Years of research but still missing my Calabrian grandmother Guilia Fragomeni - please help!
I haven't been able to find any record of my grandmother Giulia Fragomeni before she married Moise Lepera in Philadelphia 29 NOV 1908. In her marriage record, Giulia's father Luigi Fragomeni attested that she was 16 years old and born in 1892. Every other record I've found in the U.S. gives her birth date as 25 SEPT 1895 - that's the date she gave when asked - it's even on her death certificate as 1895. (I'm wondering if she was actually married at age 13!) Her parents were married in August 1895 (see below).
The church marriage record shows her name as Ma. Guiditta Fragomeno. I've had to search every archive for the time period 1892-1895. I can't find her birth record anywhere.
Other than the "Ma. Guiditta" on her chuch marriage record, every U.S. source gives her name as Giulia or Julia - which is how all of our family knew her. She bore 14 children in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I found her father's birth record: Born Rocco Luigi Fragomeni on 13 JAN 1859 in Gioiosa Ionica, Reggio Calabria. His parents were Raffaele Fragomeni and Maria Guiditta Oppedisano, both from Gioiosa Ionica.
I found her mother's birth record: Cristina Maria Curcio on 28 JAN 1873 in Acri, Cosenza. Her parents were Gaetano Curcio and Mariannina Fuscaldo of Acri, Cosenza.
I found the marriage record of Luigi Fragomeni and Cristina Maria Curcio: 24 AUG 1895 in Acri.
I found Cristina Curcio's US immigration record showing she arrived on the S.S. Citta di Milano in NYC on 18 JUN 1905 with a daughter "Maria" aged 9, along with Luigi's brother Nicola Fragomeni, all from the town of Bisignano.
To confuse things even more, I found that Luigi's sister "Maria Fragomeni" (age 43) arrived in NYC on the S.S. Napolitan Prince on 09 MAR 1906. With her were her brother Luigi's children: another Maria (9), Rosina (7), and Salvatore (4). Their last residence is shown as Cosenza.
I remember years ago my grandmother told me she was from Reggio Calabria, but I haven't limited my search there. I've searched for her birth record in dozens of towns in Atenati: Acri, Gioiosa Ionica, Reggio Calabria, Bisignano, Cosenza, etc. I've even searched for the name Guiditta and Guidetta, figuring she was likely named after her paternal grandmother. Can't find a trace of her anywhere.
Can anyone help or suggest next steps? I'd welcome any advice. Thanks in advance.
Answers
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I'll look around for you. The name you're seeking is Maria Giuditta (used many times in Gioiosa Ionica). Maria is 'almost' an honorific and used frequently, as I'm sure you've seen. So, it is not a surprise to see them use Giulia or Giuditta and dropping the Maria.
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Yes, I figured her name is probably some variation of Maria Guiditta. It's frustrating that I have found records for 2 generations above her, yet she remains elusive. Thanks very much for your help.
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In looking over your data that you shared, I couldn't help but notice the large age difference between Rocco Luigi and Cristina Maria - especially with respect to his age at marriage, 36 years. That is too old for a first marriage, typically. So, I took a closer look at the marriage document. Sure enough, he was a widow when he married.
My theory here is that Cristina Maria is not the birth mother of Maria Giuditta, she may very well be the step-mother. But, since her birth mother died when she was an infant, Cristina Maria is the only mother she ever knew and would be called mother on all the U.S. documents.This is all my theory until I can prove it. I'll let you know what I find.
Edit: It should be noted that half of the birth records for 1892 for Gioiosa appear to be missing - her father's attestation may be correct and we may not find the birth record.
Edit Note #2: This may be the death of his first wife, Maria Carmela Borgese, #147: https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12657/an_ua16424565/5GNADyx
Need to confirm and/or keep looking because she would be much older than Luigi if she was really 45 in 1894.
The hunt continues :)
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This is fascinating (and unexpected) information. I have a hard time reading the old Italian script and didn't catch that he was a widower. I can't wait to hear what else you find. Greatly appreciated!
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SantaNinfa,
Try as I might, I cannot descipher the text of Rocco Luigi Fragomeni's marriage record to Maria Cristina Curcio. Would you kindly translate the script which indicates that he was previously married and widowed. Thank you very much.
https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12657/an_ua35943513/wQ9YZkz
Also, does the death certificate of Maria Carmela Borghese indicate cause of death? (I'm wondering if childbirth?).
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Look right after his name for the word 'vedovo' - it is a bit smushed into the line
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