How do I begin researching my grandfather?

rdr6254

rdr6254

Hi,

I am trying to develop a research strategy for my grandfather, Francesco Gaetano Buonomo. He was born in Elena, Gaeta 27 October 1897. I have found records for Gaeta in the State Archives of Latina and Caserta on il Portale Antenati but I'm afraid most of the records I am searching for may fall into the gap in between the two archives.

I have his parents' names: Francesco Buonomo, allegedly lost at sea when my grandfather was three years old and Rosalia di Chiappari. I also have a copy of his logbook from service in the Merchant Marine from approximately 1910-1915.

I am looking to find information on the rest of the family as well as my grandfather's first wife, Elisabetta di Pirro and two children, one of whom is I believe is a daughter named Rosalba Buonomo.

I would be grateful for any assistance the community could provide.

Thank you,

Diane Roberts

DangKwei

Start by making an outline, either online or in an offline DB like Gramps, of all the known information. Next, you can add in the estimated/calculated data based on the records and facts. That will narrow your search range when you go to a FHC. The archives on Antenati for Latina are marked as partial, so you might have to wait for those to become available outside access from a FHC.

karenrasmussen

Here is a simple suggestion that may have benefits down the road although it does not address your real question.

Your grandfather Francesco (Frank) Gaetano Buonomo can be found as in the FamilySearch Family Tree using ID LKK3-YHP. The FamilySearch computers are always working in the background to find additional records that might be this person.

By removing (Frank) from the the name, the computer can search more efficiently. Also by putting dates such as 12 December 1970 and selecting the "standardized date" the computer can search more effectively.

There are 4 (blue) research hints waiting to be reviewed for Francesco. By taking the time to attach these hints, the computer can search more effectively and your ancestor is less likely to get messed up with other people in the familytree.

I assume that you have reviewed the FamilySearch catalog listings here: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=114381&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Italy%2C%20Latina%2C%20Gaeta%22&subjectsOpen=330515-50

As you say unfortunately, FamilySearch only has civil registration up to 1865. Do you think the family lived in this village a long time? These records can be viewed in a family history center. Do you know where the closest family history center to you is?

rdr6254

Thank you both for your responses. I see a trip to my FHC in the very near future. In the interim I will make the suggested record changes, create an outline and try additional searches.

joseph99929

@rdr6254 As you've noticed, the civil records for the comune of Gaeta (including Elena/Borgo di Gaeta) for the period 1866-1929 have not been digitized. These years are not available online or at the FHC.

I do not know if the Archivio di Stato di Latina holds the civil records for this period or not, you would need to ask them:

• If the answer is yes, then it becomes possible to go and consult the civil records on-site. The archives also offer a photography service, but you already need to know the exact date of the record you're looking for, they won't do open-ended research.
• If the answer is no, then this is a real problem. You'd be left to the good will of the Comune of Gaeta, or possibly to the parish churches (but in a big city like Gaeta, it will not be obvious to know which church your ancestors would have attended). Both options are not easy as comunes and especially churches are under no obligation to assist with genealogy research.

As for what you can do online:

1. If your great-grandfather Francesco died circa 1900, his death will not be available online. However, if you are fortunate and Rosalia died between 1930-1946, her death record would be online with her respective parents' names.
2. You can still search the births records for Gaeta and Borgo di Gaeta from 1865 backwards for both Francesco and/or Rosalia. Of course, if you do stumble upon a birth record for a Francesco Buonomo or a Rosalia Di Chiappari, you can't just assume it's your great-grandparent, it could very well be a birth for another person with the same name! However, there is a way to confirm it. Oftentimes, on birth records, there is a note somewhere added later that indicates the marriage information. If you find a birth record for a Francesco Buonomo and on it there is a note that says he married Rosalia Di Chiappari, then that would confirm it! This is a long shot, since not all birth records get these notes added, but you should still give it a try!