Grazia & Caterina Spanò's Ancestors

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Gaspare Spanò was baptized as Gasparo on July 30, 1604, in the St. Michele parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Giulia Grado and her husband Bastiano Spanò. (Mouse over and click on his baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) 

There is marriage records for a Gaspare Spanò that may be for this ancestor, but there are problems with it.On September 28, 1622, Sciacca notary Gaspare Falsone filed a marriage contract for Gaspare to marry Caterina Benfatto. A little more than a week later, church banns were read on October 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd for their marriage. Six days after the last banns were read, they married on October 29^th in the Sciacca mother church. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record upper left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) No baptisms have been found in all three of the Sciacca churches for their children. Just over 5 ½ years after they married, Caterina died at home and was buried on June 9, 1628, in the St. Dominici church cemetery. The first problem is that ancestor Gaspare was only 18 years old when this marriage took place, which is a bit young for males to marry at this time. The second issue is that on this marriage record, Gaspare’s father is listed as deceased, but he was still alive. The third problem is that on his next marriage, Gaspare is not listed as a widower. These issues do not mean this first marriage is not for this ancestor, as the timing fits perfectly, but they do raise reasonable doubt.

On July 9, 1628, Sciacca notary Giuseppe Cattano filed a marriage contract for Gaspare, who was almost 24 years old, to marry 16 year-old Francesca Santangelo. (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry middle left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) She may be the Francesca who was baptized on February 16, 1612, in the Sciacca St. Michele parish, the daughter of Cosimo Santangelo and his wife Leonarda, whose surname is unknown. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record lower right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) More than a month later on August 24^th, 27^th and September 3^rd, church banns were read for them to marry. Another month passed before they married in the St. Michele church on October 8, 1628. On their marriage record only their father’s names are listed, so her parentage is uncertain. Gaspare and Francesca are the parents of two female ancestors.

Ten Sciacca St. Michele baptism records have been found for the children of Gasparo and Francisca Spano as follows — Sebastiano, given a middle name after his paternal grandfather, was born on the evening of November 22, 1629, baptized as Calogerus Bastianus the next day, and as Sebastiano married Accursia Feminella on September 27, 1654; Giulia, given a middle name after her paternal grandmother, was born on the evening of September 2, 1631, baptized as Rosales Julia the next day, and as Giulia married Pellegrino Feminella, the brother of Accursia, mentioned above, on the same day as her brother Sebastiano married, probably in a double wedding; ancestor Grazia; Calogero was born and baptized as Calogero Fran’co on December 2, 1635; ancestor Caterina; Giuseppe, given a middle name after his maternal grandfather, was born on October 14, 1640, and was baptized as Joseph Cosma, but his father is listed as Pasquale, most likely in error; Calogero was born and baptized as Calogerius Accursius on July 30, 1643; Michele was born on December 30, 1645, baptized as Michael Dominicius Silvester the next day, and married Margarita, the daughter of ancestors Giovanni and Giovanna Tornetta, who are grandparents of ancestor Francesco Tornetta; Vincenza was born on June 26, 1649, and baptized as Vin’ca Honofria the next day; and lastly Giuseppa, who was born and baptized as Josepha Desata on September 24, 1651

It is documented that Gaspare was deceased, but Francesca was alive in late September of 1654, when their son Calogero was married. Gaspare died and was buried in the Sciacca St. Michele church cemetery on February 12, 1652. (Mouse over and click on his Latin burial record lower left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) His St. Michele burial record lists him as, Gaspar Spanò about 46 years old, but he was actually 47 years old when he died. His death left Francesca with several young children. It is not known if she married again or when she died, but it is documented that she was still alive when her son Michele was married in early September of 1675. For now, this is all that is known about them.

Bastiano Spanò was baptized as Bastiano Federico on January 10, 1576, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the only known child of Giovanna Vitrano and her husband Antonino Spanò. (Mouse over and click on his Latin baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window or tab.)

On January 11^th, 17^th and 19^th of 1597, church banns were read for Bastiano to marry Giulia Grado. She was the daughter of Gurlicia Rosa and her husband Nardo Grado. Unfortunately a Sciacca baptism record could not be found for her in the available records. A day after the last banns were read, 21 year-old Bastiano and Julia were married in the Sciacca mother church on January 20, 1597. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record upper left to enlarge in a new window or tab.)

Nine Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Bastiano and Giulia Spanò, 7 in the mother church parish and the 6^th and 7^th child in the St. Vito parish, as follows — Antonino Filippo, named after his paternal grandfather, was baptized on December 10, 1597; Maria Margarita was baptized on February 6, 1600; Battistina Petra on October 11, 1601; ancestor Gaspare; Melchiore was baptized on July 19, 1607, and married twice in the St. Vito church; Battistina Joanna was baptized on July 29, 1610; Baldassarro on May 3, 1612; Vito was baptized on September 8, 1613, but died and was buried on August 6, 1615, a month before his 2^nd birthday; and lastly Antonino, who was born on the evening of November 20, 1620, and baptized as Antonius the next day.

Less than two years after her last child was born, Giulia died in her home in the middle of the night on September 16, 1622, and was buried in the St. Michele cemetery. (Mouse over and click on her Latin burial record middle right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) Her St. Michele burial record simply lists her as, Julia Spano 40 years old, which puts her birth to about 1582, but she was probably a few years older than that. It doesn’t state she was the wife of Bastiano, but her name is unique enough to confirm this is the ancestor. This left Bastiano with several young children.

It is not know for certain if Bastiano married again, but there are two possibilities, one or both could be for him, but neither list him as a widower or list his parents. The first is about 2 months after his wife died, which seems to be a good possibility that this is ancestor Bastiano, as he probably needed someone to take care of the young children. Church banns were read on November 6^th, 11^th and 13^th of 1622, for Sebastiana Spano and Jacoba Abbati. (Mouse over and click on his possible Latin church marriage record middle left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) They married the day after the last banns were read in the St. Michele church on November 14, 1622. Nine days later, on November 23^rd, Sciacca notary Giuseppe Cattano filed a marriage contract for Sebastiano Spanò, and Giacoma Abate. They had one child together named Giuseppe who was born on September 22, 1623, and baptized in the St. Michele parish as Josep the next day. There are no other children for this couple, so she may have died, but a burial record could not be found for her.

The other possible marriage takes place just 3 years after Giuseppe was born. Church banns were read on June 29^th, July 5^th and 12^th of 1626, for Sebastiano Spano and Joanna relict of the deceased Matthei Bennici. (Mouse over and click on his other possible Latin church marriage record lower right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) They married on July 24, 1626, also in the St. Michele church. They had two children together, both baptized in the St. Michele parish as follows — Rosalea Jacoba, was born and baptized on June 9, 1627, whose father is listed as Bastianaius; and Jacoba Calogera, who was born and baptized on May 4, 1629. It is interesting that both of these daughters were named Jacoba, the same name as wife two.

Four months after the last child was born, there is a St. Michele burial record for his name dated September 17, 1629. It basically states that Sebastianus Spanò 60 years old died in his home, and was buried in the St. Francesco de Paola Church cemetery. (Mouse over and click on his Latin burial record lower left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) Ancestor Bastiano would have been 53 at this time, but it is a very good possibility that this is for him. Until more documentation can be found, this is all that is known about them.

Cosimo Santangelo may be the Cosimo Damiano who was baptized on September 29, 1557, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Angelo Santangelo and his unnamed wife. (Mouse over and click on his possible Latin baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) The reason for the uncertainty is because a marriage record could not be found for Cosimo, as these records usually list parents names.

Some time in or before 1594, Cosimo married Leonarda probably in the St. Michele church, but these records don’t begin until 1607. Because a marriage record for her has not been found, her surname and ancestry are unknown. It should be noted that because of Cosimo’s age of 37 years old when his first child was baptized, and the fact that his first son was not named Angelo, this could be a second marriage for him.

Ten Sciacca St. Michele baptism records have been found for the children of Cosmo and Leonarda Santangilo as follows — Michele was baptized as Micheli Vito on July 4, 1595, and married Catharina, the widow of Pietro de Fazio in 1627; Margarita Antonina was baptized on September 28, 1597; Giuseppe was baptized as Joseppi on September 24, 1599; Calogero was baptized on November 24, 1601, and married Catha Buscemi on October 11, 1625; Vita Filippa was baptized on May 15, 1604; Filippa Maria on August 13, 1606; Antonio was baptized on April 10, 1609, but died at 13 years old on January 28, 1623; ancestor Francesca; Angila was baptized on March 18, 1614; and Antonino, who was baptized as Antonino Joanni Baptista on June 8, 1617, and married Angela Speziale on January 6, 1647.

It is documented that Cosimo was alive on January 9, 1627, when his son Michele was married, and deceased on October 8, 1628, when his daughter ancestor Francesca was married. Cosimo died at home on the evening of February 22, 1628, and was buried in the St. Michele cemetery the next day. (Mouse over and click on his Latin burial record upper left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) His St. Michele burial record lists him as, Master Cosimus Santangelo 70 years old, which was his correct age.

It is also documented that Leonarda was alive when her son Antonino was married in 1647. She lived many more years and never remarried. There is a May 9, 1652, Sciacca Rivelo (tax record) that lists her as the widow of the deceased Cosimo Santangilo. (Mouse over and click on her 1652 Rivelo record lower left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) She is listed as living alone without any assets. About 11 years later, she died in her home, and was buried in the St. Domenico Convent Church cemetery on January 22, 1663. (Mouse over and click on his Latin burial record lower right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) Her St. Michele burial record lists her as, Leonarda S. Angelo about 94 years old, which puts her birth to about 1569, which is plausible. For now, this is all that is known about Cosimo and Leonarda.

Antonino Spanò is probably the child who was baptized as Antonino Micheli on June 27, 1545, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Pietro Spanò and his unnamed wife, whose name may be Alojsia. (Mouse over and click on his Latin baptism record right to enlarge in a new window or tab.)

On March 6, 1575, Sciacca notary Antonino Canina filed a marriage contract for Antonino to marry Giovanna Vitrano. On this entry she is listed as Joannella Vetrano. She was the daughter of Antonino Vitrano and his unnamed wife. Unfortunately a Sciacca baptism record for Giovanna could not be found. The Vitrano’s may have come from another town. The only fact known about her father is that he was deceased when she married. Twenty-nine year-old Ant'no Spanò married Joanella lo Vitrano, who was probably a teenager, on April 2, 1575, in the Sciacca mother church. (Mouse over and click on their brief Latin church marriage record left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) It should be noted that Antonino’s father is not listed on their marriage record.

Because only one Sciacca baptism record could be found for their children, ancestor Bastiano, it is possible that Antonino was previously married, as his son wasn’t named after his father. Although no other baptism records have been found for their children, it is possible that they had other children baptized in one of the other Sciacca churches whose records don’t begin until the late 1580’s.

It is not known when Antonino and Giovanna died, but it is documented that they were deceased on January 20, 1597, the date their son ancestor Bastiano was married. A burial record can not be found for them as Sciacca burial records don’t begin until 1606. Even though much of the above may be uncertain, it is all that is known about them.

Nardo Grado was baptized as Bernardo on April 3, 1548, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the only known son of master Vincenzo Grado and his unnamed wife. (Mouse over and click on his Latin baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window or tab.)

On February 21, 1574, Nardo married Gurlicia Rosa at the Sciacca mother church. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record upper left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) She was baptized as Sebastiana Gurlizia on May 19, 1559, also in the Sciacca mother church, the daughter of Antonino Rosa and his unnamed wife. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record lower right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) On some records her given name is spelled Gurlitia. Five days after the church marriage, Sciacca notary Giacomo Janchino issued a marriage contract for Leonardo Grado and Gloricia Raja. (The transcriber probably thought Nardo was an abbreviation for Leonardo, not Bernardo and took the “s” in Rosa for a “j”.) (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry lower left to enlarge in a new window or tab.) Nothing is known about Gurlicia’s father Antonino, except that he was alive when she married. It should be noted that there were several men with the name Antonino Rosa that were living and having children in Sciacca at the same time. There was an Antonino Rosa who was contracted marry Andreana Perollo in 1538, and one who wrote his will on October 27, 1574. But it is impossible to know which one was Gurlicia’s father without more documentation.

Only three Sciacca mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Nardo and Gurlitia di Grado as follows — Lauria was baptized on January 30, 1579, almost 5 years after her parents married; Vito Ambroxo on December 7, 1580; and Antonino, who was baptized as Ant’no on July 17, 1582, and on January 18, 1608, married Angela Verde in the St. Vito church. A baptism record for their daughter ancestor Giulia has not been found. She probably was born in the 5 year gap, after her parents married and before Lauria was born, most likely in another Sciacca parish, whose records don’t go back that far.

It is not known when or where Nardo and Gurlicia died, but they were both listed as being alive on their daughter, ancestor Giulia’s January 20, 1597, church marriage record. Until more documents can be found, this is all that is known about them.

Angelo Santangelo is most likely the father of ancestor Cosimo, but there is no solid documentation that confirms this. He lived and raised a family in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. Angelo married a woman named Margarita who may be Cosimo’s mother, but again there is no proof of this. Her name appears only on the baptism record of the last child fathered by Angelo, which was 16 years after Cosimo was baptized.

Eight Sciacca mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Angelo Santangelo as follows — Giovanni was baptized as Jo on November 24, 1554; Antonella was baptized as Ant’lla Andriana on April 5, 1556; ancestor Cosimo; Cola was baptized as Cola Fran’co on December 3, 1559; Angila Foria was baptized on June 9, 1565, and as Fiorilla married Jo: Petro di Marchisi in 1580; Vincenzo was baptized on December 9, 1567; Matteo on February 23, 1571; and Giacoma, who was baptized as Jacopa Silvestra on December 30, 1573, the only one to have his mother's name on the record.

It is not known when Angelo and Margarita died, but he was listed as alive on February 2, 1580, the date his daughter Fiorilla was married. In Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Primo, there is an inventory entry for Margarita Santangelo dated November 12, 1580. This could be for Angelo’s wife, but there is no documentation to support this, as burial records begin in late 1606. For now, this is all that is known about them.

Pietro Spanò and his wife Alojsia are probably the parents of ancestor Antonino. Their ancestries are unknown, but they lived and raised a family in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. The only document found for this couple is a marriage contract entry in Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Primo. On December 13, 1534, Sciacca notary Pietro Rocca filed the contract between Pietro Spanò and Alojsia ***. (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry upper right to enlarge in a new window or tab.) It seems the transcriber of this record could not read her surname. This date is too early for church marriage records, which is why their ancestries are unknown.

Seven Sciacca mother church records have been found for the children of Petro Spano. None list a mother’s name and the first three are only index entries and do not have detailed register records. The records found are as follows — Biaggio was baptized as Blasi Salvaturi in February of 1536; Georgi Salvaturi was baptized in April of 1537; Antonina was baptized as Ant’na in September of 1538; Salvatore Bastiano was baptized on January 20, 1544; ancestor Antonino; Angilella on March 26, 1548; and Antonella, who was baptized as Ant’lla on January 17, 1558.

Unfortunately, it is not known when Pietro and Alojsia died, so for now, this is all that is known about them.