that is my family name possibly coming from the Trento/Bolzano Area in the North, but that is a complete mess, since it used to be under Austrian Rule, and my ancestors likely moved from that area to what currently is the Czech Republic 150+ years ago (or longer), and that sort of thing requires a professional researcher, since I know neither Czech, nor German, nor the nuiances in that region (and they're cheap, due to the low value of the Czech currency).

And guys, don't knock on travisan2 for using professional research teams.

Don't tell me that you wouldn't do it if you could afford it, too.

As for myself, I may consider that route, depending on cost / difficulty.

I will be going back to Italy/Sicily in due time, but I don't have the patience to wait a few years to get more research done there...

[ptimber]

Dear John Dominic He is "advertising" and has done this enough times to raise eyebrows. While I can appreciate the use of hired help in a tight siutation mentioning the fee for service on several occcasions leads me to believe he is peddling services to you and others. As for Mormon church and being baptised, that makes you antsy in my mind. Why would it bother you if they make some mumbo jumbo when your not looking and how would yopu know and if it does not lead to an orgasm who cares. Peter

[mfjp]

So, how far back to the LDS records go and are they civil or by parish?

To see what film is available do a search here... !! Did you even try

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... umns=*,0,0

Don't worry about the reverse baptism thing 8O ... just go in... order your film.. and research on your own terms... but... it's more exciting to look for your own family instead of having others do it for you...

Happy New Year to you! Grappa and all... mfjp