My paternal grandparents, Anthonio Alessandro Gardella, a/k/a Alex and Maria Musa a/k/a Mamie were both born in the States.
Alex in Detroit in 1875. Mamie in East New York, Brooklyn in 1888.
Their marriage fell apart. Their six children were sent to orphanages. None of the children had been adopted out.
My favorite cousin on my Gardella side had often speculated that we might have had different grandfathers,
I believe that we had.
This favorite cousin was the daughter of my father’s younger sibling.
I am earnestly seeking to find a man named Joe with an Italian last name starting with the letter M who lived in Mount Vernon, NY circa 1940 and who drove a truck and who might have had the illness NF1.
A Real Shot in the Dark
-
MaddalenaNYC
- Veteran
- Posts: 192
- Joined: 27 Feb 2012, 02:02
- Location: Brooklyn, NYC
-
warriorrabbit
- Elite
- Posts: 252
- Joined: 28 Nov 2007, 18:05
- Location: San Diego
Re: A Real Shot in the Dark
That is…. very broad. Unfortunately I think you need relatives of that man to also be looking, and looking now when you’re looking, and that’s a tall order.
I guess you’ve done some DNA, based on the illness? I ask because I was able to use Ancestry records and DNA to figure out relatives, and even meet them, when we had zero records due to adoption.
I guess maybe get in contact with Mt Vernon historical society or libraries? See if there’s a relevant Mt Vernon Reddit ?
Phone books back then listed occupations. A lot of work, but at least you’re only looking at 1 letter.
I guess you’ve done some DNA, based on the illness? I ask because I was able to use Ancestry records and DNA to figure out relatives, and even meet them, when we had zero records due to adoption.
I guess maybe get in contact with Mt Vernon historical society or libraries? See if there’s a relevant Mt Vernon Reddit ?
Phone books back then listed occupations. A lot of work, but at least you’re only looking at 1 letter.
-
darkerhorse
- Master
- Posts: 3982
- Joined: 11 Jun 2020, 18:31
Re: A Real Shot in the Dark
I tried an exact search on Family Search: Joseph (or Giuseppe), M*, Mount Vernon, NY, and 1940 Census. Then I started clicking on results with Italian last names and looked at occupation. After many tries I gave up. If I had known the age I would have added birth year plus or minus 5 or 10 years.
Maybe you can search in Ancestry, adding occupation. I don't have access to it.
I don't think DNA testing is an option for her.
Maybe you can search in Ancestry, adding occupation. I don't have access to it.
I don't think DNA testing is an option for her.
-
darkerhorse
- Master
- Posts: 3982
- Joined: 11 Jun 2020, 18:31
Re: A Real Shot in the Dark
Was that illness even diagnosed c.1940?
WWII draft registrations list some distinguishing marks, like scars. I wonder if they recorded diseases?
WWII draft registrations list some distinguishing marks, like scars. I wonder if they recorded diseases?
-
MaddalenaNYC
- Veteran
- Posts: 192
- Joined: 27 Feb 2012, 02:02
- Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Re: A Real Shot in the Dark
Thank you all for your responses and assistance.
DNA won’t help as I was not related to Joe and my cousin who suspected that he was her real grandfather died over a decade ago.
My father’s baby sister, Annie, had NF. It did not materialize until she was in her late thirties. The only other person who had NF in our family was her daughter, my beloved first cousin. Again,the condition did not materialize until my cousin was in her late thirties.
I have read that NF is hereditary, or, might be a result of a spontaneous mutation.
The thing is that my grandparents’ marriage broke up at the time of Annie’s birth January 1,1916.
My grandfather returned to his native Detroit. My grandmother remained in NYC.
As my grandmother had no means to support her children, all six were sent to Catholic orphanages.
I have been fortunate to have been able to view those records through the Family History Library in Salt Lake.
In 1920, the children’s great aunt who was a very wealthy woman living in Detroit, sought to have the children sent to her. All of the children except for Annie.
The Diocese of New York, although initially agreeable, stopped the transfer at the last moment stating that the children’s mother was living and visited them frequently.
Is it a leap to surmise that Joe, the truck driver, with an Italian last name starting with an M fathered my Aunt Anne?
Perhaps.
If he had taught my father to drive a rig, that instruction would have taken place circa 1930.
My grandmother had relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Mount Vernon, NY to be closer to the Catholic Protectory where her children were housed.
Darkerhorse, I suspect that Joe had been born around 1886 or so.
My grandmother had been born in 1888.
She died in 1952 before I was born. Joe had died before her according to what my mother, also now deceased, had told me.
In 1952, my grandmother died in Mt. Vernon, NY.
I honestly don’t know why I am pursuing this as there’s no one left alive, save for me, who would even care.
If Joe was my Aunt Anne’s natural father, that was an incredibly well kept family secret.
Warriorrabbit and Darkerhorse, thank you both for the time you have expended to help me.
DNA won’t help as I was not related to Joe and my cousin who suspected that he was her real grandfather died over a decade ago.
My father’s baby sister, Annie, had NF. It did not materialize until she was in her late thirties. The only other person who had NF in our family was her daughter, my beloved first cousin. Again,the condition did not materialize until my cousin was in her late thirties.
I have read that NF is hereditary, or, might be a result of a spontaneous mutation.
The thing is that my grandparents’ marriage broke up at the time of Annie’s birth January 1,1916.
My grandfather returned to his native Detroit. My grandmother remained in NYC.
As my grandmother had no means to support her children, all six were sent to Catholic orphanages.
I have been fortunate to have been able to view those records through the Family History Library in Salt Lake.
In 1920, the children’s great aunt who was a very wealthy woman living in Detroit, sought to have the children sent to her. All of the children except for Annie.
The Diocese of New York, although initially agreeable, stopped the transfer at the last moment stating that the children’s mother was living and visited them frequently.
Is it a leap to surmise that Joe, the truck driver, with an Italian last name starting with an M fathered my Aunt Anne?
Perhaps.
If he had taught my father to drive a rig, that instruction would have taken place circa 1930.
My grandmother had relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Mount Vernon, NY to be closer to the Catholic Protectory where her children were housed.
Darkerhorse, I suspect that Joe had been born around 1886 or so.
My grandmother had been born in 1888.
She died in 1952 before I was born. Joe had died before her according to what my mother, also now deceased, had told me.
In 1952, my grandmother died in Mt. Vernon, NY.
I honestly don’t know why I am pursuing this as there’s no one left alive, save for me, who would even care.
If Joe was my Aunt Anne’s natural father, that was an incredibly well kept family secret.
Warriorrabbit and Darkerhorse, thank you both for the time you have expended to help me.
