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Home , Corleone, Pescara, Provinces of Italy, Province of Palermo, Rimini, Sacrament (LDS Church)

FINDING RECORDS OF YOUR ANCESTORS, PART A 1809 TO 1910

Beginning Italian researchers will also need the Genealogical Word List: Italian (34071). If your ancestor lived in Italy between 1809 and 1910, follow the steps in this booklet to find the records of his or her family. These instructions will show you which records to search, what to look for, and what tools to use. One piece of information will lead to another until you have identified each family member and filled out a family group record.

Find your ancestor’s birth 1 record in civil records.

Find birth records for your 2 ancestor’s brothers and sisters in civil records.

Find any death records of 3 2 your ancestor’s brothers 1 3 and sisters or parents in 4 civil records.

Find the marriage of your 4 ancestor’s parents in civil records or records, if available. This family is now complete.

Latter-day Saints: Now see additional instruc- tions for submitting names for ordinances. The steps and tools you will need are described inside. HOW TO BEGIN—PREPARATION

You should have already gathered as much information Tips as possible from your home and family and filled out family group records and a pedigree chart. You may have If you don’t know your ancestor’s birth date: checked FamilySearch™ or other computer files to see if • Start with a more recent generation. You will learn how others have researched your Italian family. to do research, and you will probably discover something To begin: you didn’t know about your family. A. From your pedigree chart, choose an ancestor who was •Find the records for the family in the example given. born in Italy between 1809 and 1910. You must know Thiswill teach you basic research skills before you search the approximate birth date and the birthplace (town) in for your own family. This is a good class activity. order to find your ancestor’s family. It is helpful to know the . B. Write your ancestor’s name in the children’s section of a new family group record. Read through the instructions in this booklet. Then follow the steps below to find your ancestor’s family.

Pedigree Chart Chart no. ______Family Group Record If typing, set spacing at 1 1/2. Page of Husband Last See "Other Given name(s) name marriages" No. 1 on this chart is the same as no. ______on chart no. ______. 8 Born (day month year) Place (Father of no. 4) LDS ordinance dates Te m p l e B E SP SS F C Cont. on chart no. Christened Place Baptized Mark boxes when ordinances are completed. When born ______Where B Baptized Died Place Endowed 4 Ferdinando When married E Endowed (Father of no. 2) B E SP SS F C When died Buried Place Sealed to parents SP Sealed to parents When born 1 Apr. 1840 Where Married Place Sealed to spouse SS Sealed to spouse Where Coreone, , Italy F Family Group Record exists for this couple 9 Husband's father Last Deceased When married (Mother of no. 4) Given name(s) name C Children's ordinances completed 1873 B E SP SS Cont. on Where Coreone, Palermo, Italy chart no. Husband's mother Maiden Deceased When born ______Given name(s) name When died 29 Jun. 1931 Where Wife Maiden See "Other Given name(s) name marriages" 2 Antonino Lucera Where When died (Father) Los Angeles, L.A., Calif. Born (day month year) Place B E SP SS F C Where LDS ordinance dates Te m p l e When born 27 Sep. 1893 Christened Place Baptized Where Coreone, Palermo, Italy 10 (Father of no. 5) B E SP SS F C Cont. on Died Place Endowed When married chart no. 3 Oct. 1926 When born ______Write date as: 4 Oct. 1896 Buried Place Sealed to parents Where Los Angeles, L.A., Calif. Where Wife's father Last Deceased When died 5 Maria Arsena When married Given name(s) 14 Jul 1973 (Mother of no. 2) name Where B E SP SS When died Los Angeles, L.A., Calif. Wife's mother Maiden Deceased When born 6 Aug. 1854 Where Given name(s) name Where Coreone, Palermo, Italy Children List each child (whether living or dead) in order of birth. LDS ordinance dates Te m p l e 11 When died (Mother of no. 5) 1 Sex Given Last See "Other 23 Mar. 1931 B E SP SS Cont. on name(s) name marriages" chart no. Maria Arsena Where Los Angeles, L.A., Calif. F Born (day month year) Place Baptized When born ______Coreone, Palermo, Italy Where 6 Aug. 1854 Christened Place Endowed 1 Mary Louise Lucera When died (Name) B E SP SS F C Where Died Place Sealed to parents 23 Mar. 1931 Los Angeles, L.A., California When born Spouse Last Where Given name(s) name 12 Ferdinando Lucera (Father of no. 6) Married Place Sealed to spouse B E SP SS F C Cont. on 1873 Coreone, Palermo, Italy When married chart no. Where When born ______2 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) marriages" Where name When died Born (day month year) Place Baptized 6 When married Where (Father of no. 3) B E SP SS F C When died Christened Place Endowed When born Where Died Place Sealed to parents (Spouse) Where B E SP SS 13 Spouse Last When married (Mother of no. 6) B E SP SS Cont. on arwick, Eng. Given name(s) name

Where chart no. olk, North Carolina, USA or Married Place Sealed to spouse When born ______3 When died Where 3 Sex Given Last See "Other (Mother) B E SP SS Where When died name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized When born Where Where Christened Place Endowed 14

When died (Father of no. 7) P Write place as: Tryon, St. Martins, Birmingham, W B E SP SS F C Cont. on Died Place Sealed to parents Where chart no. When born ______Spouse Last Where Given name(s) name Place 7 When married Married Sealed to spouse Your name and (Mother of no. 3) B E SP SS When died Select only one of the following options. The option you select applies Your name When born Where to all names on this form. Where Option 1—Family File Send all 15 names to my family file at the Te mple. When died (Mother of no. 7) Address B E SP SS Cont. on Where Option 2—Temple File Send all names to any temple, chart no. and assign proxies for all approved ordinances. When born ______Telephone number Date prepared Where Option 3—Ancestral File Send all names to the When died computerized Ancestral File for research purposes only, not for ordinances. I am including the required pedigree chart. Where Phone Date prepared ( ) Published by The Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints. 3/96. Printed in USA. 31826 Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10/93 Printed in USA 31827 A. Mary’s pedigree chart B. Mary begins a family group record with Maria Arsena listed as a child

THE RESEARCH PROCESS The following pages can walk you through the research in the Family Library Catalog for the records she process. In the case study, Mary is looking for the family wants and orders the microfilms she needs. She makes of Maria Arsena. She takes her family group records and several visits to the center. Follow these same steps to pedigree chart to a family history center. Here she looks find your family.

Italy 2 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Case study: Maria Arsena, born in 1854 in , , Italy. Your ancestor: , , in , , Italy. name birth date town province

FIND YOUR ANCESTOR’S BIRTH RECORD IN CIVIL RECORDS. (See “Civil Records: Birth” on page 10.) 1 A. At the family history center, Mary searches in the finds the actual date of birth about half way down Family History Library Catalog for the town in Italy the page. She photocopies the record for her files. where her ancestor was born (Corleone). Then she C. On the family group record, Mary writes: looks for civil records. (See “Using the Family History (1) Maria’s birth information on the front and Library Catalog” on page 9). (2) source information (such as town name, film B. She finds the film number 1195438 and orders it. number, volume and years covered, and page She finds Maria’s birth record on the film. Maria’s number) on the back. parents’ names and ages are in the record. Mary

Year and month of birth (day represents date of registration)

father’s name, age, occupation (he presented the baby for registration)

both parents’ names, ages, occupations

day of baptism

actual day of birth

child’s name

FIND BIRTH RECORDS FOR YOUR ANCESTOR’S BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CIVIL RECORDS. 2 A. Mary now looks for birth records for the years B. On the family group record, Mary writes: before and after Maria’s birth for those of brothers or (1) information about all of Maria’s brothers and sisters. She finds births on three other films for 1851 sisters on the front and (2) source information on (film 1195437), 1857 (film 1195439), and 1859 the back. (film 1195440).

3 Italy Family Group Record If typing, set spacing at 1 1/2. Page of Husband Last See "Other 1 Given name(s) Giuseppe name Arsena marriages" Born (day month year) Place 31 Dec. 1822 Corleone, Palermo, Italy LDS ordinance dates Temple Christened Place Baptized

4 Died Place Endowed

Buried Place Sealed to parents

Married Place Sealed to spouse 27 Apr. 1850 Corleone, Palermo, Italy 4 Husband's father Last Deceased Given name(s) Paolo name Arsena Husband's mother Maria Maiden Stilla Deceased Given name(s) name Wife Maiden See "Other 1 Given name(s) Marianna name Colletti marriages" Born (day month year) Place 28 Sep. 1826 Corleone, Palermo, Italy LDS ordinance dates Temple Christened Place Baptized

4 Died Place Endowed

Write date as: 4 Oct. 1896 Buried Place Sealed to parents

Wife's father Last Deceased Given name(s) Paolo name Colletti 4 Wife's mother Maiden Deceased Given name(s) Marianna name Children List each child (whether living or dead) in order of birth. LDS ordinance dates Temple

1 Sex Given Last See "Other M name(s) Paolo name Arsena marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized 2 4 Jun 1851 Corleone, Palermo, Italy Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

2 Sex Given Last See "Other F name(s) Maria name Arsena marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized 1 6 Aug 1854 Corleone, Palermo, Italy Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents 23 Mar 1931 Los Angeles, L.A., California Spouse Last Given name(s) Ferdinando name Lucera Place Married 1873 Corleone, Palermo, Italy Sealed to spouse 3 Sex Given Last See "Other M name(s) Giovanni name Arsena marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized 2 17 May 1857 Corleone, Palermo, Italy Christened Place Endowed

Write place as: Tryon, Polk, North Carolina, USA or Polk, Write place as: Tryon, Eng. St. Martins, Birmingham, Warwick, Died Place Sealed to parents 1 Mar 1859 Corleone, Palermo, Italy 3 Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

Select only one of the following options. The option you select applies Your name to all names on this form. Option 1—Family File Send all names to my family file at the Te m ple. Address Option 2—Temple File Send all names to any temple, and assign proxies for all approved ordinances. Option 3—Ancestral File Send all names to the computerized Ancestral File for research purposes only, not for ordinances. I am including the required pedigree chart. Phone Date prepared ( ) Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10/93 Printed in USA 31827 Front of family group record

Children List each child (whether living or dead) in order of birth. LDS ordinance dates Temple

4 Sex Given Last See "Other M name(s) Giovanni name Arsena marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized 5 Dec 1859 Corleone, Palermo, Italy Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents 3 23 Aug 1860 Corleone, Palermo, Italy Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

5 Sources of information Add further information on attached sheets as necessary. 1 Corleone Civil Registration, 1829-1910. Film #1195438 (Births 1853-1856), p. 334 3 Film #1195437 (Births 1850-1851), p. 312 Film #1195439 (Births 1856-1858), p. 223 2 Film #1195440 (Births 1858-1859), p. 216 4 Film #1195454 (Deaths 1857-1860), p. 33 Film #1195419 (Marriages 1849-1854), p. 131 Film #1815404 (Supplemental Marriage Records [Processetti] 1849-1854), p. 131 Note: Please take every reasonable step to see that the information on this form is as accurate and complete as practical. This will help maintain the integrity of Church family history files and reduce duplication of temple ordinance work. Back of family group record 4 Italy THE RESEARCH PROCESS

FIND ANY DEATH RECORDS OF YOUR ANCESTOR’S BROTHERS AND SISTERS OR PARENTS IN CIVIL RECORDS. 3 A. Since Mary discovered that the brothers born in 1857 brother in 1859. Browsing further, she finds the death and 1859 had the same name, she realizes that the one record of the latter brother in 1860. born earlier had died sometime before the latter one was B. On the family group record, Mary writes: born. She looks in the Family History Library Catalog (1) the new information in the appropriate places and and finds a film that has deaths from 1857-1860. She (2) source information on the back of the record. orders film 1195454 and finds the death for the earlier

Date of death registration

Actual death date

Name of deceased

Age and birthplace of deceased

Names of parents

FIND THE MARRIAGE RECORD OF YOUR ANCESTOR’S PARENTS IN CIVIL RECORDS OR CHURCH RECORDS (IF AVAILABLE). 4 (See “Civil Records: Marriage” on page 11.) A. Mary looks in the catalog for records of marriages B. Mary starts with the date of the first child’s birth and performed where the children were born. In the civil searches earlier records until she finds the marriage. If records of Corleone, the marriage records for the years she couldn’t find it, then she would search later records just prior to the first child’s birth are on film 1195419. or records from nearby towns.

Italy 5 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

C. On the family group record, Mary writes: 1815404. In the supplemental records she finds (1) the marriage information and (2) source information handwritten copies from civil and church records that on the back. Mary now has the information she needs consist of the births of the bride and groom, the death for this family. date of the bride’s father (which includes his parents’ D. The marriage record includes a list of documents names), the death of the bride’s paternal grandfather submitted to the authorities at the time of the (and his parents’ names), the marriage banns, and a wedding. Mary looks in the catalog for “Processetti” or handwritten copy of the marriage record. “Allegati”; the supplemental records are on film

Marriage date

Groom’s name, age, birthplace, occupation. Names of parents and their ages

Bride’s name, age, birthplace, occupation. Names of parents and their ages

List of documents submitted for marriage: Birth of groom, birth of bride, death of bride’s father, death of bride’s paternal grandfather

Latter-day Saints now have the minimal information required for this family’s temple submissions. See additional instructions for submitting names for temple ordinances.

NOW YOU CAN REPEAT STEPS 1 THROUGH 4 TO FIND ANOTHER FAMILY Look for the families of each of your ancestor’s parents. Start with a new family group record, and look first for a birth record.

6 Italy HELPS FOR FINDING RECORDS Finding Places

To find records in the Family History Library Catalog and villages (frazioni). Events were often recorded in the to search Italian civil and church records, you will need small villages, but sometimes were recorded in the to know the name of the town where your ancestor lived. to which it belonged. Larger cities had more than one parish, so if your ancestor was from a large city and you need to search the church Province records, you will need to know the name of the parish. •Each region in Italy is divided into . If you do not know the parish name, you will need to be •Because some towns have similar or identical names, prepared to search all of the parishes in that city. it is helpful to know in which province your town lies. Place Levels (Jurisdictions) •Italian records are kept on a town level. Very few Places are listed from smallest to largest. Regions are not records are on a provincial or regional level. usually listed. Tips: For example: •To determine the province your town is in, see the Corleone, Palermo, Italy Italian gazetteer Nuovo Dizionario dei Comuni e Frazioni (Town) (Province) (Country) di comune (FHL [Family History Library] film 795276). Towns and Villages -To find a very small village, check the back section of •To find births, marriages, or deaths in civil records, you the gazetteer for frazioni, and it will give the name of need to know the name of the town or village where the larger town with which it is affiliated (see below). your ancestor lived. Each town usually had its own •To find the name of the parish in each town, see parish, except, perhaps, for extremely small villages. Annuario delle Diocesi d’Italia (FHL film 780556. The •A town (comune) not only consisted of the town itself index to the Annuario is on FHL film 780555). but had outlying boundaries that encompassed smaller

Town Province

Village Town

Pages from Italian Gazetteer: Nuovo Dizionario dei Comuni e Frazioni di Comune (FHL film 795276).

Italy 7 HELPS FOR FINDING PLACES Map of Italy, Provinces

The current have basically the same boundaries that were set up by between 1809-1815, with a few changes. * New province since 1993

Italy To scana 21 47. 63. (Present-day Regions and Their Provinces) 14 48. Firenze 64. Latina 23 49. 65. 19 33 Valle D’ -Alto Adige 8 22 31 50. 66. Roma 12 30 20 1. Aosta 21. 1 4 10 26 32 51. 67. 29 22. 6 11 52. - 9 17 Piemonte 15 28 53. 7 24 27 2. 18 13 16 54. 68. 3 25 3. Asti 23. 2 43 55. * 69. L’Aquila 39 42 56. 70. 4. * 24. Padova 5 45 34 5. 25. 38 44 71. 37 41 6. 26. 36 52 104 35 46 7. Torino 27. Venezia 51 54 40 57. 8. Verbano-Cusio- 28. 48 58. 72. 55 60 59. 73. Ossola* 29. - 53 47 57 9. 38. 60. e 50 56 59 Puglia -Venezia Giulia 39. 61 Lombardia 30. 40. Forlì 58 74. 49 61. 75. 10. 31. 41. 62 71 67 62. 76. 11. 32. 42. 65 70 12. 33. 77. 43. 68 69 13. 44. 66 78. 14. * 79. 72 45. 73 80. 63 76 15. Lodi* 34. Genova 46. 64 16. Mantova 35. 81. 82. Napoli 81 80 17. Milano 36. 79 74 18. 37. 83. Salerno 82 103 78 75 19. 85 84 20. 83 84. 91. Agrirento 77 102 101 85. 92. Sardegna 93. 100. 94. 87 101. 100 86. 95. 102. 96. Palermo 88 103. 87. 86 88. * 97. Ragusa 89. Reggio 98. Siracusa 90 of San 99. Marino (104) Calabria 90. * 89 95 99 96 93 94 91 92 1. 98 Piedmont- (House of Savoy) 97 2.-Venetia 3.Not part of Italy at that time 4.Parma 3 3 Piedmont-Sardinia (House of Savoy) 1. Piedmont (Empire of the 5.Modena French) Piedmont-Sardinia (House of Savoy) 2. 6.Lucca (Controlled by Napoleon) Piedmont-Sardinia (House of Savoy) 2 3. Not part of Italy 2 1 7. 4. Lucca (Controlled by Piedmont-Sardinia (House of Savoy) 1 Napoleon) 8. 5. Empire of the French 4 5 Piedmont-Sardinia (House of Savoy) 4 6. (Controlled by 9.Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Napoleon) (Under Bourdon control) 7. (Independent) 6 7 10.Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 8. Sardinia (Independent) (Under Bourdon control) 5 8 11.Sardinia Piedmont-Sardinia (House of Savoy)

9 6

8 11

ITALY (Under Napoleon–1812) ITALY (After Napoleon–1815) 7 10

8 Italy HELPS FOR FINDING RECORDS Using the Family History Library Catalog • Using Microfilm

USING THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG USING MICROFILM Use the Family History Library Catalog to find any record At this time, most of the Family History Library’s records available from the Family History Library. In it, you can are on microfilm. When you have found and ordered the find the call numbers you need to find and order records. microfilm you need, the family history center staff can The catalog is available at www..org and at help you find a microfilm reader and thread the film onto family history centers. the machine. To find the information you need in the catalog, click Library, and then click Family History Library Catalog. Tips 1. Click Place Search. When using the microfilm: You will see: • If the image will not come into focus, make sure the film Place is between the two glass plates. Part of (optional) • Learn how to turn the handle to move the film backward 2. For the “Place,” type: the name of the town and forward. Be careful not to roll the film off the reel. 3. For “Part of,” type: Italy 4. If books or microfilms regarding your town are in the • Make sure the years on the title page are the years you library, a link will appear. Click on it. need. Three or four separate books may be on a single 5. Choose a topic, such as Civil registration. microfilm. If the first title page doesn’t cover the years you want, quickly spin through the film to the next title 6. Click on the title that you want. page, and look for the years covered. 7. Click on View Film Notes. 8. Look for the kind of record that you want, such as nati (births), for the years you want. Write down the FHL Each item or book on a film has a title page. (Family History Library) film number. For more help, see Using the Family History Library Catalog (30966).

Tips

If no records are listed when you type in the place: • Look for spelling variations of the place-name. •Try the next larger town in case the records might be there.

When typing a place-name in the catalog, ignore diacritics (accent marks). For example, Cefalù could be written as Cefalu.

Title page for civil births in Corleone, 1854

Italy 9 CIVIL RECORDS: BIRTH (NASCITA) 1809-1910

Use Birth Records to: • For help reading the records, see Genealogical Word List: •Find birth information for •Verify the birthplace of Italian. (See “Where to Order Publications” on page 17.) virtually every person who an ancestor. lived in Italy. (If your •Find the names of an ancestors were from Sicily, ancestor’s parents. the records begin in Searching Birth Records about 1823.) • Establish a time and place of a family’s residence. Before searching you must know: •Your ancestor’s name. If you don’t find your ancestor’s birth in one town, look • The town and province of birth. in nearby or other likely towns. • The approximate birth date. Many civil birth records include the baptism information. The Italian word for birth is nascita or nati, meaning “born” Located at: or “those born.” The Italian word for baptism is battesimo. •Family History Library • Provincial, court, or communal archives Content Family History Library Catalog: •Name of the person who • Date of birth Place search: reported the birth (usually • Child’s name the father or the midwife) Place [name of town] • Names of witnesses Part of Italy •Parents’ names, ages, (not always relatives) occupations, and residence Topics to choose: Civil registration

Tips Search by: • The first date in the birth record is the date the birth was 1. Surname (cognome) in the indexes (some early indexes registered. For the actual birth date, look further down are ordered by the given name). 2. Date (day, month, year), from earliest to most recent. in the record.

BIRTH DOCUMENT

Number three hundred thirty four Indication of the day in which the of Baptism was administered In the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty four [the] seventh of the month of August at the hour of sixteen Number three hundred thirty- before us Signor Arena, four Mayor and an official of the Civil Registration of the town of Corleone, Province of Palermo, appeared Mr. In the year one thousand Giuseppe Arsena, age thirty, eight hundred and fifty four profession a bricklayer living on the day seven of the in Corleone, S. Agata St., month of August, who has presented to us a female which we have accordingly visually recognized, and he has The Parish Priest of declared that the same was Corleone has restored to us born of Marianna Colletti, age on the day aformentioned in twenty-six, living in the same the month as above in the place (ivi) and of the person current year the notification making the declaration, that we sent to him on the Giuseppe age as above, same day the countersigned living in the same place on document of birth, on the the day six of the month of bottom of which was August year as mentioned at indicated that the Sacrament the hour twenty in the house of Baptism was administered of the parents. to Maria Arsena on the same day as above.

The same person has also declared to give to the newborn the name of Maria.

Birth record of Maria Arsena, 6 August 1854, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1195438). 10 Italy CIVIL RECORDS: MARRIAGE (MATRIMONI) 1809-1910

Use Marriage Records To: •Find a couple’s marriage date and place, occupations, Searching Marriage Records and their ages. Before searching, you must know: • The names of the bride and groom. •Find a couple’s parents’ names and occupations. • The approximate birth date of the first child. •Find witnesses, who may be family members. •The town of residence.

Content Located at: •Groom’s name, age, occupation, place of birth, parents’ •Family History Library names • Italian provincial, court, and communal archives • Bride’s name, age, occupation, place of birth, parents’ Family History Library Catalog: names Place search: • Marriage date Place [name of town] • Dates marriage banns were posted Part of Italy • List of supplemental documents provided by bride and Topics to choose: Civil registration groom Usually three witnesses are listed in these records. The Search by: witnesses knew the bride and groom and attested that 1. Town. they were legally able to get married. 2. Date (day, month, year), from earliest to most recent. 3. Couple’s names. Tips

•To find a marriage record, look first in MARRIAGE DOCUMENT the town where the first child was born, Number sixty-six then in the town where the bride lived, and then in nearby towns. In the year one thousand eight hundred fifty on the day seventeen of the month of April •Most couples were married in the town at the hour of one, before us where the bride lived. If the groom lived Bernardo d’Anna, mayor and the Official of the Civil Registration in another town, marriage banns were of the town of Corleone, posted in both towns. Marriage banns of Corleone, Province of Palermo, appeared in the “city hall” have also been filmed. If you can’t find Maestro (Mr.) Giuseppe Arsena, single, age twenty-seven, born in the marriage record, check the marriage the town of Corleone, District of banns to see if it occurred in a Corleone, Province of Palermo, profession bricklayer, living in nearby town. the town of Corleone, street _____, number______, son of • In addition to the marriage record, supple- Paolo, age 59, profession bricklayer, living ditto [ivi], and mental documents had to be submitted of Maria Stilla, age 52, his by the bride and groom. Look for those wife, living ditto;

records called processetti or allegati. An And Marianna Colletti, single, example of processetti follows on the next age twenty-four, born in the town of Corleone, living ditto, page. street_____, number______, daughter of the deceased (fu) •Women are almost always referred to by Paolo, profession______, living ______, and of their maiden names in all records, Marianna Salerno, his wife, including deaths. living at ditto who, in the presence of •For help reading Italian records, see the witnesses ... Genealogical Word List: Italian. See “Where The banns ... were posted on to Order Publications” on page 17. the doors of the “city hall” on the seventeenth of the month of March 1850 on Sunday ...

Documents supplied for marriage, processetti.

Marriage record of Giuseppe Arsena and Marianna Colletti, 17 April 1850, Corleone, Italy, (FHL film 1195419).CIVIL Italy 11 CIVIL RECORDS: MARRIAGE SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS (PROCESSETTI) 1809-1910

Birth of Giuseppe Arsena, 31 December 1822, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1815404).

The processetti provide Mary with the following information:

1. Birth date and place of ancestor’s father, his parents’ names, and their ages.

2. Birth date and place of ancestor’s mother, her parents’ names, and their ages.

Birth of Marianna Colletti, 28 September 1826, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1815404).

12 Italy CIVIL RECORDS: MARRIAGE SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS (PROCESSETTI) 1809-1910

Death record of Paolo Colletti, 2 August 1831, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1815404).

3. Death date of ancestor’s mother’s father and his parents’ names.

4. Death date of ancestor’s father’s father, his wife’s name and his parents’ names.

5. Marriage banns.

Death record of Francesco Colletti, 24 September 1812, Marriage banns of Giuseppe Arsena and Marianna Colletti, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1815404). 1 August 1850, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1815404).

Italy 13 CIVIL RECORDS: DEATH 1809-1910

Use Death Records To: •Find death information for virtually every person who died in Italy. (If Searching Death Records your ancestors were from Sicily, the death records didn't begin until 1823.) Before searching, you must know: •Your ancestor's name. •Verify the death of an ancestor. • The town and province of death. •Find the names of the ancestor's parents, especially if the ancestor was born before civil registration began (1809 for much of Italy, Located at: 1823 for Sicily). •Family History Library • Provincial, court, or communal archives • Establish a time and place of a family's residence. The Italian word for death is morte or morti, meaning "dead" or "the Family History Library Catalog: deceased." Place search: Place [name of town] Content • Date of death registration. Part of Italy • Names, ages, and professions of witnesses reporting the death. Topics to choose: Civil registration Sometimes the witnesses are family members, but not always. Search by: •Actual date of death. 1. Surname (cognome) in the indexes (some •Name, age, birthplace, residence, and profession of deceased. early indexes are ordered by given name). • Names of deceased's parents. 2. Date (day, month, year), from the earliest to most recent. •Names of deceased's spouse.

Tips Province of Palermo, Town of Corleone, •To find a death RECORDS: Register of the acts of death, Register number 65. record, first look in the town where The year one thousand eight hundred your ancestor was fifty nine, day two of the month of March, born or where his Date of at the hour of sixteen or her children death [using a twenty-four hour ], registration were born. If you before us, D. Felice Favaloro, mayor can't find the and an official of the Civil Registration of the town of Corleone, death in the town Actual district of Corleone, Province of where the children death date Palermo, appeared Francesco Riesco, were born, check age forty, by profession a farmer living in Corleone, nearby or other and Francesco Governali, age likely towns. Name of thirty-eight, by profession a farmer deceased living in Corleone, who declared that •Women are always on the first day of the month of March of the current year at the hour of listed by their four, Giovanni Arsena died in the maiden name. The Age and house of his parents, birthplace age two, born in Corleone, by name and surname of profession a farmer living in the of their husband is deceased same place, son of Giuseppe, by profession a farmer living in Corleone, noted in the record. and of Marianna Colletti, living in the same place with her spouse. •For help reading Names of the records, see parents To obey the law, we removed, together with the aforementioned Genealogical Word witnesses, to the deceased person, List: Italian. (See and we identified that he or she was indeed deceased. We have therefore "Where to Order formed the present act, which we Publications" on wrote in the two registers, and having read it to the declarants, on the same page 17.) day, month, and year as written above, [this was] signed by us. Death of Giovanni Arsena, 1 March 1859, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 1195454).

14 Italy CHURCH RECORDS: BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES Late 1500s to early 1900s

Use Church Records To: • Find births, marriages, and deaths after the in approximately 1564. Some Day 24 May 1790 were actually started earlier. As of yet, very I baptized an infant few church records have been microfilmed. born at the hour 24 of Antonius (Antonio) • Find births, marriages, and deaths when civil and Francesca Stilla et Palermo and records are not available. imposed the name Maria.

Tips Godparents were Antonio Ristivo and • All church records are in . Anna Palermo. • The first name is always in Latin form, while the last name remains in Italian. Baptism record of Maria Stilla, 24 May 1790, Corleone, Italy • Early church indexes, when they exist, are in (FHL film 2151030). alphabetical order by the Latin form of the first name. Use an index to save time finding a record. Day 29 July 1787

• Less information is provided in church records I, Priest Don Gaetano Restivo, baptized an than in civil records. infant born at the hour 16 of Josepho •Women are always referred to by their maiden (Giuseppe) and names, except in very early church records. In Catherina (Caterina) Arsena et Musso and later church records the maiden name will often imposed the name appear after the married name, preceded by the Paulus (Paolo).

word et, i.e. Arsena et Musso. Godparents were Franciscus •For help reading the records, see Genealogical Word (Francesco) and List: Latin (34077). (See “Where to Order Antonia Laudato. Publications” on page 17.) Baptism record of Paolo Arsena, 29 July 1787, Corleone, Italy (FHL film 2151030). •Using indexes, such as the one below, saves time in finding marriages.

Marriage date

Searching Church Records Name of groom Before searching, you must know: •Your ancestor’s name. Groom’s parents • The town or parish of the birth, marriage, or death. (Large cities will have many parishes; Name of bride small towns will have just one.) Bride’s parents • The approximate birth, marriage, or death date. Witnesses Located at: •Family History Library •Parish church archives The marriage record of Giuseppe Arsena and Caterina Musso, the grandparents of Maria Arsena, including the names of the next generation Family History Library Catalog: (22 September 1773, Corleone, Italy [FHL film 2151324). Place search: Place [name of town] Names in Latin form (first name) Page number Part of Italy Topics to choose: Church Records

Search for: 1. Town. 2. Date (day, month, year), from the earliest to Index to the marriage record of Giuseppe Arsena and Caterina Musso, the most recent. grandparents of Maria Arsena, including the names of the next generation. 3. Name of the ancestor. Italy 15 ADDITIONAL HELPS Reading Italian Handwriting • Common Names and Terms • Summary • Naming Customs • Timeline

READING ITALIAN HANDWRITING • Start with the date of the first child’s birth, and Reading Italian handwriting may be difficult at times, search backward and forward until you find the since every registrar had his own style. Although it may marriage. seem overwhelming at first, you will find that the writing •Write down what you find, and record your source in each register is usually consistent and you will be able information. to accustom yourself to it. Then follow the same steps to find a parent’s family. You will also find that after learning the most common given names and a few common terms in Italian and Naming Customs in Italy Latin, you will be able to read most of the documents Since surnames became common with most by you encounter. the , a particular naming pattern was used by many. The following pattern may be helpful in researching COMMON TERMS AND NAMES family groups and determining parents.

Italian English Latin Italian English Latin • The first boy was usually named for the father’s father. /a born natus/a fù deceased quondam • The second boy was usually named for the mother’s morto/a died mortus/a vivente living vivus father. figlio son filius di of ex • The third boy was usually named for the father. figlia daughter filia Giovanni John Joannes • The first girl was usually named for the father’s mother. madre mother mater Giuseppe Joseph Josephus • The second girl was usually named for the mother’s padre father pater Paolo Paul Paulus mother. il dì the day die Elisabetta Elizabeth Elisabetha • The third girl was named for the mother. mese month mensis Giovanna Joanna Joanne • If a child died, often the same name was given to the anno year annum Antonio Anthony Antonius next child born of the same gender. matrimonio marriage matrimonium/ Giuseppa Josephine Josepha coniugium Time Line Pietro Peter Petrus levatrice/ 1546 Council of Trent required all parishes to keep ostatrice midwife obstetrix records of birth, marriage, and death. 1559-1796 Italy was ruled by and then . SUMMARY: FINDING AN ITALIAN FAMILY, 1809–1910 1796 Napoleon Bonaparte drove the Austrians from Italy. For detailed steps, see “The Research Process” on pages 1805-1814 Napoleon ruled most of Italy, divided the 2–6. country into provinces and communes, and 1. Find your ancestor’s birth record in civil records. required nationwide civil registration with a •This verifies what you know. set form. •Write down what you find, and record your source 1815 Napoleon was defeated. Civil registration stopped information. in most northern provinces but continued in the south. 2. Find your ancestor’s brothers and sisters in civil records. 1821 Civil registration began in Sicily. • Look for births before and after the birth of your ancestor. 1821-1861 A series of revolts occurred, and new governments were established and defeated. •Write down what you find (names, birth dates, etc.). 1861-1870 Unification of Italy occurred. •Write down your source information. 1866 Civil registration once again was required 3. Find death records for your ancestor’s brothers and nationwide; most forms follow Napoleonic style. sisters or parents in civil records. 1871 First national census was taken and repeated every • Look for deaths in years following the births, 10 years thereafter (not standard, names only head especially if two children were given the same name. of household, limited use). •Write down the information you find and your 1911 First census records began to name all family source information. members with ages, occupations, birthplaces, etc. 4. Find marriage records of your ancestor’s parents in civil or church records. • Look for records of marriages in the town where the oldest child was born.

16 Italy ADDITIONAL HELPS More Resources

What’s Next? Helpful Internet : Research Outline: Italy (36113) describes records for wwwdb.archivi.beniculturali.it/UCBAWEB/indice.html more advanced searches. (Lists the following about each provincial archive: address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, More about Italian Research hours, services, etc.) • Cole, Trafford R. Italian Genealogical Records: How to www.chiesacattolica.it/cci/diocesi/index.html (Lists Use Italian Civil, Ecclesiastical, & Other Records in addresses, etc., of all Catholic dioceses in Italy.) Family History Research. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1995. (FHL Book 945 D27c). www.nonsolocap.it (Lists postal zip codes in Italy.) • Colletta, John Philip. Finding Italian Roots, the www.cimorelli.com/pie/faq/pfaq_toc.html (Frequently Complete Guide for Americans. Baltimore: Genealogical asked questions regarding Italian genealogical research.) Pub. Co., 1996. (FHL Book 973 F2cf). www.italgen.com (Basics for Italian research, very good • Nelson, Lynn A. A Genealogist’s Guide to Discovering historical and background information.) Your Italian Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your www.angelfire.com/ok3/pearlsofwisdom/Davids_form_let Unique Heritage. Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 1997. ters.html (Form letters to use for requesting copies of (FHL Book 945 D27n). documents from civil and ecclesiastical archives.) Archives and Libraries www.teldir.com/eng/euro/it (Italian telephone directories.) Family History Centers http://www.familysearch.org Where to Order Publications: Te l. 800-346-6044 •Internet: http://www.familysearch.org Family History Library 35 N. West Temple Street • Salt Lake Distribution Center: phone 800-537-5971 Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400 All Family History Library publications are described Te l. 801-240-2331 in: Family History Materials List (34083) and at: http://www.familysearch.org

Italy 17 Family Group Record If typing, set spacing at 1 1/2. Page of Husband Last See "Other Given name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place LDS ordinance dates Temple Christened Place Baptized

Died Place Endowed

Buried Place Sealed to parents

Married Place Sealed to spouse

Husband's father Last Deceased Given name(s) name Husband's mother Maiden Deceased Given name(s) name Wife Maiden See "Other Given name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place LDS ordinance dates Temple Christened Place Baptized

Died Place Endowed

Write date as: 4 Oct. 1896 Buried Place Sealed to parents

Wife's father Last Deceased Given name(s) name Wife's mother Maiden Deceased Given name(s) name

Children List each child (whether living or dead) in order of birth. LDS ordinance dates Temple

1 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

2 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

3 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Write place as: Tryon, Polk, North Carolina, USA or Polk, Write place as: Tryon, Eng. St. Martins, Birmingham, Warwick, Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

Select only one of the following options. The option you select applies Your name to all names on this form. Option 1—Family File Send all names to my family file at the Temple. Address Option 2—Temple File Send all names to any temple, and assign proxies for all approved ordinances. Option 3—Ancestral File Send all names to the computerized Ancestral File for research purposes only, not for ordinances. I am including the required pedigree chart. Phone Date prepared ( ) Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10/93 Printed in USA 31827 Page of Husband Last Given name(s) name Wife Maiden Given name(s) name Children List each child (whether living or dead) in order of birth. LDS ordinance dates Temple

4 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

5 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

6 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

7 Sex Given Last See "Other name(s) name marriages" Born (day month year) Place Baptized

Christened Place Endowed

Died Place Sealed to parents

Spouse Last Given name(s) name Married Place Sealed to spouse

Other marriages List other marriages and sealings of the husband, wife, and children on this form. List any necessary explanations.

Sources of information Add further information on attached sheets as necessary.

Note: Please take every reasonable step to see that the information on this form is as accurate and complete as practical. This will help maintain the integrity of Church family history files and reduce duplication of temple ordinance work. INDEX archives ...... 17 libraries ...... 17 birth records ...... 10 map of Italy ...... 8 catalog ...... 9 marriage records ...... 11–13, 15 census records ...... 16 microfilm...... 9 church records ...... 15 names ...... 16 civil records naming customs...... 16 birth ...... 10, 15 parish ...... 7 death ...... 14 place-names ...... 9 marriage ...... 11–13, 15 preparation ...... 2 common terms ...... 16 process, research ...... 2–6 country ...... 7 province ...... 7 death records ...... 14 reading Italian handwriting ...... 16 family group record ...... 2, 18 research process...... 2–6 family history centers ...... 17 step 1 ...... 3 Family History Library ...... 17 step 2 ...... 3 Family History Library Catalog ...... 9 step 3 ...... 5 finding places ...... 7 step 4 ...... 5–6 handwriting...... 16 searching the records ...... 10, 11, 15 how to begin ...... 2 summary ...... 16 Italy, map of ...... 8 time line ...... 16 jurisdiction ...... 7 village ...... 7

Other publications you will need: Please send suggestions to: purpose without the prior written Publications Coordination permission of the publisher. Send all Genealogical Word List: Italian (34071) Family History Library requests for such permission to: Using the Family History Library Catalog (30966) 35 North West Temple Street Copyrights and Permissions Coordinator Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA Family and Church History Department For Latter-day Saints: Fax: 801-240-5551 50 East North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400 USA Instructions for submitting names for temple No part of this document may ordinances. be reprinted, posted online, or [email protected] reproduced in any form for any Fax: 801-240-2494

© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. 5/01 36580 ENGLISH

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