The TESTA lineage

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Sicily_Amore22
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The TESTA lineage

Post by Sicily_Amore22 »

Hi!
I have always been closest to my Dad's side, which is Sicilian. However, most of my relatives passed away when I was little. Now that I'm older, I have soooo many questions! So, I need your help!
My great-grandmother's name was Lena Testa and she was born September 9th, 1899 I believe. Also, she had a sister, Josephine Testa. They came to America from Sicily sometime between 1905-1910...
Can anyone help me find more info?
Also, does anyone know where the name Testa originated from in Sicily?

Much appreciation,
Jenn 8)
vj
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by vj »

Hello Jenn!
Welcome to the forum!
Since Testa was a pretty common name, we may need a bit more information.
Ideally it would be great if we could find your g-grandmother's manifest under the name Testa. But if they traveled with their mother the girls may have been traveling under their mother's maiden name.
Do you have any of your family's US records? Census, Military registration, etc?
If not perhaps we could help you find them - they may have clues that will lead us back to your g-grandmother's manifest.
Do you know if Lena was short for a longer name?
What were her parent's names?
Where would she be going on her manifest.
Where did she live?
You never know which bit of information will lead to the record!
Thank you!
Valarie
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ChrisMosca
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by ChrisMosca »

could her full name be Carolina?
Looking for the surnames Mosca( Marches ), Pizzoglio (Piedmonte), Chiacchiera, Lobasso(Bari), Gallo(Malvito), Azzolina (Messina).
ched03
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by ched03 »

My grandmother's middle name is Lena. Her mother was Amy Testa and was born in RI in 1898. I wonder if we have a link together. Do you know anything about your Testa family yet? I know that Amy's father was Archie and her mother was Mabel. This is all I know.
pink67
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by pink67 »

ched03 wrote:My grandmother's middle name is Lena. Her mother was Amy Testa and was born in RI in 1898. I wonder if we have a link together. Do you know anything about your Testa family yet? I know that Amy's father was Archie and her mother was Mabel. This is all I know
.

:D
from Ancestry.com:

1900 United States Federal Census
about Archibald Testa
Name: Archibald Testa
[Archibald Festa]
Home in 1900: Pawtucket Ward 2, Providence, Rhode Island
Age: 43
Birth Date: May 1857
Birthplace: Italy
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1881
Relationship to Head of House: Head
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Spouse's name: Mabel
Marriage Year: 1886
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 14
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Archibald Testa 43 head, born in IT, immigr. year 1881
Mabel Testa 31 wife, born in IT, immigr. year 1883, mother of 8 children among whom only 5 living
Lena Testa 12 daughter, born in RI
Victor Testa 10 son, born in RI
Joseph Testa 7 son, born in RI
Frank Testa 6 son, born in RI
Amelia Testa 2 daughter, born in RI
Antony Benceiani 50 boarder
Peter Riccinni 48 boarder

image:
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsFc6j9

and from the site: http://search.labs.familysearch.org/rec ... tml#p=home

Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950

Name: Archie Testa
Death Date: 14 july 1933
Death Place: Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Age: 77
Birth year: 1856
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Mabel Testa
Father's name: Joseph Testa

Laura
ched03
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by ched03 »

This is it! Thank you so much! It is so nice to find my great grandma. You have been a great help. If you need any info on Amelia's family (Marriage and some children) I can give that to you. Thanks again!
pink67
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by pink67 »

Death dates for Mabel Testa:

Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950

Name: Amabile Testa
Gender: female
Death Date: 29 december 1936
Death Place: Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Age: 67
Birth year: 1869
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Achille Testa :!:
Father's name: Joseph Conti

from Ancestry.com 1883 arrival manifest for Mabel/Amabile?:

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
about Amabile Conti
Name: Amabile Conti
Arrival Date: 31 May 1883
Birth Year: abt 1867
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian
Place of Origin: Italy
Port of Departure: Le Havre, France
Destination: United States of America
Port of Arrival: New York
Port Arrival State: New York
Port Arrival Country: United States
Ship Name: Labrador
Search Ship Database: Search the Labrador in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

image:
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqh4Ij9

Amabile was travelling with her mother? Maria Conti (age 30) and siblings Emilia (age 10, fenale) and Cristoforo (age 6, male)

and possible 1880arrival manifest for Achille Testa:

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
about Arnlle Cerla
Name: Arnlle Cerla
Arrival Date: 27 Oct 1880
Birth Year: abt 1858
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Italian
Place of Origin: Italy
Port of Departure: Le Havre, France and Plymouth, England
Destination: United States of America
Port of Arrival: New York
Port Arrival State: New York
Port Arrival Country: United States
Ship Name: Amerique
Search Ship Database: Search the Amerique in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database

image:
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV2jY80

Laura
pink67
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Re: The TESTA lineage

Post by pink67 »

If you check this free site:

http://search.labs.familysearch.org/rec ... ctions&r=0

especially the Rhode Island Databases, you'll find several records for your ancestors... :D

Laura
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