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.
- 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.
- Second, the first Massimo had a daughter named Massimina. She was born in 1825 in Penne.
- 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.
- 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.
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Gran Sasso D’Italia, overlook near Farindola
Cinziarosa's Descendants (c) 