Searching for my Great Grandmother's roots

[Bivalacqua]

I have found lots of information on my Great Grandfather but have found very limited info on his wife. I know he came here alone and married her in Orleans Parish in New Orleans. I have the marriage certificate that states her parents names were Rosario Michel and Maria Catalano. I have found no census records or birth records for my Great Grandmother, whose name was Giovannia Michel Bivalacqua, other than the records after she was married.

[johnnyonthespot]

Funny you should bring this up; I was just filing scanning and filing a few of the many documents I have on non-direct family members and was amused to see how screwed up these things can be.

Looking at the Westchester County, New York marriage certificate of one of my mother's older sisters, I see that the bride's mother is shown as "Marie Charney."

Someone please tell me how Maria Francesca Michelina Altieri turned into Marie Charney.

It's a typewritten document (circa 1930), so there is no doubt as to what it says...

[vj]

Hi!
So we don't duplicate research
Previous post:
http://italiangenealogy.tardio.com/Foru ... 15746.html

Picture from GenealogyBank
http://a.imageshack.us/img191/7187/image0002pq.jpg
Date: 13 May 1956
Paper: Times-Picayune

Note: Death announcements on 9 Aug 1955 and 10 Aug 1955 also spelled her maiden name as Mrs Jennie Michel Bivalacqua

Obituary
http://a.imageshack.us/img638/3454/image0002ip.jpg

[Bivalacqua]

WOW thank you so much VJ I have never seen a picture of her so this is so exciting for me!!!

[Bivalacqua]

Where did you find the obit at? Im trying to find where her parents were from. The obit says shes a lifelong resident but i cant find any info on her birth lol. Thanks for any info!!!

[vj]

I'm glad we found the picture for you .
The picture and obituary were both from GenealogyBank (subscription)
Valarie
---

Perhaps we can find clues to her parents in her brothers' and sisters' records

Siblings from the 1955 obituary:

sister of Michael, John, Vincent and August Michel
Mrs E Miciotto, Mrs Anna Michel
and the late Nider and Carmen Michel and Mrs Mary Miciotto

Have you checked St John Cemetery for her parents?

[vj]

One of several possibilities, this one
- in St Mary parish, not Orleans
- Josephina, not Giovannina, born 1887

edit: added link to image
http://a.imageshack.us/img822/3717/1900y.jpg

Home in 1900:
Police Jury Ward 1, Saint Mary, Louisiana

head Rosaria Michel 55, born Feb 1845 IT
- married 35 yrs, abt 1865
- immig 1877, in US 23 yrs, Na (naturalized citizen)
- fruit merchant
- rents house
wife Mary Michel 54, born Feb 1846 IT
- 14 children born, 10 children living
son August Michel 15, born Mar 1885 LA
daughter Josephina Michel 13, born Jan 1887 LA
son Mike Michel 7, born May 1893 LA
son Vincent Michel 4, born Mar 1896 LA

[vj]

more clues in obituaries

edit: added

brother Camella 'Commodore' (1920 census Charles, born abt 1878)
http://a.imageshack.us/img580/2392/camellamichel.jpg
Date: 30 Jun 1941;
Paper: Times-Picayune

brother of Mrs S Misciotta, Mrs Mary Misciotta, Mrs Sam Bivalaccia, Mrs Annie Michel,
John, August, Mike and Vincent Michel

---

sister Mary (1872-1949)
http://a.imageshack.us/img713/4905/marymichel.jpg
Date: 26 Dec 1949
Paper: Times-Picayune

survived ... by four brothers August, John, Mike Michel of New Orleans and Vincent Michel of Houston, Tex
three sisters, Annie Michel, Mrs Jennie Deveaqua (misspelled) of New Orleans, Mrs Josephine Miciotto, Shreveport, La

---

edit: added

brother Michael (1893-1956)
Date: 3 Sep 1956;
Paper: Times-Picayune
http://a.imageshack.us/img18/4846/michaelmichel.jpg

brother of Vincent, John and August Michel,
Mrs Annie Michel, Mrs Josephine Musutta...

---

edit: added

brother August (1885-1958)
http://a.imageshack.us/img707/223/augustmichel.jpg
Date: 28 Nov 1958;
Paper: Times-Picayune

brother of John C and Vincent Michel, Mrs Phine Michetto, Mrs Annie Mitchell and
the late Nida, Mike and Commodore Michel, Miss Mary Michetto and Mrs Salvadore Bivalacqua

---

sister Anna (1868-1960)
http://a.imageshack.us/img831/9245/annamichel.jpg
Date: 26 Apr 1960
Paper: Times-Picayune

sister of Vincent and John Michel and Mrs Josephine Miciotto

edit: added surviving family

[Bivalacqua]

That could be very possible! We all know how easy it was then to confuse names throughout the years! I also believe she wasnt born in Orleans Parish bc i cannot fnd any records there so St. Mary's is a very good possiblity. I have been looking online to see if i can find records from St. John's but nothing so far.

[Bivalacqua]

After reading these obits I see that they also had a sister names Josephina as well as Jennie which is what she went by to everyone. So the earlier info is correct!

[vj]

more clues...
brothers Vincent, Michael and August?
all at the same address in 1917

SSDI
Name: Vincent Michel
Date of Birth: Monday July 22, 1895
Date of Death: December 1976
Est. Age at death: 81 years, 4 months
Last known residence:
City: Houston
County: Harris
State: Texas
ZIP Code: 77009
Social Security details:
State of Issue: Texas
Number: 454-05-xxxx
---

1917 WWI Draft Registration Card
http://a.imageshack.us/img96/7348/1917a.jpg

Vincent Michel
1719 Burgundy, Orleans, LA
born 22 Jul 1895
---

brother Michael?

1917 WWI Draft Registration Card
http://a.imageshack.us/img541/7371/191702.jpg

Mike Michel
1719 Burgundy, Orleans LA
24 Dec 1892
---

brother August?

1917 WWI Draft Registration Card
http://a.imageshack.us/img413/8507/191701.jpg

August Michel
1719 Burgundy, Orleans, LA
born 10 Aug 1885

[Bivalacqua]

WOW lol u r great! Im pretty sure this is it!

[vj]

I'm guessing we'll find the family in Orleans Parish in 1910 and 1920
Father Rosario may be deceased by 1917
Valarie

[Bivalacqua]

I know I found Giovannia in New Orleans 1910 census after she married my great grandfather but shes the only one so far, im gonna go thru it again and see if any of the siblings are in there. Im trying to see if I can find NA records for Rosario and Mary to see where they were originally from.

[vj]

possible 1910 census
http://a.imageshack.us/img829/7065/1910n.jpg

Home in 1910:
808 Frenchmen Street
New Orleans Ward 7, Orleans, Louisiana

head Rosario Michel 72(?), abt 1838 IT
- married 36 yrs, abt 1874
- immig 1860, Al
wife Mary Michel 52(?), abt 1858 IT
- 10 children
son Mitchel Michel 17, abt 1893 LA
son Vincent Michel 14, abt 1896 LA

another Michel son next door