Munno and Vollaro

[Tessa78]

Starvation is probably too succinct a term...

There were actually two related factors: chronic malnutrition and contagious disease. The food intake of the peasants in rural Italy often lacked vitamins, protein and balance. These dietary deficiencies took a high toll on the prenatal and infant stages of life, then again at the age of 40 or so when the cumulative impact of malnutrition gave rise to disease. One such disease was pellagra (from an inadequate intake of high quality protein - sometimes associated with excessive consumption of maize). And of course, after years of poor nourishment, they would succumb to diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, bronchitis, etc.

T.

[oilman19]

Well said Tessa. That was an education for me.
On a more positive note (maybe), I found another sibling for Umberto. The fact that Assunta does not have a marriage annotation gives me pause. However, lets be hopeful.
Also, please note that the spelling is Vollero, but here is no doubt the parents are correct.

Jim

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx34 ... th1890.jpg

[lljg]

Hi Jim and Tessa,
Thank you both for answering my question. It is very, very sad. I am mourning for both of your ancestors as well. How did you cope with finding out about their deaths? It is overwhelming, isn't it?

I do not know if Umberto had any other siblings. In fact, until you found birth and death records, that is how I learned he had any siblings. But, I can't help but to continually think about Luigi and his sisters who passed away -- and my Great Great Grandmother. How did she deal with all of this??? I wondered if so many families were dealing with children dying, did this become the norm? Did my GGGrandmother briefly grieve and move on because that's what she needed to do.

Sorry if this doesn't make a lot of sense -- I'm very tired and overwhelmed here!

Take care and thank you!!
Jean

[lljg]

Oh Jim,
Thanks for finding another sibling for Umberto. I was confused at first because one of his children had the same name. I'm looking at the record, still trying to figure it out. I see Gaetano's name, but not Maria's yet.

Also, did they always write a marriage annotation on the birth record? Perhaps she remained single! I'm praying....

Jean

[Tessa78]

J & J

Birth record dated 12 August 1890
Carolina Mandina, midwife, 41, declared that on 10 August at noon at house on Via Latina, to Maria deRosa, wife of Gaetano, 51, faenzaro, was born a feminine baby of the name Assunta.
Witnesses: Francesco dellaValle, 36, farmer; and Nicola Papale, 70, farmer.
the husband of deRosa was not present as he was far from the town.

T.

[oilman19]

Hi Jean,

My experience in reviewing records in S.M. has shown that typically there would be a marriage annotation on the birth record. That is not to say that it always happened but I have found it to be very consistent.
Also, if Assunta survived, you will have to deal with the misspelling of the surname throughout her life (Vollaro/Vollero). You can see in my signature the Mattora/Martora dilemma I have faced since starting this journey. It happens and I'm simply bringing it to your attention so that you may prepare.
I also cannot imagine what your GGgm went through. Life had to be so difficult back then. I'm pulling for Assunta.
Tessa, thank you for the translation (I forgot to do it).

Jim

[lljg]

Hi Tessa -- Thanks again for another translation. It is VERY VERY VERY appreciated!!


Hi Jim -- Thank you too! Again, I can't tell you what this means to me. I hope you are finding more about your ancestors too! I hope Assunta made it too!

Take care Tessa and Jim!!

Jean

[oilman19]

Hi Jean,
I may have found another sibling of Umberto. His name is Antonio. I haven't any way currently to prove he is a sibling but I will tell you what I know.
This is a death act of Antonio whose father is Gaetano (maybe your gggf). This is where it gets sticky. He was born abt 1870 and died in 1890. The resons I suspect his relationship is:
1. There have been very few Vollaro's on my films of S.M.
2.Gaetano was 45 years old when Umberto was born in 1884. That would make him about 31 in 1870. Since Antonio has a different mother, it is very possible Umberto was the product of a second marriage. Unfortunately, I do not see an age for Gaetano on Antonio's death act, so my case is weak.
I would save this record for future reference in case my hypothesis is correct. Eventually, records that we find will either prove or disprove my theory.
Maybe someone will be kind enough to do the translation for you.

Jim

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx34 ... th1890.jpg

[maestra36]

another clue, Jim

Antonio died at age 20 in the house on via Latina-same street as in the translation T did for the birth of Assunta to Gaetano and wife Maria deRosa a few posts above.

[maestra36]

The record is dated July 29, 1890 at 10 A.M. Antonio died oggi (today), on the 29th, in the house on via Latina. His father was Gaetano, faenzaro, and his mother was Matrona (very odd first name) Tartaglione, who was deceased and who had lived in the town when she was alive. Antonio was age 20.

[maestra36]

Informants were Nicola Musone, age 49, a farmhand, and Agostino Martelli, age 50, a farmhand.

[maestra36]

Witnesses were Francesco Addario, age 50, farmhand, and Salvatore Colella, age 50, farmhand

[maestra36]

Only the town official signed the document at the bottom, as the others who had intervened were illiterate

[Tessa78]

Hello Jim,

Your case is not so weak. The mother of Antonio was unmarried (it says "celibe" after it says she is a housewife and resided in this town. Gaetano may not have married her, but may have recognized the child as his own at Antonio's birth.

Peg's clue that Antonio died in a house on Via Latina also supports your case.

Of course, finding Antonio's birth record would be great!

By the way, did you notice the record below Antonio's? Maria di Nardo?
Is that a relative of yours? Noticed that a declarant was a Baldassare...

T.

[oilman19]

Thank you both for supporting my case. I obviously missed some clues but felt strongly that the record was worth a look.
I keep messing up Jean's family tree. I suspect this is not the last of the surprises she will encounter while researching her ancestors.

Tessa, I'm reasonably sure there is a connection to that record but I don't have sufficient info to fit her into my family tree yet.
Thank you,

Jim