Scerni - Gesulina Rossi & Eugenio Raymondi

[DrGregC]

My great grandfather was Eugenio Raymondi (b. 10/23/1850). Eugenio was a very special man. A "Cavaliere dell'Ordine dell Corona d'Italia". In fact, it is the book that he wrote in 1919, "Piccola Monografia Sur Scerni" that gave us the history of the Raymondi family back to the 1500's in Venice. A new edition of this book was published by Corrado Squadrone in 2015.

To me, the most important person, and the person we know the least about, is my great grandmother, Gesulina Rossi. Eugenio and Gesulina had 6 children together, but never married. The children were raised with the surname Rossi, but lived in the home their father, Eugenio Raymondi, the most respected man in Scerni. Gesulina died young. The children were raised by a governess after their mother died. Eugenio signed a legal document in 1920 certifying that he was the father of the 6 (now adult) children who had lived with their mother's surname, Rossi. By then, the 3 girls were all married, but the 3 boys changed their name to Raymondi. Quite a story.

My relatives in Italy tell me that Gesulina was loved and cared-for like a wife, but was never married or given his name. Eugenio is buried in a tomb of honor in the town square. Gesulina died and was buried in 1901-02, possibly following the birth of her son, Christino. She was supposedly buried at the foot of the mountain below Scerni, where the common people were taken.


Any and all information about my great grandmother, Gesulina Rossi, would be greatly appreciated. Her story is very important to my family.

[Italysearcher]

Just because they never married civilly doesn't mean they didn't marry in the church. It seems strange that he would raise them and live openly with her. Italian women do not take the surname of their husbands on marriage and it is unlikely she would be buried in the tomb of honour. There is usually only one cemetery in a town so that is where she would be buried, common or not.

[bbivona]

Since in 1920 he acknowledged 6 adult children, it looks like they probably had more than 6 children together. Mario Rossi, age 10 months, died on 10 Oct 1900, son of an unknown father and of Gesolina Rossi, an unmarried seamstress.
http://dl.antenati.san.beniculturali.it ... ewsIndex=0