Thursday, March 10, 2011

Weekend Adventures in Deciphering Passenger Lists

Last weekend we rode the trike down to Daytona for Bike Week. We always stay with cousin John in Palm Coast when we go down.  Cousin John is actually hubby's father's first cousin which makes them first cousins once removed. When we first met him back in 2003 I was explaining to hubby how they were related and one of the sisters said, "You can't be removed from an Italian family!" I will never forget that, I thought it was funny.

Anyway, Cousin John and his wife Denise have become interested in their family history so her and I spent quite a few hours on Ancestry looking through the passenger lists. Let me tell ya, it sure makes it a lot easier muddling through Italian passenger lists when you are with someone who is familiar with Italy!

So we found a passenger list for hubby's great-grandfather, Gieseppe Bernardo. It was indexed on Ancestry like this:


Name:Giuseppe Bernardo
Arrival Date:9 Mar 1915
Age:33
Estimated Birth Year:abt 1882
Gender:Male
Ethnic Background:Italian (South) (Italian)
Port of Departure:Palermo, Italy
Ship Name:Canopic
Port of Arrival:Boston, Massachusetts
Friend's Name:Salvatore Bernardo
Last Residence:Sieania
Birthplace:Biels, Satania


Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1917-1943; Microfilm Serial: T938; Microfilm Roll: 231.




First of all folks, there is no such place as Sieania, Biels or Satania in Italy.  I don't know how the indexer got "Sieania" when it clearly says Siracusa on the image.  It took many searches and trying to read the handwriting to figure out the birthplace.  Cousin Denise finally figured out that it says Riesi.




And it was only by accident that I discovered that there was a second page to this list.




Another entry that drove us crazy trying to figure out is column 17 - Whether ever before  in the United States: and if so, when and where?  The entry read 909/913.  We finally figured out that it meant 1909-1913.  Why in the heck couldn't they put the 1 in front so we knew they were talking about years?!


So here is what we learned about great-grandpa  Bernardo from line 21 of this passenger list:


1. Bernardo
2. Giuseppe
3. 33
3. male
4. married
5.Laborer
6. could not read
7. Could not write
8. Nationality - Italy
9. Race - South
10. Last permanent residence - Canicattini, Siracusa
11. Left wife Michela Lombardo back in Canicattini.
13. Final destination - Salem, Mass
14. Did not have a ticket to destination
15. Paid his own way.
16. Was in possession of $20
17. Was in U.S. before from 1909-1913 in Salem.
18. Going to join brother Bernardo Salvatore residing at 810 Mill St Salem, Mas
19. Never been in prison
20. Is not a polygamist
21. Is not an Anarchist
22. Was not coming by means of any offer or agreement
23. Good mental and physical health
24. Not deformed or crippled
25. 5'3"
26. Natural complexion
27. Chestnut hair and eyes.
28. No identifying marks
29. born in Reisi, Caltanissetta  


So the new discoveries we made from this list was that he had a brother named Salvatore, and that this was not his first trip to the U.S.  A couple of days ago I was finally able to find his first trip listed under Bennardo.


So for those of you who poke around on Ancesty.com and aren't familiar with passenger lists, don't forget to check the next page.



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