[TI] Toledo/Manifest Mysteries/ Early Immigration

[Ken Geraci]

Cousin Mark,

Wow, I read your email and I have to say that 1882 is
one of the earlier dates I have seen for immigration
to the United States, especially for bringing over
wives and children. On this list we have often
wondered who were the first Termitani who "discovered
America" in the sense of realizing that it was a place
that offered so many opportunities and then brought
their families over and also spread the word back in
Termini. 

Do you know what profession your relatives performed
back in Termini before coming to Toledo, OH? Did they
do the same profession in Ohio? Most of the other
extremely early settlers from Termini were in the
fishing business. My own great-grandfather, Francesco
Geraci, came over in the early to mid 1880's himself
and worked with his brothers in the
Baltimore/Washington, DC areas in shoemaking,
tailoring and possibly doing some work in jewelry. But
he didn't bring over his wife, Rosina Marcellino,
(your own cousin, daughter of Rosalia Navarra) and
their children until the mid to late 1880's.

Also, I noticed that you have an additional San Pietro
family connection besides the one that ties into our
Navarra family. Have you ever tied the two San
Pietro's in your tree to the same family? 

Buona Pascua!

Your 4th cousin, 

Ken Geraci

--- GSAUNC at aol.com wrote:

> My grandfather, John Bisese (Bisesi), was a  great
> guy.  Sometimes, when we 
> visited, he would take all 24 of
> his  grandchildren to Sunday "breakfast" after
> church!  When I started  
> researching my family history in 2003 I wondered why
> he was named John, since he  
> was born in 1894, had 4 older brothers and his
> mother's father was named  
> Giovanni (John).  I had a feeling that a younger
> sibling named Giovanni had  died 
> and my grandfather had been named for him, but it
> was clouded in  mystery.  For 
> years, I had searched for the ship that brought my 
> great-grandparents to 
> America.  A few days ago a friend found the manifest
>  for the ship, the Elysia, 
> that came to New York November 8, 1882.  The 
> manifest showed my 
> great-grandmother, Maria Mercurio (born 1849 and
> daughter of  Giovanni DiMercurio and Maria 
> Carmela SanPietro), and four of her children 
> including.... Giovanni.  The 
> birth document on the Database noted he was  born in
> 1878.  Giovanni died some 
> time prior to my grandfather's  birth.  However, I
> can not determine the 
> location.  We have hunted for  the manifest with my
> great-grandfather, Pasquale 
> Bisesi (born 1846 and son of  Salvadore Bisesi and
> Liboia DiCola).  He probably 
> came over by himself  earlier than November, 1882.
> There are a few Pasquale's on 
> 1882 manifests with  mangled last names-but no sure
> thing yet.  
> I  have Pasquale and Maria first documented living
> in Toledo, Ohio in 1886.   
> The city directory notes they lived at 76 Michigan
> and later 241 Summit.  I  
> would appreciate any information on the Italian
> community in Toledo from  
> 1882-1890.  My family may have gone there first in 
> 1882.
> Many  thanks,
> Mark  
> 
> 


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