Leonardo Vitale's Ancestors

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Note that the Latin months September thru December are often written in numbers, 7ber, 8ber, 9ber and 10ber, respectively.
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Calogero Vitale was baptized as Calogero Joseph Joachim on October 12, 1683, in the St. Vito church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Dorothea Ciulla and her husband Antonino Vitale. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Calogero married Caterina Musso, on September 12, 1707, at the mother church in Sciacca, which is The Basilica of Maria Santissima del Soccorso. They had a son, Antonino Luciano, named after his paternal grandfather baptized in the St. Michele church parish of Sciacca on September 3, 1708. Calogero’s wife Caterina died and he remarried.

On April 2nd and 7th the marriage banns were read in church for Calogero and Aloysia Maniscalco. They were married in Sciacca a week later on April 15, 1720. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Aloysia was born in Sciacca on June 27, 1698, and baptized that same day in the mother church parish as Anna Aloysia Antonina, the only known daughter of Antonia Falsone and her husband Leonardo Maniscalco. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Five mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Calogero and Aloysia Vitali as follows — ancestor Leonardo; Pietro was born on April 17, 1724, and baptized the next day as Petrius Joseph; Dorothea Ignazia, named after her paternal grandmother was born and baptized on the morning of April 23, 1725, who may have died as an infant; another Dorothea born and baptized as Dorothea Johnna in the evening on May 13, 1726, married Giovanni Indelicato, brother of ancestor Anna Maria and son of ancestors Rosa Friscia and Calogero Indelicato; and lastly another Pietro who was born on October 5, 1727, and baptized the next day as Petrius Rosarius Brunis.

There is a 1747 Sciacca Rivelo (tax record) dated September 9, 1747, for an Aloysia Vitale, widow of  the deceased Calogero that is for this family. < (Mouse over and click on the Rivelo image lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) It is heavily water damaged, but parts of it can be read. It lists a 24 year-old son Antonino, most likely Caterina’s son mentioned above, the eldest child; 22 year-old ancestor Leonardo, the second son, named after his mother’s father; and a daughter Diana, who probably is the surviving Dorothea mentioned above.

It is not known when Calogero and Aloysia died, but he was deceased by September 9, 1747, the date the Rivelo was recorded. Aloysia was alive when her son Leonardo was married on February 28, 1753. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about Calogero and Aloysia.
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Antonino Vitale was born and baptized on July 1, 1644, in the St. Vito parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Natale Vitale and his wife Antonina, whose surname is either Marino or Marsala (see their bio for more on this). (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He was listed as 9 years-old on his parents 1652 Sciacca Rivelo (tax record), but he was not even 8 at that time.

On October 6th, 13th and 20th of 1675, church banns were read for Antonino to marry Dorothea Ciulla. She was born and baptized as Dorothea Rosalia in the St. Vito’s parish of Sciacca on January 31, 1657, the daughter of Calogero Ciulla and his second wife Angela, whose surname is unknown. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image middle right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Antonino and Dorothea were married at St. Vito’s church in Sciacca a month later on November 12th. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

There is a 1714 Sciacca Rivelo in the name of Dorothea Vitale, that may be for this family. (Mouse over and click on the Rivelo image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) It doesn’t state that she is the widow of Antonino, but it does say she is the daughter of the deceased Natale Vitale. Listing widows with their husband’s surname and father is common on Sciacca Riveli. There are three children listed as follows — 25 year old Vito, was born about 1689; a daughter whose name looks like Blasia; and a ten year-old son named Onifrio, born about 1707. Ancestor Calogero is not on this Rivelo, as he was probably married to his first wife at this time. There are several other documented children who were baptized in Sciacca as children of Antonino and Dorothea Vitale. Some were probably married and out of the house by the time the tax record was recorded or some died as children. All were baptized as infants at St. Vito’s church, except one as noted. They are listed here in birth order with their Latin names — Onuphrius Domenico Ignatius on September 12, 1676; Joannes Michael Dominicus on August 4, 1678; and Anna Angela Antonia Vitale was baptized on July 12, 1680; ancestor Calogerus Joseph; Anna Maria Angela on December 10, 1684; Petrus Philippus Joannes on May 26, 1686; Vitrus Joseph on December 21, 1687; Vito Joachim on March 5, 1689; Paulus Francesco on June 5, 1692; Xaverio on November 12, 1693; Francesca Caterina on November 25, 1698; and another Onuphrius Domenico on February 5, 1702. The only child whose baptism record could not be found was daughter Blasia, but there is a record for that name on April 22, 1696, with a father Antonino, but the mother is listed as Leonarda. It is probably an error in recording the mother’s name. .

It is not known when Antonino and Dorothea died, but he was deceased and she was alive when their son ancestor Calogero married for the second time in 1720. This supports the 1714 Rivelo mentioned above, being for this family.
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Leonardo Maniscalco and Antonia Falsone’s ancestries are unknown, but they probably lived in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. A Sciacca marriage record can not be found for them. What is known about them is limited and comes from only two documents. The first document is a three page Sciacca Rivelo (tax record), dated April 8, 1747, for a 46 year-old Antonino Maniscalco whose parents are Leonardo and Antonia. He was born about 1701 and is probably ancestors Leonardo and Antonia’s son. Antonino married a woman named Caterina and had at least five children whose names follow the Italian naming tradition. His tax record shows he owned a lot of property.

The other document is their daughter ancestor Aloysia’s April 15, 1720, marriage document, which is shown in her bio above. On it her father was listed as Leonardo Maniscalco alias Mollavedda, which may be his mother’s surname. This document also states that her parents were alive at the time of Aloysia’s marriage. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them at this time.
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Natale Vitale was born on the evening of August 1, 1619, and was baptized after his maternal grandfather the next morning in the St. Vito parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Paola Friscia and her husband Vito Vitale. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

In 1637, on January 30th, Natale entered into a notarial contract to marry Antonina Marino. (Mouse over and click on the marriage contract image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) On April 25th, 26th and May 1st of that same year, banns were read in church for Natale to marry her. They married at the St. Vito church in Sciacca on June 7, 1637.  (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marrage image lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) The marriage record does not list any parents names and calls her Antonina Marsala, a widow from Villafranca Sicula. So her birth surname may be Marino and her first husband’s surname was Marsala or vice versa. Villafranca Sicula is a comune in the Province of Agrigento that is about 21 miles inland, northeast of Sciacca. Today it’s a 40 minute drive from Sciacca.

Only three Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Natali and Antonina Vitali, all baptized in the St. Vito parish as follows — Vito, named after his paternal grandfather was born on the morning of April 20, 1638, and baptized as Vitus Doninicus that same day; Dominico was born on October 12, 1640, and baptized the next day; and ancestor Antonino.

There is a May 9, 1652 Sciacca Rivelo (tax record) for them which lists his parents names, his wife Antonina and his age of 33 years, which agrees with his baptism record. (Mouse over and click on their tax record image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Also listed are two sons — 15 year-old Vito, but he actually had just turned 14; and 9 year-old ancestor Antonino, who was actually not yet 8 years old.

It is not known when Natale and Antonina died, but they were both alive when their son, ancestor Antonino married on November 12, 1675. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.
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Calogero Ciulla was baptized as an infant on December 18, 1627, at St. Michele’s church in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Gesa Benivento and her husband Giacomo Ciulla. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) His baptism record is very hard to read, but it looks like he may have been named Francesco Calogero. Calogero entered into a notarial marriage contract in Sciacca with Giuseppa Crisu on January 28, 1652, and they married at the mother church in Sciacca a few months later on April 8th. There is a May 9, 1652, Sciacca Rivelo (tax record) that shows Calogero as 22 years old living with his wife Giuseppa, without any children. It also lists his parents as Jacopo and Giesa Ciulla. It is not known if Calogero and Giuseppa had any children after that Rivelo was created. Giuseppa died within a few years of the marriage. Her mother church burial record states she was only 16 years old when she died. This record is dated July 20, 1653, but it is recorded in the July 1654 section of the register. In either case, it took some time for and Calogero to remarry.

In 1655, on October 10th, 17th and 24th, church banns were read for Calogero to marry Angela, who is simply listed as the widow of Vincenzo Capobianco. Unfortunately, nothing is known about Angela and Vincenzo’s marriage. Calogero and Angela married at St. Vito’s church in Sciacca on October 25, 1655. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Their only known child was ancestor Dorothea.

It is not known when Calogero and Angela died, but they were both deceased when their daughter was married on November 12, 1675. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.
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Vito Vitale’s ancestry is unknown, but he married and raised a family in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. On some records his surname is spelled Vitali.

On April 24th, 25th and 29th, church banns were read for Vito to marry Paola Friscia. She was baptized on December 22, 1588, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, was the daughter of Andriana Giorgintano and her husband Natale Friscia. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Vito and 26 year-old Paola married on April 30, 1612, at the Sciacca St. Vito church. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) For some unknown reason, Vito and Paola’s notarial marriage contract was entered into the 1625-26 records without a date by notary Vincenzo Gallo.(Mouse over and click on the marriage contract image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) The term a mazo come sopra on this entry translates to in stock as above. It is assumed this refers to the first undated entry that states a mazo di capitoli, meaning a bunch of chapters. This seems to mean that their marriage contract was found in a bundle of undated contracts. On both of these records Paola’s surname is spelled Frixa.

Eight Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Vito and Paula Vitale. Their first three children were baptized in the St. Vito parish and the last five in the mother church parish as follows — Antonina, being the eldest daughter, may have beennamed after her paternal grandmother, was baptized on January 11, 1613; Antonino was baptized on January 5, 1615 as Antino Micheli, possibly after his paternal grandfather; ancestor Natale was named after his maternal grandfather; Bartholomeo on July 5, 1621, the first to be born and baptized in the mother church parish; Pietro was born and baptized as Petrus Francescus on September 25, 1623; Francesco was born and baptized as Francescus Sebastianus on April 3, 1626; Santa was born and baptized as Sancta Catharina on October 31, 1628; and Giacoma, who was born on July 2, 1633, and baptized as Jacoba Vita Adriana the next day, grew up to marry Vincenzo Maglienti, the son of ancestors Vincenza and Leonardo Maglienti.

It is documented that Vito and Paola were both deceased on February 5, 1640, the date their son Bartolomeo was married. It is not known when Paola died, but Vito died and was buried in the Sciacca St. Domenico cemetery on December 15, 1635. (Mouse over and click on his burial image lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) His mother church burial record lists him as Vitus de Vitale, age 62, which puts his birth at 1573, but he was probably younger than that when he died.. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.
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Giacomo Ciulla’s ancestry is unknown, but he was from Sambuca, which is a comune in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, which is about 17 miles north of Sciacca, which is also in the province of Agrigento. On April 12th, 13th and 18th of 1610, church banns were read for Giacomo to marry Gesa Benivento. She was baptized as Jesa on February 22, 1589, in the St. Michele church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Vito Benivento and his first wife Catinella, whose surname is unknown. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Gesa is also the half sister of ancestor Caterina Benivento who married Vincenzo Infantino.On April 19th, a day after the last banns were read, Sciacca notary Antonio Buscemi filed a marriage contract for Giacomo and 21 year-old Gesuzia.Giacomo and Gesa were married at St. Michele’s church in Sciacca the next day on April 20th. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage image upper leftt to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Eight Sciacca infant St. Michele church baptism records have been found for the children of Jacobo and Gesa Ciulla as follows — a daughter whose name looks like Rosina, was baptized on February 2, 1614; Luciana Philippa on November 7, 1616; Giovanna was baptized as Joanna on December 26, 1618; Giuseppe was baptized on February 8, 1620, as Joseph; Geronimo was baptized as Francisus Jeronimus on September 29, 1622; Antonino was born and baptized on October 29, 1624; ancestor Calogero; and Rosalia, who was born on March 31, 1630, and baptized the next day. It is odd that none were named after Gesa’s parents.

Giacomo died and was buried in the St. Domininco cemetery in Sciacca on April 2, 1652. (Mouse over and click on his burial image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) His St. Vito burial record states he was 50 years old, which puts his birth to about 1602, but he was without a doubt much older than that. A month later, Gesa is still alive as there is a three page May 9, 1652 Sciacca Rivelo (tax record) in the name of Gesa La Ciulla, the widow of the deceased Giacomo Ciulla. (Mouse over and click on her 1652 tax record image middle right to enlarge it in a new window/tab.) She is listed as the widow of the deceased Giacomo Ciulla, with two of  her sons — 28 year-old Geronimo, whose age is off by a year and a half; and 25 year-old Antonino,whose age is off by 2 and a half years. Ancestor Calogero was married to his first wife and out of the house by now. This Rivelo states she was taxed for her property including her house and what looks like grain.

Eight years later, on February 18, 1661, Gesa was buried in the St. Dominico the Confessor cemetery. (Mouse over and click on her burial image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Her St. Michele burial record lists her as Jesa wife of deceased Jacobi Ciulla age about 55, but she was actually four days short of her 72nd birthday.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.
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Natale Friscia was baptized on December 25, 1558, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Pietro Friscia and his wife Angela. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He is also the brother of ancestors Gurlizia Vita and Filippo Friscia. Most of Natale’s records lists his surname as Frixa.

On December 28, 1578, Sciacca notary Geronimo Agostino recorded a notarial marriage contract between Natale Friscia and Andreana Jorgentana, whose Italian name is Andriana Giorgintano. (Mouse over and click on the marriage contract image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) She was baptized as Catirnella Andreana Agata on March 16, 1564, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Pellegrino Giorgintano and his unnamed wife. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Twenty year-old Natale and 14 year-old Andriana were married on January 12, 1579, at the Sciacca mother church. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Only six Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Master Natale and Andriana Frixa. On one of them the mother is listed as Diana, which may be a shortened version of Andriana. Three were baptized in the mother church parish, two in the St. Michele parish and one in the St. Vito parish as follows — Pietro, named after his paternal grandfather, was baptized on February 14, 1580, in the mother church parish; Maria Antonina on May 20, 1585, in the mother church parish; Angela, named after her paternal grandmother, was baptized on January 17, 1588, in the St. Michele parish; ancestor Paola, in the mother church parish; Leonarda was baptized in the St. Vito parish on May 21, 1591; and Antonino, who was baptized as Antonino Joseph in the St. Michele parish on September 11, 1594.

Not much is known about Andriana’s father Pellegrino Giorgintano, except that he had another daughter named Antonina, who was baptized in the mother church parish on September 17, 1560, as Antonella. She is also an ancestor who married Geronimo Santangelo on February 4, 1576. On this marriage record Pellegrino is listed as being deceased.

Natale is mentioned in his father’s August 15, 1564, will, along with two of his brothers. On Natale and Andriana's son Antonino Giuseppe’s January 7, 1637, marriage record they are listed as the deceased master Natali de Frixa and Diane de Frixa. This seems logical, as they both would have been over 70 years old on that date. On their daughter ancestor Paola’s April 30, 1612, marriage record, it seems to say quondam Natale and Andriana Frixa, which means they are deceased, but the writing is unclear. Until more documentation can be found, this is all that is known about them.
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Vito Benivento’s ancestry is uncertain, but he is assumed to be the Vito who was baptized on January 5, 1551, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Giovanni Benivento and his unnamed wife. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

There is a mother church marriage for his name dated January 25, 1573, to Antonina Parrino. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage image upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Vito would have been 22 years old at this time, so it is plausible that this is his first marriage. Unfortunately his parents are not listed on this record. No baptism records for their children have been found. Antonina must have died, but this can not be confirmed because available Sciacca burial records begin in 1606.

It is assumed that this same Vito then married a woman named Catinella, whose surname is unknown. A Sciacca marriage record or contract could not be found for them, but two baptism records were found for their children — Giacomo Giovanni was baptized as Jac’o Jo: on August 23, 1577, and, ancestor Gesa in 1589. They probably had other children in this more than 11 year gap. If the baptism record mentioned above is for ancestor Vito, he would have been 38 years old when ancestor Gesa was born, which again is plausible.

It is assumed Catinella died sometime prior to 1608, but a burial record could not be found for her. It is also assumed that this same Vito then married his third wife, Margarita Benivento. She was baptized on February 9, 1585, in the Sciacca mother church parish, the daughter of Vincenzo Rizzuto and his wife Lauria Lauro. (Mouse over and click on her baptism image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) A church marriage record could not be found for Vito and Margarita in the available Sciacca records. But a marriage contract was found. In Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Primo, there is an undated entry for a notarial marriage contract for a Vito Benivento and Margarita Rizuto that was in the 1625-26 records of Sciacca notary Vincenzo Gallo. (Mouse over and click on the marriage contract image lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) This may be for them and the papers were just filed in the wrong year, which is known to happen.

Only three Sciacca baptism records were found for the children of Viti and Marg’ta Benivento as follows — ancestor Caterina who was baptized in 1608 in the mother church parish and may have been named after Vito’s second wife Catinella; and two sons baptized in the St. Michele church parish - Jacobo, which in Italian would be Giacomo, on September 4, 1611; and Filippo Jac’o, whose middle name is assumed to be Jacobo, on May 1, 1614. Both ancestor Caterina and one of her brothers were married on the same day, October 28, 1630, but at different churches. Caterina was married in the mother church and Jacokum married Vita Infantino at the St. Vito church.

It is not known when Vito and Margarita died, but he was alive when their daughter ancestor Caterina was married on October 28, 1630. Jacokum’s marrige record confirms this also, but Vito would have been almost 80 years old at that time. It should be noted that without marriage records, there is no solid confirmation of Vito and Margarita’s parentage, so much of this is based on assumptions. Unfortunately, at this time, nothing else is known about Vito, his father Giovanni, Caterina or Margarita.
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Vincenzo Rizzuto is assumed to be the child who was baptized as Miliune Vincenzo on July 31, 1547, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Antonello Rizzuto and his unnamed wife. (Mouse over and click on his baptism image upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

On May 16, 1574, Sciacca notary Antonino Canina filed a notarial marriage contract for Vincenzo to marry Laurea Lauro. Twenty-six year old Vincenzo and Lauria, who was probably 18 years old, the daughter of master Antonino di Lauro, married the next day in the Sciacca mother church. A baptism record in her name with a father named Antonino has not been found. But there is a baptism record for an unnamed child of master Antonino di Matteo di Lauro and his unnamed wife. This very well may be her baptism record. If so, she was baptized on September 26, 1555, also in the mother church parish of Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on the baptism image lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) It should be noted that there were several men named Antonino or Antonello Lauro living in Sciacca and having children at the same time. One, also called Master, was the son of Benedetto, so it is impossible to figure out who Laurea’s siblings were.

Eight Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Vincenzio and Lauria di or Lo Rizuto. Six in the mother church parish and two in the St Michel parish. The first four are in the mother church and the others as listed — daughter Mattia Maruza, was probably named after her maternal great grandfather, was baptized on September 21, 1576; Caluza Catirnella on February 14, 1579; Narda Margarita on December 30, 1583; ancestor Margarita; Ignazio Francesco, the first in the St. Michele parish, was baptized on September 27, 1588; Giovanni was baptized as Jo: Jacobus on July 1, 1591, in the mother church parish; Rafaeli on December 15, 1593, in the St. Michele parish; and Petra Caterina on April 18, 1597, in the mother church parish.

It is not known when Vincenzo, Laurea or their fathers died, so this is all that is known about them.

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