I'm trying to help my cousin find her family in Italy. Her grandmother, Donata De Ragna born in 1904), married Francesco De Fazio (born 1892) and left Italy in 1925 for San Francisco, California. According to the ship's passenger list, her father was Salvatore and he was living in Canosa.
After Donata died in 1947, Francesco apparently went back to Italy and remarried and died there in the 1970's, I think.
Can anyone guide me in the right direction?
Salvatore De Ragna family of Canosa
Re: Salvatore De Ragna family of Canosa
Do you know what region or province in Italy Donata came from?
There are actually several possibilities for a town called "Canosa"
and they are in 4 different regions of Italy
It will be necessary to know the EXACT town of birth for Donata...
The ship manifest that you reference only mentions "Canosa" - Do you have any other records or documents that indicate her place of birth, or of Francesco's place of birth?
Canosa di Puglia, comune of Canosa di Puglia - province: Barletta-Andria-Trani - region: Puglia
Canosa Sannita, comune of Canosa Sannita - province: Chieti - region: Abruzzo
Canossa, comune of Canossa - province: Reggio Emilia - region: Emilia Romagna
Canossa, comune of Mulazzo - province: Massa-Carrara - region: Tuscany
Did they have children in US? Maybe a birth certificate would identify the town.
I found this 1930 Census in San Francisco... Is this your cousin's relatives?
The ages and immigration year are correct.
First name of head of house could be an "adopted" americanization... though we usually see "Frank" for Francesco.
Wife's listed name may be what the census taker heard when she said "de Ragna" and it was written as "Bagne" ---
According to the census, Sam is naturalized... Might look for papers that may give the place of birth
image...
T.
There are actually several possibilities for a town called "Canosa"
and they are in 4 different regions of Italy
It will be necessary to know the EXACT town of birth for Donata...
The ship manifest that you reference only mentions "Canosa" - Do you have any other records or documents that indicate her place of birth, or of Francesco's place of birth?
Canosa di Puglia, comune of Canosa di Puglia - province: Barletta-Andria-Trani - region: Puglia
Canosa Sannita, comune of Canosa Sannita - province: Chieti - region: Abruzzo
Canossa, comune of Canossa - province: Reggio Emilia - region: Emilia Romagna
Canossa, comune of Mulazzo - province: Massa-Carrara - region: Tuscany
Did they have children in US? Maybe a birth certificate would identify the town.
I found this 1930 Census in San Francisco... Is this your cousin's relatives?
The ages and immigration year are correct.
First name of head of house could be an "adopted" americanization... though we usually see "Frank" for Francesco.
Wife's listed name may be what the census taker heard when she said "de Ragna" and it was written as "Bagne" ---
According to the census, Sam is naturalized... Might look for papers that may give the place of birth
image...
T.
Re: Salvatore De Ragna family of Canosa
OK - I think we have a town!!
Here is the US Passport Application for Francesco De Fazio
He is living at Coleridge St., San Francisco, California (same as 1930 Census above)
He is a laundry worker (same as census)
The date is March 1925 - looks like he received his citizenship already as noted on his Passport appl. He had lived in US from 1911 - 1925.
Probably then went to Italy, married Donata, and returned to US.
He lists his father's name as Giuseppe (deceased) which would agree with the first born son being named Joseph, the Americanization of Giuseppe; and the second born son being named Salvatore, after his wife's father...
He lists his place of birth as CANOSA DI PUGLIA
Page two has a photo! and a physical description
page 1
RIGHT SIDE OF IMAGE
Page 2 - LEFT SIDE OF IMAGE
HERE is a link to the comune of Canosa di Puglia. It provides the address of the town hall (to which you can write for records), and other links.
http://en.comuni-italiani.it/110/004/
T.
Here is the US Passport Application for Francesco De Fazio
He is living at Coleridge St., San Francisco, California (same as 1930 Census above)
He is a laundry worker (same as census)
The date is March 1925 - looks like he received his citizenship already as noted on his Passport appl. He had lived in US from 1911 - 1925.
Probably then went to Italy, married Donata, and returned to US.
He lists his father's name as Giuseppe (deceased) which would agree with the first born son being named Joseph, the Americanization of Giuseppe; and the second born son being named Salvatore, after his wife's father...
He lists his place of birth as CANOSA DI PUGLIA
Page two has a photo! and a physical description
page 1
RIGHT SIDE OF IMAGE
Page 2 - LEFT SIDE OF IMAGE
HERE is a link to the comune of Canosa di Puglia. It provides the address of the town hall (to which you can write for records), and other links.
http://en.comuni-italiani.it/110/004/
T.
