A helpful person said I should post here so here goes
Trying to find out:
Grandpa was he naturalized? Where is birth certificate? Checking out for Italian Citizenship
Talked to my mom seem to have the boat he came over in Italia in 1907
From Ellis Island
Mom believes he is Sebastian Salafia But only record on Ellis that has correct Birth town Melilli and age he would be when he landed was under Salvadore
Any hints ? Thanks Jak
Jak from Boston now in Aussie
Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking out
- johnnyonthespot
- Master
- Posts: 5228
- Joined: 04 Aug 2008, 15:01
- Location: Connecticut, USA
Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
Looking at Ancestry . com, there are numerous (!) Salvatore Salafia's who travelled to the US in the 1907'ish time frame. I presume you are thinking of the S.S. Italia voyage which arrived in New York on April 25, 1907?
Frankly, I am not certain the little information you have is enough to ascertain with certainty which (if any) of these Salvatore Salafia's is your grandfather.
What else do you know about him? Where did he reside in the US? When did he pass away? What was his wife's name and the names/approximate birth years of his children?
The more facts we have to work with, the more likely we can find your ancestor.
Frankly, I am not certain the little information you have is enough to ascertain with certainty which (if any) of these Salvatore Salafia's is your grandfather.
What else do you know about him? Where did he reside in the US? When did he pass away? What was his wife's name and the names/approximate birth years of his children?
The more facts we have to work with, the more likely we can find your ancestor.
Carmine
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!

Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
Was this Sebastiano too old?
First Name: Sebastiano
Last Name: Salafia
Ethnicity: Italy, Italian South
Last Place of Residence: Mellili, Messina
Date of Arrival: Aug 03, 1907
Age at Arrival: 50y Gender: M Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: Re d Italia
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0012
Did you look at the rest of the information on the manifest at the Ellis island web site to see if any of it sounds familiar to your mother?
First Name: Sebastiano
Last Name: Salafia
Ethnicity: Italy, Italian South
Last Place of Residence: Mellili, Messina
Date of Arrival: Aug 03, 1907
Age at Arrival: 50y Gender: M Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: Re d Italia
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0012
Did you look at the rest of the information on the manifest at the Ellis island web site to see if any of it sounds familiar to your mother?
- johnnyonthespot
- Master
- Posts: 5228
- Joined: 04 Aug 2008, 15:01
- Location: Connecticut, USA
Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
This is just not enough.
TO be reasonably certain (and to satisfy the consulate with your application), you should begin at the beginning - your own birth certificate which shows your father's name and your mother's maiden name.
Now, it seems that you hope to go through your mother and her father? If so, were you born on or after January 1, 1948? If not, then the case is closed as prior to that date Italian citizenship was passed only by the father.
If you are still in the game (born on or after January 1, 1948), you should obtain a copy of your mother's birth certificate showing her parent's full names and ages. In the US, we often refer to this as a "long form" birth certificate, as opposed to a simple extract which contains much less detail.
Now that you have your grandfather's name and birth year along with your grandmother's full maiden name and birth year, you can seriously look for grandfather's other details with some assurance that you are seeking the correct records.
Are you absolutely positive regarding Melilli as the place of birth for your grandfather? The name Salafi is not hugely common in modern Italy, but nonethesss it is spread throughout the country. See http://www.gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/genera.html
TO be reasonably certain (and to satisfy the consulate with your application), you should begin at the beginning - your own birth certificate which shows your father's name and your mother's maiden name.
Now, it seems that you hope to go through your mother and her father? If so, were you born on or after January 1, 1948? If not, then the case is closed as prior to that date Italian citizenship was passed only by the father.
If you are still in the game (born on or after January 1, 1948), you should obtain a copy of your mother's birth certificate showing her parent's full names and ages. In the US, we often refer to this as a "long form" birth certificate, as opposed to a simple extract which contains much less detail.
Now that you have your grandfather's name and birth year along with your grandmother's full maiden name and birth year, you can seriously look for grandfather's other details with some assurance that you are seeking the correct records.
Are you absolutely positive regarding Melilli as the place of birth for your grandfather? The name Salafi is not hugely common in modern Italy, but nonethesss it is spread throughout the country. See http://www.gens.labo.net/en/cognomi/genera.html
Carmine
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!

Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
cool link Johnny.
Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
You guys are all fantastic WOW
These are the details that I have at the moment
____
First I will answer 2 questions from Blog
After January 1, 1948? Born Oct 1 1952 Arlington, Mass John F Dacey
The name Salafi is not hugely common Salafia
________________________________________________________________NOW Moms details
_________
Mom 82 calling her weekly on phone
Lived in Connecticut died in Lawrence Mass Grandpa birth date (mom not sure has 2 ) Sebastiano Salafia born January 10 or 16, 1892 He came to USA approx 1908 came on boat from from Melilli Sicily.
July 24 1922 married in Lawrence to Rosina (Rose) Iasimone
lived in Lawrence Mass approx 1925 had 1st daughter Christina Salafia Feb 21 1925
second daughter Anne Marie Salafia born in Middletown Conn. 36 Canal St born May 23,1926
third daughter Rosemary Salafia in Lawrence Mass Oak St.
Construction worker laborer on Empire State Building.
Below details from Grandpas Death notice in paper
Sebastiano Salafia 1960 lawrence general hospital
9am holy rosary church
Thursday pitocchelli funeral home 133 lawrence st
burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetary
died monday night lawrence general hospital 1960 ?
rose isamone salafia wife of John Dacey
employed in the spinning room of the wood mill (in lawrence)
eagle tribune newspaper lawrence
PITOCCHELLI & LANGONE
133 LAWRENCE ST
Lawrence, MA 01841
On EllisIsland web page
Salvatore (recorded name)Salafia on boat data comes close to his age when landing in USA and also he indicated on document he was staying in Connecticut on document
Mom thought he was with brother Natale but on search Natale seems to be logged on another boat (approx the same time)
These are the details that I have at the moment
____
First I will answer 2 questions from Blog
After January 1, 1948? Born Oct 1 1952 Arlington, Mass John F Dacey
The name Salafi is not hugely common Salafia
________________________________________________________________NOW Moms details
_________
Mom 82 calling her weekly on phone
Lived in Connecticut died in Lawrence Mass Grandpa birth date (mom not sure has 2 ) Sebastiano Salafia born January 10 or 16, 1892 He came to USA approx 1908 came on boat from from Melilli Sicily.
July 24 1922 married in Lawrence to Rosina (Rose) Iasimone
lived in Lawrence Mass approx 1925 had 1st daughter Christina Salafia Feb 21 1925
second daughter Anne Marie Salafia born in Middletown Conn. 36 Canal St born May 23,1926
third daughter Rosemary Salafia in Lawrence Mass Oak St.
Construction worker laborer on Empire State Building.
Below details from Grandpas Death notice in paper
Sebastiano Salafia 1960 lawrence general hospital
9am holy rosary church
Thursday pitocchelli funeral home 133 lawrence st
burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetary
died monday night lawrence general hospital 1960 ?
rose isamone salafia wife of John Dacey
employed in the spinning room of the wood mill (in lawrence)
eagle tribune newspaper lawrence
PITOCCHELLI & LANGONE
133 LAWRENCE ST
Lawrence, MA 01841
On EllisIsland web page
Salvatore (recorded name)Salafia on boat data comes close to his age when landing in USA and also he indicated on document he was staying in Connecticut on document
Mom thought he was with brother Natale but on search Natale seems to be logged on another boat (approx the same time)
- johnnyonthespot
- Master
- Posts: 5228
- Joined: 04 Aug 2008, 15:01
- Location: Connecticut, USA
Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
May or may not be meaningful, but Natale's manifest (SS Italia, March 26, 1907) shows his Last Residence as Pachino, which is located in the Siracusa province of Sicily,. about 1-1/2 hours south (by car) of Melilli ( http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 950073&z=9 )
He was going to visit his god- or grand-father in Lawrence, MA.
He was going to visit his god- or grand-father in Lawrence, MA.
Carmine
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!
My hobby is finding things. Having found most of my own, I am happy to help others find theirs. PM me!

Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
Will tell mom on weekend inform re feedback Thanks
Re: Grandpa was he naturalised? Birth Certificate? Checking
Any other data people can find with given information ?
Ta,
Jak
Ta,
Jak