Research Request: Florindo Todesca (1876)

1876 Birth Act of Florindo Todesca

"Tammy Todesco said:

Hi, Researching roots in Torre Le Nocelle for info going back to before my great grandfather, Florindo Todesco, born July 26, 1876 He came to the United States first to Netcong, NJ. then on to Boston, eventually Franklin, Ma, and then on to Mansfield, Ma. His parents names were Gennaro and Giovanna. We know that he had a brother, Ciriaco, and a sister Carmelina.

My great grandmother, Filomena(Gialla)Todesco came from Montemilleto. Her parenets were Joe Gialla and Pasqualena(Capone). "

Hi Tammy,

Up top is the birth act for Florindo Todesca.  He was born 23 July 1876 on Strada Nocelle in Torre le Nocelle to Gennaro Todesca and Giovanna Capone.

Gennaro's family was from Torre le Nocelle.  His parents were Pasquale Angelo Todesca and Angela Rosa Russo. Giovanna Capone's family was from Montemiletto. Her parents were Pasquale Capone and Maria Musto.  Gennaro died on 22 February 1890 and Giovanna went on to marry Generoso d'Ambrosio, also of Torre.

Florindo had four siblings: Carmine (1865-1880), Maria Carmela (1867), Antonia (1868) and Ciriaco (1879.)  Maria Carmela married Raffaele Froncillo of Montemiletto, Antonia married Pasquale d'Ambrosio of Torre and Ciriaco married Maria Cardillo of Torre.

Florindo came to the States about 1898 and on 23 November of that year he married Filomena Ciarla in New York.  Filomena was born circa 1878 in Montemiletto to Giuseppe Ciarla and Pasqualina Capone.  (Pasqualina's EMS manifest)

Shortly after marrying the couple moved to Boston and finally settled in Mansfield MA.  (Most of this next stuff you might already know, but I'll go ahead and post it anyway just in case.)

I managed to find six children for Florindo and Filomena:

1. Giovanna Gaetana (Jennie) Todesca was born 7 August 1899 at 146 Prince St. in Boston.  Below is the Boston Birth Index showing Giovanna on line six.  (And heads-up Miz Jan ... Giuseppe Sessa, son of your Pietro and Concetta Strozziero is just above on line five ;-)

1899 Boston Birth Index

2. Gennaro (James) Todesca born 4 June 1901.

3. Giuseppe (Joseph) Todesca born 25 June 1903.

4. Pasqualina Todesca born 30 September 1905.

5. Adelina (Lillian) Todesca born May 1909.

6. Pellegrina Todesca born circa 1912.

All the children except for Giovanna were born in Franklin and Mansfield MA.  What's classic about Giovanna's birth record is the misspelling of her mothers' surname.  I see this time and time again on the American records.  It's probably one of the most common hurdles to to overcome with regard to online research.

The information on Pasqualina's birth (below - bottom line) was a little bit better with "Chiarlo", but you'll notice they misspelled Florindo's surname as "Todessa".

1905 Boston Birth Index

Next is Florindo's 1917 draft registration card.  It's a bit difficult to read, but his home address is 15 King Street in Mansfield, where he's working as a ferryman... and has switched his birthday to 26 July.

World War I Draft Registration Card

In 1920 the family still shows at 15 King St., however Florindo is now widowed.  That must have been a difficult time for them.  It looks Giovanna stayed home to take care of the the family, while all other available hands went to work.  Florindo is the foreman's helper at a chocolate factory. (Possibly Lowney's ?)  Gennaro was a machinist for a Safe & Die company, Giuseppe worked at a leather factory and Pasqualina worked for a bleachery.  Census image below.

1920 Mansfield MA Census

I'll leave you with an aerial shot of his home on 15 King Street in Mansfield.  Google must have taken this in the summer - everything's nice and green ;-)

~~~ Photo Update ~~~

A big thanks to Janice Todesca for passing along this photo of Filomena and Florindo!

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