My second great grandfather Angelo Ferraro was born on March 29, 1842 at Via Parito in San Prisco, Caserta, Italy to former soldier Francesco Antonio Ferraro and Angela Maria Delle Cave. Like his father, Angelo was drafted into the army. This time however, it was in the army of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.
With his draft record from the Archives of Caserta, we know some details about his assignment and physical description.
He was called to arms at the age of 20 on December 27, 1862 and was assigned to the 1st Regiment, Cavalry di Luca.
The numero assegnato all’Inscritto dai collacamento in capo di lista o toccataogli in sorte nell’estrazione was 116.
For the esame definitivo (definitive exam), it was written that he was abile (capable) and the number of this descision was recorded as 1200. The number they assigned to his conscription was 23.
His statura in metri e centimetri (height in meters and centimeters) looks like it reads as 1/61. So we know 1 meter is 39 inches. 61 centimeters is 24 inches. So he was about 5 feet 3 inches tall.
The only other information on this document were his parents names, his commune of birth (San Prisco), mandamento (Santa Maria Capua Vetere), and Circondario (Caserta).
According to an Italian language newspaper article about Angelo printed in the United States around 1924, he was a veteran of the Italian War for Independence and rose to the rank of Captain of the Cavalry. He participated in 4 military campaigns: 1863, 1866, 1870, and 1875.
He participated in the famous Battle of Custoza (Verona) in June 1866 which saw Italy’s acquisition of the wealthy territory of Venetia from the Austrians.
He took part in the Capture of Rome on September 20, 1870 which marked the final event of the process of Italian unification and defeat of the Papal States under Pope Pius IX. This unified the peninsula under the House of Savoy and King Victor Emmanuel. Unfortunately, the information on his participation in the campaign of 1875 has been lost to time in this original article which is partially disinegrated.
Angelo married Filomena Napolitano and their first-born, Antonio, was born on April 5, 1876 in Naples.
Of final note in the article, my second great grandfather was awarded two bronze medals, the Croce di Cavalliere, and one more medal of unknown valor also lost to time. He died in 1926, at the home of his daughter Elena Ferraro Scarnecchia in Youngstown, Ohio and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
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Cinziarosa's Descendants (c) 