please help me find my lost grandma--Stefana Castagna

[mthrof4]

She is probably looking for her grandmother like I am.

In Santo Stefano di Camastra, where would I look to try to find her birth or something about her parents?

[johnnyonthespot]

At this time, it seems to me that you have the most reliable information on Eduardo (given his birthdate on the social security death index posted earlier). If I were in your place, I would write to the comune and request Eduardo's birth certificate in copia integrale. This will include his mother's full name, age, and place of birth. Next, you write back with this new information and request the mother's birth records.

And there you go.

Write (in italiano) to:

Ufficio dello Stato Civile
Comune di Santo Stefano di Camastra
via Palazzo n. 35
98077 Santo Stefano di Camastra ME
ITALY

Email: santostefanodicamastra@pec.intradata.it (remove the spaces)
Tel: 0921-331110
Fax: 0921-331566
Web: http://www.comune.santostefanodicamastra.me.it/

See http://italiangenealogy.com/Forums/view ... art=2.html for helpful info on wrting for certificates.

[mthrof4]

She is probably looking for her grandmother like I am.

In Santo Stefano di Camastra, where would I look to try to find her birth or something about her parents?

[mthrof4]

Yes, I agree. I'll try to access ancestry at my local family history center.

Besides that, in Santo Stefano di Camastra, where would I look for birth records? Civil municipales, catholic churches?

[Bette]

mthrof4 -
Just to comment on something you said earlier....the year of immigration that you find on the census records may not always be 100% factual. I consider these dates to be estimates; either a year one way or the other.

[johnnyonthespot]

Carla,

If you go to http://www.whitepages.com and search for lastname=Presti, city/state=Tampa, FL, the second name in the results list is "Edward Presti Jr - (aged 65+)"

I would lay 70/30 odds that this is Eduardo's son. Click his name in the results list to see his address and telephone number.

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the Presti's listed are Edward Jr's children or the spouses of his children (Mariann is almost certainly Edward's wife).

[suanj]

According to our records, which is from oral tradition, Stefana Castagna was born 19 March 1878 in St. Stefano Di Camastra, Messina, Sicily. She came to Ellis Island in 1909 and was deported--she came back to the US, but there is no other record of her.
Her first child was born in Reitano, Messina, Sicily. A professional genealogist could not find a birth record for Stefana in St. Stefano.
Where should I look for a birth record for her and her parents?--Catholic churches? civil records?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Sherrie

Sherrie, on familysearch.org
the birthdate of Stefania Castagna ( Stephany Castagna) is:

Birth: 19 Mar 1873
St. Stefano, Di Camastra, Messina, Sicily, Italy
Death: 20 Jun 1937
New York City, N-Yr, N-Yr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parents

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marriage(s)
Spouse: Angelo PRESTI (AFN: 2TTH-VW) Family
Marriage: (div) 1904


Spouse: Carlo FRASCA (AFN: BXZ4-0S) Family
Marriage:

and:
Carlo FRASCA
(AFN: BXZ4-0S) Pedigree
Sex: M Family


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Event(s)
Birth: Abt. 1869 <St. Stefano, Di Camastra, Messina, Sicily, Italy>
[hr]
I can understand that maybe this records are by yourself;

but I can say that I found only 1 Carlo Frasca born in 1869 abt;

the full name was Giuseppe Carlo Frasca, born abt in 1869 in Toritto( Bari, IT)...

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
about Guiseppe Carlo Frasca
Name: Guiseppe Carlo Frasca
Arrival Date: 31 Mar 1904
Birth Year: abt 1868
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Race­/Nationality: Latin
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Prinzess Irene

farmer, married, already in USA from 1900 to 1903; in travel with son Natale Frasca (b. 14 Aug 1890 Toritto, IT);joining at brother Francesco Frasca in New York.

This Giuseppe Carlo Frasca, appearing in 1910 census as Carlo Frasca:
Name: Carlo Frasca
Birthplace: Italy
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Residence: Manhattan Ward 17, New York, New York
Marital Status: Married
Race : White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1899
Father's Birthplace: Italy
Mother's Birthplace: Italy
Family Number: 292
Page Number: 17
Household Gender Age
Carlo Frasca M 41y
Spouse Bolognia Frasca F 45y
Child Vito Frasca M 1y 1m
Child Natale Frasca M 20y

the first name of wife: Bolognia Frasca well I believe that Bolognia
is not the right first name
I cannot find this family in 1920 census and not other records, but abt Natale:
U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 about Natale Frasca
Name: Natale Frasca
Birth Date: 14 Aug 1890
Birth Place: Toritto, Italy
Residence: Queens Village, New York
Race: White
Age:

Occupation:

Nearest Relative: daughter Betty

I found the full name of Carlo Frasca wife:

Maria Concetta GIANNINI
First Name: Maria Concetta
Last Name: Giannini
Ethnicity: Italian, Italian South
Last Place of Residence: Tositto, Italy
Date of Arrival: Jun 11, 1909
Age at Arrival: 39y Gender: F Marital Status: M
Ship of Travel: Italia
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0005

pag 1 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0005

in travel with daughter Carmela Frasca; children in Toritto: Vito, Santa and Rosa Frasca; joining at husband Carlo Frasca in New York

pag 2 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0005

Following this Carlo Frasca trace, it are a genealogic tree on ancestry.com, but no more infos, just that Gabriel Frasca son of Natale Frasca( full name: Natale Vito Frasca) died also in Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida on 1 oct 2006

in 1919, a daughter of this Carlo Frasca, Santa Frasca came in USA, and the mother ( Maria Concetta Frasca nee Giannini) was in Toritto, so she came back in Italy and Carlo was without the wife...
on the ship's manifest, Santa joining at father Carlo Frasca in 1082 Teller st New York, NY..

First Name: Santa
Last Name: Frasca
Ethnicity: Italy South BUS
Last Place of Residence: Toritto, Italy
Date of Arrival: Dec 06, 1919
Age at Arrival: 17y Gender: F Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: Dante Alighieri
Port of Departure: Napoli
Manifest Line Number: 0012


pag 1 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0012
pag 2 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0012


also Carmela Frasca (that was immigrated in 1909 with the mother), came back in Italy, and again in USA in 1916, the mother, Maria was in Toritto, and the daughter joining at father Carlo Frasca in New York:

First Name: Carmela
Last Name: Frasca
Ethnicity: Italy, Italian South
Last Place of Residence: Toritto, Italy
Date of Arrival: Dec 16, 1916
Age at Arrival: 12y Gender: F Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: Giuseppe Verdi
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0004

pag 1 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

pag 2 http://www.ellisisland.org/EIFile/popup ... &line=0004

I found the 1920 census abt this Carlo Frasca born abt in 1869... well: in 6 dec 1919 the wife, Maria ( maria Concetta Giannini was in Italy; Santa Frasca ship manifest is clear abt that...), in 1920 census, 14 Jan, Carlo Frasca have the wife Mary at home:

1920 United States Federal Census
about Charles Frasca
Name: Charles Frasca
[Charles Faasla]
Home in 1920: Bronx Assembly District 4, Bronx, New York
Age: 51
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
[Head]
Spouse's Name: Mary Frasca
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1899
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Frasca 51 born in IT
Mary Frasca 49 born in IT
Rose Frasca 19 born in IT
Betina Frasca 17 born in NY, USA
Carmila Frasca 14 born in IT

Natale and Vito appearing not on the census..
now: or this Mary is really Maria Concetta Frasca nee Giannini that imm. again between 6 dec 1919 and 14 jan 1920 ( but I cannot find this second arrival), or it is another woman that used Mary first name....


it is possible that the Carlo Frasca that you are searching for is this Carlo Frasca ( Giuseppe Carlo Frasca) born abt in 1868/9?
Just a suggestion,
regards,
suanj

[mthrof4]

To Carmine;

I have a hand written document that Eduardo and Concetta carried with them in 1920 when they came to the US as teens--stating that Angelo Presti, their father would be finacially responsible for them in the US. It states that Eduardo was born in Reitano which is a small town south of St. Stefano.

Would I use the address that you gave earlier to request a birth record, or is there a different one for this particular town?

Thank you so much for your help.
Best,
Sherrie