First of all, I had to find out the names for the children and found them in the 1940 census Monica Ryan and children Patrick and Sheila. Though I don't have Monica's death fully determined, I did find her son Patrick's obituary.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Patrick H. Ryan 1935-2009
First of all, I had to find out the names for the children and found them in the 1940 census Monica Ryan and children Patrick and Sheila. Though I don't have Monica's death fully determined, I did find her son Patrick's obituary.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Marguerite Manzelli Coffarelli 1898 - 1938
February
13 marked your grandmother Marguerite's 117th birthday so I'd like to
say Happy Birthday to her by posting a partial transcription of the
story relayed to me by Marilyn Pitelli Sheerin several years ago. The
photo is one I think many of you have seen. Marilyn got this from Aunt
Marie Manzelli Mangelli and forwarded it to me. Marilyn noted on the back that you see the Manzellis:
Anna, Marie, Giovanna, Madeline, Emily and Regina in front. I suspect
it was taken perhaps around 1940-1942.
Enjoy. I welcome your comment or thoughts on your memories of such stories. I've put some of my own notes in red.
After
their father died, Joseph, Giacomo, Pasquale and Michael decided to
leave Pietraroia Italy to come find a better life in America. They left
their mother and younger brother and thought they would send for them
later.
Giacomo was a bachelor and lived with Joseph even after her married Giovanna. Pasquale was a priest and founded Saint Joseph Church, New Rochelle NY.
When their mother became ill in Italy they sent for her. But, the younger brother Andrew was about to be married and chose to stay in Italy. He died many eyars later, but the woman he married Christina is the woman Ed and I visited in Pietraroia last July. It was a dream come true for me. She still lives across the street from the church where the Manzelli boys were baptized and Pasquale said his first mass.
Marguerite was the name of Joseph, Michael, Pasquale, Giacomo and Andrew’s mother and you can see that Joseph and Andrew named their first born daughters after their mother. And Uncle Johnny followed suit with his daughter Marguerite. It is very interesting how the family names keep popping up ie Peter, Michael, Andrew (by the way Giacomo is Italian for James!)
Anyway, back to the story-when the ill mother came to America Fr. Pasquale took care of her at St. Josephy Rectory in New Rochelle. In the meantim the three brothers decided to build a family mauseleum at Calvary Cemetery where the whole family could be buried. …..When Marguerite died the mauseleum was finished and she was buried there.
One little story I remember my mom (Aunt Anna Pitelli) always telling is when Regina’s Dad James Coffarelli was diagnosed with leukemia, he spent a long time at NY Hospital and was finally going to be released. The family planned a wonderful Welcome Home Party (my mother was 14). About 9 PM her father (Joseph) said good night to the guests and went upstairs to bed. All of a sudden they heard a thum and Joseph Manzelli collagpsed and died of a heart attack. (December 10 1933).
James Coffarelli died eventually of the leukemia (Feb 20 1934—only a couple of months later) and the story I heard was that Marguerite almost died of a broken heart about 2 years later (Jan 3 1938) leaving Johnny and Regina. She never really accepted her husband’s death. My mom also always said Marguerite played the piano, gave lessons and also played the organ in church.”
Giacomo was a bachelor and lived with Joseph even after her married Giovanna. Pasquale was a priest and founded Saint Joseph Church, New Rochelle NY.
When their mother became ill in Italy they sent for her. But, the younger brother Andrew was about to be married and chose to stay in Italy. He died many eyars later, but the woman he married Christina is the woman Ed and I visited in Pietraroia last July. It was a dream come true for me. She still lives across the street from the church where the Manzelli boys were baptized and Pasquale said his first mass.
Marguerite was the name of Joseph, Michael, Pasquale, Giacomo and Andrew’s mother and you can see that Joseph and Andrew named their first born daughters after their mother. And Uncle Johnny followed suit with his daughter Marguerite. It is very interesting how the family names keep popping up ie Peter, Michael, Andrew (by the way Giacomo is Italian for James!)
Anyway, back to the story-when the ill mother came to America Fr. Pasquale took care of her at St. Josephy Rectory in New Rochelle. In the meantim the three brothers decided to build a family mauseleum at Calvary Cemetery where the whole family could be buried. …..When Marguerite died the mauseleum was finished and she was buried there.
One little story I remember my mom (Aunt Anna Pitelli) always telling is when Regina’s Dad James Coffarelli was diagnosed with leukemia, he spent a long time at NY Hospital and was finally going to be released. The family planned a wonderful Welcome Home Party (my mother was 14). About 9 PM her father (Joseph) said good night to the guests and went upstairs to bed. All of a sudden they heard a thum and Joseph Manzelli collagpsed and died of a heart attack. (December 10 1933).
James Coffarelli died eventually of the leukemia (Feb 20 1934—only a couple of months later) and the story I heard was that Marguerite almost died of a broken heart about 2 years later (Jan 3 1938) leaving Johnny and Regina. She never really accepted her husband’s death. My mom also always said Marguerite played the piano, gave lessons and also played the organ in church.”
Monday, March 16, 2015
Nevins Serendipity
I had some incredibly great luck recently in the family history research on the Nevins side of the family!
Many years ago while researching in Olean, I came across a notebook in
the public library that contained a number of local biographies. This
was among them and I thought I had hit the jackpot. At the time, I knew
almost nothing about Henry Nevins (our maternal great grandfather). This piece of hand-typed onion paper with a 3 hole punch out
of that notebook provided HUGE clues for me to follow and I was
ecstatic.
But then I noticed a few discrepancies--especially with dates-- and I have no idea how this Citizens Historical Association got its information. In particular, I saw that Henry's father John was noted to have been born in Canada (not Ireland as I thought) and that he had lived in the Lockport area as a grocer for some time before he settled in the Ellicottville area. I have searched all these years since for some kind of evidence that John was born in Kingston Canada and lived in Lockport NY for a time.
And then, almost accidentally, I found it! New York State conducted a census halfway between the federal census years several times: 1855, 1865, 1875 for example. I had John Nevins well documented in census and other records from 1860 forward--all in the Ellicottville area. Until the other night, up popped the NY 1855 census and there was John in Lockport with his MOTHER Mary, sister Catherine and two children that belonged to a brother. He appeared to be a "grocerman"
This verified what the Citizens Historical Association published and gave me clear evidence that John had at least one brother. My grandmother claimed there were a bunch of brothers, but I've never found them either.
This monument is in the Holy Cross cemetery in Ellicottville. Listed on
the other side are twins Matty and Christy Nevins who died of diptheria
when they were about 6-- great grandfather Henry is their brother. I've suspected, hoped, wondered,
prayed that this Mary might be John's mother. Now I know it is and I
feel like an open book has been closed. I will presume John's father
Henry was dead by the time John found himself in Lockport around 1852.
Some days you are the teflon and some days you are the velcro. Sometimes things just go smoothly and sometimes they get sticky. I was TEFLON this same day because I also found John's future wife in 1855 in the city of Rochester--this was a complete surprise. Julia Fisher, 19, was documented in Rochester in 1855 with her father John, her mother Ann and her brother Christopher. The image is very hard to read and I can't tell much from it but they are clearly there --ever so close to the Nevins family! For some reason each family migrated to Ellicottville and that's where history was made starting in 1866 when John and Julia married.
Work hard enough and long enough and sometimes the pieces fall into place. Ahhhhh.....
But then I noticed a few discrepancies--especially with dates-- and I have no idea how this Citizens Historical Association got its information. In particular, I saw that Henry's father John was noted to have been born in Canada (not Ireland as I thought) and that he had lived in the Lockport area as a grocer for some time before he settled in the Ellicottville area. I have searched all these years since for some kind of evidence that John was born in Kingston Canada and lived in Lockport NY for a time.
And then, almost accidentally, I found it! New York State conducted a census halfway between the federal census years several times: 1855, 1865, 1875 for example. I had John Nevins well documented in census and other records from 1860 forward--all in the Ellicottville area. Until the other night, up popped the NY 1855 census and there was John in Lockport with his MOTHER Mary, sister Catherine and two children that belonged to a brother. He appeared to be a "grocerman"
This verified what the Citizens Historical Association published and gave me clear evidence that John had at least one brother. My grandmother claimed there were a bunch of brothers, but I've never found them either.
Some days you are the teflon and some days you are the velcro. Sometimes things just go smoothly and sometimes they get sticky. I was TEFLON this same day because I also found John's future wife in 1855 in the city of Rochester--this was a complete surprise. Julia Fisher, 19, was documented in Rochester in 1855 with her father John, her mother Ann and her brother Christopher. The image is very hard to read and I can't tell much from it but they are clearly there --ever so close to the Nevins family! For some reason each family migrated to Ellicottville and that's where history was made starting in 1866 when John and Julia married.
Work hard enough and long enough and sometimes the pieces fall into place. Ahhhhh.....
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Abatangelo and Messa families having fun
If
this picture wasn't in black and white, some of you may think it
replicates some of the family fun in recent weeks. But this family event
was probably held some 60 years ago or more. You all come by your love
of family gatherings honestly! There is a long history of such for you
to benefit from.
This picture is
meaningful to me in many ways. One is that it reminds us that we aren't
the first generation to enjoy a good time and silliness. Aunt Josie Albertini and
Aunt Rose Albertini helped identify their Uncle Frank Abatangelo on the ground under the
spigot; Esther on his legs; Walter Junior the young boy; their Aunt Bea
Abatangelo on the far left, your Aunt Rose in the middle and Great Aunt Rose
Jozwicki drinking from the glass. Aunt Rose tells me Esther is around 75 so I feel
pretty certain this was taken at least 60 years ago.
The
Messa children (Mary, Rose, Louis, Bea, Peter) didn't have a happy home
life (an understatement). Most of them suffered from serious health
problems in adulthood. But when they got together, good times and
silliness ruled! It's a reminder that we can find strength in our family
gatherings especially when times are difficult either personally or
more globally.
Another reason this picture
is meaningful to me was supplied by cousin Diana whose sharp eye noticed
that the picture I previously posted of your grandparents was taken in
the same location. She noticed the lattice work. When I looked at the
both pictures more carefully, I had one of those "dope slap" revelations
and realized we had 3 pictures from the same event.
We
had originally been puzzling over the identity of the man on the
ground. When I put these 3 pictures together it is obvious that it is
Uncle Frank. Mystery of the man on the ground solved by keen
observation--thanks Diana! Another reminder that family history is a
family effort.
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