Today in Family History in 1807…in Farindola

Today in family history, in 1807, in Farindola, according to Storia di Farindola by Antonio Procacci, a band of brigands and members of the French military and members of the Guardia Urbano of Farindola got into a gunfight. The Farindolesi, who were fearful of looting by the brigands, sided with the French detachment.

During the gunfight, 6 brigands were killed, and the rest fled and were chased under the orders of my fifth great grandfather Nicola Carusi, who was the town miller at the time. Nicola’s father Paolo was the Luogotenete of the Guardia Urbano.

Unfortunately, Nicola’s orders didn’t please the Farindolesi. He had to take his family, including my 9 year old fourth great grandmother Francesca Carusi, into hiding in nearby Penne. Nicola wrote a letter to French General Chavardes saying he was now hated by masses of people who had sworn to sacrifice him and his entire family. The General arranged for the municipality of Penne to give him 15 days of rations to feed his 5 children Tommasina (the midwife), Francesca, Camillo, Giovan Luigi, Maria Michela, and his wife Giovanna Marzola. The Carusi were my nonna’s ancestors through her mother Luigia Massei.

You can’t make this stuff up…and there is a book to be written there.

Source: Storia di Farindola by Antonio Procacci via gelsumino.it

Today in Family History

On today’s date (September 9), the following happened in my family tree:

In 1830, my 4th great grandparents Domenicantonio Rossi and Maria Domenica Della Bricciosa married in San Giovanni, Penne, Abruzzo. Domenicantonio was the son of Giovanni Rossi and Anna Saveria Barbacone. Maria Domenica was the daughter of Blasio Della Bricciosa and Vittoria Gambacorta. They were the great grandparents of Cesidio Marcella. (His mother was named Elisabetta Rossi.)

We have the signature of Domenicantonio Rossi and the signature of Maria Domenica’s father Blasio. I don’t know if this meant they were literate, but they were able to sign their names legibly on the marriage document as you can see. This couple, and other members of their families, moved around this area of Abruzzo to multiple villages during their lifetimes. I don’t know what that means or why. I would love to hear your ideas.

On my maternal side the following happened:

In 1594, my 9th great grandmother Vittoria Litieri was baptized in Sant’ Agnese Parish, in San Felice a Cancello, Caserta. I know almost nothing about her, except her parents’ names, Cesare Litieri and Tommasina Secondina, and that she was the mother of my ancestor Pietro Capobianco. A Portia d’Adamo is noted on the baptism and may have been the midwife or the godmother. What is your guess? What do you see?

In 1834, my 3rd great grandfather Joseph Anton Heinzen was baptised in the Catholic parish of Glis near the Swiss border with Italy in Valais. He was born the day before in the tiny hamlet of Lingwurm. The godparents noted in the church record were Felix Nillen and Maria Josepha Nillin. His parents were Johann Joseph Heinzen and Anna Maria Vollmar. They were farmers.

Coincidentally, his daughter, on September 9, 1886, my immigrant second great grandmother Anne Aloisia (Anna) Heinzen and Ludwig (Louis) Fritz Kirsch got married before a Justice of the Peace in Chicago. She was Catholic and he was Lutheran.

In 1864, during a cholera epidemic in Chicago, 10 month old Loretta Schuttler, my second great grandmother Katharina Schuttler’s baby sister died.

Finally, on the other side of the Atlantic, in 1886, in Montecalvario, Naples, Italy, Carmen Ferraro’s sister Elena Ferraro was born. In America she married Angelo Scarnecchia.

Do you have any additions or corrections, or are we related? Please email me, because WordPress does not notify you if I comment on your comment on my blog. cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net.

.

Today in Family History

On today’s date (September 2nd) in family history, the following events happened on my maternal side:

Anna Heizen Kirsch

In 1862, my immigrant second great grandmother Anne (Anna) Marie Aloisia Heinzen was born in Lingwurm, a tiny hamlet of houses near Brig, Canton Valais, Switzerland. She was the daughter of Joseph Anton Heinzen and Italian-Swiss Regina Gentineta. Happy Birthday!

In 1881, my immigrant second great grand uncle Alexander Bold, who was born near Nuenschweiler, close to Alsace, France in Germany, two different Chicago newspapers published reports on his duties as a Chicago Police Officer. He raised an alarm when a four story brick plaining mill owned by Wintermeyer & Dempsey caught fire. It was a total loss for the company. He also struggled with a gun a perpetrator and shot him. Officer Alexander Bold had been on the scene because the perpetrator had shot five people.

In 1928, the Chicago Tribune ran an advertisement for my immigrant great grandfather Carmen Ferraro’s opera school at the Lyon-Healy building, in which he offered “part scholarships to few promising voices.”

In 1971, the Montreal Gazette featured a story on a American detective agency run by a woman, which was rare in those days. The article mentioned that she and her former boss, my first cousin two times removed Albert R. Valerioti, attended the World Detective Conference happening in Montreal. It also states, that he was called the “Prince of Detectives” because decades before he was responsible for transporting Hiroshima’s atomic bomb fragments from New York to Washington. Albert was the son of Angela Maria Ferraro, my great grandfather Carmen Ferraro’s sister.

On my paternal side, the following happened:

Penne Marriage Processetti

In 1791, my 5th great grandmother Rosalinda Maddalena Mincarelli was born in Penne, Abruzzo to Domenico and Anna Maria Giulia Di Federico. She was a lace maker and was the spouse of Massimo Antonio Nicola Uriano. If you are keeping tracek, she was an ancestor of Luigia Massei.

Are we related, or do you have an addition or correction? Please email me, because for some reason WordPress does not send you my reply if you simply comment on this post. My email is-cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net

Midwife Scribing Saturday ~ The Birth of My Great Grandfather

The next record in the Farindola records mentioning midwife Maria Giuseppa Marcella was the birth of my great grandfather Cesidio Marcella who was born on February 11, 1995 in Case Bruciate in Farindola.

• 

Translation –

Number 20 of the Book of Births of the Commune of Farindola (1895):

The year 1895, day 13, of February at the 11^th hour, in the municipal house.

In front of me Paolo Colaiezzi Assessiore, Civil State Official of the Comune of Farindola, there appears Maria Giuseppa Marcella, of 48 years, midwife, living in Farindola, that admits to me that on the 15^th hour, in the 15^th minute, of the 11^th day of the current month, in house address Casa Bruciate, number (blank), to Elisabetta Russi (Rossi) wife of Filippo Marcella, with whom she resides.

There was born a baby of the masculine sex that she presents to me and who has been named Cesidio.

To the above in this document were present the witnesses Angelo Ferromossa, of 38 years, tailor, and Quirico Cirone, of 52 years, contadino, both residents of this commune.

The registrant announced that the birth above is provided by the aforementioned, explained in the action that the husband of Russi (Rossi) is ill.

The act has been read to all that are present, because the attendees are illiterate, under signed by:

(P Colaiezzi)

In the Margin:  Addition to record – day 7/1/1980, died in Chester USA, act no. 1, (atto di morte Farindola 1981) Pescara, 7/12/1983, signed the Cancelliere of Farindola.

I translated this record in 2016. An image of his birth record can be found in my previous post below:

https://cinziarosasdescendantsblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/on-this-day-in-1895-in-case-bruciate/

Midwife Scribing Saturday ~ Maria Carmina Crocetta ~ the 1790s

The next midwife in this line is the daughter-in-law of the previous midwife, Maria Carmina Collalto. Maria Carmina Crocetta was my fifth great grandmother who has been identified in records as a midwife in Farindola. She may have been born in Penne, Pescara, because her son’s baptismal record referred to her as being from Penne. Sadly, I do not know when or where she passed away. She was married to Sabbatino Colangelo. Below are the first three records I found that reference Maria Carmina Crocetta as a midwife. They are baptisms that I translated from Latin and Italian. The first two baptisms are of children born to her husband’s brothers.

• 

The Book of Births, of this church San Nicola di Bari, Day 28 January 1790, I, Antonio Salvitti, Arch Priest, Farindola, baptized infant born to married Antonio Eggidio Colangelo and Maria Nicola Ciarma, citizens of Montebello, given the name Giovanni Filippo, godmother Concetta Damiani and godfather Antonio Di Bernardo, citizens of Penne, midwife Maria Carmina Crocetta, signed by name in front of those present. (Marriage Processetti, Farindola, 1813, Giovanni Filippo Colangelo and Angela Rosaria Colangelo.)

The Book of Births, San Nicola di Bari, Farindola, Day 9 of December 1792, I, Antonio Salvitti, Arch Priest, here, baptized infant son born to married Massimo Antonio Eggidio Colangelo, from here, and Gentilea Cotraccia from Montebello, given the name Berardino, godfather Anastasio Cardone, citizen of Penne, midwife Maria, wife of Sabbatino Colangelo. Signed by name in front of those present. (Marriage Processetti, Farindola, 1820, Berardino Colangelo and Anna Domenica Cascegno.)

The Book of Births, San Nicola di Bari, Farindola, Day 21 April 1797, Anna Vincenza, legitimate daughter of Antonio Costantini and Angela Maria Marcella, married, living in Trosciano, baptized by me Arch Priest Giovanni Matricchia, resident here, godmother Concetta Delle Monache, midwife Maria Crocetta, in faith. (Marriage Processetti, Farindola, 1819, Massimo Antonio Antonacci and Anna Vincenza Costantini)

-cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net

1809 Farindola Morti

FARINDOLA MORTI (DEATHS) FROM 1809

One of my quarantine projects has been going through the unindexed records in my ancestral towns in Italy.  Below is the fist batch.

Please note:  No parents are listed in the 1809 death records.  The number corresponds to the number of the record listed on Antenati.  In many cases, one of the men giving testimony is the father, the oldest living son, or the oldest living brother of the deceased.  The places of residence in Farindola of the deceased and the witnesses/test are listed.  Occupations of the witnesses/test are also included.  The starred names are in my tree.

1. Frasatti, Rosa, 70, 3 January, contrada della Madonna delle Grazie, Test: Massimo Antonio Frasatti, 40, Domenica Frasatti, 24, both same address, all contadini.

2. Ciarma, Pasquantonio, 80, 4 January, campagna nel luogo detto Tavo, Test: Luigi Ciarma, 53, Giovannia Ciarma, 46, both same address, all contadini.

3. Gambacorta, Anna Alberia, 65, 11 January, contrada Trosciano, Test: Alesandro Gambacorta, 40, Massimo Antonio Gambacorta, 35, same address, contadini.

4. Lucerini, Romoaldo*, 70, 8 February, artista, Porta delle Fonte, Test: Nicola Lucerini*, 40, artista, San Leonardo, Carmine Lucerini*, 70, contadino, Porta Farese

5. Di Venturo, Nicola Andrea, 8 months, 20 February, Cupoli Villa, Test: Gaetano Di Venturo, 37, Berardino Di Venturo, 34, same address, contadini

6. Cirone, Nicola, 5 months, 29 March, della Piazzetta, Test: Berardino Cirone, 63, Taccaro, same address, Andrea Pompili, 45, artista, Porta delle Fonte

7. Di Raimondo, Clemente, 11 months, 3 April, Cupoli Villa, Test: Nicolantonio Di Raimondo, 50, Benedetteo D’Agostino, 50, same address, contadini

8. Frasatto, Blasio, 80, 17 April, luogo detto la Madonna delle Grazie, Test: Donato Frasatto, 34, Cupoli Villa, Domenico Frasatto, 24, Cupoli Villa, all contadini

9. Frattarola, Anna, 82, 17 April, campagna luogo detto Tavo, Test: Luigi Ciarma, 53, Sabbatino Ciarma, 55, same address, contadini

10. Di Carlo, Pasqua, 1 year 5 months, 24 April, della Croceria, Test: Francesco Di Carlo, 54, Francesco Ferri, 53, same address, contadini

11. Pompili, Nicolantonio, 58, April 27, il Piano Sciotto, Test: Antonio Romagno, 46, artista, delle Fonte, Vincenzo Caruso*, 36, artista, l’Abbattazza

12. D’Agostino, Serafino, 6 years, 2 months, 9 May, il cupello, Test: Domenico D’Agostino,46, Silvestro Castagno, 50, same address, contadini

13. Cirone, Giuseppe, 83, 22 May, campagna nel luogo detto cannete, Test: Angelo Cirone, 40, Altobrando Cirone, 35, same address, contadini

14. Grilli, Sblendora, 13, 3 June, della Piazzetta, Test: Domenico Grilli, 44, Berardino Facioline, 70, same address, contadini

15. Mariani, Anna Cleria, 4, 13 June, campagna nel luogo detto Santa Maria, Test: Saverio Mariani, 45, Francesco Mariani, 20, same address, contadini

16. Pompili, Giovanni, 69, 14 June, contadino, detto il Piano Sciotto, Test: Domenico Lombardi, 46, taccaro, Giovanni Barbarosa, 50, contadino, same address

17. Di Blasio, Angela, 50, 23 June, Cupoli Villa, Test: Francesco di Bartolomeo, 48, Elenterio di Bartolomeo, 51, same address, contadini

18. Di Gregorio, Angela Dea, 2 days, 27 June, campagna nel luogo detto di Colli, Test: Pasquale Di Gregorio, 60, Zopito Di Gregorio, 30, same address, contadini

19. Ciarma, Desiderio, 8 months, 27 June, campagna nel luogo detto Tavo, Test: Ciarma, Giovanni, 41, Donato Ciarma, 39, same address, contadini

20. Lizza, Giovanni, 77, 27 June, Porta Farese, Test: Domenico Lizza, 39, Filippo Andrea Lizza, 30, same address, contadini

21. Ciarma, Eleonora, 1 year 4 months, 28 June, campagna nel luogo detto Tavo, Test: Giovanni Ciarma, 41, Donato Ciarma, 39, same address, contadini

22. Tardiani, Angela Rosa, 1, della Piazzetta, Test: Berardino Tardiani, 40, Pietrantonio Trizio, 50, same address, contadini

23. Pompili, Donato Antonio, 80, 8 July, San Leonardo, Test: Gesue Pompili, 42, Daniele Pompili, 30, same address, contadini

24. Falconetti, Nicola, 3, 10 July, della Piazzetta, Test: Ascenzio Falconetti, 33, Domenico Falconetti, 28, same address, contadini

25. Del Longo, Domenica, 75, 12 July, San Leonardo, Test: Giuseppe Giordano, 76, calzolaio, Giovanni Pulini, 21, calzolaio, same address

26. Di Venturo, Sabbatino, 34, 13 July, Cupoli Villa, Test: Berardino Di Venturo, 36, Nicolantonio D’Agostino, 42, same address, contadini

27. Chiarella, Vincenzo*, 4, 14 July, Fonte Marotta, Test: Antonio Chiarella*, 65, ferraro, Bernardo Chiarella*, 34, ferraro, same address

28. Tozzani, Antonio, 3, 17 July, Cupoli Villa, Test: Giuseppe Tozzani, 38, contadino, Saverio Marcucci, 60, fabricatore, same address

29. Tozzani, Berardino, 3, 19 July, Cupoli Villa, Test: Giuseppe Tozzani, 38, contadino, Saverio Marcucci, 60, fabricatore, same address

30. Iezzi, Felicia, 70, 19 July, Cupoli Villa, Test: Antonio Frattarola, 38, Pietro Marcucci, 42, contadini, same address

31. Ciarma, Anna Vincenza, 3, 20 July, campagna nel luogo detto di Tavo contrada, Test: Pietro Ciarma, 44, Ambrosio Ciarma, 70, contadini, same address

32. Frasatto, Francesco Paolo (in Bacucco), 60, 26 July, morto in campagna nel luogo detto Santa Cecilia dominio di questa comune, Test: Pietro Maone, 60, same address, Donata Colangeli, 20, dell Abbattazza, contadini

33. De Fabritiis, Rosaria, 70, 1 August, Porta Farese, Test: Domenico Sergiacomo, 30, contadino, della Piazzetta, Francesco Di Vico, 26, Benestante, Porta Farese

34. Ciarma, Massimo Nicola, 2, 1 August, campagna nel luogo detto Casabruciata, Test: Domenico Ciarma, 25, detto Tavo, Zopito Colangeli, 26, Casabruciata, contadini

35. Ciarma, Stefano, 6 months, 2 August, campagna nel luogo detto Tavo, Test: Pietro Ciarma, 36, Francesco Ciarma, 44, same address, contadini

36. Salzetta, Lorenzo, 5, 7 August, detto del Fosso, Test: Giacomo Salzetta, 77, Domenico Salzetta, 36, same address, contadini

37. Cirone, Sabbatino*, 1 year 8 months, 7 August, Porta Farese, Test: Vincenzo Cirone*, 25, fabricatore, Pietro Paolo Cirone*, 29, same address, contadini

38. Cirone, Maria Luisa, 8 months, 13 August, della Piazzetta, Test: Berardino Cirone, 63, taccaro, Luigi Cirone*, 28, artista, same address

39. Lacchetta, Tomaso, 6 months, 13 August, del Codacchio, Test: Domenico Lacchetta, 24, del Codacchio, Battista del Priore, 63, San Quirico, contadini

40. Basile, Pietro, 78, 16 August, della Porta del Molino, Test: Nicola Basile, 33, Blasio Basile, 30, same address, contadini

41. Capitanio, Laurenzia, 18 days, 27 August, Cupoli Villa, Test: Blasio Capitanio, 37, Tomaso Di Simone, 76, same address, contadini

42. Ciarma, Emiddio, 7 months, 31 August, campagna nel luogo detto Tavo, Test: Pietro Ciarma, 44, Francesco Ciarma, 38, same address, contadini

43. Cirone, Concenzio, 2, 4 September, la rua, Test: Andrea Cirone, 34, Domenico Del Priore, 42, artista, same address

44. Carusi, Maria Carolina*, 8 months, 9 September, San Leonardo, Test: Nicola Carusi*, 34, Cancelliere, Gaetano Carusi*, artista, same address

45. Cirone, Maria Carmela*, 2 months, 18 September, detto il conditto, Test: Vincenzo Cirone*, 30, contadino, Francesco Cirone*, 32, della Piazzetta, contadini

46. Maone, Nicolantonio, 36, 31 September, in Punte nel luogo detto la Rocca dominio in questa comune, Test: Donato Iannascoli, 15, Cupoli Villa, Pietro Francescone, 40, la Rocca, contadini

47. Di Vico, Anna Felice, 1 year 6 month, 26 September, campagna nel luogo detto Vallerecchione, Test: Nicola Di Vico, 50, Sabbatino Paolini, same address, contadini

48. Frattarola, Maria, 60, 30 September, Cupoli Villa, Test: Gesualdo de Juliis, 30, Agostino D’Agostino, same address, contadini

49. Cantagallo, Antonio, 6 months, 4 October, campagna nel luogo detto di Macelli, Test: Carmine Cantagallo, 50, Vincenzo Cantagallo, 50, same address, contadini

50. Cirone, Giovanni, 97, 24 October, della Piazzetta, Test: Vincenzo Cirone*, 27, artista, Luigi Cirone*, 30, artista, same address, contadini

51. Del Priore, Angela, 15 days, 1 November, Porta del Molino, Test: Diodato Del Priore, 30, Giacinto Mariani, 40, same address, contadini

52. Del Castello, Paolo, 41, 5 November, del Macello, Test: Serafino Di Francesco, 38, del Codacchio, Francesco Cirone, 32, della Piazzetta, contadini

53. Di Ventura, Francesco Antonio, 23 November, Villa Cupoli, Test: Berardino Di Ventura, 34, Nicolantonio D’ Agostino, 40, same address, contadini

54. Frattarola, Nicola, 36, 9 December, campagna nel luogo detto Trosciano, Test: Giovan Battista Del Priore, 60, San Quirico, Giovanni Barbarossa, 60, Porta del Molino, contadini

Source and link to the records:  Antenati

-cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net

The 1817 Typhus Outbreak and Famine of Abruzzo and My Family Tree Part 3 ~ Giuditta Urbania Dell’Orso, 55

My fifth great grandmother Giuditta Urbania Dell’Orso was born around 1762 in Farindola to Urbano Dell’Orso and Candelora Ciarma.  She passed away at age 55 during the typhus outbreak in Central Italy on February 26, 1817.

Giuditta had AT LEAST two siblings named Giustino and Agostino.

Some time before 1785, Giuditta married Domenico Antonio Lucerini when their first child I could find in the Farindola civil records appears to have been born.  Their children are as follows:

Maria Concetta Lucerini, born 1785, married Antonio Di Luca;

Maria Domenica Lucerini, born 1787, married Matteo Cirone;

Domenica Lucerini, born 1789, married Filippo Andrea Lizza;

Anna Vincenza Lucerini, born 1792, married Diego Pompili;

Carmina Lucerini, born 1794, married Giovanni Lacchetta;

my ancestor – Antonio Lucerini, born 1801, married Giovanna Damiani (daughter of Domenico Damiani and Laura Rosa.)

There may be more children I have not yet located.

My ancestor Antonio married my fourth great grandmother Giovanna in 1825.  His father Domenico Antonio passed away in 1846.

Antonio and Giovanna had at least 11 children.  Their daughter Anna Emidia Lucerini was born in 1830 and she married Luigi Di Francesco – which makes them the grand parents of my great grandfather Paolo Di Francesco.

My great grandfather Paolo.  He had blue eyes.

Do you have any additions or corrections?  Are we related?  Please email me:  cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net.  

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #23 Part II: Namesake ~ Massimo and the Massimos in my Uriani Line ~

This blog post is part II of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompt #23 Namesake.

Massimo. I have many Massimos in my paternal lines. Uncles, grandfathers, cousins, you name it. But in one line there were four versions of Massimo in successive generations in one of my Penne, Pescara branches. My Uriani that lived in Penne seemed to use Massimo more than any others. The Uriani are direct ancestors of my great grandmother Maria Luigia Massei.

The Cathedral of Penne is the Church of San Massimo, named after the town’s patron saint. The present-day structure was built on top of an old crypt. That crypt was built on top of a Vestini temple dedicated to the Roman Goddess of family Vesta, whose festival was celebrated June 7-14 and they were so-named for that fact. The Vestini were the independent war-like inhabitants of the area surrounding the Gran Sasso in Italy before they allied themselves with Rome. San Massimo’s feast day falls in the middle of the week previously dedicated to Vesta – June 10.

1. The first Massimo of the Uriani line I found was my 5th great grandfather, born in 1783 in Penne. His full name was Massimo Antonio Nicola Uriani. He was the father of Antonia Uriani. Antonia was the wife of Sabatino Cacciatore of the Cacciatore – Desiati line in Penne. Massimo Antonio Nicola Uriani was a contadino and was the husband of Rosalina Maddalena Mincarelli. This Massimo was the great great grandfather of Maria Luigia Massei.
2. Second, the first Massimo had a daughter named Massimina. She was born in 1825 in Penne.
3. Then I found the first Massimo’s marriage documents that showed he had been baptized in San Massimo and his father was Massimo Nicola Uriani, who was my 6th great grandfather and husband of Vittoria Di Norscia. Vittoria’s father was named Giuseppe Lorenzo Massimo Di Norscia. Massimo Nicola Uriani had a daughter named Maria Anna Massimina (sister of the first Massimo). Massimo Nicola Uriani is a special ancestor. He was born in 1734 and died in 1832 in Penne, making him the oldest direct ancestor in my paternal and maternal lines. His birthplace is unknown. According to his death record, he was 98 when he died. I have a cousin in my paternal lines that lived to at least 100 years in Farindola and the town gave him a birthday party to celebrate that occasion and the fact that he was a veteran of the First Italian War for Independence. Right now, it bears mention, that my great aunt, also on my paternal side, is 99 years old and counting.
4. Last, I found the baptismal record of Massimo Antonio Nicola Uriani’s sister Maria Anna Massimina, stating that their grandfather, my seventh great grandfather, was named Massimo Oriano (That is how the surname appeared in the church extracts from San Massimo in Penne in the late 1700s.) This Massimo was born around 1700 and his birthplace unknown. His wife was Maria Angela, with an unknown surname. Perhaps the name Massimo means he was actually born in Penne…

   

   What other surname do you see in this baptismal record that is in our tree?

This Uriani/D’Auriano/Oriano surname is rare in Penne. Coincidentally, Massimo Antonio Nicola Uriani’s granddaughter Anna Domenica Cacciatore married my 3rd great grandfather who was named Donato Di Massimo! He was from Farindola.

-cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #5: At the Library ~ Il Brigantaggio Farindolesi e Mia Famiglia/The Brigandage Farindolesi and My Family ~

This week’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is At the Library.  I have been lucky enough to find a treasure of a book on the history of one of my main Italian ancestral villages in Abruzzo online at the website:  www.gelsumino.it.  The book is called Storia di Farindola, Dalle Origini ai Giorni Nostri by Antonio Procacci.  Since my family has lived in Farindola for centuries and my immediate family left Farindola less than 100 years ago, I was ecstatic.

There is a chapter in the book called “Il Brigantaggio/The Brigandage”.  I found quite a few ancestors and relatives mentioned in this chapter, specifically in the time period the author referred to as being the most violent in Farindola – the years 1805 to 1810.  The author clearly pointed out that this is during the time of French dominion over Italy, under Giuseppe Napoleone and Gioacchino Marat, and that some of the brigands were veterans of the fight to keep the French out of Abruzzo.

Please note, my translations of what I read are to the best of my ability, and that I am mentioning which page I took the information from as I write this post, and that I hope to provide accurate information to you.

In 1799 when the French left Teramo, these 100 or so soldiers returned home.  It is believed that these returning soldiers became “political brigands,” who in turn, joined the  factions of the “common brigands” already active in the country-side of Farindola for over a century. (page 36) 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Two of these veterans, I believe are either cousins or a degree of uncles to me: Massimantonio Marcella and Nicola Pompili. (page 35)

Massimantonio Marcella

Massimantonio Marcella was well-known friend to bandit leaders, his house was a meeting place for them, and he was believed by authorities to have been the go-between that engaged in bribes for protection from the Guardia Urbana di Farindola (Urban Guards of Farindola), of whom the Comandata (Commander) was my 6th great grandfather Paolo Carusi.  (page 40, page 42)

This previous post relates some data I have collected on Paolo: Paolo Carusi, Writer and Landowner, Brother to a Conte.  Because this current post is an update to that  previous post, there is a link in that post to this one.

Massimantonio was also presumed to be the man one would seek out to gain protection from authorities in Penne and the other small villages surrounding it.  The author noted, Massimantonio Marcella was said to be close to the infamous brigand leader from Penne named Mascierelle and the brigand leader from Farindola Giovanni Sergiacomo dei Colli.  Testimony referred their relationships as compare. (page 42-43) 

Based on the naming patterns in my tree, and because some shootouts between French authorities and the brigands in Farindola took place at Contrada Trosciano, where Massimantonio lived, and was also the home of my early 19th century ancestors, I am taking a wild guess that there is a possibility that Massimantonio Marcella was the uncle of my 3rd great grandfather Massimonicola Marcella.  This is just a guess, however, I am sure there is a blood connection.

Paolo Carusi, my 6th great grandfather and

Nicola Carusi, my 5th great grandfather

More on the Guardia Urbana ~  This force were formed in 1808 by French authorities because of il brigantaggio in the Farindola environs.  The French appointed my 6th great grandfather Paolo Carusi the commander of the Farindola forces.  According to the Storia di Farindola, and if my translation is correct, he commanded the other urban guards – 12 French soldiers.  (page 40)

The book tells me that on May 11, 1807, a group of brigands got into a firefight with the Guardia Urbana in Farindola.  Because the villagers feared looting, they gave up the brigands and under the order of the son of Paolo Carusi, the French soldiers followed the brigands to their hideouts.  In fear for his life and that of his family’s, the son of Paolo fled with them to nearby Penne, leaving behind his business and property.  Paolo Carusi wrote to the French General Chavardes who then sent his son 15 days of rations while they hid out. (page 41)

Based on my research in the Farindola civil records on Antenati, that son of Paolo, and the only son married with children in 1807, was my 5th great grandfather, the future Cancelliere of the Comune di Farindola, Nicola Carusi.  Interestingly, Nicola died young!  At age 40 in 1817.  The civil records do not give a cause of death.  1817 was a year of famine in Abruzzo but he was a wealthy man.  It was also the year of a typhoid epidemic.  Is that why he died?  

Candeloro Salvitti, my 5th great grand uncle

The chapter also mentioned that a man was murdered on June 30, 1807.  He was my 34 year old, 5th great grand uncle Candeloro Salvitti.  (page 42)

According to my tree, Candeloro was also the brother of the father of the future mayor of Farindola, Donato Salvitti. 

Domenico Damiani, my 5th great grandfather

I was nearing the end of this very informative chapter when the author was mentioning that the Brigantaggio was winding down towards 1809 and 1810 and how the old leaders in hiding were still carrying out vendettas against those in Farindola that had betrayed them, and that such happened the night of January 9, 1810 when three men of the same family were murdered.  They were Domenico, Nicola, and Donato Damiani.   (page 44-45)

This rang a bell with me because I remembered seeing three death records in a row for three men of the same last name and I had figured it was an illness!  HA!  The name Domenico Damiani also rang a bell.  So I went to my tree and sure enough, I had an ancestor with that name and oh boy, yes, he died January 9, 1810 and by the way, Domenico Damiani, was my 5th great grandfather.

Donato and Nicola Damiani were brothers and were Domenico’s uncles.  My 5th great grandfather Domenico was married to Laura Rosa.  Besides leaving behind my 5th great grandmother, he also left behind three young children, and a teenager.  (More on Laura Rosa and Domenico Damiani at a later date!)  According to the death records I found in the civil records Antenati, all three men lived in the countryside at Contrada Della Valchiera.  Does that translate to Valkyrie?

I want to mention that my 5th great grandfather’s signature, Nicola Carusi (the same man mentioned above), is at the bottom of those three records as the Cancelliere, and that the same two men, Domenico Rosa and Tommaso Basile were informants on all three death records.

Other Potential Relations

Finally, these are some other names in this chapter that are likely some form of relation to me:

• Tommaso Iannascoli, Cesidio Colella, and Giovanni Frattarola were among 20 accused brigands in the Penne area in December 1806 and were from Farindola.  Tommaso Iannascoli was hung at contrada della Piano della Fonte on January 15, 1808. (page 40)
• 4 murdered on the night of June 4, 1807 were brothers Antonio and Nicola Pompili, and Francesco Di Francesco and his wife Anna Saveria (Basilicati).  (page 41)
• 4 were murdered during the month of July, 1807, including Jacopantonio De Rizio. (page 42)
• Murdered on September 20, 1807 was Giovanni Battista Pompili, brother of the men killed on June 4, 1807. (page 42)
• Vincenzantonio Lepore was hung at contrada della Piano della Fonte on January 15, 1808. (page 42)
• On February 27, 1808 Domenicantonio Frattarola sopranome Cipranne and Orazio Cervo were shot and killed. (page 42)
• On March 23, 1808, brigand Ambrosio Frattarola was arrested. (page 43)
• In April 1808, a small band of brigands got into a firefight with French soldiers in Trosciano (an area where my ancestors lived.)  Killed were Filippo di Simone and Giovanni Colangeli. (page 43)
• In May 1809, Giuseppe Frattarola was arrested for murder. (page 43)
• On August 1, 1809, an award was launched for the information and capture of famous robbers Sabatino Marcella, Saverio Marcucci, and brothers Sabatino and Gesualdo De Juliis.  (page 44)
• I also read that in 1809, the local occupying French Major Cochet was murdered at age 40 as an act of revenge, and buried without sacraments, according to Storia di Farindola. It is believed the murder was carried out by those avenging the arrest and hanging of the leader of the Dell’Orso family from Farindola. I have several known Dell’Orso ancestors. How does the hung man connect to me? I don’t know right now and they are only referenced as a family in this chapter and not by their first names like in my tree.  (page 40-41)
• Lastly, on March 5, 1815, the L’Intendente della Provincia di Teramo sent a message to the mayor of Farindola that only one brigand was still on the run.  He was, the aforementioned, Sabatino Marcella. (page 45)  Note – 1815 was the last year of the French occupation.

WHAT AN INFORMATIVE BOOK!  

Sources:

Storia di Farindola, Dalle Origini ai Giorni Nostri by Antonio Procacci ,via http://www.gelsumino.it.  This blog post mentions data contained in pages 33-50.  

Antenati

-cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net

 

 

 

 

My Campania, Italy Surnames and Places Lists

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

UPDATED 9/16/23

Present-day Province of Naples

• Montecalvario (Quartieri Spagnoli), Metropolitan City of Naples: Ferraro
• Nola:  Napolitano, Marotta, Notaro, Criscuolo, Sepe, Trocciola, Stellato 
• Nola Collateral Lines: Morisco, Tortora, Vecchione, Castiello, Manna, Cassese, Della Marca, Dell’Anno
• Sirico (now part of Saviano): Sabatino, Di Conza, Di Falco, Di Sena, Sierpico
• Sirico Collateral Lines: Subbrizzi, D’Avella, Vardolo, Ambruscino, Franzese
• Roccarainola: Barbarino, Nicolino
• Saviano: Zingariello

Romani/Zingari surnames:  Napolitano, Marotta, Criscuolo

Possible Romani/Zingari surnames:  Trocciola, Sepe, Stellato, Notaro, Parziale

Province of Salerno

• San Valentino di Sarno: Petillo, Di Conza – note 9/2023 – I cannot prove either surname was from this town.  I am exploring the possibility they were Romani.

Province of Caserta

• Marcianise: Ferraro
• Grazzanise: Ferraro
• San Prisco: Ferraro, Delle Cave
• San Prisco Collateral Lines: Vitale, Pitrillo, Iannotta, Ferrara, Mincione
• San Felice a Cancello (Fraziones : Ferraro, Delle Cave, Fruggieri/Fruggiero, Librera, De Lardo, Gammella, Zingariello, Dragone, Iaderosa, Barbarino, Papa, Bonillo/Bionillo/Ionillo, Capobianco, D’Ambrosio, Benardo, Piscitella, Cioffi, Ventura, Nicolino, Paciello, Bucciero, Magliulo, Vocciero, Formale, Affenita/D’Affenita, Gianino/Ianino, Diodato, Marletta, Litieri, Secondina, Paoluccio, Perrotta, Carfora, Girardo, Porrino, Ferriello, Martenisi, D’Addico, Petillo

Links:

• Nola records are now online on Antenati under the Archives of Caserta as part of the old region of Terra di Lavoro.
• Marcianise, Grazzanise, and San Prisco are partially loaded on Antenati, also under the Archives of Caserta.
• San Felice a Cancello records have been partially loaded on Antenati at the same Archives of Caserta link I have used above.  They are under the headings Sei Casali d’Arienzo and San Felice a Cancello.
• Church records for San Felice a Cancello are available on Family Search for anyone to view in the comfort of their own homes.  Some of the church records go back to the 1500s.

Thank you for visiting!

-cinziarosagenealogy@comcast.net