Recognition of marriage, adoption?

[Deebs]

Hello-
I am hoping some of you can help me. I found this record (through help here at the forums, thank you!) of what I believe to be a relative... but the wording on the birth record is confusing. His name is Guiseppe Guarino and his mother is Carmela (we know she was my grandmothers mother). My grandmother listed her father as Santo Bellamattina- who in this birth announcement recognizes Guiseppe as a son. Was this an adoption? A second marriage?

If any of you have a second and can try and read this- it would help me get a better understanding of whether I should look for my grandmother under Guarino or Bellamattina. Here is a link to the record:
http://dl.antenati.san.beniculturali.it ... ewsIndex=0

[Tessa78]

This is not an adoption, but a recognition that this is his natural son, as was explained when the record was posted in an earlier thread.

Here is the marriage of Santo Bellamattina and Carmela Guarino in which their children are recognized as their natural born children.
#228 - dated 10 October 1914
1 - Giuseppe - born 18 November 1893 - #1173, Parte I
The following were recorded as parents unknown, but recognized with this marriage as the couple's natural children.
2 - Marietta - born 23 August 1895 - #117 Parte II, given the surname Merla
3 - Concettina - born 24 February 1897 - #31 Parte II - given the name Reciuto
4 - Natolina - born 24 November 1900 - #127, Parte II - given the surname Belli
5 - Maria - born 7 May 1902 - #73, Parte II - given the surname Scotta
6 - Giorgia - born 21 March 1904 - #59, Parte II - given the surname Fugli.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cc=2094181


T.

[Tessa78]

And here are some additional records:

Record of Recognition by Santo Bellamattina and Carmela Guarino of
Concettina Reciuto in 1904 (#163, P.2)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cc=2094181

Recognition by Santo Bellamattina of Giuseppe Guarino in 1904 (#162, P.2)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cc=2094181

Here is the allegati to the marriage of Santo Bellamattina and Carmela Guarino in 1914 containing the relevant documents of marriage including the birth acts of the spouses, Santo and Carmela.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cc=2094181

T.

[Tessa78]

Also... here is the original birth act for Concettina Recinto in 1897.
#31
The birth was recorded as parents unknown.
Margin notes indicate the recognition of Concettina as the natural child of Santo Bellamattina and Carmela Guarino and cites the act of recognition in 1904.
It also cites the marriage of Santo Bellamattina and Carmela Guarino in 1914.
Both of these records I posted for you above.

Birth of Concettina Recinto (later named Concettina Bellamattina)
http://dl.antenati.san.beniculturali.it ... ewsIndex=0

T.

[Deebs]

Thank you so much- I guess my confusion stems from the fact that the children (or at least Giuseppe) had the last name of their mother (Guarino)- which led me to make an incorrect assumption that maybe this was an adoption or second marriage. I am largely ignorant of the way records were kept so I appreciate your help.

In your experience- why would the children each be given a different surname? I’m not sure if this was common or something out if the ordinary.

[Tessa78]

Santo Bellamattina and Carmela Guarino were not a married couple.

When she gave birth of Giuseppe, the child was given her surname because the father did not want to be named (that is stated in the birth record.)

As Carmela gave birth to several other children, she decided to "abandon" the children and they were presented as "parents unknown to the official.) They were given their names, first and last, by the official who recorded their birth. Since each was a separate birth recorded with the parents unknown (ignoti) they were each given a different surname, usually a "fantasy" surname chosen by the official.

Santo later decided to acknowledge that Giuseppe was indeed his natural son.
And later still, at his marriage to Carmela, they BOTH acknowledged that the children were their natural children. So all of the children were officially "recognized" with a document of birth indicating that their surname was Bellamattina now.

I hope that helps to explain it a bit.

T.

[Deebs]

Ah! That makes complete sense now! The children were born out of wedlock- and the couple married later on. When you say "abandon" it means in the sense that she wouldn't identify the father? Or did she formally give the children up. (forgive me, I'm telling this to my mother over the phone and I believe she is distraught over the idea of anyone abandoning their children.) Many thanks for your time and effort- I very much appreciate it.

[Tessa78]

Yes, the children were considered abandoned.

For instance, if we read the original birth act for Concettina, it states that the Directoress of the Brefotrofio (Directress of the Orphanage) in Modica was the one who presented the child to the official to have its birth recorded. She stated that the child was consigned to the orphanage on 24 February at 9:10 AM. She presented the child to the official who gave her the name Concettina and the surname Recinto.

Here is a link about the Brefotrofio
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... ch&pto=aue

It is important to remember that the parents came forward and acknowledged their children when they were able to make a home for them.

T.

[Deebs]

It would be easy to look at this story through the lens of our times- but unfair to these folks. I can’t imagine the burden they carried. Thank you again for your help- from myself and my whole family. It is a huge step towards our understanding of our history.

[Tessa78]

Very happy to be of help!

T.