Campobasso Parish Records

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mdyer
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Campobasso Parish Records

Post by mdyer »

In his Italian Records book, Trafford Cole mentions that parish records for Campobasso and Isernia were held in the state archives, and, because of this, these records were also microfilmed along with the civil records.

Has anyone had experience reviewing parish records for these provinces on microfilm? Are they inclusive of all comunes within those provinces?

I've worked my way back to the early 1800s and have nearly exhausted civil records. I'm interested in continuing research into parish records, but wasn't sure if Cole meant they were microfilmed by the province governments and stored there (in Campobasso and Isernia). If that's the case - is it possible to obtain access from the US?

Or did he mean the Mormon church microfilmed these records? I don't see parish records listed in the microfilm offerings on FamilySearch.

Thanks,
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

Post by adelfio »

Are you talking about split records (Napoleonic civil records) one side civil the right side church. Most province keep those records preserved in the provincial archives of each region, sometimes as early as 1806-1820 you should just email Archivio Di Stato Campobasso
http://www.archivi.beniculturali.it/ASCB/
Egregi signori,
Mi chiamo YOURNAME. Sto facendo una ricerca sui miei antenati e ho bisogno delle informazioni dai vostri registri.
Vi prego di informarmi se è che è possibile ottenere chiesa e atti di stato civile di Campobasso 1800-1820
Vi ringrazio in anticipo per il vostro gentilezza e premura.
Distinti saluti,
YOURNAME AND ADDRESS EMAIL

Marty
Researching Trabia, Palermo surnames Adelfio, Bondi, Butera, Scardino,Rinella, Scardamaglia

Marty
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mdyer
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

Post by mdyer »

I don't think he's referring to Napoleonic civil records, though I could be mistaken. From the Parish Records chapter in Cole's book:

"Unfortunately, the parish records have not been systematically microfilmed, so few are available in the United States. Some exceptions are the records of the Waldensian parishes in the Turin province and the dioceses of Trent, Bolzano, Vercelli, and Ivrea. In some areas, such as Campobasso and Isernia, where some parish records were held in the state archives, these records have been microfilmed, as have civil records."

I thought he was referring to actual parish records that predated the civil records. Any chance that's possible? And if yes, anyone have experience viewing these in the US?
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

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The church records for the cities of Campobasso and Isernia have not been microfilmed by the LDS. I'm not sure if any church records from other towns in the province of Campobasso or the province of Isernia have been microfilmed, but I've never run across any. The baptismal records for the city of Campobasso are held at the Cattedrale (S. Maria Maggiore) and they appear to be complete for the city of Campobasso (S. Maria Maggiore was the "mother church"). The marriage and death records are spotty as it appears that each church kept its own marriage and death records. The diocesan curia has some church records (I believe from San Bartolomeo). Sant'Antonio Abate has records and I understand that San Leonardo has some of its own records as well as some records from San Bartolomeo. However, I've never seen any of these records. The archivio has a microfilm of some very old death records from San Giorgio. I don't know what towns you're looking for, but perhaps some of this info helps.
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

Post by mdyer »

Thanks, John. My research is focused on Boiano. How does one determine what the "mother church" was/is for a comune?

I wonder if Cole is suggesting that parish records for the province of Campobasso were stored in the archives with the civil records, and were, perhaps, microfilmed by the city government instead of LDS?
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

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I guess it would take some historical research to determine the protocol for church records in a given area. In my case, I discovered all of my end-of-line ancestors in the baptismal records kept at the Cattedrale and the records themselves mentioned the other churches in town. Thus, I assume (I hate that word) that the Cattedrale was the "mother church" where all baptisms took place. Not very scholarly. Someday, I hope to pin down the exact relationship between the churches.

I have spent some time at the archivio in Campobasso and the only church records I found consisted of one reel of records from San Giorgio. I was with my cousin Riccardo, who is a very skilled researcher. I believe that if there were church records there he would have accessed them. However, I can't speak for Boiano since those records are kept at the archivio in Isernia.

I note that you are researching the Colacci family. I have one entry in my database that might interest you. Alfonso Colacci, age 19, born in Boiano, son of Egidio Colacci and Aurelia Priola, married my 4C3R Maria Saveria della Luna on 11 FEB 1886 in Campobasso, Campobasso, Molise, Regno d'Italia. Source: Campobasso (Campobasso), Ufficio dello Stato Civile, Registri dello Stato Civile, 1809-1910, FHL INTL Film 1733313/MATRIMONI 1886/Numero 18, 11 FEB 1886. I've found no records for any of their children, so I suspect they either lived elsewhere in Italy or emigrated overseas.

BTW, I spent some time in Boiano in 2006 and again in 2008. My cousin Francesco de Socio and his family live there.
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

Post by mdyer »

John, did you have to obtain permission from the Cattedrale's priest in order to review the baptism records? What was that process like?

I would have thought Boiano's records would be in Campobasso's archivio since it's in that province. Is that not the case?

My great-grandfather was Carmine Colacci, son of Nunzio and Serafina. I've come across an Egidio Colacci in the LDS microfilms during my research. I've wondered if maybe he were a brother of Nunzio's, but so far haven't found documentation establishing a connection.

Boiano is on my list of must-sees. I'm curious to hear your take on the town.
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

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I've been to the Cattedrale twice for research. In 2004 I was alone and knew no one at the church. A priest escorted me to the records room and stayed with me. In fact, he handled the record books and looked up the records I requested. Of course, very little meaningful research can be done under those conditions. In 2008 I was with my cousin Riccardo from Padova. He had been to the Cattedrale many times and knew all the priests. This time they left us in the room to research at our own pace. We spent 5 days there and got a lot accomplished.

You make a good point about Boiano. Today, it's in the province of Campobasso. However, during the era of Regno delle Due Sicilie, it was in the distretto of Isernia (the other distretto being Campobasso), province of Molise. So, on second thought, I don't know which archivio has the Boiano records or whether the location depends on the time period.

I didn't spend much time in Boiano, save the dinner at Francesco de Socio's home. I did take quite a few pictures in 2006. If you send me your email address via PM, I'll send you the pictures.
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

Post by mdyer »

I didn't think to account for changing province/district borders over the course of history. I'll have to look into this more to figure out where the records are.

I'll send you a PM. Thanks!
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Re: Campobasso Parish Records

Post by Petrojo »

Last year I had the opportunity to visit the hometown of my ancestors in Tufara (which is in Campobasso).

I was told that there were no town records prior to 1800. I asked about the church records and was told that they were destroyed in a fire. I never actually went to the church to double check but they seemed pretty confident.

They were nice enough to show me some of their record books which I recognized as a probable source of the records filmed by LDS.
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