Suggestions on My Translation of a Birth Record?

[CaptainCatholic]

Hello everyone!

I am finishing up my own translation of the birth record of my Great-Grandfather, Nunzio Di Gennaro! Below is the transcription of the original Italian record, as well as my English translation.

Like the death record I posted about the other day, my English translation has some very awkward phrases! I would greatly appreciate any "constructive criticism" or suggestions for better wording! Thanks as always!!!

Original Italian Transcription

L'anno mille­otto­cento­settanta­quattro, il giorno ventisette Marzo in Troia e nella Casa Comunale alle quindici. Dinanzi a me, Antonio Rosati, Sindaco ed Ufficiale dello Stato Civile di questo Comune di Troia, Circondario di Bovino, Provincia di Capitanata, è comparso Nicolangelo Di Gennaro, fu Giacomo, bracciale di Troia, di anni cinquantasei, il quale mi ha presentato un maschio che dichiara essergli nato nel giorno ventiquattro stante Marzo alle ore ventiquattro italiane dalla di lui moglie Angiola Picucci di Michele, di anni quarantadue, secolui domiciliata in Troia e nella Casa di propria abitazione sita nella strada Rosati numero tredici, allo quale figlio dichiara dargli, il nome di Nunzio Vincenzo.

La quale dichiarazione viene fatta in presenza di Fedele Rezzolla fu Michele, bracciale di anni quarantasei, e Francesco Paolo De Respiccis fu Pasquale, muratore di anni 44, entrambi qui domiciliati, testimoni scelti dal dichiarante stesso, i quali, dopo avere avuto lettura del presente processo verbale, steso contemporaneamente sui due registri originali, l'hanno meco sottoscritto ad eccezione del dichiarante, perché illetterato.

My English Translation

The year 1874, on the twenty-seventh day of March in Troia and in the Municipal Building at 3:00pm. Before me, Antonio Rosati, Mayor and Vital Records Officer of this Municipality of Troia, District of Bovino, Province of Capitanata, appeared Nicolangelo Di Gennaro, son of the late Giacomo Di Gennaro, day-laborer of Troia, fifty-six years old, who presented to me a male who he declared was born to him on the twenty-fourth day of March at the twenty-fourth hour in Italian Time from his wife Angiola Picucci, daughter of Michele Picucci, forty-two years old, who lives in Troia, and in his own home located on the street of Rosati at house number thirteen, to which son he declares to give the name of Nunzio Vincenzo Di Gennaro.

This declaration is made in the presence of Fedele Rezzolla, son of the late Michele Rezzolla, a forty-six-year-old day-laborer, and Francesco Paolo De Respiccis, son of the late Pasquale De Respiccis, a forty-four-year-old bricklayer, both living here, witnesses chosen by the declarant himself, who, after having read the present report, drawn up at the same time in the two original registers, have signed it with me except for the declarant, because he is illiterate.

[bbivona]

I made one correction in your transcription, which is substantive. A few small suggestions in the translation. Regarding the time, I assume you're aware of how "Italian hours" works. It doesn't correspond at all to the time of day that we know.

Original Italian Transcription

L'anno mille­otto­cento­settanta­quattro, il giorno ventisette Marzo in Troia e nella Casa Comunale alle quindici. Dinanzi a me, Antonio Rosati, Sindaco ed Ufficiale dello Stato Civile di questo Comune di Troia, Circondario di Bovino, Provincia di Capitanata, è comparso Nicolangelo Di Gennaro, fu Giacomo, bracciale di Troia, di anni trentasei, il quale mi ha presentato un maschio che dichiara essergli nato nel giorno ventiquattro stante Marzo alle ore ventiquattro italiane dalla di lui moglie Angiola Picucci di Michele, di anni quarantadue, secolui domiciliata in Troia e nella Casa di propria abitazione sita nella strada Rosati numero tredici, allo quale figlio dichiara dargli, il nome di Nunzio Vincenzo.

La quale dichiarazione viene fatta in presenza di Fedele Rezzolla fu Michele, bracciale di anni quarantasei, e Francesco Paolo De Respiccis fu Pasquale, muratore di anni 44, entrambi qui domiciliati, testimoni scelti dal dichiarante stesso, i quali, dopo avere avuto lettura del presente processo verbale, steso contemporaneamente sui due registri originali, l'hanno meco sottoscritto ad eccezione del dichiarante, perché illetterato.

My English Translation

The year 1874, on the twenty-seventh day of March in Troia and in the Municipal Building at 3:00pm. Before me, Antonio Rosati, Mayor and Vital Records Officer of this Municipality of Troia, District of Bovino, Province of Capitanata, appeared Nicolangelo Di Gennaro, son of the late Giacomo Di Gennaro, day-laborer of Troia, thirty-six years old, who presented to me a male child who he declared was born to him on the twenty-fourth day of March at the twenty-fourth hour in Italian Time of his wife Angiola Picucci, daughter of Michele Picucci, forty-two years old, who lives with him in Troia, and in his own home located on the street of Rosati at house number thirteen, to which son he declares to give the name of Nunzio Vincenzo Di Gennaro.

This declaration is made in the presence of Fedele Rezzolla, son of the late Michele Rezzolla, a forty-six-year-old day-laborer, and Francesco Paolo De Respiccis, son of the late Pasquale De Respiccis, a forty-four-year-old bricklayer, both living here, witnesses chosen by the declarant himself, who, after having read the present report, drawn up at the same time in the two original registers, have signed it with me except for the declarant, because he is illiterate.

[CaptainCatholic]

I made one correction in your transcription, which is substantive. A few small suggestions in the translation. Regarding the time, I assume you're aware of how "Italian hours" works. It doesn't correspond at all to the time of day that we know.

This is awesome, thank you so much once again Brian!! (And great catch with my mistake on the age!). I am only vaguely familiar with Italian Time - I believe a member of this forum once told me that the 24th hour in late March would have been approximately 5:00pm? (Certainly correct me if I'm wrong!).

The other part of the translation I just can't figure out how to word naturally is "allo quale figlio dichiara dargli, il nome di Nunzio Vincenzo" (best I could do is "to which son he declares to give the name of Nunzio Vincenzo," but that is so awkward, haha - the English to Italian translation on this is confusing!).

Thank you so much again for all your help! I'm saving all these to Google Docs and sending them to all my family members - everyone has really loved them!

[bbivona]

Ora italica was a method of keeping time where the time counted from 1/2 hour after sunset. Thus, 10:00 was actually different times, depending on the season, but it was 10 1/2 hours after sunset. If the document specifies it, you know for sure that's the time method. If it doesn't, you're not always sure with documents before 1850 or so.

Regarding that final line of the main text, I would probably say "to whom he declares he gives the name of Nunzio..." or just "to whom he gives the name of Nunzio..."

[CaptainCatholic]

Ora italica was a method of keeping time where the time counted from 1/2 hour after sunset. Thus, 10:00 was actually different times, depending on the season, but it was 10 1/2 hours after sunset. If the document specifies it, you know for sure that's the time method. If it doesn't, you're not always sure with documents before 1850 or so.

Regarding that final line of the main text, I would probably say "to whom he declares he gives the name of Nunzio..." or just "to whom he gives the name of Nunzio..."

Very, very interesting about Italian Time! I misunderstood it a bit before your explanation.

Nunzio was born in the 24th hour in Italian Time on 24 March 1874. So if he was born in the 24th hour on 24 March 1874, I'm assuming that means he was born 24.5 hours after the sun set the day before (23 March 1874), would that be correct?

According to Google, the sun will set on 23 March 2022 at 6:25pm in Italy. So... the 24th hour in Italian Time on March 24th would be 7:55pm.

I believe that this means, if I am understanding correctly, that Nunzio was born at approximately 7:55pm on 24 March 1874? Fingers crossed I did that right, haha.

If the document specifies it, you know for sure that's the time method. If it doesn't, you're not always sure with documents before 1850 or so.

No kidding, that sure is confusing! All of the documents I have been translating are from Troia. This is the only one that specified they were using Italian Time. This is also the most recent document (all the other documents are from before 1874).

I wonder if it's safe to just assume that my other birth/death records from Troia are also using Italian Time? (I'd imagine so, since they're older? Seems like it would be strange for the same town to use Italian Time in more recent documents but not in older documents.).

Or... is it even possible for the same document to use both Italian time and "regular" time? (i.e. 2 different times are given on Nunzio's birth record - the time of his birth, which is specified as Italian time - but also the time that the record is was written down - "alle quindici," but this is not specified to be Italian time!)

Regarding that final line of the main text, I would probably say "to whom he declares he gives the name of Nunzio..." or just "to whom he gives the name of Nunzio..."

Ah, I like both!! I am terrible at re-wording things. Thank you so much once again Brian!!

[bbivona]

I believe that it would be 6:55 PM. Sunset was always 11:30 p.m. or 23:30. In this case, 23:30 would be at 6:25 so 24:00 would be 6:55.

[CaptainCatholic]

I believe that it would be 6:55 PM. Sunset was always 11:30 p.m. or 23:30. In this case, 23:30 would be at 6:25 so 24:00 would be 6:55.

Ah, yes, 6:55pm! (My mistake, haha). Perfect, I think I get it now - thank you so much again Brian!!!

About the only thing I'm wondering... what comes after 24:00? Would it be 24:01, or 00:01?

Thank you again!!!

[vspeciale66]

Super interesting about Italian time in these records! Was this used up to a certain date or is it the standard period? (For example is my record from 1834 and my record for 1890 both using Italian time or only records before a certain year)

I will need to go back and adjust my times on my records!

[bbivona]

Super interesting about Italian time in these records! Was this used up to a certain date or is it the standard period? (For example is my record from 1834 and my record for 1890 both using Italian time or only records before a certain year)

I will need to go back and adjust my times on my records!

It was supposed to be stopped in the early 1800s. Napoleon ordered that the French method of time keeping be used during his dominance. In practice it continued to be used in many places and when it stopped varied by locale. I would very be surprised if your record for 1890 were on Italian hours. I would generally assume records to not be using Italian hours unless they specify that they are.