Riveli Record Translation questions

DebbieRose

I am trying to understand not only the facts of the Riveli record attached below, but get an understanding as to the family's life and position in society.

I believe the record is for Carmelo Donzella, age 49, husband of Carmela and father of Rosario (age 12) and Matteo (age 14). It seems that Carmelo is the son of Michel Angelo and Vennera Macusa[?] from Comiso. Specific questions I have are:

1) Is it inferred that Michel Angelo's surname would be Donzella, or is Angelo his surname (different than his son's name)?

2) What is Vennera's surname?

3) Can we tell if Michel and Vennera are alive?

4) What is the meaning of the words in the upper left corner? Something to do with Land?

5) Also, the date on the left is 6 January 1747; whereas, the date referenced on the right seems to be 1 May 174?- what do these dates refer to?

6) A general description of their possessions/status, etc. would be helpful.

Thank you!!

Donzelli_RIveli_image 757_1925304.jpg

joseph99929

Excellent that you are using the riveli records!

Your translation is correct.

Riveli records always list women by their married names, so it'd be odd for Venera to have a surname mentioned. So I am not sure what that word next to her name is, maybe it's a badly written Maria and so her name is Venera Maria, but that is really reaching, so I would not take that as fact.

To answer your questions:

1. The father's name is Michelangelo and of course his surname is Donzella, it doesn't have to be specified
2. Mother's name Venera, but I have no idea what the word next to her name is, sorry. My best guess is Maria making her name Venera Maria but I would not in any way consider this certain!
3. No, they are dead. You can see "figlio delli quondam" - son of the deceased (plural)
4. That is just a header. "Terra" is Latin for town, so it's just saying the Riveli of the town of Biscari
5. The date on the top-left is the normally the date of the record. The date on the top-right is the date that the town officials received the notice from the Sicilian central government to complete this census "in vigore del bando promulgato il 1 maggio 1747". I have no explanation for why the record was completed before the request was even received from the government. Perhaps the officials knew it was coming and got a head-start!
6. Understanding the descriptions of property on riveli records is extremely challenging. Place names and descriptions are effectively unrecognizable as the way property was recorded in the pre-modern era was by naming the neighbors. Understanding the value of the currency is impossible as the economic system is completely foreign to us who grew up under modern capitalism and the currency system is also completely foreign. However, by comparing the numbers with others, it is possible to determine whether our ancestors were in the upper class, middle class, or lower class. To me, just looking at this, this is not a poor family with absolutely nothing, but they don't have a lot either. We can also gain clues as to our ancestor's status if they have a title like Don (wealthy or respected individual) or Mastro (master craftsman) which this man does not have.

The gist of his assets and liabilities:

Assets: He owns a house in this town in the neighborhood of the Mother Church, neighboring Don Santo Da[?] and Pietro Laglia[?] and others valued at onze 10 in equity and also including the capital value of his censo (kind of mortgage) of onze 2 and tari 11 makes a total of onze 12 and tari 11 of assets.

Liabilities: He pays tari 3 and grana 11 per year for the censo to the Prince of this town ... which results in a capital value of onze 2 and tari 11 at a 5% interest rate.

DebbieRose

Thank you so much for all the great information/explanations!!