Question from new member

karenrasmussen

@CMontello posted this question under the new member welcome:

I am new to this group, so I'm hoping someone can help me find the birth place of Luigina Laponda Spada. She was born on 05 Jan 1882, She died in Virginia, USA on 23 Apr. 1949.

The story (I find it hard to believe) is she was a countess and her family owned a castle, but I don't know where.

Thank You

CaroleM

carmont7@cox.net

karenrasmussen

@CMontello In the familysearch family tree, Lugia Lponda Spada (1882-1949) appears as PID #GS7V-H3W here: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/GS7V-H3W

She also appears in several public member trees in ancestry.com, such as this one:

This tree gives her birthplace as: Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. And includes this image source:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1168/images/fal_nati_1876_1887-0197?pId=67351

Ancestry.com can be accessed for free at a family history center or many public libraries. Does this answer your question?

CMontello

Thank you, this doesn't actually answer my questions. Ancestry shows the noted page for Maria Margherita not Luigina Spada.

I have all of the sources from FamilySearch.org already.

CaroleM

karenrasmussen

@CMontello

Hmm. Here is the link to the ancestry public member tree: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/41814058/person/180069724243/facts

Maria Luigia Margherita Spada

1879–1949

Birth 5 JANUARY 1879 • Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy

Death 23 APRIL 1949 • Portsmouth City, Virginia, USA

The information matches so well...it is hard to see how these could not be the same person.

Is your question more about the validity of the castle story, rather than genealogical records?

CMontello

Thank you for the information. I am beginning to believe that Maria Luigia Margherita Spada is the Luigia Spada I am looking for. However, after viewing the tree on Ancestry I have a hard time believing the parents listed, Eugene & Vivian Spada are actually her parents. Her parents never came to America. Also she was married in Italy, not New Jersey.

I never believed the castle story so I'm really not looking for proof of that.

karenrasmussen

Hello again. I have relooked at your family and also at the ancestry.com tree.

I was thinking about the naturalization record. But I think it was 1906 when the form changed and gives lots of information. If Antonio naturalized in 1905, it may just say they are all from Italy. Have you had any luck finding the naturalization petition?

Have you considered contacting "dgail961" the owner of the ancestry.com tree and having a discussion.

Or, have you thought about posting the image of the birth from Felerna, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy to see if it matches the information you have? If you post this in the Italian community page under discussions, someone can probably translate for you to see if it matches the information (dates, names) that you have so far.

Just some ideas....best wishes, Karen