Looking for the Biggie (Biggi) and Chiesa and Repito

[lilasgarden]

Hi Tessa,
Thanks for the suggestion, however I don't believe that the Frank Biggi listed above is my grandmother (Elizabeth's) brother. In the course of researching over the past year I stumbled upon some interesting facts. Francis Augustus Biggi was married under the name Frank J. Biggie to Catherine McCarthy. Later I found death certificates for two infant daughters, Florence b. 13 Jan 1906 d. 15 Jan 1906. Another daughter, Mary I. b. 15 Jun 1915; d. 24 Jul 1915. The parents listed on Mary's death cert. are Geronimo F. I. Biggi and Catherine McCarthy and they were living in Revere, MA., USA.

The 1920 census has Geronimo F. Biggi as head of a household which includes his wife Catherine R., and 3 children: John T., Dorothy C, and Francis A.

Geronimo's WWII Draft Registration Card in 1942 lists Elizabeth Morganty as the person who will always know where he could be located. Elizabeth (Biggi) Morganti is his sister and my grandmother. The address listed on that document is the same address listed on my father's marriage cert. I know that my father was living w/his mother at the time of his marriage.

Finally, I found the grave for the infant Mary I. Biggi who died in 1915 and was very surprised to see Frank listed on that grave as well. His dates were listed 1884-1946.

I tried searching for SS death reports for him and other members of this family, but have not found any. I will try the sites you suggested. Thanks so much.
G

[Tessa78]

Hi G

You have done some great research!!!

This is quite a puzzle to sort out as I found MANY Biggi/Biggie in the Boston MA area while I was searching.

Keep looking...it may take more time than we would like, but when found...the joy is beyond words!!!

Good luck

T.

[lilasgarden]

I'm glad to hear you say this is very confusing w/ all the Biggi's in the Boston area. I thought I was having a hard time because I'm so new to all of this. I have a piece of the puzzle that I thought would be easy ....but am finding nothing at all on. The names on the Biggi headstone in Malden, MA USA are: Frank 1884-1946; Mary I. 1915-1915; James 1912-1918; and John 1930-1932. James birth and death fall in between census years so I've not found anything about him. All the files I have access to don't include the 1930's. Any suggestions? Thanks for all your help!

[Tessa78]

Have you tried searching at www.pilot.familysearch.org ?

I saw MANY Biggi entries there...

T.

[Tessa78]

A birth record for Geronimo Francis Augustus Biggi

Name: Geronimo Francis Augustus Biggi
Gender: Male
Baptism/Christening Date:
Baptism/Christening Place:
Birth Date: 19 Jul 1884
Birthplace: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: Gianbattista
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Cattarina
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I01921-0
System Origin: Massachusetts-EASy
Source Film Number: 594918
Reference Number: 9641
Collection: Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915

AND... for Frank Augustus Biggi

Name: Frank Augustus Biggi
Gender: Male
Baptism/Christening Date:
Baptism/Christening Place:
Birth Date: 19 Jul 1884
Birthplace: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Catharine
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I01920-6
System Origin: Massachusetts-EASy
Source Film Number: 594918
Reference Number: 3546
Collection: Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915


T.

[Tessa78]

Do you have these 1920 and 1930 Census records for Catherine (Catterina)?


1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Catherine M Biggi
Home in 1920: Somerville Ward 2, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Age: 69
Estimated birth year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Mother
Father's Birth Place: Italy
Mother's Birth Place: Italy
Marital Status: Widowed
[Widow]
Race: White
Sex: Female
Year of Immigration: 1863
Able to read: No
Able to Write: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph H Biggi 40
Catherine M Biggi 69
Elizabeth F Morganti 11
John R Morganti 6
Madeline R Morganti 37


1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Catherine Biggie
Home in 1930: Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts
View Map
Age: 79
Estimated birth year: abt 1851
Birthplace: Italy
Relation to Head of House: Grandmother, Grandma (Grandmother)
Race: White
Household Members:
Name Age
Elizabeth Morganti 45
Catherine Biggie 79

If not, I'll post the link...

T.

[lilasgarden]

Hi Tessa,
Thanks I do have those documents. I was confused by Madeline Morganti until I was given my grandmother's birth certificate by one of my cousins. Although I always knew her as Elizabeth (Biggi) Morganti, it appears that her given name was Rose Magdalena (those are the names of both of her grandmothers). I've read that the custom was to name first born sons after their grandfathers, was it also common for first daughters to be named after their grandmothers? I must say it gets rather confusing when people change names throughout their lives....

Thanks again for all your help,
G

[Tessa78]

Hi G

You might be interested in this site...
Italian naming traditions...
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwi ... aming.html

T.