Unable to find birth and marriage in Pratola Serra, Avellino
Domenico Giordani (born 15 nov 1871 in Pratola Serra) said he married Sofia Pagliuca (daughter of Mario Pagliuca and Maddalena Pisani, I think) on 23 jun 1893 in "Pratola Italy", but I can't find it then, or in nearby years. They had a child born 10 oct 1889 in Pratola Serra, so I question the marriage date. He said Sofia Pagliuca was born in August 1870 in Pratola Serra. I can't find her. He made those statement in his naturalization declaration in 1932.
I am wondering if there is a town nearby where Sofia lived. I can't find anything about her (other than her name on her children's birth). I wonder if they were married in Sofia's town and then settled in Pratola Serra, where Domenico and his family lived. I don't know what towns are closest by to Pratola Serra.
Do you have any suggestions of where to look? I can't find either the marriage or Sofia's birth, so I am thinking I am looking in the wrong place, although it's where the naturalization says she was from. I do not find a naturalization for her, only her husband's statements about her in his.
Thank you for any help or suggestions you can provide.
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UPDATE: I am unable to find the children's births in Italy, just one ones born in Boston after he arrived. HE gives dates of Antonio, born 10 oct 1889, Mary 2 mar 1892, and he immigrated in 1899. So although he clearly was born in Pratola Serra, on 15 nov 1871, and his parent were married there in 1864, I can't find his marriage, his wife's birth, or children's birth. He claimed to be married and his wife Sofia was born in Pratola Serra.
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- It would help if you gave links to the records you are referencing so that others don't need to recreate your research.
- Besides the naturalization, what other documents do you have regarding the children born in Italy? Do you have their immigration manifests?
- Use Italian Wikipedia to look up a comune - it lists the nearest comuni. Like this link.
- Or look it up on Google Maps.
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According to this record, they married in Boston in 1902: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DYZ3-9S5?i=933&cc=1469062&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AN44G-LW6
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Thank you so much!!! Here is a link to his immigration declaration, naming the children born in Italy:
Massachusetts, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1798-1950 - Ancestry.com
Here is his wife's arrival with the two children:
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Here is the arrival of Sofia in 1899 with children Francesco Antonio (or possible Francesca Antonia), age 8, and Maria Carmela, age 4. Says they were living in Montefalcione. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXCP-D6V
Maria Carmela's birth was in 1895, #39, page 16 in Montefalcione. It says the parents weren't married (at least not in a civil marriage), although the mother agreed to be named.
Haven't found the birth record of the older child yet. It may be because the parents weren't married the child may have been registered as an anonymous foundling.
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Here is a link to Domenico Giordano's birth, if that is of use. It's on page 40 (#65) - the link doesn't go right to the page.
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BTW Domenico was born 5 Nov 1871 according to his birth record, not 15 Nov.
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I don't know how much stock to put in this, but this marriage certificate from 1902 says Sofia was previously married and widowed. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997G-G9CL-X?i=223
edit: Maybe quite a bit of stock apparently. Maria Sofia Pagliuca, age 18, from Pratola, daughter of deceased Marino and living Maddalena Pisana, married Domenicantonio Iantosca in Pratola on 30 May 1889, #6, page 5. I wonder if the older child that came over with Sofia might have been from this marriage.
edit 2: I bet so. Here's Antonia Iantosca born 22 Aug 1890 in Montefalcione to Domenico Iantosca and Sofia Pagliuca. 1890 no. 122, p. 44.
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And Sofia was indeed born in August 1870 in Pratola. But her full birth name was Maria Sofia Marina Pagliuca. Page 30 #49.
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Wow wow wow! Thank you so much!!! I am amazed that you found all that. I had noticed the Boston marriage was supposed to be her second. I don't know why Domenico gave a different date on his declaration. But thank you for finding all this, especially Sofia.
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And here's something to tie it all together. Domenico Iantosca died in Boston 12 Aug 1893: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7BX-RZ6
But it wasn't reported to the comune for registration until 1896 (p. 25).
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You are amazing! Thank you!!!
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