Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

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chiachio
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Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by chiachio »

My Great-Grandfather Michele Rosa was born in Cercemaggiore, Campobasso, Molise, Italy in 1867. At some-point he changed his surname to Rose and married my Great-Grandmother Mary Ellsworth in around 1890 in Tioga County, Pennsylvania which makes me think that he was living in New York State near the Pennsylvania border. My 2nd cousin and I have searched for information on him for over 20 years, but cannot locate any ship records or emigration records on him, as we don't know either of his parents names. I can't imagine that he was sent to the U.S. alone. It seems as though 'Rosa' was a common surname in Italy during the mid-to-late 1800's.

Any suggestions from those with experience in researching these type of searches would be greatly appreciated...

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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by PippoM »

* deleted *
(had not seen your other post)
Giuseppe "Pippo" Moccaldi

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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

For some reason, I cannot duplicate the link, but I found this on Ancestry.

Michael Rose 1867 - May 7, 1943
Spouse - Mary Eleanor Ellsworth
Father - Francesco Rosa
Born - Italy
Died - Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania USA
Residence - Elkland,Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

Also:

Mary Ellsworth
1871 - 1935
Spouse Michael Rose
Mother Clarissa A White
FatherChauncey Curtis Ellsworth
Born West Pike, Pennsylvania
Died Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA
Residence
Elkland, Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

Maybe?

Detail Source
Name: Michele Rosa
Record Type: Naturalization Declaration
Birth Place: Italy
Declaration Date: 12 Jun 1889
Declaration Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Naturalization Place: Pennsylvania, USA
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

There is also a 1910 census for the family of Michael Rose (born in Italy and naturalized)
His wife, Mary, and children (Charles, James, Lena, and Clara) were all born in Pennsylvania

This is a possibility: birth date is off by 3 years but father (Francesco) is correct.

Name Michele Rosa
Sex Male
Birth Date 03 Jul 1864
Birthplace Ceppaloni, Benevento, Campania, Italia
Father's Name Francesco Rosa
Mother's Name Isabelle Calabrese
Event Type Birth
Certificate Number 49
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by JamesM »

Here is the corresponding birth record, to what mier posted, for Michele Rosa

https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali. ... 65/w9m2dky

3 July 1864 in Ceppaloni, Benevenuto
Father: Francesco
Mother: Isabella Calbrese
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

This is another naturalization possibility

Name Michael Rose
Sex Male
Naturalization Date 4 Nov 1892
Naturalization Place New Jersey, United States
Naturalization Place (Original) New Jersesy
Birthplace Italy
Event Type Naturalization


I believe this was a county naturalization if you are searching for records.

New Jersey, County Naturalization Records, 1749-1986", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZMR-VWMG : 11 March 2021), Michael Rose, 1892.
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

From Ancestry more detail on residences - Note that father is Francesco

Michael Rose
1867 - May 7, 1943
Spouse Mary Elsworth
FatherFrancesco Rosa
Born Italy
Died Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA
Residence
Elkland, Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA
Hide all residences
Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey, USA
Nutley Ward 3, Essex, New Jersey, USA
Haverstraw, Rockland, New York, United States
Haverstraw, Rockland, New York, United States
Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey
Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey, USA
Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA
Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey, USA
Albany Ward 04, Albany, New York, USA
Kentucky, USA
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

Also the odds are that Michele’s mother was named Lena (Maddelena). Note that the second female child was named Clara (for Clarissa, Mary Ellsworth’s mother). The first female child would have been named for Michele’s mother.

That would mean the 1864 birth I noted above is not accurate.
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

You should also note that Antenati has posted the birth records from Cercemaggiore. I checked for Michele Rosa for the years 1866, 1867, and 1868, but his birth record does not appear. There are several Rosa’s but none for Michele. It is likely, if the date is correct, that he was born in a nearby town but not Cercemaggiore. His name also does not appear in the Campobasso listings. Benevento may be a possibility.
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Re: Brick Wall regarding Great Grandfather

Post by mler »

Again from Ancestry:

Michael Rose

Spouse Mary Ellsworth
Father Francesco Rosa
Children Charles "Charley"
Birth Apr 1867 Cercemaggiore, Campobasso, Molise, Italy
Death 7 May 1943 Chester Township, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA
Residence 1 June 1915 Haverstraw, Rockland, New York, USA

I will check the Cercemaggiore records again with a close look at April, 1867

Edited to add: I just checked - Archivio di Stato di Benevento > Stato civile italiano > Cercemaggiore(provincia di Campobasso) > 1867

And still nothing. I totally understand the brick wall.
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