Maria Mantia's Ancestors

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Vito Mantia was baptized as Vincenzo Vito on July 6, 1629, in the St. Michele church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Maria Angelo and her husband Calogero Mantia. (Mouse over and click on his baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He was named after his paternal grandfather, so he was probably their first born son.

Twenty years later on March 17^th, 18^th and 29^th of 1650, church banns were read for Vito to marry Filippa Vitrano. She was baptized as Philippa Paula, on March 13, 1636, also in the St. Michel church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Antonina Bilello and her husband Giacomo Vitrano. (Mouse over and click on her baptism index middle right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Unfortunately, a register record of her baptism has not been found yet, only the index of her baptism has been located. Twenty year-old Vito and 14 year-old Filippa were married in Sciacca at the mother church on April 3, 1650. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Fifteen Sciacca mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Vito and Philippa la Mantia as follows — Calogero, named after his paternal grandfather was born and baptized as Calogerus Philippus Joseph on April 26, 1653; Antonina Maria, named after both of her grandmothers was born and baptized on June 13, 1655; another Antonina was born on September 20, 1656, and baptized as Antonina Gaetana the next day; another Antonina was born and baptized as Antonina Francesca on March 22, 1658; Michele was born on September 28, 1659, baptized as Michael Gaetanus the next day, and married Accursia Scarpella on October 31, 1700; Giacomo was born on April 12, 1661, and baptized as Jocobo Antonino Calogero the next day; Gaspare was born on January 11, 1663, baptized the next day, but died at just over a year old and was buried on February 4, 1664; another Gaspare was born on the evening of May 1, 1664, and baptized as Antoninus Gaspar Vincentus the next day, and in 1692, as Gaspare, married Margarita daughter of ancestors Leonardo diMino and Maria Salamone; Bartolo was born on the evening of August 23, 1666, and baptized as Bartholomeus Melchiore Leonardus the next day; Leonarda Accursia was born on the morning of May 8, 1668, and baptized later that day; Giuseppe was born on the morning of July 16, 1669, and baptized the next day as Joseph Vincenzo Michael; ancestor Maria; Ignazio was born on the evening of July 8, 1675, and baptized as Ingnazio Joseph Marius the next day; Giovanna Francesca Anna was born on the morning of December 26, 1676, and baptized the next day; and another Calogero, who was born and baptized as Calogerus Barthomeus Leonardus on November 23, 1680, was listed as living with his sister, ancestor Maria, on her 1714 tax record pictured in her bio, then he married Giovanna Castelluzza on January 7, 1721

There is a 1652 Sciacca Rivelo (tax record) for Vito and Maria, dated May 9, 1652. (Mouse over and click on their Rivelo lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Both of his parents given names are listed on it. Vito is listed as being 22 years old, which is his correct age. His wife Filippa is listed only by her given name. They had no children yet, but his father Calogero is living with them and is listed as being 50 years old, but he was actually 7 months shy of being 50.

It is documented that Vito was deceased and Filippa was alive when their son Gaspare was married on August 15, 1692. A burial record for Vito has not been found in the available records, but records are missing after 1674 to 1690. So he died sometime in the 10 year span after his last child was born in 1680 and 1690. It is also documented that Filippa was alive when their daughter ancestor Maria was married on October 31, 1700. Filippa died and was buried in the mother church cemetery, which was the Basilica of Maria Santissima del Soccorso, on June 28, 1705. (Mouse over and click on her Latin burial record lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Her mother church burial record lists her as Philippa wife of deceased Viti Mantia, about 80 years old, but she was only 69 years old when she died. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.

Calogero Mantia was baptized in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, on December 15, 1602, as Calogero Jacobo, the son of Ninfa Graffeo and Vito Mantia. (Mouse over and click on his baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He is also the brother to ancestor Vincenzo. The main church in Sciacca is The Basilica of Maria Santissima del Soccorso, and is referred to in the records as Matrice, and is called the mother church.

On January 6, 1625, Sciacca notary Giovanni Battista Mineo filed a notarial marriage contract for Calogero to marry Maria Angelo, whose surname is listed as D’Angelo on the contract. She was baptized as Maria Madalena on July 22, 1607, in the St. Michele church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Francesca Puccio and her husband Paolo Angelo. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record middle right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

On January 19^th, 26^th and February 2^nd of 1625, church banns were read for Calogero to marry Maria. The next day, February 3, 1625, 22 year-old Calogero and 17 year-old Maria were married at the Sciacca St. Michele church. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Only four Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Calogero and Maria La Mantia. The first three were baptized in the St. Michele church parish and the fourth in the mother church parish as follows — Rosalea was born and baptized on October 17, 1625, a little more than eight months after her parents married; ancestor Vito; Calogera Antonina was born on April 26, 1627, and baptized the next day; and Accursia Benvenuta, who was born and baptized on December 17, 1631, and grew up to marry Francesco Giglio in 1644.

Calogero is listed on his son, ancestor Vito’s May 9, 1652, Sciacca Rivelo (tax record), as being his 50 year-old father, which is close to his correct age of 49. (See that image above in Vito's bio.) Maria is not listed as she was already deceased, but her name is included in the header of the record, as being Vito’s deceased mother.

It is documented that Maria was deceased when her son Vito was married on April 3, 1650, but her burial record has not been found yet. It is also documented that Calogero was alive and unmarried on May 9, 1652. Five years later Calogero decided to remarry. On April 3^rd, 10^th and 15^th of 1657, church banns were read for Calogero relict of the deceased Maria La Mantia to marry Francisca relict of the deceased Didaci Graffeo. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) The day after the last banns were read, 54 year-old Calogero married Francesca on April 16, 1657, at the Sciacca mother church. Sciacca baptism records for their children have not been found, so it is assumed they didn’t have any.

In Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Secondo, there is a testamento entry, which most of the time is a will, that was recorded by Sciacca notary Calogero Liotta on April 6, 1663 for a Calogero La Mantia. (Mouse over and click on the testamento entry lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Unfortunately an inventory entry or a church burial record for his name around this time has not been found, so it is unknown if this is an indication that ancestor Calogero’s died soon after this date. For now this is all that is known about Calogero and Maria.

Giacomo Vitrano was baptized in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, on January 9, 1607, with his Latin name, Jacobus Cristoforo. (Mouse over and click on his baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) At that time, his Latin name would translate to Giacobbo, but today his name would be translated to Giacomo. He was the son of Francesca Bruno and her husband Alberto Vitrano and brother to ancestor Vincenzo who married Pietra Pardo. 

In Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Primo, there’s an entry for a marriage agreement recorded by notary Antonino Amico on March 28, 1628, between Giacomo Vetrano and Antonina Bilello. (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) She was the daughter of Giovanna Rado and her husband Filippo Bilello, and but a Sciacca baptism record has not been found for her. A month later, church banns were read on April 25^th, 30^th and May 1^st, for Giacomo to marry her. Twenty-one year old Jacobus and Antonina were married on May 8, 1628, at St. Michele’s church in Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

Six Sciacca baptism records have been found for the children of Jacobus and Antonia Vitrano, who are sometimes listed as lo Vitrano or Vetrano. The first two were baptized in the mother church parish of Sciacca, and the last four in the Sciacca St. Michele church parish as follows — Joseppa Leonarda, whose name in Italian is Giuseppa, on November 1, 1629; Francesca, named after her paternal grandmother, was born and baptized as Fran’ca Hieronoma, on February 17, 1632; son Francesco, the first born in the St. Michele parish, was born and baptized as Francescus Mattheus on July 16, 1633; ancestor Filippa; Antonino was born on November 30, 1641, and baptized as Antoninus Dominicus the next day; and Giuseppe, who was born on June 1, 1643, and baptized the next day as Joseph Accursius.

It is documented that Giacomo and Antonina were both deceased before their daughter ancestor Filippa was married on April 3, 1650. Giacomo wrote his will, Testamento, and it was filed on July 1, 1648, by Sciacca notary Raffaele Bentivegna. He died a few days later and was buried on July 6^th. (Mouse over and click on his Latin burial record lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) He is listed as Jacobus Lo Vitrano, 45 years old on his St. Michele burial record, but he was only 41 when he died. Three days later on the 9^th, an inventory of his property was taken and filed by the same notary. A burial record for Antonina has not been found yet. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.

Vito Mantia’s ancestry is unknown. What is documented is that he was from Partanna, a comune in province of Trapani in south-western Sicilia, about 25 miles northwest and inland of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy.

On January 16^th, 23^rd and 30^th church banns were read for Vito to marry Ninfa Graffeo. She was baptized on July 4, 1578, as Antonina Nimpha in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Vincenzo Graffeo and his wife Angela Munti and sister to ancestor Calogero. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Vito and 15 year-old Ninfa were married on February 13, 1594, at the mother church in Sciacca. (Mouse over and click on their Latin church marriage record left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) This marriage document does not include Vito’s or Ninfa’s parent’s names.

Only three mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Vito and Ninfa la Mantia as follows — Pietro was baptized as Petro Giovanni on June 28, 1598; Leonardo Vincenzo on January 4, 1600 who grew up to marry Giovanna Castronovo on November 10, 1625; and ancestor Calogero.

It is not known when Vito and Ninfa died, but he was listed as deceased on their son ancestor Calogero’s February 3, 1625, marriage document. Ninfa is not mentioned on this document, so it is not known when she died. Unfortunately, at this time, nothing else is known about them.

Paolo Angelo was baptized on January 25, 1579, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, the son of Geronimo Angelo and his wife Consula, whose surname is unknown. (Mouse over and click on his baptism record upper right to enlarge in a new window/tab.)

In Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Primo, it states that Paolo, who was 24 years old at the time, entered into a notarial marriage contract with 21 year-old Francesca Puccio on May 20, 1603, that was filed by Sciacca notary Vincenzo Gallo. (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry upper left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Francesca was baptized on November 18, 1581, also in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Giovanna Vaccaro and her husband Dionisio Puccio. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record lower right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) She is also the older sister to ancestor Brigida who married Nicolò Dayna. Unfortunately, a church marriage document for them hasn’t been found in the available records. They probably married in Sciacca at the St. Michele’s church, as these records are not available for research for this time period.

Five St. Michele baptism records have been found for the children of Paulo and Francisco di Angelo as follows —Filippo Diego was baptized on July 2, 1604; ancestor Maria; Antonino Geronimo was baptized on October 9, 1611, with a middle name after his paternal grandfather; Carlo Francisco on January 18, 1614; and Nunzia Leonarda on November 15, 1616.

It is not known when Paolo died, but it is documented that he was deceased when his daughter ancestor Maria was married on February 3, 1625. A Sciacca Burial record has not been found for him. Francisca died and was buried in the St. Dominici church cemetery on October 3, 1646. (Mouse over and click on her Latin burial record lower left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Her St. Vito burial record lists her as Fran’ca a woman, of deceased Pauli de Angelo about 60 years old, which is not far off of her actual age of 64. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.

Filippo Bilello’s ancestry is unknown. What is known about him comes from his marriage to Giovanna Rado in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. This document states that Filippo was from Sambuca, which is a comune in the Province of Agrigento in Sicily, which is about 17 miles north of Sciacca.

In Pellegrino Mortillaro’s book, Andrea Randazzo un notaio storico Volume Primo, there is an entry dated August 23, 1594, for a marriage contract recorded by Sciacca notary Vincenzo Palermo between Filippo Bilella and Joanna Rado. (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Giovanna was the daughter of Onofrio Rado and his wife Philippella Virdiramo. A Sciacca baptism record for her has not been found, but she had to have been born sometime after her parents marriage in 1576 and 1581, when she would have been of an age to marry. Filippo and Giovanna were married at the mother church in Sciacca on August 25, 1594, by a priest listed as Don Luca d'Rado, who could be her relative. (Mouse over and click on their Latin marriage record left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) On this church record the Latin names are used for everyone, Giovanna is Joanna, Filippo is Philippo and Onofrio is Honofrio.

Their only known child was ancestor Antonina, but a Sciacca baptism record could not be found for her. No other baptism records have been found in either Sambuca or Sciacca for the children of Filippo and Giovanna Bilello.

It is not known when Filippo or Giovanna died, but Filippo was deceased on May 8, 1628, when his daughter ancestor Antonia was married. Unfortunately, at this time, nothing else is known about them.

Vincenzo Graffeo ancestry is unknown, but he married and raised a family in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. On September 26, 1568, Vincenzo married 14 year-old Angela Munti in the Sciacca mother church. (Mouse over and click on their Latin marriage record left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Their marriage record is very brief and does not list Vincenzo’s parents or the given name of the bride. She is simply listed as the daughter of Battista Munti. Angela was baptized as Angila Pietronella on December 19, 1553, in the mother church parish of Sciacca, the daughter of Battista Munti and his wife, whose given name was probably Julia. (Mouse over and click on her baptism record right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Vincenzo and Angela were the parents of two ancestors.

Nine mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Vincenzo and Angela Graffeo as follows — Antonina Vincenza was baptized on May 26, 1574, almost 6 years after her parents married; Sebastiano was baptized as Bastiano Antonino on April 22, 1576; ancestor Ninfa; Caterina Vincenza on May 19, 1580; Giuseppe was baptized as Joseppe on July 5, 1581; Leonarda was baptized as Narda Vin’a on May 15, 1587; Giovanna on May 27, 1589; and Giovanne on May 19, 1590. They probably had other children born in the first six years of their marriage and in the 6 year gap between their fifth and sixth child listed here. It is reasonable to assume that they lived in and had children baptized in either the St. Michele or St. Vito Sciacca parishes, but those baptism records don’t go back that far. Their son ancestor Calogero was probably born in one of those 6 year gaps. Because of the first 6 year gap, it is impossible to even guess at the names of Vincenzo’s parents.

It is not known when Vincenzo and Angela died, but it is documented that they both were already deceased on January 11, 1610, the date that their son ancestor Calogero was married. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.

Onofrio Rado and his wife Philippella Virdiramo’s ancestries are unknown, but they lived in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, and raised a family there. On December 14, 1576, Sciacca notary Martino Russo filed a notarial marriage contract for the marriage of Onofrio and Philippella. (Mouse over and click on their marriage contract entry right to enlarge in a new window/tab.) Unfortunately, a Sciacca church marriage record could not be found for them.

Only two Sciacca mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Nofrio and Pha di Rado as follows — son Giovanni was baptized as Jo: Vincenzo on July 4, 1578; and Calogera Antonella on April 20, 1583. A baptism record for ancestor Giovanna has not been found.

It is not known when Onofrio and Philippella died, but it is documented that he was still alive when his daughter Giovanna was married on August 25, 1594. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about them.

Battista Munti ancestry is unknown, but he lived in and raised a family in in the mother church parish of Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy. He married a woman named Julia, who may be the mother of all of his children, but it is not known if she was a first or second wife. A Sciacca church marriage or marriage contract could not be found for his name.

Twelve mother church baptism records have been found for the children of Master Battista Munti, whose given name is often abbreviated as Batta, Btta or Bba. His surname is often listed as Lo, Lu or di Munti. Julia’s name only appears on the baptism records of the last three children. The baptism records found are as follows — Nunzio was baptized as Nunzio Pho on March 26, 1550; Margarita was baptized with a middle name that is unreadable on January 1, 1552; ancestor Angela; Francesca on December 7, 1556; Andriana on November 30, 1559; Leonarda Joannella on March 29, 1562; Vincenzo on January 20, 1564; Antonina on September 21, 1566; Benedetto as Benidicto on March 21, 1568; Antonino, the first to have his mother’s name listed, was baptized on March 1, 1572; Giuseppe was baptized as Joseph Nardo on June 6, 1574; and Caterina who was baptized on November 15, 1579.

It is not known when Battista and Julia died, so for now, this is all that’s known about them.