Searching for my great grandparents

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ladyleopard1106
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Searching for my great grandparents

Post by ladyleopard1106 »

Hi everyone! I took on the challenge of doing a family tree for my own personal knowledge, and it has spiraled out of control. LoL. But this is why I'm here....I'm hoping somone (or a few of you), might have access to records or information that I don't (or at least that I haven't come across yet).

My grandfather Angelo DiFronzo and his brother Ralph came to the states from the town of Fontanarosa. I am trying to find out who their parents were, as I have my grandmother's parents and my tree looks a little funny with nothing for my grandfather! If anyone can find out any information, or knows where I can get the information from, it would be greatly appreciated!

-Lori
vj
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Hello Lori
Welcome to the Forum!
We'll be happy to take a look.
Where did Angelo & his family live in the US?
Valarie
---

Lori
If this is your Angelo Difronzo, this is a record you may want to have ($27)
His SS Application will include his parents names

Name: Angelo Difronzo
SSN: 150-10-xxxx
Last Residence: 08059 Mount Ephraim, Camden, New Jersey
Born: 15 Nov 1897
Last Benefit: 08078 Runnemede, Camden, New Jersey
Died: Feb 1980
State (Year) SSN issued: New Jersey (Before 1951)

Social Security Application SS-5

His SS# is available here if you don’t already have it:
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/ ... _form=true

About the SS Application:
http://genealogy.about.com/od/online_re ... equest.htm
The SS-5, or Application for Social Security Number is a great resource for learning more about individuals who died after about 1960, and generally includes the following:
- Full name
- Full name at birth, including maiden name
- Present mailing address
- Age at last birthday
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Father's full name
- Mother's full name, including maiden name

- Sex
- Race as indicated by the applicant
- Whether the applicant ever applied for Social Security or Railroad Retirement before
- Current employer's name and address
- Date signed
- Applicant's signature
Order form SSA-711 (can be done online):
http://www.ssa.gov/foia/html/foia_guide.htm
vj
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Is this your 1930 census?

possible 1930 census
page 2

Home in 1930
315 Mt Vernon Street
Camden, Camden, New Jersey

head Raphel Difronzo 40, abt 1890
- immig 1909, Al
wife Lucy Difronzo 29
children
Angelo Difronzo 9
James Difronzo 7
Rose Difronzo 6
Nicholas Difronzo 4 10/12
Louis Difronzo 2 1/12

brother Angelo A Difronzo 33, abt 1897
- immig 1914, Na
- bricklayer

brother-in-law Nick De Minno 23
brother-in-law Frank De Minno 12
---

WWI Card?

Angelo listing his mother in Italy as his nearest relative?

possible 1918 WWI Draft Registration Card
---

and manifest?

Angelo joining brother Raffaele in Malvern (Chester) PA
leaving mother Rosa Ruggiero in Fontanarosa? (Avellino, Campania)

1914 manifest
page 2
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by wldspirit »

That does appear to be the correct spelling:

Campania AVELLINO FONTANAROSA

See this site:

http://www.landfinder.it/townfinder.asp
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vj
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Hello wldspirit :D !
No luck finding brother Raffaele's manifest
Was hoping it listed his father in Italy
Valarie

thanks for the neat link, I'll have to add it to my bookmarks
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ladyleopard1106
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by ladyleopard1106 »

Holy cow do you work fast vj! Yes, that is my grandfather Angelo. He and Ralph (Raffaele) both resided in Camden...Angelo's first wife was Rosina, who passed away in 1925 in childbirth (a very homely-looking girl at the age of 15! =/ ). Then he married my grandmother, Rose Pezzuto. It is my understanding my father that both he and his brother came over from Italy together.

I am totally blown away that you got the name Rosa Ruggerio! If you can find out who the father was (my cousin Louis, who is one of Ralph's sons, says he thinks it's Angelo Antonio, just like my father and grandfather).

I was not aware that the DeNinno's (DeMinno is not the correct last name) were in-law's to my grandfather....that's interesting! Now I'm wondering who their parents were. LoL.

You have been a HUGE help!

-Lori
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Lori,
I'm so glad we could find some records for you.
No doubt we'll have some more help after dinner :wink:
Valarie
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ladyleopard1106
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by ladyleopard1106 »

Valarie-

I'm still totally blown away by all the information I've found on my own. But to actually have my great-grandmother's name? I'm speechless. But now I think I have some errors in my family tree and I need to try and fix them but I am not sure which person I've messed up on! :?


-Lori
vj
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Lori,
There are quite a few Raffaele DiFronzo's from Fontanarosa

This appears to be the correct Raffaele

1917 WWI Draft Registration Card
born 11 Nov 1890
same street as brother Angelo in 1918

and
Raffaele at the same address as his 1930 census
born 12 Nov 1890

1942 WWII Draft Registration Card
---

This Raffaele is probably a cousin headed to the same location as Angelo in 1914
Raffaele Di Fronzo 16, abt 1897
joining uncle Luigi Zollo in Malvern PA
leaving father Pasquale in PA

1913 manifest
page 2

It is possible that the 1914 manifest is not your Angelo... edit, corrected - Biff's 1909 manifest find (below) pretty much confirms that it's the correct manifest for Angelo :D .
vj
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

ladyleopard1106 wrote:...I was not aware that the DeNinno's (DeMinno is not the correct last name) were in-law's to my grandfather....that's interesting...
Often obituaries can be a big help in sorting out relationships

from GenealogyBank (subscription)
extract
Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
29 December 1990

LUCY DeNINNO DiFRONZO, 90, of Camden, died Thursday at Cooper Hospital- University Medical Center, Camden.

Mrs. DiFronzo was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society. She was the widow of Ralph DiFronzo.
...
Edition: NEW JERSEY
Page: D09
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by Biff83 »

1909 manifest for Raffaele, line 27

Page 1

Page 2

Name: Raffaele Difranzo
Arrival Date: 29 May 1909
Age: 19 Years
Estimated birth year: abt 1890
Gender: Male
Ethnic Background: Italian (South) (Italian)
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ship Name: Ancona
Port of Arrival: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Friend's Name: Luigi Rug(g)iero, uncle
Last Residence: Avellino
Birthplace: Fontanarosa, Avellino
Nearest relative in Italy: mother Rosa

Hello, Valarie!

Biff
"Mintammicce impizzu mpizzu ca pue largu minne fazzu sule!"
vj
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Hello Biff :D !
I'm so glad you found that manifest
I was getting concerned about the number of DiFronzo's headed to Malvern in Chester County PA
Looks like the 1914 manifest for Angelo is correct
By the way found two more Raffaele DiFronzo's in Camden in 1920, born in 1897 and 1899 8O
Valarie
---

Lori,
In case you don't have these from Find A Grave
Valarie

Burial:
Calvary Cemetery
Cherry Hill
Camden County
New Jersey, USA

Rosina and Angelo
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... 18&ref=wvr

ROSINA
1910 - 15 Nov 1925

ANGELO SR.
1897 - 1980
---

Lucy and Ralph
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... 36&ref=wvr

LUCY
6 OCT 1900
27 DEC 1990

RALPH
12 NOV 1890
29 MAR 1962
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Biff83
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by Biff83 »

Raffaele's wife, Lucia De Ninno 1916 manifest? headed to Malvern PA, travelling with sister Teresa

Page 1

Page 2

Nearest relative in Italy, grandmother Lucia ?
Destination Malvern to join father Vincenzo* De Ninno
Last residence and place of birth: Apricena, Foggia

Could use some help with the handwriting on this one. Thanks.

edited to add
*Detainee page for Teresa and sister Lucia showing father's name as Vincenzo.
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0003

Biff
"Mintammicce impizzu mpizzu ca pue largu minne fazzu sule!"
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by vj »

Good one Biff!

This may help?

1916 detained page
father Vincenzo
RFD 2 Box 49
Malvern
---

same manifest from ancestry's 'enhanced' viewer
1916
page 2
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ladyleopard1106
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Re: Searching for my great grandparents

Post by ladyleopard1106 »

Val and Biff:

Thank you both sooo much! Dummy me never thought to check the obits for Lucy (although I did come across a random obit for my grandmother's step-sister purely by accident while doing research). Duh! :? Now when I meet with my dad's cousins tomorrow (Ralph's surviving children), I will have some questions to ask them. :D

Calvary Cemetary is near where I live...my dad and I go and visit his parents and Ralph's kids who are in the mausoleum there. My grandmother is buried next to my grandfather and his first wife...I'm not sure where Ralph and Lucy are in the cemetary though...I can only guess in the same area because where my grandfather is, everyone is Italian. LoL.

I am a little bummed out that no one has been able to find any mention of who my great-grandfather is though. :( But you guys have done a hell of a job....thanks so much! :D

Lori
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