I am looking for some verification of my research and thoughts/opinions about my conclusions. Based on 3 different sources, I have a Antonio Ricci, born in Popoli, Italy on April 10, 1890. The three sources are:
A July 24, 1912 New York County Marriage record from Whitehall, Washington, County, NY for Antonio Ricci age 22, son of Louis Ricci and Laurenzia Polardon.
A WWI Registration Card for Antonio Ricci living in Schenectady, New York. Date of birth April 10, 1890, Born in Popoli, Aquila, Italy.
A WWII Registration Card for Anthony Ricci living in Schenectady, New York. Date of Birth April 10, 1890. Place of Birth, Popoli, Italy.
I have not found any Antonio Ricci born in Popoli, Italy around the year 1890. However, I did find a Luigi Ricci born about 1859-1860 and a Laurenzia Polidoro who had several children around this time (the same names of the parents in the marriage record cited above). And of most interest I found an Antonio Giunone registered on 20 April, 1890 in Part 2 of the 1890 births for Popoli.
Page 1
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Page 2
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The declarant is Luigi Ricci born about 1860 and the child is described as “dell'apparente eta di giorni tre” [of the apparent age of three days]. That would make the date of birth April 17, 1890. I’m not certain, but it appears to state that Luigi Ricci promises to take custody of the child and raise him. Would this be considered something like an adoption of a foundling? And, is it possible/probable that Antonio Giunone would have been given the Ricci name and is the same Antonio Ricci above based on the 3 sources? My understanding of foundlings is that they kept the name given them in the civil registration.
This is in regards to a post on an ancestry message board, and I'm not familiar with the records in this Popoli. I believe it to be very probable that Antonio Giunone is the same person as the Antonio Ricci in the 3 sources above. The record before this one for Angela di Donati appears to be another foundling as well but I’m having difficulty deciphering and translating the document. Perhaps there are some clues in that record?
I look forward to any opinions on the probability that this Antonio is the same as the one in the 3 sources above as well as to any more information about exposed infants being adopted by the person that found them.
Thanks!
Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Robert
Some quick thoughts-
First of all, this was a child of the wheel. Abandoned there-next to the last line and last line on the first page-"nella ruota di ricevimento di projetti."
I'm surprised to find that the town officials consigned the infant to a male and not a female. In those days, breastfeeding was the norm, so an abandoned infant was normally consigned to a female who could then breastfeed it.
Since Luigi was a peasant, it's possible that his wife was as well. Many female peasants were violated while working in the fields, so maybe she found herself pregnant with someone else's child, they abandoned the infant at the wheel anonymously, and then they had second thoughts about doing so, or he then agreed to raise the child to protect his wife's honor. Also sometimes a parent abandoned a child at the wheel and then came forward to ask for it to be consigned to them in order to receive a stipend from the town for the infant's care and upbringing.
There was no formal adoption at the time. Only a town notary could change the name of the infant which had been consigned to it at the time of its presentation at the town hall. If that was the case, and the parents came forward to admit that it was their child and reclaim it, then there should have been a notation in the margin of this birth record. An act of recognition would then be among the civil records for that town, even years later than the date of the birth.
Have you located this child (even as an adult) on a passenger list to the U.S.? I would search under both surnames and look at his destination info. At one point, I found, on a passenger list, info about a child being the adopted son of the person listed as the person to whom he was destined in the U.S.
*I want to add that I find it odd that a peasant in the town, and not a person who worked at the institution which had the wheel for abandoned infants, would be the one coming forward to present the infant at the town hall. When Luigi appeared with the infant, he actually asked that it be "consigned to us" meaning to the town officials. So it's odd that they then turned over the care of the infant to him and not someone designated as a wetnurse. Normally a representative from the institution which had the wheel-be it a home for abandoned children, a convent, etc, would be the person who then presented the infant at the town hall.
Erudita
Some quick thoughts-
First of all, this was a child of the wheel. Abandoned there-next to the last line and last line on the first page-"nella ruota di ricevimento di projetti."
I'm surprised to find that the town officials consigned the infant to a male and not a female. In those days, breastfeeding was the norm, so an abandoned infant was normally consigned to a female who could then breastfeed it.
Since Luigi was a peasant, it's possible that his wife was as well. Many female peasants were violated while working in the fields, so maybe she found herself pregnant with someone else's child, they abandoned the infant at the wheel anonymously, and then they had second thoughts about doing so, or he then agreed to raise the child to protect his wife's honor. Also sometimes a parent abandoned a child at the wheel and then came forward to ask for it to be consigned to them in order to receive a stipend from the town for the infant's care and upbringing.
There was no formal adoption at the time. Only a town notary could change the name of the infant which had been consigned to it at the time of its presentation at the town hall. If that was the case, and the parents came forward to admit that it was their child and reclaim it, then there should have been a notation in the margin of this birth record. An act of recognition would then be among the civil records for that town, even years later than the date of the birth.
Have you located this child (even as an adult) on a passenger list to the U.S.? I would search under both surnames and look at his destination info. At one point, I found, on a passenger list, info about a child being the adopted son of the person listed as the person to whom he was destined in the U.S.
*I want to add that I find it odd that a peasant in the town, and not a person who worked at the institution which had the wheel for abandoned infants, would be the one coming forward to present the infant at the town hall. When Luigi appeared with the infant, he actually asked that it be "consigned to us" meaning to the town officials. So it's odd that they then turned over the care of the infant to him and not someone designated as a wetnurse. Normally a representative from the institution which had the wheel-be it a home for abandoned children, a convent, etc, would be the person who then presented the infant at the town hall.
Erudita
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
There is a public family tree on Ancestry for Luigi (Louis) Ricci and his wife Laurenzia Pollidaro; as well as his second wife, Maria Michela Caiani.
The only Antonio born to him (according to this tree) was born in 1912 in Schenectady, NY.
It would appear that IF this was the Luigi Ricci in the birth act for Antonio Giunone above, that his wife was not the mother of the infant. Laurenzia Pollidaro Ricci gave birth on 28 March 1890 to twin girls who died on 17 April 1890. This is the same day as the birth of Antonio... Luigi Ricci presented him 3 days later.
Perhaps they took in the child Antonio because Laurenzia was lactating and could care for the child.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/pe ... 5629/facts
T.
The only Antonio born to him (according to this tree) was born in 1912 in Schenectady, NY.
It would appear that IF this was the Luigi Ricci in the birth act for Antonio Giunone above, that his wife was not the mother of the infant. Laurenzia Pollidaro Ricci gave birth on 28 March 1890 to twin girls who died on 17 April 1890. This is the same day as the birth of Antonio... Luigi Ricci presented him 3 days later.
Perhaps they took in the child Antonio because Laurenzia was lactating and could care for the child.
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/pe ... 5629/facts
T.
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Thank you Erudita and Tessa!
Tessa, I did see the birth of the twins in the same year and realized that Laurenzia could not be the mother, but I had not yet searched for death records. Great find! Thank you for the research! With the death of the twins on April 17 your explanation makes a lot of sense that they would take the child in because Laurenzia was lactating.
Erudita, thank you for your amazing ability to decipher the handwriting! I have been reading a little about the concept of the "children of the wheel" and child abandonment, but I would not have gotten "nella ruota di ricevimento di projetti" from the record at all without your help. Even though it makes sense that Luigi would take in the child because they just lost their twin girls and his wife could breastfeed the baby, I agree that's it's strange that he was the one who presented the infant. What's really strange to me is that the record seems to say that Luigi is the one who found the infant at 3:50 in the morning on the wheel. Is that what it says? Also, does the record indicate that the wheel was located in a house for abandoned children? It seems to indicate some "casa" on "Via Lungo Aterno" where the wheel was located, but I'm not sure. This is the best deciphering of the handwriting I can do.
"e comparso Luigi Ricci di anni trenta contadino domiciliato in Popoli, il quale ci ha consegnato un bambino di sesso maschino dell' apparente eta di giorni tre resso il quale si e trovato un fasciatojo di lino bianco lagno e mi ha dichiarato che questa mattina alle ore tre e minuti cinquanta in Via Lungo Aterno nella ruota di ricevimento de proietti in cara la casa di strata il numero quattro ha trovato questo bambino, presso il quale erano gli oggetti io sua descritti senza alcun contrassegno giacente sussino(?) e con ambo le mani racchiase(?) entro il fasciatoio."
As far as locating Antonio's immigration to the US under Ricci or Giunone, I have not found anything concrete for him or his father Luigi.
Tessa, I did see the birth of the twins in the same year and realized that Laurenzia could not be the mother, but I had not yet searched for death records. Great find! Thank you for the research! With the death of the twins on April 17 your explanation makes a lot of sense that they would take the child in because Laurenzia was lactating.
Erudita, thank you for your amazing ability to decipher the handwriting! I have been reading a little about the concept of the "children of the wheel" and child abandonment, but I would not have gotten "nella ruota di ricevimento di projetti" from the record at all without your help. Even though it makes sense that Luigi would take in the child because they just lost their twin girls and his wife could breastfeed the baby, I agree that's it's strange that he was the one who presented the infant. What's really strange to me is that the record seems to say that Luigi is the one who found the infant at 3:50 in the morning on the wheel. Is that what it says? Also, does the record indicate that the wheel was located in a house for abandoned children? It seems to indicate some "casa" on "Via Lungo Aterno" where the wheel was located, but I'm not sure. This is the best deciphering of the handwriting I can do.
"e comparso Luigi Ricci di anni trenta contadino domiciliato in Popoli, il quale ci ha consegnato un bambino di sesso maschino dell' apparente eta di giorni tre resso il quale si e trovato un fasciatojo di lino bianco lagno e mi ha dichiarato che questa mattina alle ore tre e minuti cinquanta in Via Lungo Aterno nella ruota di ricevimento de proietti in cara la casa di strata il numero quattro ha trovato questo bambino, presso il quale erano gli oggetti io sua descritti senza alcun contrassegno giacente sussino(?) e con ambo le mani racchiase(?) entro il fasciatoio."
As far as locating Antonio's immigration to the US under Ricci or Giunone, I have not found anything concrete for him or his father Luigi.
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
rfiorille wrote: 29 Jun 2018, 23:32 "è comparso Luigi Ricci di anni trenta contadino domiciliato in Popoli, il quale ci ha consegnato un bambino di sesso mascolino dell' apparente età di giorni tre presso il quale si e trovato un fasciatojo di lino bianco logoro e mi ha dichiarato che questa mattina alle ore tre e minuti cinquanta in Via Lungo Aterno nella ruota di ricevimento de proietti vicino la casa distinta col numero quattro ha trovato questo bambino, presso il quale erano gli oggetti sopra descritti senza alcun contrassegno, giacente supino e con ambo le mani racchiuse entro il fasciatoio."
Emilio Lussu: “Che ne sarebbe della civiltà del mondo, se l’ingiusta violenza si potesse sempre imporre senza resistenza?”
Slava Ukraine!
תחי ישראל
Slava Ukraine! 
תחי ישראלRe: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Thank you mmogno! I'm always amazed at how the true letters become abundantly clear to me after you make the corrections!
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
I have also searched without successAs far as locating Antonio's immigration to the US under Ricci or Giunone, I have not found anything concrete for him or his father Luigi.
I did find an early manifest (with not much information provided on it) of Luigi Ricci arriving about 1897, and on the line above him was Nicola Pollidaro. Both were 42 years of age, I think.
T.
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
I found Antonio's manifest.
His name is Antonio Girmone on the search engine for Ellis Island manifests. He arrived on the SS Nord America which sailed on May 21, 1905 and arrived in NY on June 5, 1905. His destination is given as "to his father Luigi Ricci on Mulberry Street. The number on the house looks like 48 1/2.
Passenger card:
First Name : Antonio
Last Name : Girmone
Nationality : Italy, Italian South
Last Place of Residence : Popoli
Date of Arrival : June 5th, 1905
Age at Arrival : 16y
Gender : Male
Marital Status : Single
Ship of Travel : Nord America
Port of Departure : Napoli
Manifest Line Number : 0017
Erudita
His name is Antonio Girmone on the search engine for Ellis Island manifests. He arrived on the SS Nord America which sailed on May 21, 1905 and arrived in NY on June 5, 1905. His destination is given as "to his father Luigi Ricci on Mulberry Street. The number on the house looks like 48 1/2.
Passenger card:
First Name : Antonio
Last Name : Girmone
Nationality : Italy, Italian South
Last Place of Residence : Popoli
Date of Arrival : June 5th, 1905
Age at Arrival : 16y
Gender : Male
Marital Status : Single
Ship of Travel : Nord America
Port of Departure : Napoli
Manifest Line Number : 0017
Erudita
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Wha!?! Erudita, you rock! That's such a great find! So that means his name change to Ricci probably occurred in the US? You must have been convinced that he was Giunone until he came to the US.
Thank you for such a great find!
Thank you for such a great find!
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
If I tell you how easy it was to find, you're going to kick yourself. I went on the stevemorse.org website a few mins ago and typed in Antonio for the first name and the town name. Then I looked through the list of names that came up and went to the Ellis Island website to see if a manifest would come up with the name spelled that way, and lo and behold, there it was!
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Ha! Of course I was going to ask how you found it! I was imagining some secret search method. Although, I have to admit I've only used stevemorse.org to search for streets and enumeration districts. I definitely have to revisit that site now!
So, I think some type of court record search for a name change would be next, no? Any other searches you want to perform that will make me kick myself again?!
So, I think some type of court record search for a name change would be next, no? Any other searches you want to perform that will make me kick myself again?!
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
I love the fact that you found this, although I'm still confused as to why it seems that Luigi was the one who found Antonio on the wheel and subsequently presented him. Unless if I'm reading the document wrong. Any thoughts?
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
I honestly don't know why Luigi found him on the wheel, but that is my understanding of the record. As I think I previously stated, or implied, any institution that had the mechanical device-the foundling wheel-had a person there who operated the wheel and received (or brought inside) any infant or child who had been placed on it. There was normally a bell there that the person, anonymously leaving the infant there, rang before disappearing. So I find it very odd that Luigi found him there and also that he was the one who presented him at the town hall.
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Also I was typing you a private message, which I have now lost, and need to retype.
Re: Antonio Ricci, possibly adopted founding Antonio Giunone?
Yes. That is my understanding of the way the wheel operated. I thought possibly the wheel was located in Luigi's house. But I doubt that. It would be interesting to look at more records in the town for other foundlings. Maybe that would shed some light.
Sorry you lost the private message. I know that can be frustrating.
Robert
Sorry you lost the private message. I know that can be frustrating.
Robert
