James Ross - What could be his real name?

[franktroy]

My Great Grandfathers name was James Ross. He was born in 17 Jan 1863 Avellino, Campania, Italy, died 27 Sep 1949 Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, USA. Migrated to the US in 1874.

My Question is, this cant possibly be his real name. Is the surname of Ross common in Italy or could he actually be Giacomo Rossi?

Thanks in advance
Frank

[Tessa78]

James was commonly the Americanization of Vincenzo in the US.

His surname could have been Rossi, Rossano or Rossetti. These surnames are found in Avellino Province.
All three are also found in the town of Avellino ...

You would need to know his exact town of birth to find his birth act. Avellino is both a town and a province. Do you have documentation that it was the town of Avellino?

Do you know the names of his parents? Or at the least, his father?

T.

[luigirusso007]

James is commonly used for Giacomo

[rlw254]

Russo/Rossi is very common around Avellino (and obviously the rest of Italy). I have seen James used for Vincenzo a few times in addition to Giacomo.

[Italysearcher]

James is also commonly used for Vincenzo!

[Biff83]

Frank,
Below is "James Ross" wife Agnes 1961 PA death certificate showing her parents as Michael Tangreta and Mary Maddelena (nomaiden name). Based on this, I found a 1889 Lackwanna County marriage for Angiolina (I believe Americanized to Agnes) Tancredi, age 21, parents Michele and Maddelena, to Giuseppe Giosa, age 32, parents Vincenzo and Antonia.
Biff

[Biff83]

Frank,
Open the link below to download an image of the 1889 Lackawanna marriage license I mentioned above.
Married 10 Aug 1889 in St Peter's Cathedral by Bishop William O'Hara.
Biff

[Tessa78]

Great finds, Biff!!!

Is it possible that James Ross was the child of Giuseppe Giosa?

Here is the christening record of Vincenzo Gerardo Giosa with notation "known as " James Gerard Ross.
Father is Giuseppe Giosa, mother is Angelina Tancredi.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HHJ9-PQW2

Name Vincenxe Gerardo Giosa
Name Note Known as: James Gerald Ross
Sex Male
Christening Date 27 Jul 1890
Christening Place Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, United States
Christening Place Scranton, Pa
Birth Date 31 May 1890
Birthplace Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania
Father's Name Giuseppe Giosa
Father's Sex Male
Father's Birthplace Italy
Mother's Name Angelina Tancredi
Mother's Sex Female
Mother's Birthplace Italy
Event Type Christening


Here is a delayed birth record for Vincenzo or James Ross Giosa. Born 1890 in Scranton, P A.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:83YH-FQMM

T.

[Biff83]

Tessa,

Vincenzo James Ross was a child of Giuseppe Giosa, first son named for his father Vincenzo but based on census records sometime after his 1889 marriage and before 1910 Giuseppe took the name James Ross and his wife Angiolina changed her name to Agnes.I have been trying to find the family in the Scranton area in the 1900 census but no luck so far.

Auguri,
Biff

[rlw254]

I haven't had the time to determine if he's related, but there was a Pietro Domenico Tancredi born 2 Dec 1883 in Potenza to Michele Tancredi, 50, and Maddalena Interlacci (?). He ended up in New York.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cat=781730

On familysearch you had listed 'Rovch, Avellino' as the birthplace for James Ross. This looks like it was mis-transcribed from handwriting, what record exactly did this come from? The surname Giosa is very localized to the town Tito outside Potenza and some places throughout Bari.

[suanj]

I believe that James could be born in Roccabascerana, Avellino, IT.
suanj

[Biff83]

For those following the "Roch Avellino" was misindexed it says prov di Avellino on James Ross 1949 PA death certificate. Although it lists his birth year as 1863, his 1889 marriage shows his age as 32 so dob about 1857.

Roccaabascerana births for that time period do not have yearly inidces so a page by page search would be needed.

Biff

[suanj]

Hi Biff, no, no Rochv but Prov. di Avellino (italian language). So James was born in some commune of Avellino province. And Roccabascerana is out. Avellino rovincial archive put on line the index of military service list, no leverage but military service and I searched and no luck, because maybe James can appear in leverage but no in effective military service.. He went in USA on 1874, and if born around 1857 he was 17 old and I believe he travelled alone. Many young italians went in the America just because no wanted perform the military service.

[Biff83]

Hello Suanj,
I did find online pre-1865 birth records for Roccabascerana in Avellino province. Are you saying you were mistaken and he was born in another comune in Avellino province?

https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/search- ... _ss%3ANati

Biff

[suanj]

I already searched in Roccabascerana but no luck. Yes I say that he, by death record, could be born in some Commune in Avellino province, because they let write in italian Prov. (Province) di (of) Avellino. So born in some commune of Avellino province.
suanj