Hi all - I was hoping to come to this community with some advice on how to best go about finding information on my Sicilian great grandparents, as part of a process of applying for Italian citizenship. Much family lore has been lost, but through research I have been able to find full names -- Antonio De Matto and Rose Teracciano -- who immigrated from 1906 and 1907 respectively, he doing so at 24, and she at around the same age. They were married before they immigrated, I believe in the year 1896. Antonio would have been born around 1882 and Rose two years later.
Unfortunately, though I am fairly certain that both of them were born in Sicily, I have not been able to find which commune they were born in, and am at a loss as to how to do that. Searches online have turned up blanks, other than the US census info that I have used thusfar. I was hoping one of you all might be able to suggest a direction in which I might focus my research? Is there a central place to find Italian/Sicilian geneological Information. I am an intermediate Italian speaker, if that may open up an potential avenues.
Thank you so much for you advice!!
Help with Sicilian Ancestors
Re: Help with Sicilian Ancestors
Welcome to the forum!
According to your year references...Antonio would have been 14 and Rose would have been 12 at their marriage... in 1896. Where did you get these dates?
The surname MATTO exists in Palermo and Melissa in Sicily -
The surname Terracciano exists in the Province of Siracusa mostly, and a bit in Trapani.
Few more details, please?
Where did they settle in US?
Names of Children?
Did they have any other relatives (brother, etc.) to which they were travelling when they immigrated?
Is this the family in the 1930 US Census in North Haven, CT?
Name Antonio De Matto
Sex Male
Age 48
Birth Year (Estimated) 1882
Birthplace Italy
Marital Status Married
Race White
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Father's Birthplace Italy
Mother's Birthplace Italy
Event Type Census
Event Date 1930
Event Place North Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Event Place (Original) North Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Line Number 10
Sheet Letter A
Sheet Number 9
Affiliate Publication Number T626
Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Antonio De Matto's Spouses and Children
Open All
Esther De Matto
Daughter
F
9
Connecticut
Louis De Matto
Son
M
20
Connecticut
Rose De Matto
Daughter
F
8
Connecticut
Sebastian De Matto
Son
M
21
Connecticut
Salvatore De Matto
Son
M
18
Connecticut
Ricco De Matto
Son
M
13
Connecticut
Louise De Matto
Daughter
F
12
Connecticut
Rose De Matto
Wife
F
47
Italy
Joseph De Matto
Son
M
16
Connecticut
ADDITIONAL EDIT:
This is the arrival of Rosa Terracciano, 23, married; and her brother-in-law Luigi D'Amato, 20, in NY port in June 1906. They sailed from the port of Naples.
Rosa is married and joining her husband Antonio D'Amato in North Haven, Connecticut.
Luigi is single and joining his brother Antonio D'Amato in North Haven, CT.
They are from Brusciano (which is a town in the Metropolitan City of Naples)
Lines 4 and 5
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-co ... cessSource
In case you do not have access to Ancestry
T.
According to your year references...Antonio would have been 14 and Rose would have been 12 at their marriage... in 1896. Where did you get these dates?
The surname MATTO exists in Palermo and Melissa in Sicily -
The surname Terracciano exists in the Province of Siracusa mostly, and a bit in Trapani.
Few more details, please?
Where did they settle in US?
Names of Children?
Did they have any other relatives (brother, etc.) to which they were travelling when they immigrated?
Is this the family in the 1930 US Census in North Haven, CT?
Name Antonio De Matto
Sex Male
Age 48
Birth Year (Estimated) 1882
Birthplace Italy
Marital Status Married
Race White
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Father's Birthplace Italy
Mother's Birthplace Italy
Event Type Census
Event Date 1930
Event Place North Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Event Place (Original) North Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Line Number 10
Sheet Letter A
Sheet Number 9
Affiliate Publication Number T626
Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Antonio De Matto's Spouses and Children
Open All
Esther De Matto
Daughter
F
9
Connecticut
Louis De Matto
Son
M
20
Connecticut
Rose De Matto
Daughter
F
8
Connecticut
Sebastian De Matto
Son
M
21
Connecticut
Salvatore De Matto
Son
M
18
Connecticut
Ricco De Matto
Son
M
13
Connecticut
Louise De Matto
Daughter
F
12
Connecticut
Rose De Matto
Wife
F
47
Italy
Joseph De Matto
Son
M
16
Connecticut
ADDITIONAL EDIT:
This is the arrival of Rosa Terracciano, 23, married; and her brother-in-law Luigi D'Amato, 20, in NY port in June 1906. They sailed from the port of Naples.
Rosa is married and joining her husband Antonio D'Amato in North Haven, Connecticut.
Luigi is single and joining his brother Antonio D'Amato in North Haven, CT.
They are from Brusciano (which is a town in the Metropolitan City of Naples)
Lines 4 and 5
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-co ... cessSource
In case you do not have access to Ancestry
T.
Re: Help with Sicilian Ancestors
To summarize what I have posted above...
It appears the surname for Antonio is D'AMATO (De Matto would have likely been a phonetic spelling in USA records)
The manifest for Rosa Terracciano and Luigi D'Amato (wife and brother of Antonio) in 1906, shows their last place of residence as Brusciano, Napoli, Italy. They sailed from the port of Naples. I do not believe that they are from Sicily, as their surnames are found in Campania Region, and most definitely in the town of Brusciano.
I searched for online records for Brusciano, but did not find any after 1865.
If you are looking to apply for Italian Citizenship, you will need a certified copy of the birth act for Antonio D'Amato. You will need to write directly to the town of Brusciano for this.
Be sure to include YOUR photo ID and an email address.
ADDRESS:
Ufficio dello Stato Civile
Via Cucca, 79 (NA)
80031
ITALY
Email:
sindaco@comune.brusciano.na.it
Good luck!
T.
It appears the surname for Antonio is D'AMATO (De Matto would have likely been a phonetic spelling in USA records)
The manifest for Rosa Terracciano and Luigi D'Amato (wife and brother of Antonio) in 1906, shows their last place of residence as Brusciano, Napoli, Italy. They sailed from the port of Naples. I do not believe that they are from Sicily, as their surnames are found in Campania Region, and most definitely in the town of Brusciano.
I searched for online records for Brusciano, but did not find any after 1865.
If you are looking to apply for Italian Citizenship, you will need a certified copy of the birth act for Antonio D'Amato. You will need to write directly to the town of Brusciano for this.
Be sure to include YOUR photo ID and an email address.
ADDRESS:
Ufficio dello Stato Civile
Via Cucca, 79 (NA)
80031
ITALY
Email:
sindaco@comune.brusciano.na.it
Good luck!
T.
-
thomas.humphrey
- Newbie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 16 Nov 2024, 15:37
Re: Help with Sicilian Ancestors
Thank you so much for all of this help!! The information you found (the census record) is what I had as well but was not able to find the manifest--- New Haven is certainly where they ended up!!
The family story has always been that this side came from sicily, which would explaine why I had some dead ends when searching there.
Thank you so much again!!
The family story has always been that this side came from sicily, which would explaine why I had some dead ends when searching there.
Thank you so much again!!
Re: Help with Sicilian Ancestors
Happy to help!
T.
T.
