Find Italian Birth Record

[rp76226]

Per the attached record, Benjamin Puma was born in Racalmuto, (Agrigento), Sicily on March 15, 1905. I cannot find any record of this birth. Closest was Baldasarre Puma born on March 20, 1905 but no reason to assume they are the same person. Trying to find his parents.

Ron

[darkerhorse]

Benjamin could easily be an Americanization of Baldasarre, and both say March.

His naturalization application reads 1904. Have you checked that year, too?

[rp76226]

I checked 1904. Nothing near that March 15 date. That year has no index either. I wish the NY state marriage records would give parents, but they don't. Marriage date was September 13, 1931 in Kings, NY which I believe also stands for Brooklyn, NY.

[darkerhorse]

Yes, Kings County is Brooklyn.

[rp76226]

Please attach a copy of his naturalization record. I do not have that.

[rp76226]

I found his naturalization record. It says he arrived at Ellis Island in 1911. He would have been 6 or 7 which meant he would have been accompanied by at least one parent. However, I cannot find an Ellis Island arrival record for him.

[rp76226]

I expanded my Ellis Island search from 1911 to 1910 to 1912. 1912 turned up interesting. A ship arrived in June with Baldassare Puma age 6 corresponding to the month Benny Puma put on his naturalization record for the year 1911. He travelled with his mother and two siblings - Lines 18 to 21 on this document (Frame 601):

https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/pa ... 5pZmVzdCI7

On the corresponding page (Frame 602), Line 18, the mother is meeting her husband, Carmelo Puma. Carmelo matches the name Benny gave to his oldest child following the Italian tradition of naming the first born son after his paternal grandfather. Link looks the same - you might need to scroll to the frame number I gave:

https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/pa ... 5pZmVzdCI7

Again, not absolute proof, but looking probable as he probably Americanized Baldassare first name to Benjamin/Benny.

[bbivona]

In the 1930 census there is a Bennie Puma in Brooklyn, age 25, living with parents Carmelo Puma, age 53, and Carmela Puma, age 45. Father Carmelo is listed as immigrating in 1911 while mother Carmela is listed as immigrating in 1911, which is crossed out and covered with 1913. The children are listed as immigrating in 1913. From Social Security death records, it looks like Carmelo was born April 14, 1887. On 14 Sep 1911 a Carmelo Puma, age 23, arrived at New York aboard the San Giorgio. He is listed as from Racalmuto.

I hope some of this helps.

[rp76226]

Thank you. That looks very promising as the Ellis Island record listed the mother as Carmela Mattina age 27 in 1912. 18 years later in 1930 she would have been age 45 as you indicate. I found the 1930 census record from your info.
I cannot find the SS record. Can you forward that to me?

I think the SS record is a different Carmelo Puma. A Carmelo Puma with that same exact date of birth, born in Racalmuto and died in Brooklyn is on my cousin's tree with a different wife and children than that census record.

Ron

[MichelleM]

I found his naturalization record. It says he arrived at Ellis Island in 1911. He would have been 6 or 7 which meant he would have been accompanied by at least one parent. However, I cannot find an Ellis Island arrival record for him.

Try Boston, I looked for years for my father in Ellis Island, Just found him, he came Thru Boston, Mass.