Criscillo Family-Issues determining city

[dlc519]

Greetings !

I've been unable to find a manifest or naturalization papers for my Great Grandfather, Luigi Criscillo. I knew the family was from the Naples area, but after a recent lunch with my 87 year old 2nd Cousin she confirmed the family was from Caserta.

I've looked at microfilm for the year he was born (1870) in Caserta, but didn't have any luck finding a birth record. Today, there are around 6 people with the last name Criscillo in the Province of Caserta but in the town of Santa Maria a Vico. I've also looked at microfilm there with no luck. Any suggestions on where to go from here?

Also, I found out that there is a family rumor that he left a wife and kids in Italy. When he came to the US, he met my Great Grandmother and left that family behind. Will that effect me being able to find records for him?

Thank you,
Denise

[pink67]

Welcome to the forum Denise!

To help you better we need to know other dates for Luigi...
Can you tell his wife's name and children's names? Where do they lived?

I found a 1920 census who shows a Luigi Criscillo living in Pittsburgh PA;

From Ancestry.com

1920 United States Federal Census
about Luigi Criscillo
Name: Luigi Criscillo
[Luigi Criseillo]
Home in 1920: Pittsburgh Ward 12, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
[Head]
Spouse's name: Florence
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Year of Immigration: 1890
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Luigi Criscillo 50 head, born in IT
Florence Criscillo 35 wife, born in IT
Nick Criscillo 19 , son, born in NY
Ralph Criscillo 17 son, born in PA
Fannie Criscillo 15 daughter, born in PA
Alexander Criscillo 12 son, born in PA
Josephine Criscillo 9 daughter, born in PA
Anthony Criscillo 7 son, born in PA
Emerick Criscillo 4 son, born in PA

[4 3/12]

If this census pertains your ancestor, considering the first son Nick was born in NY, this should have been Luigi's marriage:

from http://search.labs.familysearch.org/rec ... html#start

New York Marriages, 1686-1980

Grrom's name: Lluigi Criscillo
Bride's name: Fortuna Barrette
Marriage date: 7 January 1899
Marriage Place: Manhattan, New York
Groom's father's name: Nicolo
Groom's mother's name: Concetta Petrille
Bride's father's name: Raffaele
Bride's mother's name: Felomena Allocca

Are these records correct for you ancestors?

Laura

[dlc519]

This is correct, Laura.

The family is from Pittsburgh today, with Luigi and Fortunata moving here in the shortly after their 1st son was born in 1901.

Denise

[Tessa78]

Hi Denise

Is this your Family tree on Ancestry?

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/13155336 ... -104654888

T.

[pink67]

Thanks Tessa.... I always forgt to check for first the trees on Ancestry...

Denise, I noticed that Fortunata's family was living in NYC on 1900:

1900 United States Federal Census
about Roberto Berretta
Name: Roberto Berretta
[Raffaelo Berretta]
Home in 1900: Manhattan, New York, New York
Age: 62
Birth Date: May 1838
Birthplace: Italy
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1895
[1875]
Relationship to Head of House: Head
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Spouse's name: Felomena
Marriage Year: 1865
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 35
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Roberto Berretta 62 head
Felomena Berretta 55 wife
Christina Berretta 31 daughter, married since 3 years, born in Italy
Carmela Berretta 13 daughter, single, born in Italy
Michael Raspena 31 boarder (possible son in law) married since 3 years
Edward Raspena 6 boarder (grandson?) born in Italy
Antonio Raspena 3 boarder (grandson?) born in NY
Juiseppe C Raspena 1 boarder (grandson?) born in NY
Guiseppe Beretta 24 son, single, born in IT
Umberto Beretta 16 son, single, born in IT

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


27 January 1898 arrival for Raffaele Barretta:

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0019

Raffaele was travelling with his son Biagio Umberto, joining his wife Filomena Allocca living on Canal Street NYC. Coming from Saviano.

[pink67]

it was really mispelled but this is the 1910 census for Luigi and family:

1910 United States Federal Census
about Louie Christina
Name: Louie Christina
[Louie Christian]
Age in 1910: 45
Estimated birth year: abt 1865
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Spouse's name: Flora
Home in 1910: Pittsburgh Ward 11, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1890
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Louie Christina 45 head, born in IT, married since 12 years, naturalized
Flora Christina 37 wife, born in It, immigr. year 1898
Virginia Christina 11 Nicholas on the manifest, son, born in NY
Raffaele Christina 1 son, age 9, born in PA
Fanny Christina 6 daughter, born in PA
Alexander Christina Sr. 3 son, born in PA
Josephine Christina 1 1/12 daughter, born in PA

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

Laura

[dlc519]

Thank you both:) Yes that is my family tree on Ancestry.

I have seen the information on the Criscillo Family, but the 1900 Census for the Barretta Family is new:) I knew my Great Grandmother had sisters, but I had no idea how old they were or their names nor did I realize that Giuseppe was yet another brother. It's also nice to see a marriage year for Raphaelle and Filomena. That will give me something else to look for on microfilm.

My true goal is to find an exact location for the Criscillo Family. I do know that my Luigi's Brother died in a fireworks accident. Ironically, the Zambelli family (famous for fireworks) patriarch is from Caserta. I'm wondering if that may be another connection. This brother supposedly worked in the industry.

Denise

[pink67]

Thank you for the update Denise....

do you know Luigi's brother's name?

Laura

[dlc519]

Unfortunatley, I do not know Luigi's Brother's Name. I would think if I did it would provide some more possible clues. I'm sure it was a big story at the time wherever it happened.

Denise

[pink67]

Maybe find the 1900 census for Luigi and Fortunata could be helpful to determine if Criscillo was the correct italian version of the lastname... i checked Ancestry.com with no luck... but they must have been in Manhattan:

Name Birth Date Certificate Number Source
Nicola Criscilli 3 Jul 1900 Certificate n. 25871
Births Reported in 1900.
Borough of Manhattan

Fortunata's brother Aniello's marriage dates:

Groom's name: Aniello Barretta
Bride's name: Maria Galante
Marriage date: 11 December 1898
Marriage place: Manhattan, New York
Groom's father's name: Raffaele Barretta
Groom's mother's name: Flomena Allocca
Bride's father's name: Francesco Galante
Bride's mother's name: Rosa Petruccelli

record from:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/rec ... tml#p=home

Laura

[dlc519]

Holy Crap:) So do you think that the last name spelling on my Great Uncle Nick's Birth Certificate is correct? Is it an i instead of an o? Where can I order his Birth Certificate?

Luigi's Father was Nicolo on Luigi's Marriage Record. I wonder if it was really an a at the end.

Denise

[dlc519]

FYI, today the last name is spelled Criscella.

I see it spelled as Criscillo on Luigi's Marriage Record but that doesn't mean it wasn't Cricilli.

Denise

[dlc519]

)

That should say Criscilli

[pink67]

Denise,

here the link to order the birth certificate:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vi ... home.shtml

I was just considering that Criscillo is a rare last name, you can use this site to see how many Criscillo are present today in the Campania region:

http://italia.indettaglio.it/eng/cognomi/cognomi.html

Criscillo 6.82 Acerra Napoli
Criscillo 6.42 Santa Maria a Vico Caserta
Criscillo 3.07 Napoli Napoli

Luigi's Father was Nicolo on Luigi's Marriage Record. I wonder if it was really an a at the end.

First name may have been Nicolò or Nicola

and about the lastname I found also several Crescillo on Ancestry.com... I don't want to create illusions but... I saw that Luigi had a son named Alexander (Alessandro in italian) and found this 1900 census that maybe worth a look:

1900 United States Federal Census
about Alex Crescillo
Name: Alex Crescillo
Home in 1900: Manhattan, New York, New York
Age: 30
Birth Date: Nov 1869
Birthplace: Italy
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1891
Relationship to Head of House: Head
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Spouse's name: Foncina
Marriage Year: 1888
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 12
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Alex Crescillo 30
Foncina Crescillo 30
Luiggia Crescillo 2
Catarena Crescillo 1

If Luigi's brother died in an accident at the Zambelli Fireworks he must have lived in New Castle PA?

Laura

[dlc519]

I'll definatley take a look at that record for Alex Crescillo. Thanks:)

I was under the impression that fireworks accident happened in Italy, but I could be mistaken. It could have happened in the US. This is a story from my father's cousins.

Family also talks about a brother of Luigi that lived in Philadelphia. I have no idea what his name was or if he lived his life out there. And, they talk about Luigi coming through Philadelphia on immigration, but because he lived in Manhattan I find it hard to believe.

Denise