Leonardo Marotta's Ancestors

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Santo Marotta was baptized as an infant on July 14, 1835, in the Mother Church, the Basilica of Maria Santissima del Soccorso in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, as Santo Francesco Vincenzo Marotta. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) His first two given names were those of his grandfathers. He was the eldest of at least six children born to Paolina Navarra and Leonardo Marotta. 

Santo married 17 year-old Liboria Friscia on August 15, 1860, in Sciacca when he was 24 years old. They had six known sons and two known daughters after ancestor Leonardo, all born in Sciacca — daughter Paolina born on November 23, 1863, who died at age two on December 3, 1865; Antonino born on April 21, 1866, who died at seven months old on November 23, 1866; another Antonino born on February 21, 1868, who married Angelina Sclafani on January 3, 1897, in Sciacca; Paolo born on April 19, 1871, who married Giovanna Marinello in NY on October 3, 1897; Guiseppe born on October 13, 1873, married Anna Esposito in NY on January 29, 1899; another Paolina born on October 27, 1876, and died at age 9 on June 11, 1886; Ignazio born on November 10, 1879, married Maria LaRosa in NY on October 1, 1904; and Gaetano known as Thomas who was born on December 22, 1884, married Maria DeSara in NY on December 19, 1908, and died February 3, 1960, in Brooklyn, NY. Two of their sons, Antonino and Guiseppe, returned to Sciacca to marry. After three months of marriage, Antonino returned to America with his new wife and settled in New York City. Guiseppe was a widower with a young daughter when he returned to Sciacca. He married again, sent his daughter back to New York to live with Antonino and raised a new family in Sciacca and died there.

Santo Marotta never came to America. He died on December 4, 1904 in Sciacca. His death record can be found in Vol 218, Parte I, Anno 1904, Comune di Sciacca, Provincia Di Girgenti, Registro Degli Atti Di Morte of the Sciacca Civil Registration. It lists his occupation as Marinaio, which means sailor, and gives the names of his parents and spouse. (Mouse over and click on image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

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Liboria Friscia was born on October 24, 1843, in Sciacca, the third of at least ten children born to Onofria Mandracchia and Antonino Friscia. (Mouse over and click on image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Liboria was 17 years old when she married Santo and bore him at least nine children. After her husband died, she attempted to come to the US on May 12, 1910. She was listed as a passenger aboard the Duca d'Aosta, stating that she's a widow going to her sons Leonardo, Antonio, Gaetano, Paolo & Ignacico Marotta at 175 Elizabeth St, NY. The manifest also gives the name or address of the nearest relative in Sciacca, but it is unrecognizable and hard to read. Apparently she never made this voyage, as her name was crossed off this passenger list. Less than two weeks later on May 25^th, 66 year-old Liboria Friscia is a passenger on the Perugia out of Palermo. She states she is going to her "sons Marotta Paolo, Leonardo, Gaetano, Elizabeth St 176 NY"  and that her nearest relative in Sciacca is her "son Marotta Guiseppe."  Guiseppe had returned to Sciacca as a widower to marry again and settled there with his new family. Liboria’s ship arrived at Ellis Island, NY on June 11, but she was held over one night because of dental issues. She was admitted into the US on June 12, 1910. Her life here in the US is a mystery, as she is not listed on any of her son's 1915 census records. She may have had other children and lived with one of them or with a sibling.

Liboria died March 15, 1918, at about 7:30am of Myocarditis at 69 Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, which is the 1920 address of her son Ignazio. She was buried two days later in an unmarked paupers grave in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY. It is interesting to note that her death certificate lists her name as Santo Marotta (male name) on the front and Santa Marotta (female name) on the back. No where does it mention her name as Liboria, although her parents, sex and other information correctly identifies her. The death certificate states that her brother released the body to the undertaker, authorized the burial, and signed his name simply as A. Friscia, Brother. But there is no record that she had a brother with the first initial A, and all but one of her known brothers, Gaetano, had already died in Sciacca. Gaetano never came to America and died in Sciacca the next year. Who the person was who signed the certificate, why he chose to call her Santo, and why he had her buried in a pauper's grave, is still a mystery. (Mouse over image left.)

Leonardo Giovanni Marotta was baptized at the Mother Church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, on June 19, 1807, the youngest known son of  Maria Vitale and Santo Marotta. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) His birth year is listed as 1807 on his marriage record, but his age as listed on his children’s birth records do not agree and calculate the year he was born to range between 1790 and 1814. His 1880 death record lists his age as 68, which calculates his birth to 1812. So exactly when he was born is unknown, but it certainly was before or on his baptism date. (In those days, usually a child was baptized within a day of birth.) He was almost 27 years old when he married 19 year-old Paolina Navarra on April 7, 1834, in Sciacca. The Banns or Notificazioni, as they are called in the record, were announced on March 9^th and 24^th. They both lived in the Quartiero Madrice section of Sciacca when they married. Leonardo and Paolina moved back and forth between the Quartiero Madrice and the Quartiero San Michele sections of Sciacca. They had at least six children together, see Paolina's bio for details.

Leonardo’s wife, ancestor Paolina, died in 1859, leaving him with several young children. Four years later on May 21, 1863, Leonardo promises to marry Antonina Campo, a 44 year-old twice widowed woman, who was born in Santa Margherita Belice, in Agrigento, who had at least one adult child. (Today Santa Margherita Belice is about a half hour drive from Sciacca.) Three days later on May 24^th, they marry. On this marriage record, Leonardo’s first wife and parents names are listed, as well as Antonina’s parents and her deceased second husband’s name. Leonardo’s second wife, Antonina, died only seven years later on May 4, 1870 in Sciacca, at the age of 51. There are no records of children being born to them during their marriage.

Leonardo Marotta died ten years later in Sciacca on October 30, 1880. His death record lists his occupation as Marinaio, which means he was a sailor. It also lists his parents names and both his first and second wives names. (Mouse over and click on his death record image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Paolina Maria Navarra was baptized at the Mother Church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, on February 5, 1815, the eldest daughter of Fara Montalbano and Francesco Paolo Navarra. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) 1815 is the birth year stated on her marriage record, but on her children’s birth records, her recorded ages differ. She married Leonardo Marotta when she was just over 19 years old on April 7, 1834. They had at least five other children after ancestor Santo — Maria was born and baptized on July 12, 1838, at home in the Quartiero San Michele section of Sciacca, unfortunately, she died on the day she was born; Francesco Paolo was born and baptized on September 30, 1840 at home in Quartiero San Michele; Giuseppe was born at home in Quartiero Matrice on May 29, 1844, he married Rosa, the sister of ancestor Liboria Friscia, and came to New York; Pasquale was born at home in Quartiero San Michele on December 16, 1849, but he died at nine months old at home in Quartiero Madrice, on September 26, 1850; and another Pasquale was born on June 8, 1853, while the family lived in Quartiero San Michele, he was baptized the next day, and died there at 23 months old on May 11, 1855.

For reasons this researcher doesn’t know, Paolina was given a boy to raise, who was born illegitimately about 1850. His name was Pasquale Luciano Navarra, and apparently he grew up in the Marotta household, along with their much older first born son, ancestor Santo Marotta. Why Pasquale’s surname wasn’t Marotta isn’t known, but he may have been the son of one of Paolina’s siblings. On Pasquale’s marriage record, Paolina is listed as his foster mother, and his father is listed as unknown. It should be noted that his foster mother, Paolina, died when he was about 9 years old, so Leonardo must have cared for him. Another interesting fact is that Pasquale married Caterina Friscia, whose parents are listed as ancestors Antonino Friscia and Onofria Mandracchia, making her a much younger sister to ancestor Liboria Friscia, who married Pasquale’s step brother Santo Marotta. This researcher has not found any birth records for either Pasquale or Caterina, but they named their children following the Italian naming convention-first born son and daughter, Leonardo and Paolina and second born son and daughter, Antonino and Onofria. Pasquale and Caterina came to America in the 1890’s, had several more children and died in Brooklyn, New York.

Paolina Navarra died on February 2, 1859, at the Hospital of Mercy in Sciacca. On her death record, her age is listed as 40, she lived in the Quartiero Madrice, and her occupation is listed as Industre, which translates to manufacturer or trader. Her death record also lists her husband’s and parent’s names. (Mouse over and click on image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Antonino Friscia was baptized as Antonino Giovanni Battista Vincenzo on October 24, 1811, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the eldest of at least four children born to Caterina Licata and Gaetano Friscia. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) He was 26 when he married on February 19, 1838. His wife, Onofria Mandracchia was born on May 19, 1818, and baptized as Honuphria Anna Alfonsa (the Latin name Honuphria translates to Onofria in Italian) the next day, also in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the eldest daughter of at least four children born to Liboria Sclafani and Giuseppe Mandracchia. (Mouse over her Latin church baptism record upper left for more about her name, then click on it to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Onofria was 19 years old when she married Antonino in Sciacca, in a double wedding with her brother Vincenzo, who married Giuseppa Friscia, the sister of her new husband, ancestor Antonino Friscia.

Antonino and Onofria had at least eight other children besides ancestor Liboria, all born at home in Quartiero Matrice in Sciacca (Quartiero Matrice is believed to be the same area as Quartiero Madrice. The spelling changed about 1840.)  Their children whose birth records have been found are — Gaetano was born and baptized on February 26, 1840, and died at the age of 79, in Sciacca on May 15, 1919; Caterina was born on April 13, 1842, married Accursio La Rocca, and died at 78 years old in Sciacca on December 6, 1920; Angela was born on April 29, 1845 and died at 2 years old on July 19, 1847; Rosa was born on March 17, 1847, was baptized the next day, and married her sister ancestor Liboria’s husband’s brother, Giuseppe Marotta, and came to America with him and died in Brooklyn, NY on January 22, 1919; another Angela was born and baptized on December 20, 1849, but died at 6 months old on July 9, 1850; Giuseppe was born on October 11, 1852, baptized the next day, and died at 8 months old on June 23, 1853; another Giuseppe born and baptized on December 21, 1857, and died at 13 months old on February 6, 1859; and a son Michele born on April 10, 1861, who died at 10 months old on March 3, 1862. Out of these nine known children, only four lived to adulthood. Recently a marriage record, dated August 18, 1879, for a 16 year-old Caterina Friscia who married Pasquale Luciano Navarra (see Paolina Navarra’s bio above for more on him) has surfaced, that states her parents were the deceased Antonino Friscia and Onofria Mandracchia, who was still alive. She is not the same Caterina listed above. To make matters worse, it seems in Sciacca she was known as Caterina, but after she came to America, she was called Angelina. Unfortunately, a birth record can not be found for another daughter with these parents in the date range from 1862 to 1866. This marriage and family data came from another researcher, who has solid family ties to her, and has posted an image of her.They also list her children, some born in Sciacca and some in New York, and their names follow the Italian naming convention. There were two Caterina Friscia’s born in Sciacca to another couple during this period, so it may be possible that the records are incorrect, or her biological parents died and she was raised by Antonino and Onofria.

Antonino died at home on December 3, 1865 in Sciacca. His death record was found in the Italy, Agrigento, Sciacca, Civil Registration (Tribunale), 1861-1929 collection. It lists his occupation as Marinaio, which means he was a sailor, and also lists his parent’s and wife’s names. His age seems to say he was 55 years-old at the time of his death. (Mouse over and click on his civil death record lower right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Onofria, died over 30 years later on September 27, 1898, in Sciacca. She never remarried. Her death record was found in the same collection as her husband’s record, but in a later volume. This record gives her parents names and states that she was the widow of Antonino. Her age is given as eighty. (Mouse over and click on her civil death record lower left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Santo Marotta was born and baptized on the evening of September 15, 1764, in the mother church  parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the second son of nine known children of Giuseppe Marotta and Antonina Abruzzo. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) He was named after his mother’s father.

On December 26^th and 31^st of 1795 and January 1^st of 1796, church banns were read for Santo to marry Maria Vitale. She was born and baptized as Maria Vincenza Aloysia Giovanna on the morning of July 30, 1768, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Leonardo Vitale and Anna Maria Indelicato. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image lower left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Santo and Maria were married on January 10, 1786, at the mother church in Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Santo and Maria had at least five other children, some baptized at the mother church in Sciacca, before ancestor Leonardo was born — Giuseppe Francesco Paolo, baptized on April 22, 1787, who probably died young; Antonina Giovanna Giuseppa, baptized on July 11, 1789, married Accursio Turturici on November 12, 1825, and died a widow in her forties on February 11, 1848; Giuseppe Giovanni baptized on August 20, 1792;  Francesco Paolo, a son probably born at he end of the year in 1796, who married Giovanna Turturici on November 12, 1825, and died on October 30, 1859;  and Marianna born about 1798, who married on November 11, 1854, and died on January 10, 1871. It is interesting to note that Antonina and her brother Francesco, married on the same day, probably in a double wedding, to another brother and sister from the same Turturici family.

Maria Vitale died at home in Quartiero Madrice, in Sciacca at the age of 50 on January 27, 1824. Her death record lists her mother’s surname as Friscia, which is incorrect. Friscia was the surname of her maternal grandmother Rosa. This error has made research of her ancestry difficult.

Santo Marotta also died at home on March 7, 1831, at age 70. His death record also lists an incorrect surname for his mother, Graffeo. Their death records can be found in the Italia, Morti e Sepolture, 1809-1900 collection. Each record lists the spouse and parents names. Santo’s record lists his occupation as Marinaro which means seafaring or sailor in English. (Mouse over and click on  death images, left for Maria and right for Santo, to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Francesco Paolo Navarra was born in Sicilia, Italy some time between 1782 and 1793, possibly in Palermo, one of at least three children born to Ignazio Navarra and Paolina Modica. (Although his death record states he was born in Sciacca, Agrigento, there isn’t a baptism record for him in these records.) His age was not consistently recorded on the available records, so his exact birth year is not known. In 1822 he was listed as 36, a year later in 1823 he was listed as being 30 years-old, in 1825, he’s again 30 years-old, 1829 he was listed as being 38 years-old, in 1834, he was listed as 52 years-old, but ten years later he’s listed as 60 years-old.

Francesco married Fara Montalbano in Sciacca on April 30, 1814. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) They had at least five children, all born in Sciacca. See his wife’s bio for details. His occupation seems to have changed during his life. In 1822, he was listed as what looks like Piatti, a dish maker; in 1823 he was listed as a Cretaro, which translates to potter; in 1825 he was listed as a Stazzonaro, which doesn’t translates to anything that makes sense; in 1829, he’s listed as what looks like Cinni Limmi, and can’t be translated; in 1834 he was listed as a Marinaro, which means sailor; in 1844 he is listed as Industriosa which means industrious in English, and in 1857, years after his death, he is listed as a Villico, a farmer. The one consistent piece of information is where they lived in Sciacca. All the records say Quartiero Madrice. One record went into detail and seems to say they lived on S Cataldo Road.

His death record states that Francesco Paolo Navarra died at the Hospital of Mercy in Sciacca, at the age of 60 on September 7, 1844. (Mouse over and click on image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Fara Montalbano was baptized as Fara Vincenza Simona on October 28, 1786, in the mother church of  Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, by her parents Francesca Cusumano and Salvadore Montalbano. (Mouse over and click on her Latin baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Because she was named after her mother’s mother, she was probably the second daughter born.

She was 27 and a half years-old when she married Francesco Paolo Navarra in Sciacca on April 30, 1814. (See image in his bio.) They had at least five children together — ancestor Paolina; Francesca, baptized in Menfi, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy on November 23, 1818, married widower Vito Liotta on April 29, 1849, and died on December 12, 1857, at the age of 39; Angela was born in Sciacca on September 29, 1822, baptized there the next day and died there just under one year on September 14, 1823; Ignazio born on January 25, 1825, in Sciacca, was baptized the next day and died there at one month-old on February 22, 1825; and then another Ignazio born in Sciacca on November 7, 1829, was baptized the next day, was a Shepherd who married Calogera Sutera on October 28, 1862, and died thirty years later in Sciacca on December 10, 1892.

Fara Montalbano died on December 21, 1844, three months after her husband’s death, at age 44, in Quartiero Michele. This is where her daughter Francesca eventually lived after her marriage. Fara's occupation was listed as Industriosa, so apparently she worked along side her husband. (Mouse over and click on her death record image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Gaetano Friscia was born on July 29, 1777, and baptized the next day at the mother church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Antonino Friscia and Angela Imbornone. (Mouse over and click on his Latin baptism image upper right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) He was the brother of ancestor Giuseppe Friscia whose line goes down to Caterina Friscia who married Accursio Sabella. Confusion about his ancestry occurred because his mother’s surname was incorrectly recorded on his death record a Caracappa.

On July 21, 1810, at the mother church in Sciacca, Gaetano married Caterina Licata. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image upper left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) She was born about 1797 in Sciacca to parents Michele Licata and Rosa Graffeo. 

Gaetano and Caterina had at least three daughters, besides ancestor Antonio, all born while they lived in Quartiero Madrice, in Sciacca, as follows — Giuseppa, whose birth year was recorded as 1821 on her marriage record, but a search for her birth in the civil records for the years 1820-22, resulted in nothing found; Rosa born on October 19, 1823, whose birth record stated they lived on Strada di Planeta (Planeta Road) in Quartiero Madrice, was baptized the next day on the 20^th; and Maria born September 20, 1826, baptized the next day and died at 3 years old on November 27, 1829. It is most likely that they had another daughter earlier in the marriage, named after Gaetano’s mother, but documentation can’t be found to confirm this. It is interesting to note that on February 19, 1838, their daughter Giuseppa Friscia married Vincenzo Mandracchia, the son of ancestors Giuseppe Mandracchia and Liboria Sclafani, and the brother of ancestor Onofria Mandracchia, who married their son ancestor Antonino Friscia in a double wedding.

Caterina died in Sciacca at 31 years-old on October 22, 1828. (Mouse over and click on her civil death record image lower left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Gaetano did not remarry and died there on November 20, 1843, at 60 years-old. (Mouse over and click on his civil death record image lower right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Both of their death records can be found in the Italia, Morti e Sepolture, 1809-1900 collection, which lists their parents and spouse names. His occupation on his death record is listed as Marinaro which means seafaring or sailor.

Unfortunately, at this time, nothing else is known about them.

Giuseppe Marotta was baptized as an infant with his Latin name, Joseph Michael Vincenzo, on September 15, 1729, at the mother church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Dorotea d’Asaro and her husband Antonino Marotta. (Mouse over and click on his Latin church baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

On December 28^th and 31^st of 1757 and January 1^st of the next year, church banns were read for Giuseppe to marry Antonina Abruzzo. She was also probably born in Sciacca, the daughter of Giovanna Tigano and her husband Santo Abruzzo. Giuseppe and Antonina were married almost two weeks later on January 12, 1758 in Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

Giuseppe and Antonina had at least nine children, all baptized at the mother church in Sciacca on the dates listed — Dorothea Giovanna Brirgitta on October 9, 1758, who probably died young; Giovanna Maria on October 21, 1759; Antonino Accuriso on February 12, 1761; ancestor Santo; Dorothea Andriana on November 30, 1767; Domenico Francesco on December 3, 1768, who probably died young; Diana Maria Giovanna on March 7, 1772, who probably died young; Domenico Onofrio Francesco on June 15, 1773; and Diana Epifania Giuseppa on January 6, 1777.

It is not known when Giuseppe and Antonina died, but he was alive and she was deceased at the time of their son, ancestor Santo’s January 10, 1796, marriage. Unfortunately, at this time, nothing else is known about them.

Leonardo Vitale was baptized on December 6, 1722, as Leonardo Nicolò at the mother church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Aloysia Maniscalco and her husband Calogero Vitale. (Mouse over and click on his Latin church baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) When he was 22 years old he was listed on his mother’s 1747 Rivelo (tax record) as being 22 years old (see the tax record in his parent's bio). Leonardo was listed as a Marinaro, a sailor, on his daughter’s death record.

On February 18^th and 24^th, marriage banns were read at the St Michael the Archangel church in Sciacca for Leonardo to marry Anna Maria Indelicato. They were married there a few days later on February 28, 1753. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Anna Maria was the daughter of Rosa Friscia and Calogero Indelicato. On the same day that Leonardo and Anna Maria were married, their siblings were also married. Leonardo’s sister Dorothea Vitale married Anna Maria’s brother Giovanni Indelicato.

When Leonardo and Anna Maria were married, both of their fathers were deceased, but their mothers were alive. Leonardo and Anna Maria’s only known child was ancestor Maria. It is not known when Leonardo and Anna Maria died, but he was deceased and she was alive on January 10, 1796, the day their daughter Maria was married. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about Leonardo and Anna Maria.

Ignazio Navarra was baptized in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy on January 11, 1742, the eldest of three known children born to Anna Liotta and her husband Antonino Navarra. (Mouse over and click on his Latin church baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)  He married Paolina Modica about 1777, possibly in Palermo, Sicilia, Italy, as their first child was baptized there and no marriage record for them have been found in the Sciacca files.

Much of what we know about Ignazio comes from the records of their four known children. (See Paolina’s bio for more on them.) On a church ancestry record for his daughter Anna, Ignazio’s parents and grandparents are clearly listed, so his ancestry is very well documented. On the death record of  Ignazio and Paolina’s son, ancestor Francesco Paolo, Ignazio’s occupation was listed as Industriosa which means industrious in English.It also states his parents lived there, in Sciacca, and have an fu before their names, which indicates that both Ignazio and Paolina were dead when Francesco Paolo died in 1844. (See image in Francesco's bio.)

In two of their children’s marriage processettis there are similar death statements for Ignazio. (Mouse over and click on his death statement image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) He died at the age of 56 in Sciacca on June 26, 1793, and was buried there in St. Michael’s church. The ages listed on these documents calculates his birth year to be about 1737, but his age was probably estimated on the original record. There is almost the exact same death statement in his granddaughter Francesca’s 1849, marriage processetti. This is all that is known about him.

Paolina Modica was born on May 6, 1751, and baptized the next day at St. Michele’s church as Paula Maria, in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. She was a younger daughter of the eleven known children born to Anna Militello and her husband Francesco Modica. (Mouse over and click on her Latin church baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) 

Paolina married Ignazio Navarra in about 1777, possibly in Palermo, Sicilia, Italy, as their first child was baptized there, and a Sciacca marriage record cannot be found for them. One Sciacca church document for her grandson Ignazio Navarra, lists no ancestry for Paolina Modica and states that she was from Cattolica Eraclea, a town near Sciacca, but a marriage record can be found for them there. Another church record for her daughter Anna, has Paolina’s husband’s ancestry, but nothing for her ancestry From these two church records, it seems plausible that her children didn’t know the names of her parents. What is known for certain is that Paolina and her husband lived in Sciacca.

Paolina and Ignazio had at least four children — eldest son Antonino, was named after his paternal grandfather and was born and baptized as Antoninus Laurentius Joseph on August 13, 1778, in Palermo at the Church of Santa Croce, married on June 13, 1830, in San Biagio Platani, in Agrigento and died there in Bivona, in 1837; ancestor Francesco Paolo was the second son, named after his maternal grandfather; Filippo was born on December 6, 1788, and was baptized the next day as Philippus Nicolas, at the St Michele church in Sciacca; and a daughter named after her maternal grandmother, Anna, baptized at the St Michele church in Sciacca on October 9, 1790, married there, was widowed and then remarried at 60 years-old to Michele Rosa on September 4, 1850, whom she outlived. On this marriage document, it names Antonino Navarra as Anna’s deceased grandfather, and states both of her parents are dead, but only Paolina’s given name is listed-not her surname. There may have been other children, but records are scarce for this time period. It should be noted that on all of the records found for this family, Paolina’s surname is listed several ways including Madica, Modica, and Monaco, making research difficult.

After her husband died, Paolina did not remarry and lived another 33 years. In two of their children’s marriage processettis there are death statements for Paolina. These death statements are complicated, but they calculate her birth year to about 1750 or 51. They both list her as Paolina Navarra, who died at the age of 76, in a hospital for the incurable and was buried there. One statement says she died on August 3, 1826, and the other states her death date as August 3, 1820. In the Sciacca 1826 Morti file, there is a death record dated August 3, 1826, for a 75 year-old Paolina Modica, who was married to Ignazio Navarra, and died in Santa Maria di Misericordia hospital. This record states her parents names as Francesco Modica and Anna Mitirello, the same given names of Paolina's two children. This confirms that the document with the 1820 year is incorrect (it must have been a copying error) and the 1826 death record is for ancestor Paolina. (Mouse over and click on her Morti file death record image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Unfortunately, nothing more is known about her.

Michele Licata was born on April 30, 1761, and baptized the next day as Michael Filippus in the mother church parish in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Caterina Caracappa and her husband Paolo Licata. (Mouse over and click on his Latin church baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

On September 28^th, October 5^th and 12^th of 1783 church banns were read for Michele to marry Rosa Graffeo. She was probably also born in Sciacca, named after her mother's mother making her the second of four known daughters born to Alberta/Elisabetta Dayna and her husband Giuseppe Graffeo. On October 26, 1783, they were married in Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Their only fully documented child was ancestor Caterina, named after her father’s mother. There is however a son named Paolo who is probably Michele and Rosa’s son. He was born about 1785, named after Michele’s father, married Anna Mino, and died married on August 30, 1837. The issue is that on his death record, it states his mother was Rosa Barone. Being that female surnames on death records are sometimes incorrect, it is most likely Paolo is ancestor Michele and Rosa’s son.

On their daughter ancestor Caterina’s October 22, 1828, death record it states both Rosa and Michele were deceased, but this is incorrect. Rosa was probably deceased at that time, but Michele wasn’t. If his death record is correct, he probably was already remarried. Michele died at home in the San Vito section of Sciacca on January 3, 1832. On his death record it states he was a 72 year-old sailor, born in Sciacca, names his parents and it states he was the widower of Giuseppa Ribecca. (Mouse over and click on his death record image lower right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) A marriage record for them can not be found, so this may be another female name error that is somewhat common on death records. It should be noted that ancestor Caterina, named one of her daughters Giuseppa, so this marriage may have occurred and Giuseppa was a part of Caterina’s life. Until a marriage record for Michele and Giuseppa is found, this will remain another mystery.  Unfortunately, at this time, nothing else is known about them.

Antonino Marotta was probably born in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Antonia, whose surname is unknown and her husband Michele Marotta. Church banns were read on January 1^st, 5^th and 6^th of 1710, for Antonio to marry Dorotea Asaro. She was born on October 31, 1692, and baptized the next day at the mother church in Sciacca as Diana Maria, the daughter of Mariano Asaro and his wife Caterina Imbornone. (Mouse over and click on her Latin church baptism image upper right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)  Antonino and 17 year-old Dorotea were married at the mother church in Sciacca on January 12, 1710. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) On their marriage document Dorotea’s given name is listed as Diana.

Antonino and Dorotea had at least nine children all baptized as infants at the mother church in Sciacca. On most of these records she is listed as Diana. The six children’s baptism records with their Latin names are — Ignazia Grazia on September 11, 1714; Michael Aurelio on June 30, 1716; Catherina Maria on July 2, 1719; Rosa Vincenza on August 18, 1720; Margarita Maria on March 26, 1726; Calogera Lucia was born on January 8, 1728, and baptized the next day; ancestor Giuseppe; Brigitta Francesca on September 14, 1731; and Zaccaria Vito, whose given name is of Hebrew origin, meaning the Lord recalled, was baptized on September 15, 1734. They probably had other children, but to date these are the ones that have been found.

Nothing is really known about Antonino’s parents, except that his parents, Antonia and Michele, were deceased when he married Dorotea. It is also not known when Antonino died, but he was deceased when his wife Dorotea died on March 5, 1755. (Mouse over and click on her Latin church burial record image lower right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Her mother church death and burial record states that Dorothea once wife of deceased Antonono Marotta, 65 years old, died on the 5^th and was buried on the 6^th. She was actually 62 years old. Unfortunately, at ths time, this is all that is known about them.

Calogero Indelicato was the son of Rosa Sutera and her husband Filippo Indelicato. On January 16, 1731, at the mother church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, he married Rosa Friscia. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) She was born on February 28, 1709, and baptized the next day as Rosa Leonada Margarita, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of ancestors Anna Lo Presti and Giuseppe Friscia and sister to ancestor Caterina. (Mouse over and click on her Latin church baptism image right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Note on the marriage document that Anna is listed as Anna Presti, with the Lo dropped off.

Calogero and Rosa had two known children, ancestor Anna Maria and her brother Giovanni, who both married in Sciacca, into the same Vitale family on the same day, February 28, 1753, probably in a double wedding.

The only thing known about Calogero’s parents Rosa and Filippo is that they both were deceased when he got married. It is not known when Calogero and Rosa died, but he was deceased and she was alive when their children were married on February 28, 1753. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.

Giuseppe Graffeo was born on July 16, 1723, and baptized the next day as Joseph Paulus in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Anna Costa and her husband Sebastiano Graffeo. (Mouse over and click on his Latin church baptism image upper right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Giuseppe was only 7 years old when his mother died, so he was probably raised by his father’s second wife.

In Sciacca, in 1756, church banns were read on October 1^st, 4^th and 12^th for Giuseppe to marry Elisabetta Dayna. She was born and baptized as Alberta Maria on August 8, 1732, also in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Rosa Tavormina and her husband Vincenzo Dayna. (Mouse over and click on her Latin church baptism image lower right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) Thirty-three year-old Giuseppe and 24 year-old Elisabetta were married at the mother church in Sciacca, on October 18, 1756.  (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image left to enlarge it in a new window/tab.)

At this time, what is known about them is limited. It is documented that they had four daughters, all born in Sciacca — Anna, who was born about 1757, named after her father’s mother, married Ignazio Montagnino, and died a widow on July 6, 1837; ancestor Rosa was named after her mother’s mother, which makes her the second daughter; Sebastiana, who was born about 1765, married Giuseppe Cusumano, and died in Sciacca a widow on November 3, 1855; and Biagia, who was born about 1769, married Giovan Battista Pace and died in Sciacca a widow at 80 years old, on November 26, 1849. They probably had other children, but these are the ones documented so far.

It is documented that Giuseppe was deceased and Elisabetta was still alive when their daughter ancestor Rosa was married on October 26, 1783. There is a mother church burial record dated February 16, 1779, for a 60 year-old Joseph Graffeo, who died at home that may be for this ancestor, but he would have only been 55 years old at this time. Because there is no other identifying information on this record, more research is needed to confirm this is him. It is not yet known when Elisabetta died. Unfortunately, this is all that is known about them.

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