This week’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompt is Bachelor Uncle. Since this is Women’s History Month, I am continuing my tradition of writing about the women in my tree during the month of March. So for me, this week’s prompt is Bachelor Aunt.
My 4th great grand aunt Tomassina Carusi was the oldest sister of my 4th great grandmother Francesca Carusi (m. Sabatino Massei).
Tomassina Carusi was likely the oldest child of my 5th great grandparents Nicola Carusi, Cancelliere di Comune di Farindola and Giovanna Marzola. She was born about 1795-1796 in Farindola. She was a bachelorette, single mother and had two important jobs in the town. She was a midwife and she was the Ricevitrice (Receiver) of Foundlings.
In 1824, Tomassina had a daughter to an un-named father whom she named Anna. She was born in her mother’s house. Contadino Francesco Dell’Orso notified town hall of the birth. Anna died three years later.
Around this time period, from perusing the Farindola records on Antenati, Tomassina began to appear on birth records as a midwife.
In 1834, Tomassina had a son to an un-named father whom she named Tito (Giustino). After his birth, lacemaker Maria Domenica Frattarola notified town hall of the birth. Giustino only lived for 9 months.
In 1836, Tomassina had a daughter named Maria Antonia to an un-named father. She was born in the home of lacemaker Maria Domenica Frattarola and Contadina Maria Facciolini notified town hall of the birth.
The following is previous information I have written in an older blog post, which updates that previous post:
“While Tomassina’s nephew was Deputato della Casa de Proietti (Deputy of the House of Foundlings) she was the Ricevitrice at the Casa de Proietti at the village church, San Nicola di Bari.
As the town’s Ricevitrice she may have lived near the church. A bell was usually rung when a baby was placed on the foundling wheel. She took in 4 foundlings in a three year period. All three were “involto con panni laceri, e senza alcun segno visibile” or “wrapped in swaddling clothes, without any visible marks.” Usually the midwife that found the baby named them. If they had a mark or were left with a specific piece of cloth or jewelry a mother could change her mind and claim her baby if she showed identifying proof left with the baby.
The first baby Tomassina found she named Vitale. She may have also given him his last name which was Longo. He was placed on the wheel at 4 in the morning on September 6, 1852. Tomassina took him to her brother’s son Nicola Carusi, the Deputato at the time, and he arranged for Vitale to be baptized the same day.
The second male baby she named Fortunato Bisanti. Either she or the Deputato named him Bisanti. He was placed on the wheel at the Casa de Proietti at 3 in the morning on September 20, 1852. She showed him to her nephew. He was baptized the same day at San Nicola di Bari.
The third baby she named was Placida Rubiconda left on the foundling wheel at 4 in the morning on October 7, 1852. Rubiconda means ruddy or reddish. It is possible that Placida had reddish hair or skin. Tomassina took him to her brother’s son again and her name was recorded. She was baptized the same day at San Nicola di Bari.
The last baby Tomassina took in she named Elena. Either Tomassina or the Deputato gave her the beautiful surname Fenice. Fenice means phoenix. S he was left at the wheel at 5 in the morning on January 15, 1854. Tomassina showed him to her brother’s son and she was also baptized the same day at San Nicola di Bari.”
Tomassina passed away in 1855 and on her death record, she was listed as single and as a midwife.
Maria Antonia Carusi survived to adulthood and went on to marry Saverio Giancaterino from Penne. She passed away in Penne in 1907. This is a link to their 1857 marriage record at Antenati: Pescara Archivio di Stato, Antenati.
Looking further through the records on Antenati concerning her daughter Maria Antonia and her husband Saverio Giancaterino, Tomassina Carusi likely has descendants alive today.
Source:
Antenati Records for Farindola and Penne
Cinziarosa's Descendants (c) 