Russo from Paolisi, Benevento

[mb87384n]

I'm having trouble locating any ancestors after my gggrandfather- Nicola Russo.

Nicola Russo born 2/21/1885. He married Louisa Verdicchio of Casalduni, Benevento, Campania, Italy. Married in Oct 1911 in West Hoboken, Hudson, NJ.

According to the marriage record, Nicolam Russo was baptized at eccl parsch St Thomas Aquinatis, Paolisi, Benevento, Italy Feb 1886.

According to his WWI draft card, Nicola was living in West Hoboken, NJ in 1910... however, I am having trouble locating him in the 1910 census. I believe he may have immigrated to America in 1907.
I have found the family in the 1920 US Census, under Nickolas Russo living in Hudson, NJ with his wife Louisa, and two children- Caramella (Carmella) and Temazo (Thomas R Russo- my grandfather).

I am trying to locate Nicola's parents names. However, I'm not sure what to do with all my information I have. I think the best bet would be the baptism record, but I cannot find anything on that church. I'd appreciate any help or guidance as to where to search next.

[Tessa78]

Hello and welcome!

If Nicola was baptized in Paolisi, Benevento, then it is a good bet that he was probably born there...

You can write directly to the comune of Paolisi to request his birth record. This will give you the names of his parents (including his mother's maiden name). It may also include the name of Nicola's grandfather (used to identify Nicola's father)

Address:
Ufficio dello Stato Civile
Via Giovannino Agnelli, 45
82011 Paolisi (BN)
ITALY

Write your letter in Italian. and provide his birthdate, and his marriage date and spouse's name.

Form letters in Italian
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwi ... talrecords
http://www.circolocalabrese.org/resourc ... civile.asp

T.

[Tessa78]

According to his WWI draft card, Nicola was living in West Hoboken, NJ in 1910... however, I am having trouble locating him in the 1910 census. I believe he may have immigrated to America in 1907.

I have located a manifest for a Nicola Russa arriving in 1907 from Benevento, but he is only 8 years old. He is traveling with his brother Antonio
Going to parents in Newark, NY or NJ

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0023

T.

[Tessa78]

Possible manifest...
Nicola Russo, age 18, arriving 1902
Going to cousin

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0007


And another one...
Nicola Russo, 23, arriving 1905
Last residence Benevento
Destination hard to read but looks like it starts with a "W"
Going to father Vito

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0009

T.

[Tessa78]

Do you have a death date and place for Nicola?

If Nicola had a Social Security Number, you can write for his Soc. Sec. application. This will have the names of his parents, and his place of birth.

You can request (for a fee) online at this site
http://genealogy.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi= ... t/main.jsp

T.

[mb87384n]

Tessa, thank you very much for all of your help. I will look into the immigration records and hopefully find a connection.

Nicola died on 10/27/1957 in Cliffside Park, Bergen County, New Jersey. This is where he raised his family in the 1930s.

[Tessa78]

Yes, thank you. I found that at the Family Tree on Ancestry. Is that yours?

See the info about Social Security application above...

T.

[mb87384n]

Yes, that is my tree. If he had a social security number, that would have came up on his death index correct? When I searched those records, his information did not yield any results.

I do plan on writing to the comune with the information you provided above, so thank you. If there are any other options, please let me know, as well.

Thanks for all your hep!!

[Tessa78]

Found another Nicola Russo arriving in 1907. Age is right - 22
He is from Quaglietta.


His SS# would be on his death certificate.

As for the search... if I remember correctly, one of our volunteers here at the forum mentioned that SSDI only lists those deceased after a certain date - maybe something like 1962. I'll have to check on that for you.

T.

[Tessa78]

From this site...
http://www.socialsecuritydeathindex-search.com/

"What period is covered by these records? Most of the birth dates recorded are from the early decades of the last century: 1900 to 1930 Death dates are mainly from the period 1962 to 1988. It was in the early 1960’s that the SSA commenced using computer technology to store and archive vital records.

Although there are birth dates as far back as the 1850’s (about 1856), and death dates prior to the 1960’s, not all earlier data has been included in the current SSDI."

Since Nicola died in 1957, he probably isn't in the current index. But he may have a SS#...

T.

[Tessa78]

POSSIBLE manifest (1904)
for Louisa Verdicchio, age 14, from Casalduni
Traveling with mother Maria Teresa Romano, 52, a widow; and with two siblings, Giuseppa, 17, and Giuseppe, 11. Louisa could be listed as Ma. Luigia Verdicchio.
They are joining son/brother Pasquale.

Any of this seem familiar? Was Louisa's father deceased (might be noted on the marriage record).

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0018

T.

[mb87384n]

Yes, luckily, someone in my family has researched the Verdicchio line and has been able to trace it back to the late 1600s. Louisa's father died in Casalduni.

[Tessa78]

Great to hear that you have had success with that family line!

Did Nicola have any siblings here in US?


T.

[mb87384n]

Not that we know of, which makes it more difficult to find. I figure if I can find him in the 1910 census, then I can get more helpful information. However, I can't seem to locate him. The Verdicchio family is in the 1910 census in West Hoboken, Hudson, NJ (supervisor district 8, enumeration district 276). Since Louisa and Nicola were married a year later, and lived in Hudson County in the 1920 US census with their two children, I would assume Nicola would be living in the same area as the Verdicchio family in 1910. But, the trouble has been locating him in the 1910 census.

[mb87384n]

Found out some more information!!!!

Year of immigration- July 1 1907. Under name "Nicolo Rusfo" with brother Raffaele Rusfo from Paolisi. According to this, his fathers name was Pasquall.

Record states that Nicola was going to a cousin- Francisco Bellona(sp?) in Brooklyn, NY. Raffaele was going to a brother "Rusfo Antonio" in Burlington, NJ or VJ. However, it says he was deported. Found another record from 3/1912, going to Burlington.

I still cannot locate Nicola in the 1910 US census, and have tried looking to these leads to locate someone in the census but I am having no luck. Also, I uploaded a picture of Nicola's passport that may help in locating his parents, relatives, etc.

http://italiangenealogy.com/Forums/view ... 19789.html