orphans & illegitimate children in italy 1850

[SugnuSicilianu]

There exist, and the LDS has filmed, some records regarding "proietti".

First, many birth records of foundlings, after the details of discovery in the wheel, name, and surname, have a phrase or paragraph dealing with the disposition of the foundling. This may simply say "arrangements were made according to law", or it may say that the child was consigned to a wetnurse, and even give the name of the wetnurse.

When I first started looking at records, I ignored most of what what written after the child's name, assuming it to be "boilerplate", but some valuable information may be found there.

Second, some towns (Sora is one) actually had official civil records on pre-printed forms, giving the name given to the foundling, the date it was found and where, the name of the wetnurse to whom it was consigned, the monthly payment due the wetnurse, and if applicable, the date of death of the infant.

In many cases, the "wetnurse" was the mother who had abandoned the child, was paid to wetnurse it, and kept it thereafter. In other cases, (if the child was not theirs) the family of the wetnurse kept the child only until it was old enough to work (sadly, as young as 5 years old). In others, the family informally 'adopted' the child and it lived with them into adulthood. Knowing the name of the wetnurse may shed light on the identity of the foundling.

Sometimes a child (and the community) knew who its parents were, but later record-keepers were bound to report only what was on official records. Thus a man who knew his parents might still have "genitori ignoti" on his marriage record, because that was what was shown on his birth record.

Children who began life as Proietto or Trovato did sometimes revert to their father's surnames, which might be shown on some of their own childrens' birth records and not on others.

Sometimes, after the list of actual births in a given year, handwritten records can be found, referring to a completely different, earlier, year, and saying that "This is to rectify the birth record of Giovanni Proietto, born - - - . His parents were - etc."

This may occur at any time after the original birth, often just before the "foundling" was to be married.

Search the LDS data base with the keywoord "proietto" or "proietti." This may reveal some helpful records. A visit to the actual town, even after many years, may uncover common knowledge about who the parents of a foundling may have been.

"Belcaro" can be taken to mean "beautiful dear one", and certainly fits the pattern of "fantasy names" given to foundlings.

[MaurizioPerrone]

Yes, this is good explanations of Italian culture behind the laws and customs for the trovatello, and also the clues sometime they are "hiding" on the birth act. In many town the traditions are different also, law is the same but the culture of the town (interpretations) is different.

This is good writing for explanations, it can help maybe some people who are searching for clues of the trovatello.

[klmbaleno]

Ciao Suanj, i just sent you an email...

I have found my grandfathers birth records. He is from Sant Eufemia D' aspromonte. His surname is Baleno. I checked the micro film from 1800 to 1905 and his was the only baleno name. I believe he was an orphan. I can not find a mother or fathers name on the birth record. It was not done on a standard form, it was written in longhand. He told my father he was an orphan and grew up in SantEufemia D Aspromonte. How do I find out if there was an orphanage in his town. And would he have a Bptismal record and how would I find the church in the town? Any help would be so appericated. my email address is klmbogdan925@comcast.net

[suanj]

on the ship's manifest of Pietro Baleno arrived in USA the Dec 12, 1907 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0011
Pietro mentioning as "father" Antonio Versace in Sant'Eufemia di Aspromonte, so it is very possible that Pietro, because no parent's names on the birth record, it was a foundling, and it raised from Antonio Versace family as own child, also if he never adopted legally....
suanj

[kenrob39]

I am looking for roots of the surname GIGLINI, which, we are told, was given to a foundling by a priest or orphanage. We are told GIGLINI was a name manufactured and not a normal one.

Thank you,

kenrob39

[Chinzia]

Hi everyone,

I'm researching on my Great Grandfather who was Giovanni Lisbona born in 1883 in Acireale, Catania, Sicily.

Apparently this is how the story goes:

Giovanni was an illegitimate child of the Baron of Calatabiano and a waitress. The mother left the child at a Sacra Rota in Acireale, and the baby was adopted to a family. The baby was already known with the last name "Lisbona." The adopted family had a nickname of "Jaddina."

What I'm interested in, is would "Lisbona" have been made up by the orphanage prior to the adoption? Or would the mother have attached her surname to the child?

I want to try and locate records, but I have no idea where to begin. Basically all the Lisbonas in Sicily are small in number and probably are all related. Whether the Mother's surname was really "Lisbona" and from elsewhere in Italy I have no idea.

I realise that "Lisbona" is the Italian pronunciation of the capital of Portugal. My family, at least the ones in Sicily and my relatives are all Catholic.

Any Ideas?

[roccoespo2341]

My Grandfather,Genaro Esposito from Bagnolie came to America mid to late 1800's. Does anyone have any info on people from this area?