A couple questions about a great grandpa for my moms Italian citizenship

[BriHargan]

My mom is trying to apply for dual citizenship and needs her grandfather’s birth certificate. His name is Sebastiano di Maria born 9-18-1894 to parents Michele di Maria and Maria giuseppa Cerrone. Michele and maria have kids birth on family search Francesco, Rosa, Carmine, crisifissa, and Pasquale, but not my great grandpa Sebastiano on there. I was told there could have been a fire for 1894 documents in that town and that is why I can’t find his official birth. He came here to New York sometime from 1913-1918 but we can’t find his passenger arrival. He joined the army in 1918 and might have been naturalized by joining the army but we also don’t have his naturalization document. He changed his name or the army changed his name to Samuel Marion. He married my great grandma Christine Petrill on 12/24/1925 in Michigan. I have a few questions, is there a way to find and get his official naturalization papers, can anybody help me find his passenger arrival, and lastly, he was born in Santa Croce Del Sannio, Benevento Italy; so could somebody let me know what address and who I send a letter to in that town, and how much of a “donation” I should include? Also can somebody help me write what I should say in the letter? I was thinking I could translate it to Italian language but need help finding who/what address I send it to in the town and what I should say, and what do I include a copy of my drivers license? I’d like to know the details thank you

[BriHargan]

To write a letter for his birth act* I wanted to let you know I want to write this letter to the commune to request the birth act. Also on his documents they show his birth year as 1895 and 1897 so his birth year may be incorrect

[qualdom]

I'm not sure you will be able to apply via your GGF. I found his WWI draft card from 1917 and it reads that he was already naturalized at that point.

[qualdom]

Perhaps you could apply through your GGM. Based on her father's (your GGGF) WWI draft card, he was still an "alien" as late as 1918.

Your GGGF was born October 13, 1879 in the same town as Samuel Marion.

[BriHargan]

Wow great find! I never seen the actual document before! Would you be able to find Desiderio’s wife Modestina born 09-01-1876 her birth document? That’s very cool! Thank you these are Samuel Marion’s wife Christine’s parents but yes they are my great great grandparents from her. Thank you. Also on a different find, Desiderio’s mom is Fiorangela Gioa, is her birth act online? And would like to know her parents names, on Desiderio’s document it looks like it is Carminantonio Gioa. I just never had Fiorangela’s birth date or her mom’s name before. Thanks . Also for Desiderio would it be a good idea to mail the town and ask for Desiderio’s official birth certificate? and also his Wife Modestina Spina, could you do a screenshot of her birthact? Her birthdate is 09-01-1876. My last question is Since Sebastiano di Maria born 09-18-1894 Santa Croce does not appear to be digitally available, is there other data bases to find his like the church in the town? If not, what address and commune should I request for his birthact and how should I write it? Even if I can’t get citizenship I would still love to have his birthact for genealogy as well. Thank you for all your help!

[qualdom]

I don't think Modestina Spina was born in the same town. I could not locate her birth record in the registry for Santa Croce.

However, I found this arrival card when she came to New York in 1900. It mentions the town Cercepiccola. Unfortunately, birth records are not available online for her possible birth year.

[qualdom]

Desiderio Petrillo and Modestina Spina were married August 13, 1898 in Cercepiccola.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... KY?lang=en

[BriHargan]

Ah yes, I do apologize for not providing her city. She was born in Castropignano, Campobasso, Molise, Italy September 1st, 1876 to parents Gabriel Spina and maria d’Anessa.

[qualdom]

Sebastiano De Maria came to the USA on August 07, 1913.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... PL?lang=en

[BriHargan]

Very cool. I never seen that card before. And good find on that passenger arrival