I am wondering if anyone has done any research on young boys leaving Italy to travel thousands of kilometers to another country to start a new life!
Both my grandfathers did this; one from Capo d'Orlando, Messina age 13 in 1903 and one from Molfetta age 14 in 1911. Both came to Western Australia.
It seems that they both travelled without family.
Was this a common trend? Send them out to make better lives for themselves; they were both fisherman.
In this day and age, and me as a mother, I cannot think of anything worse than sending my son off to another world at such a young age.
Just curious what your thoughts are and if any more information may be available on this matter.
thank you in advance
Maria
Young boys emigrating from Italy to Australia
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MariaStringer
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- Joined: 11 Jan 2025, 03:05
Re: Young boys emigrating from Italy to Australia
Do you know much about your grandfathers parents on both sides? Is it possible that they passed away at young ages leaving behind small children?
We've all read how tough it would have been during that time in Italy but to send 13/14 years olds on a 4 week boat trip to a foreign country seems odd. There must have been older relatives in Australia at that time don't you think? I think I know your paternal sides surname and it looks like a decent amount of them had already immigrated to Aus around 1900 so I think maybe at least you paternal grandfather was sent here to live with uncles and aunties.
May I ask what the Molfetta surname is? I think 3 or 4 of my Nonna's sisters married men from Molfetta once they all arrived in Perth.
Thx
We've all read how tough it would have been during that time in Italy but to send 13/14 years olds on a 4 week boat trip to a foreign country seems odd. There must have been older relatives in Australia at that time don't you think? I think I know your paternal sides surname and it looks like a decent amount of them had already immigrated to Aus around 1900 so I think maybe at least you paternal grandfather was sent here to live with uncles and aunties.
May I ask what the Molfetta surname is? I think 3 or 4 of my Nonna's sisters married men from Molfetta once they all arrived in Perth.
Thx
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MariaStringer
- Rookie
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 11 Jan 2025, 03:05
Re: Young boys emigrating from Italy to Australia
Thanks PicaJ.
My Paternal grandfather was a Miragliotta from Capo d'Orlando. He left Italy in 1903 bound for Western Australia. The story passed down to me was that came over to fish with his uncle. He was a successful fisherman in Geraldton, WA where he married a local English girl and died there.
My Maternal grandfather was a Valente from Molfetta who left Italy in 1911 also bound for Western Australia. He was a successful fisherman, living in Geraldton WA where he married a local English girl and also died there.
I dont know of any other family members already in WA that would have 'sponsored' him out or took him under their wing - I expect there was someone, somewhere that looked after him.
Both grandfathers married sisters, hence my parents are first cousins and tracing the family tree can get very tricky!
Also, both grandfathers' mothers had died when they were quite young, so it was probably decided that they should adventure elsewhere to make their living. I still cant get my head around the fact that they left their homes at such a young age and travelled across the world to a foreign land.
My Paternal grandfather was a Miragliotta from Capo d'Orlando. He left Italy in 1903 bound for Western Australia. The story passed down to me was that came over to fish with his uncle. He was a successful fisherman in Geraldton, WA where he married a local English girl and died there.
My Maternal grandfather was a Valente from Molfetta who left Italy in 1911 also bound for Western Australia. He was a successful fisherman, living in Geraldton WA where he married a local English girl and also died there.
I dont know of any other family members already in WA that would have 'sponsored' him out or took him under their wing - I expect there was someone, somewhere that looked after him.
Both grandfathers married sisters, hence my parents are first cousins and tracing the family tree can get very tricky!
Also, both grandfathers' mothers had died when they were quite young, so it was probably decided that they should adventure elsewhere to make their living. I still cant get my head around the fact that they left their homes at such a young age and travelled across the world to a foreign land.
