Calogera Chiarello's Ancestors

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Giovanni Chiarello was born and baptized on November 27, 1831, in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy to parents Calogera Verde and Salvatore Chiarello.  He was the first of at least eight children born to them. He married Rosa Turturici, who was born and baptized on September 9, 1834, in Sciacca. She was the youngest daughter of at least five children born to parents Antonia Di Mino and Gaetano Turturici. 

Giovanni married Rosa on July 15, 1859, in Sciacca. He was just over 27 and a half years old and she was almost 25. It is interesting to note that on both Marriage Notices, dated June 5th and 10th, after Rosa’s surname, the word libera, which translates to free, appears. Could it have something to do with the fact that both of her parents and her grandfather were deceased? No, the Facebook Italian Genealogical Records Group said, “It means she's free to marry, i.e. single. Nothing more than that.”

Giovanni and Rosa had at least four children — Salvadore born on January 11, 1861, who married in Sciacca Paola Dimino, then came to America, and died in New York on September 6, 1932; Gaetano born on February 3, 1864, and died in Sciacca at 11 years old on February 24, 1875; Accursio born on November 8, 1866, married in Sciacca Anna Chiarello, and died there at age 42 on October 16, 1909; and ancestor Calogera. Some researchers say that there was a son named Bruno who had a daughter named Anna, but no documentation has been found to confirm this. On his children’s birth records and on his death record, Giovanni’s occupation is listed as Marinaio, which means he was a sailor or fisherman.

The family legend is that Giovanni and Rosa died in a fire in Sciacca, and their children were placed in an orphanage. Giovanni’s death record dated March 4, 1871, is found in the Sciacca Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929, Vol 185, Registro Degli Atti Di Morte. This death record lists Giovanni’s parent's names and wife’s name, but there isn’t a cause of death. (Mouse over and click on image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Rosa lived many more years, over 40, and died at age 78 on September 9, 1912, in the Ospedale di S. Maria della Misericordia (Hospital of St. Mary of Mercy) in Sciacca. Her death record was also found in the Sciacca Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 collection, but in a much later volume. Her record lists her parents names and that she was a widow of Giovanni. She never remarried. It could be that she was badly hurt in the fire and could not take care of her children. There isn’t any more information on either death record, so we may never know what really happened. (Mouse over and click on image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Whatever happened, it is sad to think that Rosa, not only buried her husband, but also two of her children, and watched as the other two went to America.

Salvadore Chiarello was baptized in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy on January 12, 1799, as Salvatore Gaetano Vito Chiarello one of three children born to Giuseppa Pumilia and Giovanni Chiarello. His godparents were Vito and Francesca Pumilia, a married couple, who may be related to his mother. Not much is known about his early life except that he had an older brother and a sister who survived to adulthood.

Salvadore married Calogera Verde in Sciacca on January 9, 1831. At the time of their marriage they both lived in Quartiero Madrice. (Mouse over and click on marriage record image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Calogera was baptized in Sciacca on October 29, 1804, as Calogera Maria Accursia Virdi, the eldest of five known children born to Vincenza Carrao and Michelangelo Verde. Her middle names are the given names of her two grandmothers. Her godparents were Antonino Montagnino and Vincenza di Mino wife of Vincenzo. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Salvadore and Calogera had at least eight children, all born at home in Quartiero Madrice — ancestor Giovanni; a daughter Giuseppa on January 25, 1834,  baptized the next day, and died a year and a half later on July 9, 1835; another daughter named Giuseppa was born in 1835, but died at age 4 on December 10, 1839; a daughter Accursia was born on November 18, 1838, baptized the next day, and died at 7 years old on March 5, 1846; another Giuseppa born August 24, 1841, who died almost a year later on August 10, 1842; another Giuseppa born October 18, 1843, and died at 2 years old on December 29, 1845; another Giuseppa born on May 26, 1846 who died at age 3 on December 23, 1849; and a son Accursio born on March 9, 1851, baptized the next day, married Accursia Chiarello on July 31, 1875, and died at age 63 on March 14, 1914. Naming so many daughters Giuseppa follows the Italian naming convention where the first daughter is named after the father's mother. Thus when their first daughter died, the next daughter was given that same name. Unfortunately, none of the Giuseppa's lived past toddler age. Out of their eight children only the two boys, Giovanni and Accursio, made it to adulthood.

Salvadore Chiarello died on January 11, 1874, in Sciacca. His death record is found in Volume 188, for the year 1874 of the Provincia di Girgenti, Comune di Sciacca, Registro Degli Atti di Morte. On it, his age is listed as 74 and the names of parents and wife are included. As with so many of the other ancestors from Sciacca, his occupation is listed as Marinaio. (Mouse over and click on image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He is listed as a widower, which means his wife Calogera died before him. Unfortunately, a death record for her can’t be found. It is a good possibility that she died in 1866, where 85 death records are missing or in 1867, where the August to December pages are missing from the Morte book.  A death record for her brother Calogero, who died on July 3, 1883, was found and can easily be mistaken for her death record.

It is sad to think that this couple buried six of their eight children.

Gaetano Turturici was born between 1785 and 1791 in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the only known child of Francesco Turturici and Anna Guardino, his wife. His birth year range is taken from various records where his age was recorded. Gaetano married Antonia de Mino on September 28, 1820, in Sciacca. Gaetano and Antonia’s limited marriage information comes from the index for the 1820 marriage records. Unfortunately, their civil marriage detail record is not available for research, as the file ends in July. What is available is their Latin church marriage record pictured left. (Mouse over and click on image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) It states that “Gaetano Turturici was the widower of Domenica Maggio.” It is not known if they had any children together. This marriage document goes on to state the Gaetano was the “son of the late Francesco and Anna Guardino.” So Gaetano was married twice and ancestor Antonia was his second wife.

Gaetano and Antonia lived in quartiero Madrice, where all of their five known children were born. (See Antonia's bio for details.) In 1823, his occupation was listed as a sailor; in 1827 he was listed as a Contadino, a farmer; in 1831, he was listed as a Pastore, a shepherd; in 1834 and 1838 he is a farmer, but from 1850 to his death he’s listed as a shepherd. So it seems he quit being a sailor and settled down to do sheep farming when they started a family.

Gaetano died at 70 years-old on January 8, 1855, a week after his wife died. He may have been living with one of his children at the time of his death, as he died he died at his home in quartiero Santo Vito. Unfortunately, nothing more is known about Gaetano. (Mouse over and click on his death record image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Antonia Dimino or di Mino was born in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, between 1795 and 1801 to parents Mariano di Mino and Rosa Marinello. Her birth year range is taken from various records where her age was recorded but it is most likely she was born in the late 1790s or early 1800’s.Her surname has been recorded in different records as Dimino, di Mino, de Mino or just Mino, making it difficult to know exactly which is correct.

Antonia first married Giuseppe Maniscalco and it is not known if they had any children together. After Giuseppe died, she married widower Gaetano Turturici on September 28, 1820, in Sciacca. (See their marriage document image in his bio.) On their Latin church marriage document she is listed as the “Antonia de Mino, widow of Giuseppe Maniscalco, daughter of the late Mariano and Rosa Marinello, both from this Matrice parish.”

Gaetano and Antonia had at least four other children besides ancestor Rosa, all born in Sciacca — a son Francesco was born and baptized on August 29, 1823, he married Vincenza Marinello on December 31, 1850, and died at the age of 61 on June 18, 1885; a daughter Anna born on December 3, 1827, baptized the next day, and died at 1 1/2 years-old on July 8, 1829; another Anna born and baptized on May 4, 1831,who never married and died at 31 years-old on November 21, 1862; and a son Mariano born and baptized on January 16, 1838, married Barbara Galluzzo, and died in Sciacca at the age of 63 on May 13, 1901.

Antonia Dimino died in quartiero Madrice, in Sciacca on December 31, 1854. Her death record states she was a 67 year-old Industrioso, a manufacturer or trader. (Mouse over and click on image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) This age doesn’t reconcile with her ages as given on other records, so it most likely is incorrect. She probably was about 61 years-old or younger when she died.

Giovanni Chiarello’s date of birth is uncertain. He was born in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, probably about 1760, one of at least three known children born to parents Giuseppe Chiarello and Vincenza Bentivegna. The documentation for his ancestry comes from several places. First from Giovanni’s marriage document mentioned below, we get his parents names. From his sister Antonina’s second marriage record, dated November 14, 1824, we get his deceased grandfather’s name-Giovanni Chiarello. This tells us that our Giovanni was a first born son, as he is named after his father’s father. Lastly, Giuseppe’s nameis written in statement 5, on page 2 of Giovanni’s son, ancestor Salvadore’s 1831 wedding document, which translates to “ . . . Act of Giuseppe Chiarello death, paternal grandfather of the Bridegroom.” (Mouse over and click on the image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) 

On October 6, 1783, single Giovanni married Giuseppa Pumilia, who was also single, in the parish of the Mother Church in Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on their church marriage record image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) They had at least three children all born, married, and died in Sciacca — a son Francesco, who was a Marinaro, born about 1788, married before 1817, Accursia Curreri and died on September 27, 1838; a daughter Vincenza born about 1802, married before 1819, Vincenzo Curreri, and died on July 22, 1837, just two days after her mother died; and ancestor Salvadore. It is quite possible that Accursia Curreri and Vincenzo Curreri, were siblings.

In his son Salvadore’s marriage processetti, mentioned above, there is a document, written in Latin, which has statements for Giovanni and his father Giuseppe Chiarello’s deaths (see the image in Giuseppe’s bio). It states Johannes (Giovanni) was 38 years old when he died on July 17, 1803, in Sciacca. This makes his birth in 1765, which makes him only 18 years old when he was married, which doesn’t seem plausible. He was probably in his 40’s when he died. This statement also goes on to say that he was buried in the church of S. Franciscus, which is probably the former San Francesco d’Paola Christian church, which is now closed.

Giuseppa Pumilia was born about 1760, in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the only known child born to parents Francesco Pumilia and Elisabetta Trapani. Records for her were also found under the name Giuseppa Pumilia In Chiarello - the In Chiarello indicates her married name. She died a widow at home at Quartiero Madrice, in Sciacca, “during a cholera outbreak,” on July 20, 1837. (Mouse over and click on her death record image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) On  Giuseppa’s death record it states she was born in Sciacca and was 85 years-old, but this may not be so. As this death record contains some misinformation-her age and her parent’s names. On this record, her deceased parents names are clearly written, but are different from the names listed on her Latin marriage record, as stated above. The death record states that her parents were Vito Pumilia and Girolama Bivona, which is incorrect, as at least two pieces of supporting documentation exist to disprove this. Her marriage record is correct because she was alive giving the information to be recorded. On January 4, 1831, she wrote a consent to marry for her son Salvadore, in the form of a legal Brevetto, where she states she is the daughter of Francesco (mouse over and click on the consent Brevetto image right to enlarge in a new window/tab). Another supporting fact is that she named a son Francesco, which follows the Italian naming convention. Her age listed at death calculates her birth year to 1652. Her age listed on her son Salvadore’s 1831 wedding record is 54, which calculates her birth year to 1777. If you take into account her marriage date and birth of her first child, it’s clear neither of these dates are correct. It seems plausible she was born sometime between these two years, probably around 1760. It seems folks in those days didn’t count the years the way we do today. The death record information came from someone other than her husband, as he was deceased by then, and her daughter Vincenza, who died two days after her mother, was gravely ill when Giuseppa died.

Francesco Turturici and Anna Guardino’s ancestries are unknown, but it is assumed they lived there lives in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. What is known of them comes from the records of their only known child, ancestor Gaetano and his daughter ancestor Rosa. Francesco was listed as a shepherd on Gaetano’s death detail record. (Mouse over and click on Gaetano’s death record image in his bio to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Anna’s surname is somewhat of a mystery, as it has been recorded differently on these records. On Gaetano’s 1820 marriage index record, (mouse over and click on image on left below to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) which is simply a list of the couple’s names, homeland, parents names, and date of marriage, she is listed clearly as Anna Guardino. On Gaetano’s 1820 Latin church marriage document pictured in his bio above, she is clearly listed as Anna Guardino. On Gaetano’s death index record, which is not as easy to read, she is listed as Anna Finuza. On Gaetano’s death detail record, which is written very clearly, she is listed as Anna Ferinna Sanzone. It could be that whoever gave the information at the time, did not know for sure, how her surname was spelled or even what it was. The most reliable and earliest record would be the details gleaned from the 1820 marriage documents of their son Gaetano. When he got married on September 28, 1820, Gaetano was called the son of the late Francesco and Anna Guardino.

In his granddaughter, ancestor Rosa Turturici’s 1859 marriage processetti, there is a death statement for Francesco. (Mouse over and click on his death statement image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He died in Sciacca at 60 years old, which calculates his birth year to about 1753. He was in good standing with the church, receiving the last rites on October 11, 1813. This statement is written in Latin and is very brief. It does not mention his cause of death nor his wife or parents. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them at this time.

Mariano Dimino or di Mino ancestry is unknown, but it is possible that he was born in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. He married Rosa Marinello in Sciacca on November 16, 1794. On this Latin marriage document his parents are listed as unknown, or to be more exact, it says filio populi which translates to son of the people.  (Mouse over and click on their Latin mariage record image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) What is known of him comes from his children’s records. Mariano was probably born between 1775 and 1779. Their four children’s marriage records tells us that the family lived in Quartiero Madrice and Mariano’s occupation changed over the years. From 1829 to 1832, he was listed as a sailor. In 1854 he was listed as an Industrios, a manufacturer or trader. In 1857 he was listed as a Vasaio, a Potter. So it seems he started out as a sailor, then in his older years, began working with pottery and selling his work.

Mariano di Mino was widowed at an early age with young children. It is very possible that he remarried as he lived much longer than his wife Rosa. Unfortunately, records do not exist to confirm this theory. He was alive in 1832, as he is listed as 56 years-old, when his daughter Francesca was married, and he was deceased by the end of 1854, when his daughter, ancestor Antonia died. Unfortunately, a death record for him can’t be found.

Rosa Marinello was probably in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, in about 1771, which is calculated from her age on her death record. She was the eldest of three known children born to Francesca Guadagnino and her husband Calogero Marinello, and named after her paternal grandmother. Rosa married Mariano di Mino on November 16, 1794, at the mother church in Sciacca. This Latin record states her parents names, but not her age.

Mariano and Rosa had at least three other children believed to be younger than ancestor Antonia, all born in Sciacca — a son Vito born about 1798 who married Anna D'Alba on November 22, 1829; a daughter Francesca, baptized on June 13, 1802, married first Guiseppe di Vita, had at least one son, and after Guiseppe died, she married Giovanni Friscia on August 15, 1832, and then at age 52 she was married again on August 21, 1858, to Giuseppe di Mino. (It is interesting to note that Francesca's third husband was a di Mino. His parents’ names were Mattea Maggio Carini and Vincenzo di Mino. Vincenzo could have been the brother of Mariano and Giuseppe, her cousin); and a daughter Giuseppa born about 1807 who married Francesco di Vita on August 15, 1830, and died on May 5, 1857, at the Hospital of Mercy. On Giuseppa's death record, her father and spouse’s names are correct, but her mother is listed as Rosa Guadagnino. This surname was her maternal grandmother's surname. It is simply just another death record error proving that whoever gave the info knew the family line, but confused the surnames.

In her daughter Francesca’s third marriage processetti, Rosa Marinello's death date is documented in Sciacca, on November 30, 1816 (mouse over and click on her death statement image right to enlarge in a new window/tab). Unfortunately, she is listed as “Rosa di Mino wife of Mariano aged 45.” It also states she was “buried in the church of San Francesco.” This may be the the former San Francesco d’Paola church in Sciacca.

Giuseppe Chiarello was the son of Giovanni Chiarello and his unnamed wife, possibly Margarita (see their bio below). Giuseppe’s birth date and place are uncertain, but he probably was born in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy in about 1731. He married Vincenza Bentivegna and they had at least three children, all born in Sciacca — ancestor Giovanni; a daughter who was baptized on June 18, 1777, as Antonina Calogera Diana, married first Pasquale Geraldo, then after he died, at the age of 50, she married Francesco Piazza on November 14, 1824, and she died ten years later on March 26, 1834, at 60 years old; and a son named Salvadore, who married Rosaria Vento, had a son who became a Capuchin priest, and she died before November 17, 1824, the date of his wife’s death.

Unfortunately, death records for Giuseppe and Vincenza cannot be found, but in their grandson, ancestor Salvadore’s January 7, 1831, marriage processetti, mentioned above in his son Giovanni’s bio, there is a document, written in Latin, that has statements for his son Giovanni and his deaths. (Mouse over and click on his death statement image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) It states that Joseph Chiarello (Giuseppe) was 50 years old when he died on July 11, 1781, in Sciacca. This makes his birth year about 1731. This statement also goes on to say that he was buried in the church of S. Franciscus, which is probably the former San Francesco d’Paola Christian church, which is now closed. In their daughter Antonina’s 1824 marriage processetti, there is a statement of death, written in Latin, for her mother Vincenza Bentivegna in Chiarello, aged 62, that states she had died on October 11, 1798, in the hospital for the incurable and was buried there. This would make her birth year about 1736. Unfortunately, it doesn’t state her parents names or where she was born. (Mouse over and click on her death statement image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

No records can be found for Francesco Pumilia and Elisabetta Trapani, other than their names from their daughter ancestor Giuseppa Pumilia’s marriage record. There is, however, a Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, 1747 Riveli (tax return) for a Leonarda Trapani, who was the widow of Francesco, who very well may be the parents of our Elisabetta. (Mouse over and click on the Riveli record image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Riveli’s never gave the female ages or surnames and always used the husband surname on a widow. This Riveli lists four children for Leonarda in the following order: Angela, Maria, Elizabetta, and 5 year-old Vincenzo. Riveli’s usually list the oldest child first and go down in ages. If Vincenzo was 5, it’s a good possibility that Elizabetta was about 7 years old, calculating her birth year to about 1740. We know that both Francesco and Elisabetta were alive when their daughter ancestor Giuseppa was married in 1783, and they were both recorded as deceased when she died in 1837. So they died sometime in that 54 year span, probably prior to 1820. Unfortunately, nothing more is known about them.

Calogero Marinello was the son of Giuseppe Marinello and his wife Rosa Migliore, probably born in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. On January 7, 1767, he married at the mother church in Sciacca, Francesca Guadagnino. She was the daughter of Giuseppe Guadagnino and Giuseppa Aversa. At the time of Calogero and Francesca’s marriage the only living parent was Rosa, Calogero’s mother. Francesca’s parents and Calogero’s father were deceased. All this information comes from their Latin marriage document pictured right. (Mouse over and click on their Latin mariage record image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Two other documented children of Calogero and Francesca, beside ancestor Rosa, were both born in Sciacca — Giuseppe in about 1774, was a sailor who married Rosa Bono, and died at home, married, at the age of 58 on January 25, 1832; and Maria, born about 1783, married Giuseppe Bentivegna, was a laborer, and died at 75 years old, in her house, a widow on January 10, 1858.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about Calogero and Francesca or either of their parents.

Giovanni Chiarello’s ancestry in unknown. The only documentation that proves he was ancestor Giuseppe’s father is a death statement written in his grandson Salvadore’s 1831 marriage processetti which is written in Latin. He died on July 6, 1775, in Sciacca and is listed as Johannes Chiarello aged 65 and it states he was buried in the church of San Francesco di Paola. (This church begun construction in 1627 and was completed in 1749, and is no longer in use.) This puts his birth year in about 1710. Unfortunately, his parent’s and wife’s names are not listed.

There is a 1747 Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy Riveli (tax return), folio 356, for a 50 year-old Giovanni Chiarello, the son of Dominic and Anna Chiarello that could be Giuseppe’s father. This calculates his birth to about 1697. This Giovanni was married to a women named Margarita, and had five children — 14 year-old Antonio; 12 year-old Vincenzo; 9 year-old Guiseppe; 6 year-old Pasquale, and a daughter Diana. If the 9 year-old Giuseppe is the one who married Vincenza Bentivegna, he would have been born in 1738, which fits into the age range of our Giuseppe. (Mouse over and click on their Riveli record image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) There is only one possible link to our Guiseppe and that is that this Giovanni and Margarita had a daughter named Diana, which is a somewhat rare given name in Sciacca. Ancestors Giuseppe and Vincenza gave that middle name of Diana to their daughter Antonia. This is a real long shot, but it should be mentioned. At this time, there is no other documentation to link this Giovanni and Matgarita to ancestor Giuseppe.

On the following page, folio 358 is for Anna Chiarello, widow of Dominic. Being female, her age or maiden name is not listed, but living with her are three children, 26 year-old Pietro; 20 year-old Dominico; and daughter Vincenza. Unfortunately, that’s all that’s known about them. It must be mentioned again that there is no documentation or even given names that link these folks to our line.