Caulonia and San Giovanni in Fiore to Massachusetts

jplekas · New Member Joined: Mar 09, 2010 Posts: 5

wow. I love this stuff. I started researching my mother's roots recently and occasionally come up with a detail that opens a huge new door.

My MGF's name was Vincenzo Leo (maybe Lio in R. Calabria). He was born in 1884 in Caulonia (I guess that's in Cozenza). He came when he was 18, so that would be 1902. I find hundreds of Vincenzo Leos on manifests, but none that seem to be him.
My mother says he came here with his best friend "Campare Frank" (Vincenzo Francisco Circosta) who eventually settled in Springfield, MA and became a barber.
My GF Vincenzo ended up in Worcester, MA after marrying Philomena Braica from Springfield.
Since I cannot find reliable manifests from 1900—1010 all I have is WWI and II registration cards, census records and some naturalization papers.

Similarly frustrating: I cannot find a 1907 manifest for my Greek PGF who left Albania, traveled across the Adriatic, across Italy to Napoli, then to NY.

For all these family members I have numerous manifests from later visit trips back and forth from Napoli to NY.
I have found out that MGF Leo's family evidently moved to San Giovanni in Fiore because I have traced his Father Nicola and sister Rosa to that town. My M tells me her GF Nicola had a lot of romantic "fun," so who knows what I may eventually find out about him!
The Calabrian Exchange seems like a great resource but doesn't have birth info back as far as 1884. I guess I'll have to wait till more info becomes available.
Any hints or suggestions?
John

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

Edit to remove questions..........didn't see that Cathy had answered on the Southern board to John's duplicate post AND posted same time as Nuccia posted info Embarassed

Sorry guys didn't see you had already responded to him. Guess I should pay more attention. Embarassed

nuccia

Hi John
I'm glad you find the Calabria Exchange a great resource and I am adding records all the time. It's a slow process though so be patient and perhaps we will have the records you are looking for in time. I have put the feelers out to those I know who have submitted info and since I am currently helping a family with my surname from Caulonia I could use the records myself. Caulonia is in the Province of Reggio Calabria - not in Cosenza and the Calabria Exchange is one of the few sites on the internet that actually has so many records from this Province.

Ancestry seems to be acting up the last two days so I am having trouble with it but I am thinking this may very well be your Vincenzo..

First Name: Guiseppe
Last Name: LioVincenzo
Ethnicity: Italian
Last Place of Residence: Caulonia
Date of Arrival: Oct 16, 1902
Age at Arrival: 19y Gender: M Marital Status: S
Ship of Travel: Aller
Port of Departure: Naples
Manifest Line Number: 0026

www.ellisisland.org/se...2787100181

If it is, you're very lucky since many ship manifests for 1902 were somehow lost...

Let me know what you think.

nuccia

Shoot Billie - you posted before me! Did you also find the same manifest? I looked for Vincenzo Ciricosta too and looks so far like they didn't come together but her was from Caulonia and born about the same time as Vincenzo Lio. Ciricosta was also living in NY for a while in about 1944 (if its the same person)

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

I found a manifest for Circosta traveling the same month as Vincenzo and I'm pretty sure it's the correct V. Francesco Circosta. There was an Angiletta traveling too!

jplekas · New Member Joined: Mar 09, 2010 Posts: 5

wow. Thanks Billie. Is it from 1901 or 1902? I'm almost certain they came that year. Where will I find the manifests?
John

nuccia

Billie please post that manifest!

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

My apologies...was out for the evening and just got home. Here is the 1902 manifest.....line 9. I'm pretty sure this is your grandfathers friend and he traveled 7 days ahead of your grandfather.

Here is the 1903 manifest with Angiletta the last line and a few lines above crossed out was Francesco. Entire group from Gioiosa Ionica (Reggio Calabria).

Edit to correct image.

nuccia

Oops..not wearing my glasses but I think these r the same manifests. Sad

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

nuccia wrote:

Oops..not wearing my glasses but I think these r the same manifests. Sad

Image corrected Embarassed

nuccia

Thanks Billie! I actually hadn't seen that one before. Smile

jplekas · New Member Joined: Mar 09, 2010 Posts: 5

thank you both.
the info I do have is that Vincenzo Francisco Circosta wasn't married when he & V. Leo came to Springfield, MA. Both were born in Caulonia in 1883 or 4. Their last Italian residence was probably San Giovanni in Fiore. I know that Circosta did not live in NY in 1944 (he was definitely in MA then). I don't know of any Angeletta.
I know it's difficult to find manifests from 01, 02 and 03 but I'm certain they both came then.

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

I'll keep looking John Smile

jplekas · New Member Joined: Mar 09, 2010 Posts: 5

Grazie Mille!