Luciano Gullo

[Biff83]

I could use some help interpreting/verifying info on this death act found in allegati docs.

I'm seeing the death announced and took place on 6 Dec 1841 in the town of Aliminusa
The decedent Luciano Gullo was 80 years old, born in Aliminusa and the husband of Costanzia Pesi.
Occupation looks like carbonaro, carbonero but I've not been able to determine the profession, possibly something to do with coal?

http://dl.antenati.san.beniculturali.it ... 1.jpg.html

Thanks,
Biff

[AngelaGrace56]

I'm reading Carbonaro. I found two definitions "seller of charcoal" and the other which I don't think would apply "member of a secret society".

I believe the wife's surname is Peri.

Angela

[Biff83]

Thanks, Angela.

Biff

[AngelaGrace56]

Happy to help, Biff.

Angela

[mmogno]

I'm reading Carbonaro. I found two definitions "seller of charcoal" and the other which I don't think would apply "member of a secret society".
Angela

Buonasera @Angela
Carbonaio
Mestiere
Il carbonaio è il mestiere di trasformare la legna in carbone vegetale. Era un mestiere molto diffuso in Italia fino alla metà del secolo scorso, nelle località di montagna e di collina dove c'era abbondanza di legna, che costituisce la materia prima.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonaio

[AngelaGrace56]

I'm reading Carbonaro. I found two definitions "seller of charcoal" and the other which I don't think would apply "member of a secret society".
Angela

Buonasera @Angela
Carbonaio
Mestiere
Il carbonaio è il mestiere di trasformare la legna in carbone vegetale. Era un mestiere molto diffuso in Italia fino alla metà del secolo scorso, nelle località di montagna e di collina dove c'era abbondanza di legna, che costituisce la materia prima.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonaio

Ciao G

Thank you for posting this. As always, it is really helpful and interesting.

Angela

[erudita74]

Angela and G,

Here's info I had put together about the occupation for my husband's ancestry:

The carbonaio would venture out into the woods, either alone or with three or four friends and, through the process of combustion, would convert wood, which he had gathered, into coal. Upon arriving in the woods, he would first have to set up a temporary residence in which to live while he stayed in the woods to do his job. Since he might have to stay there for as much as a week, he needed to furnish himself with a temporary home where he could live and sleep. Doing this was necessary for his survival there. Also necessary for his survival were items he had carried from home, which included wheat for his polenta, bread, cheese, tobacco, and certain tools, such as a hoe and a shovel. The tools he would need, not only to construct his temporary residence, but also to clear a section of the land on which to build it, as well as to clear a section of the land on which to build the structure needed to change the wood into coal.

After clearing the land a certain dimension in circumference, he would construct a cone shaped structure made out of the layers of wood that he himself had gathered. He would then set this structure on fire, allowing it to burn for several days. Normally it would burn from four to ten days, with the amount of time depending upon the quality of the wood he had gathered, and also on the season of the year. Then, through the process of combustion, the wood would be transformed into coal. Controlling the fire was the most difficult phase of this process. The land, access to air, and a little reserve of water all were things that were important to him in controlling the various phases of the combustion process. At the end of the combustion phase, he would then put out the fire by suffocating it with dirt. At this point, he would gather the produced coal and place it in bags to cart it back to town to sell.

Transporting the coal back to town was accomplished with the help of mules. He would drive a cart, pulled by horse or mules, to sell his coal to local shopkeepers, carpenters, ironsmiths, and to local neighbors who would use the coal for heating and cooking,. The work of the coal seller was seasonal and was mainly executed from spring to autumn.

[AngelaGrace56]

Angela and G,

Here's info I had put together about the occupation for my husband's ancestry:

The carbonaio would venture out into the woods, either alone or with three or four friends and, through the process of combustion, would convert wood, which he had gathered, into coal. Upon arriving in the woods, he would first have to set up a temporary residence in which to live while he stayed in the woods to do his job. Since he might have to stay there for as much as a week, he needed to furnish himself with a temporary home where he could live and sleep. Doing this was necessary for his survival there. Also necessary for his survival were items he had carried from home, which included wheat for his polenta, bread, cheese, tobacco, and certain tools, such as a hoe and a shovel. The tools he would need, not only to construct his temporary residence, but also to clear a section of the land on which to build it, as well as to clear a section of the land on which to build the structure needed to change the wood into coal.

After clearing the land a certain dimension in circumference, he would construct a cone shaped structure made out of the layers of wood that he himself had gathered. He would then set this structure on fire, allowing it to burn for several days. Normally it would burn from four to ten days, with the amount of time depending upon the quality of the wood he had gathered, and also on the season of the year. Then, through the process of combustion, the wood would be transformed into coal. Controlling the fire was the most difficult phase of this process. The land, access to air, and a little reserve of water all were things that were important to him in controlling the various phases of the combustion process. At the end of the combustion phase, he would then put out the fire by suffocating it with dirt. At this point, he would gather the produced coal and place it in bags to cart it back to town to sell.

Transporting the coal back to town was accomplished with the help of mules. He would drive a cart, pulled by horse or mules, to sell his coal to local shopkeepers, carpenters, ironsmiths, and to local neighbors who would use the coal for heating and cooking,. The work of the coal seller was seasonal and was mainly executed from spring to autumn.

Thank you, Erudita. This is fantastic. I know that you thoroughly research the occupations of your ancestors and so it will be great to be able to refer others who are interested in this occupation to this post.

One thing I just wanted to mention is that it would be good to differentiate between "coal" (the mineral, naturally produced over a million years, mined and then used for heat) and "charcoal," which we have been discussing here, which is skillfully produced by a craftsman from the slow burning of carbon woods. Just a thought. There are possibly those who might not know the diference.

Thanks again.

Angela

[erudita74]

Yes, you're absolutely correct, Angela. It was charcoal which was produced from the burning of the wood and which would have then been used for heating, etc. The problem is that English translations you find for the word carbonaio usually indicate that he was a coal merchant or seller of coal.
Erudita

[AngelaGrace56]

Yes, you're absolutely correct, Angela. It was charcoal which was produced from the burning of the wood and which would have then been used for heating, etc. The problem is that English translations you find for the word carbonaio usually indicate that he was a coal merchant or seller of coal.
Erudita

Yes, I've noticed this too, but could the cabonaro have been the seller of coal and the carbonaio have been the craftsman/seller of charcoal??? (Just overthinking things here as usual.)

Angela

[erudita74]

Angela
I recall reading that the difference in spelling is regional, and does not affect the meaning of the word, but you can ask one of the native speakers to be sure. The ending of aio is found in the dialects of Central Italy. I think the aro ending is more southern Italy.
Erudita

[AngelaGrace56]

Angela
I recall reading that the difference in spelling is regional, and does not affect the meaning of the word, but you can ask one of the native speakers to be sure. The ending of aio is found in the dialects of Central Italy. I think the aro ending is more southern Italy.
Erudita

Yes, I remember reading this myself, just in the last day or so. Thanks anyway.

Angela

[researching]

I love how full of information you all are.

Thanks for sharing.

Julie

[erudita74]

Angela
I recall reading that the difference in spelling is regional, and does not affect the meaning of the word, but you can ask one of the native speakers to be sure. The ending of aio is found in the dialects of Central Italy. I think the aro ending is more southern Italy.
Erudita

I just wanted to add that, when we look at internet lists of Italian occupations and their English equivalents, I think too often we are seeing what a word means today and not necessarily what it meant during the time period in which it appears in these Italian records. That's why I always try to research each of the occupations, which I find in my own ancestral records, to be sure that I am really understanding what kind of work my ancestors engaged in during the time period in which they were alive.

Erudita

[erudita74]

I love how full of information you all are.

Thanks for sharing.

Julie

Always happy to share what I've learned from my research, Julie.

Erudita