Migration between the "two Sicilies" 18th-19th century

[MarcuccioV]

Does anyone know of any history (or causes) of migrations between Sicily and the Italian peninsula from the late 1700's-mid 1800's..? In researching various family lines (mostly direct maternal) I keep getting led to Messina and Agrigento provinces in Sicily, both in documentation and DNA matches, yet no dotted or direct line connection to my own family tree in central Italy. Was there any sort of epidemic, political upheaval, agricultural or economic reason which may have caused a migration to the north during this time period..?

I have several mtDNA matches (maternal direct line) that ALL point to either northern Messina or western Agrigento. In most cases, to BOTH locales. My DNA also shows Sicily, Greek, Levant, etc as strong influences along with several locales in the southern peninsula. Yet I can't make any connections.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any type of event that may have led to any northern migrations which might explain the connections of families so far distant..? With no common thread aside from DNA..?

Just as an adjunct, many more of my DNA matches have ties to these Sicilian locales than to the areas where I have documented family (which I can't document before 1871). None of it makes any sense...

[darkerhorse]

Is Rome the destination you have in mind?

[darkerhorse]

I believe feudalism was abolished c.1812, but that might have discouraged emigration?

[MarcuccioV]

Is Rome the destination you have in mind?

Not entirely. My DNA ( non-documented) has roots in Lazio (Rome), Abruzzo (Chieti), Campania (Naples) & Puglia (Bari) -- albeit weaker in Puglia than Sicily. Town names are only for geographic areas, not specific communes of connection. The eventual destination was to the south & east of Rome.

BTW, why does it seem we are almost always the only ones that comment on each other's posts..?

[darkerhorse]

Right after I posted I figured out you just meant emigration to the south mainland.

I don't think there's widespread interest in many of the topics you or I raise, especially me. I believe I'm the MVP for unanswered topics.

Having said that, I don't fault anybody, it's just preferences. I've gotten some helpful replies, and I've learned a lot here.

Think of yourself as the Renaissance Man of the Forum.

[darkerhorse]

I'm content with being a dark(er)horse, to quote a phrase.

[MarcuccioV]

Right after I posted I figured out you just meant emigration to the south mainland.

I don't think there's widespread interest in many of the topics you or I raise, especially me. I believe I'm the MVP for unanswered topics.

Having said that, I don't fault anybody, it's just preferences. I've gotten some helpful replies, and I've learned a lot here.

Think of yourself as the Renaissance Man of the Forum.

Agreed on all points (nickname included)...

[darkerhorse]

mine or yours?

[MarcuccioV]

mine or yours?

I am in accord with all your points, including YOUR handle...

[darkerhorse]

I knew that. Just being snide.

[MarcuccioV]

I knew that. Just being snide.

You're good, but my late sister-in-law was better. She was the snark queen extraordinaire. Loved her.

[MarcuccioV]

Also, to add to some possible disinformation, the home commune's records don't always provide the clarity they should. A few of the handwritten early family death acts (closest to 1871) don't always provide a birthplace for the deceased. In the later "form type" acts, often the declarants were undertakers/gravediggers or possibly neighbors/acquaintances (surnames from the town which do not occur in the family lines anywhere). In these acts the birthplace is always listed as the home commune, but would a an acquaintance or gravedigger know that information or was it just a "default" by the official who had no knowledge of the decedant's birthplace..? There are just too many possibilities...

[MarcuccioV]

I just found an article that mentioned a massive revolt against the Bourbons who controlled Sicily in the 1800's. The revolt of the late 1840's (won by the Bourbons) created a vast diaspora of revolutionaries from Messina and other parts of Sicily. Perhaps this could be an event that pushed a migration to the north. Hmmm..?