What does the record on the upper right say?

[Edward Keeports]

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1 ... cc=2046915

[erudita74]

This is a death record for an individual with the first name Antonino and the title "maestro" meaning he was a master at whatever trade in which he engaged. His parents were both deceased but his surname and the names of his parents are not given. He was of Palermo. He was age 55. Then it states the name of the person to whom he confessed, who was of Caltanissetta and also that he had received the sacrament of communion. It also gives the name of the church where he was buried.

[Edward Keeports]

Thank you Erudita!

Does the lack of parental names indicate he was a foundling?

[erudita74]

In this record, the lack of parental names does NOT indicate that he was a foundling. He was from another town, and the names of his parents were simply not known in Monreale when he died, which is why that info is blank in his death record.
Erudita

[Edward Keeports]

Thank you Erudita!

Was it common for people's surnames to be left out of their death records at the time?

[erudita74]

It was up to the individual priest what info he chose to include or not include in the church records, so I can't come to a general conclusion for you on the subject. The Council of Trent in the mid 1500s only dictated to the parishes that they had to keep records of the births/baptisms, marriages, and deaths that took place in their parishes. It didn't dictate the format those records had to take or what info had to be included. I've seen baptism records where the parents weren't named, or only the father was, and the mother was not.You can ascertain that it wasn't that the mother was unknown, as each record was written in the same manner, with the mother's name omitted. Also new mothers did not generally attend the baptism of their infants, as they had to undergo a purification period after the baby's birth. So their absence at the baptisms may account for their names being omitted by the priests. And, I've seen many death records which only contain the name of the deceased, a death date, and burial info. Even though we have church records for the 1500s and 1600s, those records sometimes have such scanty info that they prove to be of little value in tracing family history. But, on the other hand, we sometimes have more recent church records which also have little info, and which also don't prove useful to our genealogical research.
Erudita

[Edward Keeports]

Thank you for explaining that to me - now I understand why parents names are missing from some 16th century marriages

[erudita74]

You're very welcome, Ed. Happy New Year.
Erudita

[Edward Keeports]

Happy New Year Erudita!