Genetic Communities on the Irish side of the family

Genetics.  A little bit magical.  A little bit scary.  What our ancestors gave to us and what we give to our descendants like a dish that gets passed down the family line.  It can get a little bit banged up on its journey down the family line but we think it's beautiful regardless.  That dish belongs to us.  The stories of our ancestors belong to us too and we share them with many others who experienced similar struggles and joy along the way. 

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this.  You may know that both Chris and I have submitted DNA samples in hopes of finding new family members or solving some mysteries about where in Ireland we came from.  There are a number of companies that test DNA and produce different kinds of results for their customers.  Chris' DNA was sent to a company that focuses on surnames.  I wanted to find other Ryans so we needed male DNA. My DNA went to Ancestry.com.  You've seen the commercials, so you know that Ancestry testing gives customers clues to ethnicity thousands (yes, thousands) of years old.  So far, Chris' DNA hasn't resulted in any confirmed new relatives, though there are several intriguing possibilities. 

Ancestry recently released a new DNA tool that tracks our DNA to "genetic communities"--- many people from an area that share similar DNA and had similar life experiences.  These life experiences often led to migration.  Migration like this became like a worn path you follow through the woods mostly because someone else had already done so ahead of you.  These patterns can give us clues as to how our Ryan ancestors ended up in Gloucester, for example.  It may not be as simple as the Potato Famine pushing the Irish across the sea. 

These Genetic Communities Ancestry presents are VERY intriguing for our family.  There are two of them.  One is English Newfoundlanders and the other is Munster Irish.  We certainly have Irish, and they are from the regions outlined on the handy dandy map provided.  Most of our Irish seem to appear in the Boston/Gloucester area in the 1860s or so and this is what Ancestry has to say about their Irish migration during that time period: 

The Great Famine Migration

During the Great Famine, potato blight ruined Ireland’s main source of food. Although the horrors of mass starvation were highest in the southwestern province of Munster, its people felt a deep connection to their native land and culture, and emigrated only as a last resort. If they did not die or enter the infamous workhouse, the poor opted for the short journey to England. Others with a little more money crossed the Atlantic to settle among the poor in urban areas in the United States, with New York the most common destination.

The Irish this might apply to include James Handran, Timothy Ryan, John Bentley, Martin Costello, Julia McDonough.  So far, we think our Irish hail from Galway, Meath, Sligo and Clare (all areas within this Munster region).  My husband, Jim, giggled when he saw that these regions of Ireland were suitable for hiding criminals and rebels.  

Our Newfoundlanders include John Edward Handran and Mary Ann Squires.  These people often migrated to Nova Scotia (John Pierce, Phoebe Nickerson ) before settling in the Cape Ann area.  In general, the Canadians came to America a little later than our Irish and this is what Ancestry has to say about that time period for them: 

Cod Decline Pushes Newfoundlanders to New England

Overfishing cod caused economic instability on the island. The promise of lucrative jobs meant some Newfoundlanders headed to New England coastal towns, particularly Boston. In America the transplants often found work as fishermen, factory workers, and servants.

And another BINGO!!!  I'll just have to show you how magical this is sometime when anyone visits.  It feels darn great to have my research confirmed in this way with pretty maps and dotted lines! 

Serafina Curcio 1844 - 1907

Back on track after taking my own journey the last 18 months or so.  As many of you know, I've been under cancer treatment but am now beginning to feel more myself.  As I reflected on starting up again on my writing and research, it occurred to me that my recent experiences might reflect some of the fear and anxiety that our ancestors faced leaving home for America.  I suppose they left knowing it might never be the same again; that a bright future was not guaranteed; and that there would be painful and scary times ahead.  Perhaps it doesn't compare at all and I've just painted this picture with the uncertain strokes of recovery.  Regardless, I like to think that giving the lives our ancestors lived some time in the spotlight grants them some renewal.

I believe this death record is for Sarah (Serafina) Curcio, the Dalpiaz/Manzelli/Coffarelli children's great great great grandmother.  Serafina and her husband Raphael (Ralph) were parents to Antonia Curcio who married Graziano Isoldi.  I am sure the Isoldi name is familiar to you.  Sarah and Raphael were living in the same househould with Antonia and Graziano in the 1892 New York State census.  At that time, "Annie" (your great grandmother) was about 12.

This death record indicates Sarah was 63 in 1907 when she died....the same age listed for her in the 1892 census.  This may lead you to wonder why I believe this is "your" Sarah.  Other clues lead me to believe the incorrect age was given at the time of her death, which seems to have occurred in a private home at 463 14th St. Long Island City.  A few years later, at this same address is a man named Frank Curcio with his wife and family.  Frank is also listed in 1892 as Antonia's brother, so I suspect Frank was living in the same house he'd been living in for several years.  Unfortunately I cannot find Sarah or Ralph in 1900 but I'll keep looking!  The address is a pretty strong indicator that this is the correct Sarah.

A passenger list from 1877 from the steamship Utopia lists Serafina Curcio (47 years old) accompanied by Antonia (18) and Francisco Paolo (Frank? age 8).  I believe this is your family.  It seems a good possibility from Sarah's age in 1877 that Antonia and Frank were younger children from the family and that perhaps there are other older siblings who did not make this trip with their mother.  Antonia is married soon after her arrival.  Ralph is listed as a carpenter in 1892! (Robert???)

There is no indication yet where in Italy the Curcio family called home, and I suspect that Ralph came first followed by the family.  What the factors were that pushed them out of Italy are not known, it seems likely poverty and the opportunity for a better life were the major factors in uprooting entire families to settle in a whole new world.  These Italians came to the United States a few years before the major influx and that may have worked in their favor.  Nevertheless, I'm sure it wasn't an easy life. I suppose they left knowing it might never be the same again; that a bright future was not guaranteed; and that there would be painful and scary times ahead.