Vincenzo Lidestri

[LorenzitoDC]

Hi, I'm looking for information (Italian documents, family history, etc.) about my grandfather, Vincenzo Lidestri. Here's what I know:

Vincenzo came to the U.S. August 21, 1912 and became "Jim" Lidestri some years later marrying Rose Gigliotti. My grandfather Vincenzo was born August 8, 1896 in Tusa, Messina. According to the passenger ship manifest, he lived on a road called "Via Antoci" in Tusa. His mother was Anna Di Marco; he had brothers Francesco, Santo, and Paul who all emigrated to the U.S. (NY State). Anna's first husband died and she married his brother Antonio Lidestri (my great-grandfather) according to family lore. There were also other siblings who never left Italy and some were born to his mother and first husband.

Anna Di Marco died in Italy on July 28, 1938; I have a copy of the Italian death certificate. I have no information about Antonio's death, their marriage, birth, or anything about their heritage. This is the information in which I am most interested.

I have a pretty good handle on my grandfather's life in the U.S. as I am in possession of census records and his naturalization certificate (7/18/18) which was performed at Camp McClellan. Apparently, he served in WWI--possibly under a pseudonym, Jim Green--but I have no record or evidence of it other than his being naturalized at Camp McClellan.

There is a lot of family lore about castles, royalty, etc. in the very distant past and the family may have some relation to a palazzo found in Leonforte, in Enna, Sicily. I know no more!

Any information is welcome. Thanks very much in advance and have a happy 2011!

[misbris]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

The name is pretty rare, found in only 10 towns in Italy.

Don't know if you have this record for Santi.

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

or Francesco

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

[pink67]

See also Lidestri/Li Destri here:

http://www.regione.sicilia.it/benicultu ... ibiano.htm

Laura

[LorenzitoDC]

Thanks for your reply and for sharing the documents! With the Lidestri name being rare I hope it makes for easier research. There are Lidestris still living in Tusa and other places in Italy, though not many. I hope to make a trip there this summer.

Hi and welcome to the forum,

The name is pretty rare, found in only 10 towns in Italy.

Don't know if you have this record for Santi.

http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

or Francesco

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

[LorenzitoDC]

Thank you for passing that on! I hadn't seen it. I have a copy of the arms here: http://www.footnote.com/image/#269284088. It has some different information--though not conflicting, I think--than the one you passed on. The information in the website you shared conforms with family lore about the Lidestris (or Li Destris) coming from Spain or France. I wonder if the Antonio in the text is somehow related to the Antonio I seek (or IS him). The title was bestowed upon him quite late--in 1899--if I understand correctly. I also assume that such a title "didn't pay the bills" at the time and wouldn't necessarily prevent family from seeking a better life in the New World.

See also Lidestri/Li Destri here:

http://www.regione.sicilia.it/benicultu ... ibiano.htm

Laura

[misbris]

Here are the Lidestri still in Italy.

http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... destri&dv=

[LorenzitoDC]

Upon further examination of the passenger ship manifest for Vincenzo Lidestri I see that I made an error in reading the name "Santi" as "Pauli." He reported on the form that he was visiting was "brother Lidestri Santi" who lived at 142 Portland Ave in Rochester NY.

So, the only brothers Vincenzo had in the U.S. were Santi and Frank which was just confirmed by my uncle--the oldest surviving member of the family.

[LorenzitoDC]

Thanks! Many are in Sicily, which will make contacting them upon a visit much easier.

Here are the Lidestri still in Italy.

http://www.paginebianche.it/execute.cgi ... destri&dv=

[pink67]

You can also uyse this very helpful site to find newspaper articles about your ancestors in the U.S.:

http://www.fultonhistory.com/

I wonder if the Antonio in the text is somehow related to the Antonio I seek (or IS him).

I don't think so, see this:
http://www.comune.gangi.pa.it/index.php ... &Itemid=28

Il barone di Ramo Antonio Li Destri Ventimiglia nacque in Gangi il 2 febbraio 1849 e ivi morì il 31 luglio 1924.

He was born and died in Gangi (Palermo Province)

Laura