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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Research Request: Beniamino Todesca (1883)

 Birth Act of Beniamino Todesca

Hi, I am wondering if you can tell me anything about a Beniamino Todesca, who immigrated from Torre le Nocelle to Winchester, MA. He was a firefighter. I am his great-grandson. My grandmother is Palma Todesca (living), who has the sisters Emily, Georgianna, and Anita, and brother Ben (all deceased). Palma was born in Winchester and now resides in Medford, MA. Any help is appreciated.

 Hello!  I think I can help you out ;-)  Up above is Beniamino's birth act.  He was born 10 February 1883 in the family home on Strada San Mercurio (in the countryside of Torre) to Leopoldo Todesca and Angela Cefalo.  As far as I can tell, Beniamino only had two siblings - Rosa (1876-1892) and Emilia Rosalia (1876).

Beniamino arrived at the port of Naples on 5 April 1900 on board the EMS.  Here's a link to the post containing his manifest.  

He married Caterina Nutile (or Nutillo, depending on the document) on 2 July 1905 in Boston and the couple quickly settled in Winchester.  The 1914 death of their infant son Leopoldo puts them at 61 Florence St. ... and from about 1918 on they lived at 45 Tremont St.

Beniamino and Caterina had nine children:  

Angelina - 12 June 1906 (aka Helen A. in the 1920 Census)

Filomena - 11 June 1908 (aka Florence)

Emilia - 12 June 1910

Leopoldo - 14 November 1912 to 3 July 1913

Giorgia - 6 October 1914 (aka Georgianna)

Anita - 17 March 1917

Beniamino - 11 April 1919 (aka Benjamin)

Catherine - abt. 1922

and your grandmother, Palma. (As she's alive, I won't post her birth info.)

Beniamino filed his Declaration of Intention on 6 October 1914 in Boston (photo's below - click to enlarge) and was naturalized on 25 April 1921.

1914 Declaration of Intention

1920 Petition for Naturalization

Petition Index

His birth is always shown as 11 February, but he was actually born on the 10th at 10:07 pm.

Here's a four generation pedigree chart for Beniamino's father Leopoldo ...

and for his mother, Angela Cefalo ....

I'd be delighted if you had a photo of Beniamino or your grandmother that you'd be willing to share with us!  You can email me directly here.

Regards,

Carm

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Research Request: Emilia Cefalo (1879)

"Ciao Carm!
I am just starting to do some research and found your blog. My grandmother was Philomena Cefalo (Miazga). Her parents were Carmine and Emilia Cefalo. I know that they were from outside of Naples. I wanted to know if I'm on the right track. I found Emilia Cefalo (http://tlngenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/02/about-blog.html) born in 1879. Thanks for such a thorough and interesting blog.
Suzanne"

 Hi Suzanne!
Below is the birth act and pedigree chart of Emila Cefalo.  She was born on 5 April 1879 at 3:00 pm in the family home on Contrada Grifi to Generoso Cefalo and Maria Grazia Bevilacqua.

Emilia had five full siblings - Maria Letizia (1876), Fiore (abt. 1882), Albino (1885), Maria Laura (1888) and Nicolo (abt. 1891), and one half-sister, Maria Giulietta Bevilacqua (1872).  Maria Giulietta was the only child of Maria Grazia Bevilacqua's first marriage to Ciriaco Pasquale Bevilacqua.

I'm not showing a marriage act for Emilia, but it's likely she was married after 1899 - the cut off date for most of my records.  Carmine was one of the most popular male names in Torre, so I have several of them in Emilia's age bracket (actually about 15 or so) ... but with a little work we can probably narrow down the possibilities.

Are we on the right track?

Regards,
Carm

1879 Birth Act of Emilia Cefalo

Pedigree Chart of Emilia Cefalo

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Research Inquiry: Carmine Cassano and Carmina di Iorio

From Angela:

"So what i am looking for is my Great Grandfather Emilio Cassano's parents and his siblings I dont know their names and dates etc.... Emilio Cassano born in Torre Le Nocelle August 25, 1892, Died Boston, MA May 7, 1975. Any help would be wonderful!
Thanks! "

Hi Angela,
Happy to help!  Below is the marriage record of Emilio's parents - Carmine Cassano and Carmina di Iorio.

1892 Marriage Act - Carmine Cassano to Carmina di Iorio

And the highlights:

Marriage Act #2 Filed 2 Feb 1892 in Torre le Nocelle

Husband: Carmine Cassano

Age: 20

Birthplace: Torre le Nocelle, Italy

Residence: Torre le Nocelle, Italy

Occupation: Farmer

Parents: The deceased Gennaro Cassano and the living Isabella de Santis

Bride: Carmina di Iorio

Age: 20

Birthplace: Torre le Nocelle, Italy

Residence: Torre le Nocelle, Italy

Occupation: Farmer

Parents: Ciriaco di Iorio and Maria Carmela Capone

Witness: Gennaro Colucciello, age 60, farmer

Witness: Francesco Capone, age 58, farmer

Carmine and Carmina had at least six children in Torre: 

1. Your Emilio Cassano born 25 August 1892.

2. Nunzia Cassano born 12 July 1895 and died 10 Feb 1897.

3. Ida Messalina Cassano born 21 April 1899

4. Ernesto Cassano born circa 1900

5. Annamaria Cassano born circa 1907

6. Alberto Cassano born circa 1912

There are some large gaps between the last three children, meaning there were more than likely additional children born in between, but since my copies of the Stato Civile acts end at 1899 you'll need to write to the anagrafe office in Torre to see if they can assist you.

Below is Emilio's pedigree chart.

Pedigree of Emilio Cassano born 1892.

Your great-grandmother Emilia de Minico was born in Torre on 8 October 1894 to Ciriaco de Minico and Filomena Todesca.  Emilia had at least three sisters:

1. Maria Carmina de Minico born 27 January 1888

2. Nunzia de Minico born 30 March 1897

3. Maria Giuseppa de Minico born 3 January 1899

Again, it's likely she had more siblings, but since they would have been born after 1900 you'll need to write the anagrafe for more information.

Below is Emilia's pedigree chart.

Pedigree of Emila de Minico born 1894.

Enjoy!

Carm

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Inquiries - Research Assistance

 Mulberry Street, NY Circa 1893

Do you have ancestors from Torre le Nocelle or the surrounding comunes?  If you're just beginning your research, or are stuck and need some assistance ... or just have a family story you'd like to share, feel free to email me directly. 

Please include your name and email address, the surnames you are researching, the comune/s,  and as much relevant detail (dates, etc.) as you can ...and we'll be happy to try to assist you. 

Regretfully, however we can no longer respond to anonymous requests for family information.

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