Lapetina and Bisaccia relatives

[Albany1]

I will be traveling to San Mauro Forte in Basilicata, Italy, on October 15. I am hoping to access public and/or church records of my great granfather and great grandmother who lived there before they came to America. Does anyone have any advice on how best to proceed?

[Michael31]

http://italiangenealogy.tardio.com/foru ... =3410.html
http://www.basilicata.cc/lucania/smaurof/index.htm
www.parrocchiacalciano.it/parroco/

www.paginebianche.it
cognome: Lepetina
dove: mt
cognome: Lepetina
dove: pz
cognome: Bisaccia
dove: mt
cognome: Bisaccia
dove: Basilicata

places to search
San Mauro Forte (MT)
75019 Tricarico (MT)
75022 Irsina (MT)
75028 Tursi (MT)

Provincia di Matera
Provincia di Potenza

[Albany1]

thank you for the web site and the information.

[maple62]

Hi,

I'm keen to find out how you get on, if you wouldn't mind keeping me posted. My italian roots are totally San Mauro Forte (I was born in England) and my cousin (born in San Mauro but now lives in England) tells me that you first need to obtain permission from Il Sindaco (Sig. Diluca) before anyone is allowed to search the church records.

I hope you have a good trip.

Michael

Searching for Dalaimo, Diluca, Dibiase, Distefano, Tricarico, Ronzillo, Diriso, Sferruzza, Contrastano, Pierro, Mega, Dirocco, Palladino, Rivellese, Manzo, and Lacovara...all from San Mauro Forte.

[Albany1]

Michael -thank you for the information. I have written to the parish priest at San Mauro telling him about my visit but so far no reply. Incidentally, my great grandmother was Angela Bisaccia from San Mauro Forte. Her mother was Rosaria Lacovera, also from San Mauro Forte. I don't know anything else about her - do you have information about your Lacovera relatives?

[maple62]

Hi again,

Just thought i'd post you this link of one Antonio Bisaccia, born in San Mauro Forte in 1947. He's posted a message on a website (albeit nearly four years ago) and there is an email address with it. It might be worth trying to get in contact if the email account is still active???

http://www.basilicata.cc/php/guest/smaurof.php

The only Lacovaras I have are on my father's side...my gggmother was Clemenzia Lacovara, daughter of Giuseppe Lacovara.

Good luck!

Michael

[Albany1]

thank you Michael - I will follow up on the link. Mary

[Essgee]

The civil records of the town are available on microfilm from the Family History Library. Unfortunately, you don't really have enough time to access them prior to your trip. To see what is available, go to www.familysearch.org

The chances of being allowed into the church records are slight. You must have a proficiency in Latin...Old Latin at that. Since you have to do the research....no Priest has the time to sit there with you....you have to be familiar with not only the older language, but the handwriting as well.

Since you wrote ahead, you might get really lucky. But the civil records give baptismal information for the earlier years...up to about 1865 or so. Your chances of getting your hands on the civil records will be greater. If you write ahead now...with the date of your arrival at the office...and give them some information on the family, maybe they may have time to work up some of the paperwork for you. Don't know, but might be worth a shot.

The civil records that have been filmed cover from 1810 to 1929 so there is a lot of info there. Make sure you take all the clues to your family you have. Makes trying to recall something a lot easier if it is written down.

Good Luck and have a marlveous trip.

(There is a man that is sometimes on the Genforum Italy site named Richard Matera. He had done a lot of research in the Matera Province. Maybe you could post there as well and he might see it. Make sure you note Matera in the subject and wait and see if you get a response.)

[Albany1]

thank you. I have been to the Salt Lake City Family History Library and did get some documents from them regarding my italian ancestors. Most of my time spent there was also researching the Irish side of the family so I didn't pursue the Bisaccia family ties at all. I do have some documents to bring with me and I have also written to the vital Records clerk in San mauro forte with information. I hope to meet with both the parish priest and the city clerk if they will see me when I visit. I can read some Latin but most of all I would like to make photocopies of some documents while I am there. I hope they will allow me to do that. If not, it will still be wonderful to see my grandfather's home town. thank you for your other suggestions.

[maple62]

Hi again,

Here's some Latin! This maybe of future help to you!

Good luck.

Michael


abavia - 2nd great grandmother, female ascendant in the fourth degree
abavus - 2nd great grandfather, male ascendant in the fourth degree
abnepos - 2nd great grandson, male descendant in the fourth degree
abneptis - 2nd great granddaughter, female descendant in the fourth degree
adnepos - 3rd great grandson, male descendant in the fifth degree
affines - relatives by marriage, in-laws
affinitas - relationship by marriage
agnati - paternal relations
agnatus - related by blood on the male side
alimenta/o - provision made for made for younger sons or unmarried daughters
alius/a/ud - other
alter/era/erum - the other of two
ambo/ae/o - both
amita - father's sister, aunt
amita magna - grandfather's sister, grandaunt
amita uxoris - wife's father's sister
anima - soul, spirit
annus - year
anno - in the year
anno Domini - in the year of the Lord
arbor consanguinitatis - family tree
atavus - 3rd great grandfather, male ascendant in the fifth degree
avunculus - mother's brother, uncle
avus - grandfather
avi (pl.) - grandparents
avi relicta - grandfather's widow


banni - marriage banns
baptisma - baptism
baptisavit - he baptized
baptisatus/a - baptized
baptisatus/a est - he(or she) was baptized


caelebs - single, unmarried (man)
capellanus - chaplain
cognati - maternal relations
cognomen - surname
commater - godmother
comparere - to appear
comparuit pro me - he/she appeared before me
compater - godfather
conceptus/a/um - conceived
concepta est - she was pregnant
coniunx (coniux) - husband or wife
coniuges (pl.) - married couple
consanguinitas - blood relationship (if too close, an impediment to marriage)
consobrinus/a - cousin on the mother's side
contrahere - to contract, to draw together
matrimonium contraxerunt - they contracted marriage
coparcener - co-heir
copulatio - marriage
copulatus/a - married man/woman
copulatus/a est - he/she was married
coram - in the presence of
corpus - body
cum - with


decessit - he/she died
decessit sine prole - died without issue, childless
decessit vitae patre (d.v.p.) - died in father's lifetime
decessus - death
defunctus/a/um - dead
denunciatio - publication of the marriage banns
factis tribus denunciationibus - after 3 publications of the banns, 3 banns having been published
desponsus/a - betrothed
Deus - God
didymus/a - twin male/female
dies - day
die - day (a form used after certain prepositions)
discessit - he/she died
dominus - lord
domus - home
dos - dowry


ecclesia - church
ego - I
eiusdem - the same
eodem die - on the same day
erat - he/she/it was
est - he/she/it is
et - and
etiam - also
e, ex - from


feme covert - married woman
feme sole - unmarried woman
femina - woman
filia - daughter
filia fratris/sororis - niece, daugher of brother/sister
filius - son
filius fratris/sororis - nephew, son of brother/sister
frater - brother
frater ex materno latere - half-brother common mother
frater ex paterno latere - half-brother common father
frater germanus - twin brother
frater naturalis - brother
fuit - he/she/it was
fuerunt - they were


gemellus/a - twin
geminus/a - twin
gener - son-in-law, cousin
genitum - begotten, born
gens - male line, clan
genus - type, kind, birth, descent, sex, origin, class, race
generis - of the type, sex, etc.
germana - sister
germanus - brother
glos - husband's sister
gloris - brother's wife
gravida - pregnant


habere - to have, to hold
habitare - to reside
habitans - resident (adj.)
habitantes - residents
hebdomada - a week
heri - yesterday
hic, haec, hoc - this
hoc die/mense/anno - on this day/month/year
huius - of this
humatio - burial
homo - man, human being
humatus/a - he/she was buried


ibidem (ibid.) - in the same place
idem, eadem, iden - the same
ignotus/a - unknown
ille, illa illud - that
ilius - of that
illegitimus - illegitimate
impedimentum - impediment or hindrance (as to a marriage)
impedimentum consanguinitas - impediment of too close a blood relationship (2nd cousin or closer)
nulloque detecto impedimento matrimonio - and no marital impediment having been uncovered
imponere - to place upon, to impose
impositus/a/um - imposed, placed upon, given
cui impositum est nomen - to whom was given the name
infans - infant
instant, inst. - of the current month
inuptus/a - unmarried
infra - below, later
infrascriptus - written below
intra - within
ipse/a/um - himself/herself/itself
ita - thus, so
item - also, likewise


iunior/junior - younger
iure/jure - legally
iurare/jurare - to swear, take an oath
ius/jus, iures/jures - law, laws
iuvenis/juvenis - young person


lavare - to wash, to baptize
lautus/a est - he/she was baptized
levantes - godparents
levir - husband's brother
liber, libri - book, books
liber baptizatorum - baptismal register
liber defunctorum - death register
liber matrimoniorm - marriage register
ligatus/a est - he/she was joined or married
locus - place
locus sigilli - where a persons seal is placed (on a document)


majorennis - of legal age
majores - ancestors
mane - in the morning
manu propria - (signed) in one's own hand
marita - wife
maritus - husband
mater - mother
mater meretrix - mother of illegitimate child
matertera - maternal aunt
matrimonium - marriage
mensis - month
mense - in the month (of)
meridies - noon
minimus/a natu - youngest
meus/a/um - my, mine
morbus - disease
post longum morbum - after a long illness
mors - death
mortis - of death
mortuus/a/um - dead, deceased
mortuus/a est - he/she died
mulier - woman, wife
mutuo consensu - by mutual consent


nascit - he/she is born
natalis - natal
natus/a - born (adj.), son/daughter (noun)
natus/a est - he/she was born
nepos - grandson, nephew
nepos ex fil - grandson
nepos ex fratre - brother's son
nepos ex sorore - sister's son
neptis - granddaughter
nocte - at night
nomen - name
noverca - stepmother
nullus/a/um - no, none
nuptus/a - married
nunc tutus exitus computarus/a - safe exit
nurus/a - son's wife


obiit - he/she died
obstetrix - midwife
omnis - all, every
orbus/a - orphan masc./fem
origo - birth
originis - of the birth
ortus - origin, birth


parentes - parents
parochia - parish
parochus - parish priest
partus - childbirth
pater - father
patres - forefathers, ancestors
patrui relicta - paternal uncle's widow
patrinus/a/i - godfather/godmother/godparents
patruus - paternal uncle
patruerlis - paternal nephew
pie - piously
post - after
postridie - on the day after
pridie - on the day before
privignus/a - stepson/stepdaughter of a father
pro - in behalf of, for
proclamatio - bann, decree
proles - issue, child
proles spuria - illegitimate child
proneptus - grand niece
propinqui - relations, relatives
prosocrus - wife's grandmother
proximo, prox. - of the next month
pudicus/a - chaste
puella - girl
priores - ancestors
proavus/a - great grandfather/great grandmother
prorare vexilla - patriotic
provincia - province
proximus consanguineus - nearest relation
puer - boy
puerperium - childbirth
purgatus/a - cleansed, baptized


quasi - almost, as if
qui, quae, quod - who, which, what
quidam, quaedam - a certain person (masc./fem.)
quoddam - a certain thing
quondam - formerly, sometime


relictus/a - widower/ widow
renatus/a - reborn, baptized
requiescat in pace - may he/she rest in peace
ritus - rite
de ritu sanctae matris ecclesiae - according to the rite of the holy mother church


sacerdos - priest
sacer, sacra, sacrum - sacred
sacramentis totiis munitiis - fortified by all the last rites
sanctus/a/um - holy,sacred
scorta - unmarried mother, whore
scriptus/a/um - written
semper - always, forever
senior - older
sepelire - to bury
sepultus/a/um - buried
sequens - following
sic - thus, so
signum - mark
signum fecit - he/she made a mark, signed
sine - without
socer - father-in-law
socrus - mother-in-law
socrus magna - maternal grandmother
solemnicatio - marriage
solutus/a/um - unmarried (also free from debt)
soror - sister
sororius - brother-in-law (wife's brother)
sponsalia - marriage banns
sponsalis - betrothed (adj.)
sponsus/a - groom/bride. spouse, betrothed
spurius/a - illegitimate
stemma (gentile) - pedigree
stuprata - pregnant out of wedlock
stuprator - father of illegitimate child
sub tutela - under guardianship
subscripsit - he/she signed
subsignavit - he/she signed with a mark
sum - I am
sunt - they were
supra - above
ut supra - as above
susceptores - godparents
suus/a/um - his/her/its/their own


tempus - time
testamentum - will, testament
testis - witness
triduum - a period of three days
trigemini - triplets
tutor - guardian


ubi - where
ultimo, ult. - of the preceeding month
ultimus/a/um - last
unigena - only begotten daughter
unigentius - only begotten son
urbs - city
ut - as, so that, in order that
ut infra - as below
ut supra - as above
uxor - wife


vel (vel...vel) - or (either....or)
vespere - in the evening
vetus, veteris - old
victricus - stepfather
viduus/vidua - widower/widow
videlicet (viz.) - namely
vir - man, male
virgo - virgin, female, girl
virtuosus/a/um - honorable
vita - life
vita cessit - he/she departed from life, died
vulgo - commonly, generally


Months: Januarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Iulius or Quinctilis, Augustus, September (VII-ber), October (VIII-ber), November (IX-ber), December (X-ber).

Numbers Cardinal Ordinal
1 unus/a/um primus/a/um
2 duo,duae,duo secundus/a/um
3 tres, tria tertius/a/um
4 quattuor quartus/a/um
5 quinque quintus/a/um
6 sex sextus/a/um
7 septem septimus/a/um
8 octo octavus/a/um
9 novem nonus/a/um
10 decem decimus
11 undecim undecimus
12 duodecim duodecimus
13 tredecim tertius decimus
14 quattordecim quartus decimus
15 quindecim quintus decimus
16 sedecim sextus decimus
17 septendecim septimus decimus
18 duodeviginti duodevice(n)simus
19 unodeviginti unodevice(n)simus
20 viginti vice(n)simus
30 triginta trice(n)simus
40 quadraginta quadrage(n)simus
50 quinquaginta quinquage(n)simus

[Albany1]

I just returned from Italy and a successful visit to San Mauro Forte. I was able to meet with L'Ufficiale Dello Stato Civile, who had received the letter I sent before I went to italy. he gave me a copy of my great grandmother's birth certificate and a copy of the Situazione di Famiglia for Raffaele Bisaccia's family. I learned that my great grandmother had 6 siblings but none of them had any descendants still living in San Mauro Forte. He had no information about the Lacovera family. I was unable to meet the parish priest because the church wa closed when I got there (at 12:30 PM) and would not reopen until 6:00 pm that night. That was a disappointment - I am going to write to the pastor again. The town is small and shows its age. There isn't much for the people to do except some local farming - olive trees and vineyards. It's set way up in the mountains and took a long time to reach. After seeing the town, I understand why my great grandmother left. I can't imagine how a widow with 5 children would have been able to provide for them. I was able to see the house she grew up in and where my grandfather lived until she was able to bring him to the US. Mary

[mariagiannuzzi]

I am the grand-daughter of Rosaria (Rosa, Rose) Bisaccia Giannuzzi. Rosaria was born in San Mauro Forte (Fortte) about 1886. She had two brothers Francesco Bisaccia (Frank), born 1890 and Raffele (Ralph F.), born 1898. Their father, Antonio (Mastroantonio) was born in 1863 and immigrated to Hartford, Connecticut from San Mauro Forte in 1898. Their mother, Maria Bisaccia was born in 1864 and came to Hartford in 1909-10. Francesco came to Hartford about 1907-08. My grandmother Rosaria immigrated also about 1908 and Raffele came with his mother to the U.S. about 1909-10. Antonio and Maria's last name was also spelled "Bisaccio" in some of the records. They all came to Hartford, Connecticut. Antonio was a carpenter. His sons, Francesco and Raffele were tailors in Hartford. My grandmother, Rosaria married my grandfather Fedele (Fidele) Giannuzzi in 1910. Their son, my father was born in 1914. Francesco had six children, Raffele had three (I believe) and my grandmother, Rosaria, had seven children.

I have also found a Joseph Bisaccia, born about 1888 who immigrated to Hartford, Connecticut. He may have been a cousin. I don't know.

I found most of this information on familysearch.org.

[Albany1]

My great grandparents on my father's paternal side were Guiseppe Lapetina and Angela Bisaccia. Angela's parents were Raffaele Bisaccia and Rosario Lacovera. Angela was born in 1865 so her father, Raffaele Bisaccia, can not be the same Raffaele Bisaccia in your family tree. However, coming from the same small town, I'm sure they were related. Perhaps your Antonio and my Raffaele were cousins. I will try to see if I can ge tmore information about Raffaele Bisaccia from Familysearch.org. thanks for sending me this information!

[mariagiannuzzi]

I have not been on this site for several years. Sorry. Is it possible that your great-grandmother Angela and my great-grandfather Antonio Bisaccia were brother and sister or cousins. They were very close in age/birth dates.

[Albany1]

It's entirely possible. Maurantonio Bisaccia was born in San Mauro Forte Feb 23, 1862; Angela was born October 29, 1865. As you probably know, the same names often reappear in families that are related. The Rosario from my family was born in 1842 but her maiden name was Lacovara. She married Raffaele Bisaccia in 1859. Given the commonality of the names, it appears these two families are somehow related but I'm not sure how. I know that Raffaele Bisaccia's parents were Melchiorre and Luisa Bisaccia. Do those names mean anything to you?