Italian civil records explained
A birth certificate will give you the names and ages of each parent, their professions, their town of residence and occasionally the name of the Grandfather. This would only happen if there were several men in town with the same first name and surname (maybe even married to a women with similar names). From the … Read more
Finding the town of origin
Italian Genealogy – Finding the town of origin Unlike some other countries Italy does not keep its civil records in one central location, all records are kept in the town where the act took place, whether it is birth, marriage or death. In a country prone to earthquakes, and in the past, wars, not all … Read more
Rest in Peace – well for a while
Most of Southern Italy is very mountainous and this makes arable land very precious for growing crops and grazing animals. It leaves very little land suitable for cemeteries’ and burials. Prior to Napoleon’s conquering of Italy bodies were interred in the crypt below the church floor. There was a strict order for the placing of … Read more
What you need to know about the LDS Microfilms of Southern Italian Civil records
My expertise is with the former Papal States and the former Kingdom of the Two Sicily’s so this information may not apply to Northern Italian civil records. First a little history. In 1809 Napoleon conquered Italy and ordered the keeping of civil records for births, marriages and deaths. The format was the same as that … Read more
Family Reunion in Monte San Giovanni
I had been helping Micheal apply for his Italian citizenship and he had taken a job in Spain in anticipation. He wanted to visit Monte San Giovanni and meet the Anagrafe clerk who seemed to impeding the registration of his documents. She was on vacation the day he was to visit but graciously agreed to … Read more
When GGRandma/GGrandpa is ‘a woman/man, not married, not a relative, but not able to be recorded’
This situation occured all over Italy when a couple who were not married had a child that they chose not to abandon. This wording is found on the original document but on certificates and extracts you will see it written as N.N. or ‘genitori ignoti’ (parents unknown). This can be very frustrating for the researcher … Read more
Vallegrande, Villa Latina, Picinisco
These small towns are so close to each other that even their histories are blended. Villa Latina was part of Atina prior to 1833. Vallegrande is considered part of Villa Latina but in the Catasto Onciaro of 1749 Vallegrande is included in the Catasto of Picinisco. Prior to 1722 many Vallegrande residents baptized their children … Read more
When a death occurs outside the town of birth
If you were born in Naples, but died in Rome, Rome would have the original civil death record. A copy should be sent to Comune of Naples and recorded there in Parte II or III. A notation should also be made on the birth record of the date and place of the death. If the … Read more
Patrica Homecoming!
It was Bobby’s 70th birthday gift from his daughter. Although he had visited Italy before he had never made the trip to his ‘home’ town of Patrica. His daughter hired me to take him and his friends there for a tour of the town……and more. I arrived to meet Bobby and his 3 friends at … Read more
Parish record restoration project
During the winter I performed 11 searches in the Parishes of Patrica with the cooperation of the Priest and the Diocese of Frosinone. During these searches one of the books literally fell apart in my hands. At least two others are in very poor condition. I am asking for your assistance in restoring up to … Read more
