Guarino

[Debid76]

Hi...
I am trying to find out the names of my Great Grandma's parents/siblings. I know she was born in Louisiana, I think Baton Rouge. Her maiden name is Mary Guarino. Born 1/12/1900. I would also love to find out when her family arrived in the U.S.

Also, my grandfather's last name was spelled wrong when his father came to the U.S. It is now spelled Balzanto. I think he came here in 1898 from Bari. Any suggestions on how to find out the correct spelling???

I am just starting all this (time-consuming) fun and I thank you in advance for your help/suggestions!!!

[Biff83]

Hello and Welcome to Italian Genealogy!!

Is this your family in the 1930 census?
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5655 ... 930wp2.jpg
Chicago, Cook, Illinois
1120 Grand Avenue
Frank Balzaat, head, age 33, born Italy about 1897, immigration 1922, naturalized
Mary Balzaat, wife, age 30, born Louisiana about 1900
Tony Balzaat, son, age 5, born Illinois
Married year extrapolates to about 1924

Note the Tom Guarino family living at the same address.
Tom Guarino, head, age 39, born Italy, immigration 1894
Jennie Guarino,wife, age 28. born Louisiana
Sam Guarino, son, age 13, born Louisiana
Rose Guarino, daughter, age 12, born Illinois
Jack Guarino, son, age 10, born Illinois
Santa Guarino, daughter, age 8, born Illinois

And next door is the Dominick Guarino family; more possible relatives.
Dominick Guarino, head, age 45, born Italy, immigration 1907
Carmelia Guarino, wife, age 43, born Italy, immigration 1916
Frances Guarino, mother, age 86, born Italy, immigration 1914

Also other families on the same street have Louisiana connections--Catteros, Tenerllis (Tenerellis?).

And are these their Social Security Records?
Name: Frank Balzanto
SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
Last Residence: 60101 Addison, Du Page, Illinois, United States of America
Born: 15 Dec 1895
Died: Oct 1977
State (Year) SSN issued: Illinois (Before 1951 )

Name: Mary Balzanto
SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
Last Residence: 60101 Addison, Du Page, Illinois, United States of America
Born: 12 Jan 1900
Died: Apr 1989
State (Year) SSN issued: Illinois (Before 1951 )

Biff

[Biff83]

Could this be Francesco's manifest?

1911 manifest for a Francesco Balzante, line 5
Page 1
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4042 ... 911ba5.jpg
Page 2
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6857 ... 112fq7.jpg

Name: Francesco Balzante
Arrival Date: 1 Mar 1911
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ship Name: Luisiana
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Last residence and place of birth: Triggiano, province: Bari - region: Puglia
Nearest relative in Italy: mother Serafina
Destination: Chicago Illinois to join brother Michele

Biff

[Biff83]

1921 manifest for Maria Balzante and children, lines 23-26
Page 1
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5020 ... 921gh0.jpg
Page 2
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6503 ... 212go9.jpg

Maria Balzante
Giuseppe De Vivo, son
Antonio De Vivo, son
Anna De Vivo, daughter
Last residence and birth place: Triggiano
Nearest relative in Italy: mother/grandmother Serafina
Destination: Chicago Illinois to join husband/father Michele De Vivo at 1139 Grand Ave

Illinois Death Record
Name/ Sex/Race /Age/ Cert # / D of Death/ County City/ File Date
BALZANTE SERAFINA F/W UNK 6000059 1932-01-01 COOK CHICAGO 32-01-03

Biff

[Debid76]

Biff,

Yes, that is all family. The census is my grandpa & Great- grandparents. Balzaat?? Now I can add another way I have seen it mispelled!!

Also, That is my great-grandfather, Francesco Balzante. Knew it when I saw Triggiano. I know I looked for him with that spelling. Don't know why I didn't find it, but thank you. Serafina rang a bell for my gram, as did Michele and now I know Michele came to live with an uncle, Rocco Forte!!

I am sure the Guarinos living in the same building must be Mary Balzanto's brother and the name Cattero , from Louisiana, really sounds familiar, too.

I am curious how I can get the 1910 census records. i would think if I can find Mary Guarino (in Louisiana) I could get her parents names.

Thank you so very much for your time and help.

Deb

[Biff83]

Hi Deb,

Glad to hear that was your family. Here are a couple of other records.

1910 Manifest for Michele Balzante, line 18
Page 1
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7779 ... 910zr4.jpg
Page 2
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6726 ... 102xr4.jpg

Name: Michele Balzante
Arrival Date: 28 Feb 1910
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Naples, Italy
Ship Name: Madonna
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Last residence and place of birth: Triggiano
Nearest relative in Italy: mother Serafina
Destination: St Paul Minnesota to jon uncle Rocco Forte

There's likely another manifest for Michele since he is single and the following manifest is for his wife and daughter.

1921 manifest for Anna Ottolino and daughter Serafina Balzante on the San Giorgio arriving New York on 3 Jun 1921, lines 9 and 10
Page 1
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2350 ... 921bw4.jpg
Page 2
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5424 ... 212jw5.jpg

Anna Ottolino, age ?
Serafina Balzante, 6 months
Nearest relative in Italy: mother Maria
Last residence and place of birth: Triggiano
Destination: Chicago IL to join husband/father Michele Balzante at 1137 Grand Ave

edited to add--see line 12. Serafina Difronzo from Triggiano, destination Chicago to join son Francesco Balzante at 1137 Grand Ave.

The death record in a previous post could be for Michele's daughter or possibly Michele and Francesco's mother Serafina.

Biff

[Biff83]

More Guarinos living down the street on Grand Avenue in 1930 with Louisiana connections
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/8456 ... 930xa7.jpg

Jack Guarino, head, age 70, born Italy, immigration 1891, naturalized
Josephine Guarino, wife, age 52, born Italy, immigration 1894
Angeline Guarino, daughter, age 19, born Louisiana
Joe Guarino, son, age 13, born Louisiana
Patsy Gallo, son in law, age 34, born Italy
Bertha Gallo, daughter, age 26, born Louisiana

Biff

[Biff83]

1920 census for Jack and Josephine Guarino and family. Appears to be the same family as the above 1930 Illinois census
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2110 ... 920ur3.jpg

Police Jury Ward 7, Tangipahoa, Louisiana
Jack Guorino, head, age 59, born Italy
Josephine Guorino, wife, age 40, born Italy
Mary Guorino, daughter, age 20
Kerry Guorino, daughter, age 18
Bertha Guorino, daughter, age 15
Jenny Guorino, daughter, age 13
Francis Guorino, daughter, age 11
Lena Guorino, daughter, age 8
Joe Guorino, son, age 3 1/12
All children born Louisiana

Biff

[Biff83]

Interesting 1891 ship manifest, line 110
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2299 ... 891uw8.jpg

Name: Giacchino Guarino
Arrival Date: 11 Dec 1891
Age: 30, year of birth about 1860
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Bordeaux, France
Ship Name: Havre
Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana

Biff

[Biff83]

Not sure what to make of this 1900 census.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3797/z ... 900ud1.jpg

Police Jury Ward 4, Saint James, Louisiana
Jack Gurino, head, age 39, born Sep 1860, immigration 1898?
Josephine Gurino, wife, age 21, born Oct 1878
Gaetano Gurino, son, age 11, born Feb 1889 Italy
Mary Gurino, daughter, age 1, born Sept 1898 Louisiana
Lillie Gurino, daughter, age 4.12, born Jan 1900 Louisana

Is Lillie the Kerry on the 1920 census? Are Mary and Lillie's names reversed on the census? If so, this looks like the same family.

Note other Guarino family on same census page.

Biff

[Biff83]

1920 manifest for the Balsante/Balzante brothers--Michele and Francesco, lines 8 and 11
Re d Italia arrival at New York 3 Feb 1920
Page 1
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9629 ... 920hp4.jpg
Page 2
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6717 ... 202pt8.jpg
Destination: Chicago Illinois to join brother Alfonso

Biff

[Biff83]

1920 census for Gaetano Guarino and family
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3026 ... 920xq5.jpg

Chicago Ward 17, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Gaetano Guarino, head, age 30, born Italy
Vincenza Guarino, wife, age 20, born Illinois??
Sam Guarino, son, age 4, born Louisiana
Rosie Guarino, daughter, age 1 10/12, born Illinois

Possibly the same person as the Tom on the 1930 census and the Gaetano on the 1900 census.

Biff

[Debid76]

Biff,

I am so amazed by all the information you have posted!! Jack & Josephine are obviously my great-great grandparents. I did not know their names. I have a great uncle that must have been named after his maternal grandfather. Also, the ship manifest for Giacchino Guarino I would think HAS to be my great-great garndfather as it makes sense with the census records and his first son was born in Italy in 1889. Josephine must be his 2nd wife, or she was only 11 when she had Gaetano!

"edited to add--see line 12. Serafina Difronzo from Triggiano, destination Chicago to join son Francesco Balzante at 1137 Grand Ave"

Do you think Difronzo would be her maiden name??? Or, perhaps she was widowed and remarried. Obviously she is also my great-great grandmother. I would assume her husband's name was Antonio Balzante, as then my grandfather would have been named after his paternal grandfather and my great-uncle after his maternal. I just found out from my uncle that he had been trying to find her gravesite, but has had no luck. The first post has a death record for a Serafina, but as you said it was either the mother or a child. I will have to look in to that.

My Gram has many papers at her home I will have to look through. Most are from her family (LaSala's & Lombardo's). I doubt she has much from my grandfathers family, but I am going to look through it soon. Most, from what I can remember is in Italian, and unfortunately I do not speak/read Italian and my gram is very "rusty."

Is there any way to get records from Italy?? Triggiano, Altavilla Milicia, Sicily and Castelvetrano, Sicily??? Is the only way to write??

Thank you so much for your help and time. It means so very much and I completely treasure the documents you have posted.

Deb

[Biff83]

Josephine must be his 2nd wife, or she was only 11 when she had Gaetano!
A possibility. I can't explain the age discrepancy but Gaetano's birth record would contain the information.

Do you think Difronzo would be her maiden name??? Or, perhaps she was widowed and remarried.
I believe Difronzo was her maiden name.

Most, from what I can remember is in Italian, and unfortunately I do not speak/read Italian and my gram is very "rusty."
If you can scan them, you could post them in the Translation section here; some other folks should be able to help translate them.

Is there any way to get records from Italy?? Triggiano, Altavilla Milicia, Sicily and Castelvetrano, Sicily??? Is the only way to write??
The Family History Centers have film for the towns.
Triggiano
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... 1&last=100

Altavilla Milicia
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... 1&last=100

Castelvetrano
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... 1&last=100

There are also census records for Altavilla and Castelvetrano prior to 1800.

To locate the nearest Family History Center.
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... et_fhc.asp

You can rent the microfilms for about $6 each for 30 days.

Biff

[Biff83]

Other death records of interest from the site below:
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/depar ... index.html

All following records from Chicago, Cook County
GUARINO JACK M/W UNK 6031569 1935-11-24
GUARINO JOSEPHINE F/W UNK 6003403 1934-02-05
GUARINO THOMAS GAETANO M/W UNK 6021889 1938-08-11
The 7 digit numbers are the death certificate #'s followed by date of death.

Contents of Death Certificates
Certificates show county and city in which death took place; certificate number; address where death took place; sometimes the voting ward of that address; the deceased's full name, sex, marital status, birth date, age at death, occupation, employer, and city and state of birthplace; father's name and birthplace; mother's maiden name and birthplace; name of the informant providing the above information; the filing date; and the name of the registrar. Also included are the date of death; indication if an inquest was held; sometimes the duration of the causal condition and the type of secondary contributory cause; the coroner's signature, address, and telephone number; the date of the coroner's signature; sometimes the length of residence if at an institution and the place where the contributory disease was contracted if not at the place of death; the burial place and date; and the undertaker's name and address.

Biff