help finding Porto Empedocle birth records

[crystalferrara]

Hi all,

My name is Crystal Ferrara and both my grandfather, Gaetano Ferrara and grandmother, Marianna (Catalano) came to New York from Porto Empedocle in 1910. I have found the manifest from my grandmother and her family coming to New York.

I am looking for help finding birth records for my grandparents as I don't know any names of their parents and my grandfather's siblings.

I visited Porto Empedocle when I was 4 in 1982. I still have lots of Ferrara cousins who live there and my dad was able to visit a few years ago to attend one of their weddings!

I saw pictures and I look like all of the Ferraras in Porto Empedocle!

My grandparents have been deceased a long time and my father died 3.5 years ago. Finding out more about my family means so much to me now.

Any and all assistance is so very appreciated! I hope I can go to visit my family there soon!

Grazie mile!
crystal

[pink67]

.....and grandmother, Marianna (Catalano) came to New York from Porto Embedocle in 1910. I have found the manifest from my grandmother and her family coming to New York

.

Welcome to the forum Crystal!

from the 1910 arrival manifest for your grandmother's family you can see her parent's names:

page 1
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0013

page 2
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0013

father's name: Catalano Pietro born approx on 1863 and mother's maiden name Carmela Muscato approx birth year 1875

you can also check this helpful site:
http://www.italiangen.org/vitalreclist.stm

these are the marriage dates for your grandparents:

Catalano Marianna Nov 29 1914 Kings Certificate 13909
Ferrara Gaetano Nov 29 1914 Kings Certificate 13909

Laura

[pink67]

From the site Ancestry.com the 1920 census for Marianna and Gaetano?

1920 United States Federal Census
about Gaetano Ferrara
Name: Gaetano Ferrara
[Gaetano Fanara]
[Gaetano Ferraro]
Home in 1920: Brooklyn Assembly District 14, Kings, New York
Age: 31
Estimated birth year: abt 1889
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
[Head]
Spouse's name: Mary
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1910
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Gaetano Ferrara 31
Mary Ferrara 22
Joseph Ferrara 4
[4 2/12]
Peter Ferrara 3
[3 4/12]
Alphonso Ferrara 1
[1 2/12]

and possible military enlistment for the first world war:

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
about Gaetano Ferrara
Name: Gaetano Ferrara
City: Brooklyn
County: Kings
State: New York
Birthplace: Italy
Birth Date: 8 Feb 1888 in Porto Empedocle
Race: White
FHL Roll Number: 1754601
DraftBoard: 73

image:
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVQoTMJ

Possible 1911 arrival manifest for Gaetano:

page 1:
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0002

page 2:
http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0002

He was leaving his mother Maria Sanfilippo (maiden name) in Porto Emepdocle...., joining his brother Alfonso Ferrara in NY...

Laura

[crystalferrara]

Thanks all for your help. Realize I mispelled the town and it's Porto Empedocle!

Now I'm looking for the names and dates for my great-great-grandparents on both sides, all from Porto Empedocle, Agrigento, Sicilia as far as I know.

Looking for the parents of Maria Sanfilippo and the parents of her husband, Giuseppe Ferrara.

Looking for the parents of Carmela Muscato and the parents of her husband, Pietro Catalano.

I've never know the names of my great-great-grandparents! I don't think anyone in my family knows their names. They would have lived around 1820 or 30 until who knows when!

The lengend in the family is that the Muscatos may have come Russian Jews way back! That would so cool to find out!

[liveonboca]

I am interested in the Catalano name from Porto Empedocle too.

My great grandmother is Francesca Marchica (dob about 1893). Per ship records, Francesca's mother, my great-great grandmother, is Dorotea Catalano. Both are from Porto Empedocle.

I would love to know more information about both families.

Francesca married Carlo Messina, also from Porto Empedocle? or Agrigento, and they had 4 children, Maria Messina (abt 1910), Gerlando Messina (abt 1914), Giuseppe Messina (abt 1916) and Alphonse Messina (abt 1920). Two (Maria & Giuseppe) born in Porto Empedocle? and two in the US.

On a Dec 28, 1911 ship manifest from Napoli to NY, I show Carlo traveled to the US with a Maria Catalano, age 16. She gave name of her brother, Giuseppe Catalano as the person she will be staying with. The address is the same location as Carlo is going 71 Mulberry Street, NYC. Carlo shows this as the address of his cousin, Salvatore Mellurzo.

Please let me know if you find more Catalano connections from Porto Empedocle.

Thank you!