Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

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frattlaw
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Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

This is my first post and I wanted to say thanks to anyone that can provide any help or assistance...

I have already performed a lot of research. I am having a hard time bridging the gap between the US and Italy.

I have been able to secure the Passenger List illustrating that my great grandfather, Giovanni Fattorosi, emmigrated to NYC from Naples in 1890. He was 32 at the time, born in 1858. I also have the 1910 Census showing his family and that my grandfather was born 1901. The family then moved to New Jersey in the 1920s but there's no record of the family in the 1920 or 1930 census in NJ.

I have tracked my family back to a small Commune south of Naples called Lettere. Matter of fact my family history dates back to at least the late 1300s in this town. My direct descendant (perhaps 23rd removed great grandfather) married the great - great granddaughter of Baron Rainaldo Gilardi, a Norman Knight from Provence France that fought along side King Charles of Anjou in his conquest of Naples in 1284. The Galardi history dates back to 1034 when another ancestor fought against King Manfred near Sorrento.

And another relative married the granddaughter of Count Miroballo when they were the royal bankers for King Alfonso.

I have a copy of a book (in Italian) written about the history of Lettere. This book discusses my family in depth not only in Lettere but also in Rome and Alife. At the end of the book is an abridged family tree from 1428 through 1891. I have attached a copy of this page. I am trying to get this entire book translated but it is written in Latin and Italian.

Where I am having problems is bridging the gap. I cannot find any references to where my great-grandfather and great grandmother were born and/or married in the Census or Passenger List. I need this in order to secure my Italian citizenship.

I have been to Lettere and neither the town's archives nor the Parish archives go back as far as 1858. I do not even know my great grandmother's maiden name. No one in the family with any knowledge of our history is alive to give any help either.

I have been to Lettere twice already and cant find anything there. I know there are literally dozens of small Communes in and around Naples. Trying to search each one seems futile. Is there a central respository for birth and marriage records in Naples. The surname is unique and all others in the US with the name are direct relatives.

I am not opposed to traveling to Italy again to continue the research but does anyone have any suggestions ? Any help would be very appreciated...

Michael
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by VaDeb »

AS a starting point, is this the 1910 census for the family you are referring to?

Name: John Fattoiosi
[John Fattorosi]
Age in 1910: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Spouse's Name: Anna
Home in 1910: Brooklyn Ward 20, Kings, New York
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1896
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
John Fattoiosi 52
Anna Fattoiosi 41
Annie Fattoiosi 18
Nunziata R Fattoiosi 12
Ernest Fattoiosi 9
Louis Fattoiosi 7
Michael Fattoiosi 5
William Fattoiosi 2
Rose Pinto 55
Joseph de Mala 26


Debbie
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by VaDeb »

Also, what area of NJ did the family move to? Can you provide the spouses names for any of the children?

Ernest married ?
Louis married ? Possible Marie?
Michael married?
William married?

These details will help to identify your family in census records.

Thanks
Debbie
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

VaDeb wrote:AS a starting point, is this the 1910 census for the family you are referring to?
Yes... Ernest is my grandfather. And he married Catherine Goetz. He may have had an earlier wife that passed but I know that Catherine was my father's mother. My father is Joseph John, my uncle is John Joseph and my aunt is Marie Salerno. They moved to Perth Amboy first then Port Reading.

William married Lena (unknow maiden name)

Louis married Josephine (unknow maiden name)

But I think Lena and Josephine were sisters. Catherine might have even been another sister.

Michael (unknown wife)
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by VaDeb »

I believe this is Ernest and Catherine on the 1930 census

Name: Ernest Fatterosi
Home in 1930: Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey
View Map
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1901
Birthplace: New Jersey
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Katherine
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:

View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Ernest Fatterosi 29
Katherine Fatterosi 23
Marie Fatterosi 1 11/12
pink67
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by pink67 »

VaDeb wrote:AS a starting point, is this the 1910 census for the family you are referring to?

Name: John Fattoiosi
[John Fattorosi]
Age in 1910: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Spouse's Name: Anna
Home in 1910: Brooklyn Ward 20, Kings, New York
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1896
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
John Fattoiosi 52
Anna Fattoiosi 41
Annie Fattoiosi 18
Nunziata R Fattoiosi 12
Ernest Fattoiosi 9
Louis Fattoiosi 7
Michael Fattoiosi 5
William Fattoiosi 2
Rose Pinto 55
Joseph de Mala 26


Debbie
Here is the census manifest image that Debbie :D found:

[img=http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1736 ... ohn.th.jpg]

It seems this was a second marriage for John/Giovanni, he stated he was married with Annie since 14 years while his first daughter Annie was 18 years old and was born in Italy...
I believe Annie was his daughter from his first marriage...
Note that Rose Pinto Age 55, is listed as sister in law...

Possible 1900 census for Giovanni and first wife Luigia:

1900 United States Federal Census
about Giovano Fatorusa
Name: Giovano Fatorusa
[Giovaio F Fatorura]
Home in 1900: Brooklyn Ward 10, Kings, New York
Age: 35
Birth Date: Jan 1865
Birthplace: Italy
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1895
Relationship to Head of House: Head
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Spouse's Name: Luigia
Marriage year: 1891
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 9
Residence : New York City, Kings, New York
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Giovano Fatorusa 35 head, born in IT on January 1865, married since 9 years, immigr. 1895 1895
Luigia Fatorusa 25 wife, born in IT, married since 9 years, mother of 4 children among whom 3 living, immigr. year 1897
Francisco Fatorusa 7 son, born in IT, immigr. year 1897
Hanna Fatorusa 5 daughter, born in IT, immigr. ear 1897
Maria Fatorusa 2, daughter, born in NY

[img=http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4378 ... 900.th.jpg]

Laura
frattlaw
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

Yes that would be them on the 1910 Census and I do have a copy of that....However that is not them on the 1900 Census.

And I do think that Anna was his second wife. I saw that Rose Pinto was his sister-in-law but I dont know if its from his first marriage or the one to Anna. I tried researching Pintos but nothing really came up.

However you guys are already finding more than I did. Thanks.

Michael
frattlaw
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

Here's a copy of the family tree I tried to upload in my first post...

Image
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by VaDeb »

This might be Lewis on the 1930 Census

Name: Lewis A Fattorori
Home in 1930: Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey
View Map
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Marie
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:

View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Lewis A Fattorori 27
Marie Fattorori 29
Lewis J Fattorori 2
Jean Seroki 22

Debbie
frattlaw
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

VaDeb wrote:This might be Lewis on the 1930 Census

Name: Lewis A Fattorori
Home in 1930: Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey
View Map
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1903
Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Marie
Race: White
Occupation:

Education:

Military service:

Rent/home value:

Age at first marriage:

Parents' birthplace:

View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Lewis A Fattorori 27
Marie Fattorori 29
Lewis J Fattorori 2
Jean Seroki 22

Debbie
Yes that is Louis, my father's uncle and my great uncle.

Michael
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by pink67 »

What about this 1896 arrival manifest?

[img=http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7708/f ... val.th.jpg]


New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
about Giovanni Fattoruso
Name: Giovanni Fattoruso
Arrival Date: 23 Dec 1896
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian
Ship Name: Patria
Search Ship Database: View the Patria in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Line: 37
Microfilm Serial: M237
Microfilm Roll: M237_669

Giovanni (male age 38) was travelling with his wife Anna (age 27) and daughters Immacolata (age 5) and Anna (age 3)... they stated Gragnano as last residence in Italy...

Laura

edit todd: Gragnano is just 3 miles far from Lettere :D
pink67
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by pink67 »

I want to point you this very helpful free site for vital records research in NYC:

http://www.italiangen.org/VRECLIST.stm

Laura
frattlaw
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

pink67 wrote:What about this 1896 arrival manifest?

[img=http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7708/f ... val.th.jpg]


New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
about Giovanni Fattoruso
Name: Giovanni Fattoruso
Arrival Date: 23 Dec 1896
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1858
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian
Ship Name: Patria
Search Ship Database: View the Patria in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Line: 37
Microfilm Serial: M237
Microfilm Roll: M237_669

Giovanni (male age 38) was travelling with his wife Anna (age 27) and daughters Immacolata (age 5) and Anna (age 3)... they stated Gragnano as last residence in Italy...

Laura

edit todd: Gragnano is just 3 miles far from Lettere :D
That could very well be them. The ages seem to correspond to the 1910 Census. Except there is no Immacolata in the 1910 Census but she may have passed away before then. And Gragnano is just down the hill from Lettere.

Michael
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by pink67 »

well, :D

Do you bellieve possible this might be the 1920 census?:


1920 United States Federal Census
about John Fattarss
Name: John Fattarss
[John Fathauer]
Home in 1920: Woodbridge Ward 3, Middlesex, New Jersey
Age: 51 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Anna
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1896
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Image: 483
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John Fattarss 51
Anna Fattarss 50
Agnes Fattarss 18
Louis Fattarss 16
Michael Fattarss 14
William Fattarss 12

there are incongruences on the ages but it was pretty normal....

[img=http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6720/f ... 920.th.jpg]

Laura
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Re: Bridging the Gap - Italy to America -

Post by frattlaw »

pink67 wrote:well, :D

Do you bellieve possible this might be the 1920 census?:


1920 United States Federal Census
about John Fattarss
Name: John Fattarss
[John Fathauer]
Home in 1920: Woodbridge Ward 3, Middlesex, New Jersey
Age: 51 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Anna
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1896
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Image: 483
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John Fattarss 51
Anna Fattarss 50
Agnes Fattarss 18
Louis Fattarss 16
Michael Fattarss 14
William Fattarss 12

there are incongruences on the ages but it was pretty normal....

[img=http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6720/f ... 920.th.jpg]

Laura
Yes, that is them. Boy they butchered the name !! It looks like my grandfather, Ernest, had left his father's home by then since he was 19. If you look directly below that entry you will see Anna as the wife of Joseph Scotto. That is the daughter Anna.

I know he operated a bakery and my father delivered bread for him growing up.

Nice work.
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