Virzi from Alcara (Restifo, Bontempo, Mellino, DeVita)

[Virzi22]

I'm looking for any additional information on the Virzi family from Alcara Li Fusi, Messina, Sicily, some of whom emigrated to Cleveland, Ohio around 1906. Here's what I know:

Gaetano Virzi married Maria Anna Restifo in Alcara. They had at least one child, Felice, who married Maria Rosa Bontempo (b. 1851) on 21 May 1871.
She gave birth to Gaetano Bontempo 5 days later, then 3 more children, Maria Anna, Vincenzo (b. 9 Sep. 1874, d. 1 Jan 1944), one whose name I don't know. All but Gaetano were named Virzi. (Gaetano Bontempo married Vincenza Cancelliere (b. 1882) on 1 Aug. 1897 & had 10 children. Some of the Bontempo family emigrated to Cleveland also and some still live there.)

Vincenzo Virzi emigrated to Cleveland Ohio via Ellis Island and married Maria Giuseppa Mellino (b. 6 May 1884, d. 29 Nov. 1914) and had 3 children, Yolana, Felice (a/k/a Philip, my grandfather) and Nicolo. Maria died the same year Nicolo was born, and Vincenzo remarried another woman named Maria. They had 2 more children, Anna (b. 21 Mar. 1924) and Joseph Vincent (b. 31 Jan. 1932). I believe their descendants still live in Cleveland as well.

Maria Mellino arrived at Ellis Island from Palermo aboard the ship Perugia, on 27 May 1906. The record lists her as single, and I have not found any emigration, birth or death records for Vincenzo Virzi.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[misbris]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

There have been a number of posts about the name Virzi. Check this out first, then if you need more help, let us know.

http://www.italiangenealogy.tardio.com/ ... sults.html

[Virzi22]

Thanks for the quick help. Unfortunately, the prior posts were all about Virzis from Tunisia (one via Palermo) to Chicago & California.

My family came from Messina province (Alcara specifically) to Cleveland. I don't know whether anyone but Vincenzo & Maria came to the US, so I'm looking for relatives either here or back in Sicily.

[Biff83]

Search for obituary info at this site. Type in surnmame Virzi or Mellino. Looks like you'll find some helpful info.
Cleveland Public Library Obituary Search

Biff

[Biff83]

Not sure if you've seen this.
1930 Census for Jim Virzi and family
Many Italians named Vincenzo took James as their American name
1346 West 58th St, Cleveland
Jim Virzi 58, year of birth about 1872, immigration year 1904
Mary Virzi 28
Yolanda Virzi 22
Nicholas Virzi 16
Angelo Virzi 7
Anna Virzi 6

Biff

[Biff83]

On Maria's 1906 manifest she is travelling with her aunt Maria Rosa Bontempo (Vincenzo Virzi's mother). Maria Rosa is joining son Vincenzo at 140 St Cleveland, and Maria Mellino is joining her brother Vincenzo Mellino at the same address.
1906 Maria Mellino manifest

Biff

[Biff83]

1920 census for Vincenzo Virzi
Vincenzo Virzi, age 44, year of birth about 1876, widowed
Unknown immigration date or naturalization status

Biff

[Virzi22]

Wow. Thank you! This is outstanding. I have a lot of work to do.

[BillieDeKid]

Hi

LDS has films for Alcara Li Fusi, Messina, Sicily. You might be able to get some good information from them - birth, death, marriage etc.

Locate a Family History Center near you, here is the link.......
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library ... et_fhc.asp

These are the available films...........

Civil records 1821 to 1910
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library ... ato+civile++

Write down the film numbers you'd like to view and go to your FHC to order. Cost per film is about $5.50 USD.

Hope this helps.

Elizabeth

[italgrrl]

Hi, I noticed that you posted the name, DeVita, in your message title. My last name is Daveta and I have seen all sorts of different spellings of it. I'm trying to figure out if the names are from the same families and, if so, when the spelling changes happened. I see that there are lots of "Davetas" in the Ohio area as well.

Just trying to put all of this together. If you have any thoughts that might help please write back.

Thanks,
Francine Daveta