Mystery Woman
When my grandmother passed away in 1992, she had in her possession a few old photographs and the receipt of passage to America from her grandmother - my great great grandmother, Luigia Del Principe. This one piece of paper compelled me to know more. I had no help, as my grandmother was gone, along with all of her brothers and sisters. The children didn't know much. For some reason my great grandmother never spoke about her life in Italy.
Armed with this one piece of paper, I set off in search of this family from Abruzzo. The only clues I had were the names on the receipt - Luigia Del Principe, age 60, widow of Antonio Trella, traveling from Pescasseroli, L'Aquila, Abruzzo with her two daughters, Maria Nicola Trella, age 18 and Liberata Leone, age 18. Arrival at Ellis Island - April 22, 1898. That meant Luigia was born in 1838 and the girls were born in 1880. But if they were sisters and the same age, that meant they were twins. But Maria, my great grandmother did not have a twin. Or a sister that she spoke of.
After months of searching and procuring documents, I have discovered the truth. Liberata Leone was Luigia's GRANDdaughter, not daughter. Documents have shown that Luigia had a daughter still in Italy, named Anna Trella, who married Michele Leone and had a daughter named Liberata. So Liberata was my great grandmother Maria's, niece.
Getting back to the mystery woman... Along with the receipt of passage, my grandmother got from her grandmother two photographs. One of Luigia herself (my great great grandmother) and one of this mystery woman. She is no one that anyone in the family has ever seen. I believe this is because the mystery woman is Liberata Leone. Liberata married a year after coming to America. Her husband was Pasquale Saviola. She gave birth to four children, two of which survived, and then she died in 1911. My grandmother was not born yet in 1911 and I guess that is why she couldn't identify this picture. Can you?
The Graziano Family from Abruzzo
THE GRAZIANO FAMILY
This is the history of my grandmother,
Lucia (Lucy) Carmela Graziano,
born in a tenament in Harlem, New York City.
Living next door was my future grandfather,
Joseph John Ignazio,
who was in seminary until he laid eyes
on the beautiful Lucia.
The rest, as they say... "is history....."
GENERATION 1
Lucia Carmela Graziano: born 15 JUL 1915 Manhattan, New York; died 10 FEB 1992 Brooklyn, New York
Married: 12 SEP 1937 Bronx, New York
Guiseppe Giovanni Ignazio: born 3 AUG 1911 Manhattan, New York; died 18 APR 1981 Brooklyn, New York
- Only child - still living
GENERATION 2
Maria Nicola Trella: born 8 JAN 1877 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 29 AUG 1968 Bronx, New York
Married: first time 24 AUG 1899 (widowed) Arrival: 22 APR 1898 from Genoa
Modesto Graziano: born 1871 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 18 MAY 1917 Manhattan, New York
- Rosina: born 18 DEC 1902 Manhattan, New York; died 8 FEB 1919 Manhattan, New York
- Anna [Graziani]: born 11 JAN 1906 Manhattan, New York; died 6 JAN 2001 Old Saybrook, Connecticut
- Annunziata [Messina]: born 7 AUG 1908 Manhattan, New York; died 27 FEB 1995 Yonkers, New York
- Louis: born 18 MAY 1909 Manhattan, New York; died 2 DEC 1993 New Haven, Connecticut
- John: born 23 JUN 1913 Manhattan, New York; died 17 MAY 1998, Rockville Centre, New York
- Lucia Carmela [Ignazio]: born 15 JUL 1915 Manhattan, New York; died 10 FEB 1992 Brooklyn, New York
- Esther [Malchiodi]: born 23 APR 1916 Manhattan, New York; died 3 FEB 1996 Old Saybrook, Connecticut
- There are two births prior to Rosina's birth in 1903, both of which passed away as babies. We are working on finding their information. They are believed to have been born and died in Poughkeepsie,New York while Maria and Modesto were living and working there before returning to Manhattan.
Married: second time 31 JUL 1919
Amabile Subrizi: born 6 JAN 1874 Gioia dei Marsi, Abruzzo, Italy; died 25 FEB 1946 Bronx, New York
- Serafina [Ambrosino & Daniels]: born 11 JUN 1920 Manhattan, New York; died 5 MAY 1977 Old Saybrook, Connecticut
GENERATION 3
Luigia Del Principe: born 20 SEP 1840 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 11 MAR 1928 Bronx, New York
Married: unknown now but prior to 1865 Arrival: 22 APR 1898 from Genoa
Nunzio Trella: born 6 APR 1832 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown in Italy
- Antonio: born 1865 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 14 MAR 1942 Queens, New York
- Anna [Leone]: born unknown Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown Italy
- Domenico: born 1875 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown at this time
- Maria Nicola [Graziano & Subrizi]: born 8 JAN 1877 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 29 AUG 1968 Bronx, New York
Constantino Graziano: born unknown Italy; died unknown at this time
Married: unknown at this time Italy
Maria Teresa Alfonso: born unknown Italy; died unknown at this time
- Modesto: born 1871 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 18 MAY 1917 Manhattan, New York
- other children unknown at this time
Ambrose Subrizi: born unknown Italy; died unknown at this time
Married: unknown at this time Italy
Rosaria ??: born unknown Italy; died unknown at this time
- Amabile: born 6 JAN 1874 Gioia dei Marsi, Abruzzo, Italy; died 25 FEB 1946 Bronx, New York
- other children unknown at this time
GENERATION 4
Pasquale Del Principe: born 1803 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown Italy
Married: unknown at this time Italy
Giuseppa Libori: born 1805 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown Italy
- Luigia [Trella]: born 20 SEP 1840 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died 11 MAR 1928 Bronx, New York
- other children unknown at this time
Giuseppe Trella: born unknown Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown Italy
Married: unknown at this time Italy
Spouse: unknown at this time
- Nunzio: born 6 APR 1832 Pescasseroli, Abruzzo, Italy; died unknown Italy
- other children unknown at this time