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Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 17 Jul 2015 9:02PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Meli Barna
I am looking for family in Sicily.

I'm currently in Sicily for at least a month travelling and thought it would be amazing if I were able to find relatives, so any help would be very much appreciated!

My great grandfathers name was Ignazio Meli born in Mezzouso, Sicily on October 23 or 26 1888 (or 1878 - conflicting information) and died in 1966 in Florida, USA. I believe his parents were called Pietro and Antonia Meli and they may have had a daughter called Angeline/Angelina, around 5 years younger than Ignazio.

My great grandmother was called Francesca Barna, but I have little information on her. Her mothers maiden name was Bucesa. I am not sure where in Sicily she is from (but I think near Palermo and possibly from the same town Ignazio was from). She died sometime after 1976 in the USA. She was one of 10 surviving children, I think there were 13.

Ignazio and Francesca married in the USA and had two children, Joseph Ignatius Meli, born 1920/ died 2008 (my grandfather) and Lillian Meli, born 1923/died 2002.

I am unsure when either immigrated to the USA, but it was definitely before they married. I believe they were both children or teenagers when they immigrated.

I have found records stating Ignazio immigrated in 1903, but according to the Ellis Island Registry no one with that name immigrated in 1903, rather 1913, so perhaps a typo. I am also told Ignazio left with either a brother or cousin. There was a Giuseppe Meli on the same boat in "1913" according to Ellis Island.

There are only 2 Francesca Barna's (according to Ellis Island Registry) that immigrated to the USA before 1920.

1. Francesca Cecilia Barna: In 1913 (or was it a typo and actually 1903), aged 13 from Mezzoinso, Sicily - this appears to be the same town my great grandfather is from but with a slightly different spelling

2. Francesca Barna: In 1906, aged 11 from Mezzojuso (again, I think this is the exact same town with a different spelling).

Ignazio and Francesca Meli lived in the Bronx, NY and owned a butcher shop, I believe in Manhattan. They eventually moved to New Jersey when they were in the 40's or 50's.

My Grandfather, Joseph Ignatus Meli married Helen Calastini in the USA and visited Sicily around 40 years ago and I believe visited relatives. They have both died now, so I am unable to ask them for information.

Any information on the the Meli family and Barna family in Sicily would be so much appreciated. Thanks!

Jennifer Meli

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 20 Jul 2015 3:23AM GMT
Classification: Query
Jennifer,
There is an Ignazio Meli with a WW1 Draft Registration card who was a barber and lived on White Plains Ave, Bronx NY. This man lists his birth date as 24 Oct 1883. Unfortunately when I tried going to the 1883 birth records for Mezzojuso to research this, this year was missing from the file. Now, I did find a birth record for Angela Meli in 1888, whose father was Pietro, fu Ignazio (meaning Pietro's father Ignazio was deceased at that time) and whose mother was Antonia Como. Since Pietro's father was Ignazio, this fits in with the Italian naming tradition of the first born son being named after his paternal grandfather. You are pretty certain that Ignazio was born in Mezzojuso, so I accessed the Italian White Pages, looking for the surname in this town and there still are people living there with this surname; even one with the same given name. Check it out.
http://www.paginebianche.it/ricerca?qs=Meli&dv=Mezzojuso...

Did not check out the Barna name; but at least this is something for you to look into. Have fun in Sicily!!!
Ciao,
Bette

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 20 Jul 2015 9:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: meli
Caio Bette,

Thank you for all this information. It does seem like the more information I find the more confusing it gets. I know Ignazio Meli died in 1966 (definitely), lived in the Bronx (definitely) and was born around 1888....the WW II draft registration confirms all of this and says he is from Mezzojuso (Mezzouso). That is how I determined he is from Mezzojuso. But then I found a census record from 1920 that stated he was single, however my grandfather was born in 1920! Ugh. I hope I don't have the wrong guy.

Where did you find he was born in 1883? I only found 1887/1888.

Who is Angela Meli? Do you think that is Angelina Meli, a sister perhaps? Angelina Meli was a witness on the WW II draft registration - he was aged 53.

So do you deduce Pietro Meli married Antonia Como and their children are Ignazio and Angelina Meli?

On a really positive note, I found several Meli's living in Mezzojuso through Facebook and have been in contact with them! I will go there in about a week and a half and I'm hoping to have as much information as possible!

Thanks so much for all your help.

Just one last question, how can I find the birth records for Mezzojuso for 1887 & 1888?

Jen

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 2:05AM GMT
Classification: Query
I've attached the World War 1 Draft Registration card. First of all I need to mention that there were at least two men with the name Ignazio Meli born in Mezzojuso, and later lived in the Bronx. I found the birth record of the man born in 1887 Oct 26, but his father was Giuseppe and his mother was Rosalia. Next I need to ask you if your Ignazio lived at 3621 White Plains Ave in the Bronx and if he was a shoemaker in the early days (1918). Yes, I do believe that Angela and Angelina are the same person. The birth record for Angela Meli, born Sept 8, 1888, states that her father is Pietro (age 33) and her mother is Antonia Como (age 29). Note that the attached WW1 Draft record states an Antonia Como. The 1940 US Census shows Ignatious Meli, age 51, Angeline Meli, Age 40 and Peter Meli (widower), age 83. I think all these ages are estimated and cannot be trusted as gospel. It's important to align yourself with the correct family and without all the correct information, it's difficult. Most times people make the connection through marriage records, where the bride and groom list the names of their parents. So, it would be important for you to find marriage records, if you haven't already done so., working backwards, of course - your parents, then your grandparents, then your great-grandparents.
OK...to answer your last question, I found the birth records of Mezzojuso on the familysearch.org web site. They are under the category: "Italy, Palermo, Palermo, Civil Registration (Tribunale) 1862 - 1910" and then under Palermo province, then under Mezzojuso. When you get to these records on the familysearch.org web site, the annual index for the year 1887 is on page 1860 (M's) and the annual index for the year 1888 is on page 2085 (M's). Angela Meli's birth record is on Page 2078. The other Ignazio Meli (born in 1887) is found on Page 1830. When you read these birth records, bear in mind that if the couple is married, it usually states that the woman is the moglie (wife). If they are not married, it will state that the child was born through a naturale unione. I hope I have not made this sound too confusing. It was a great move finding people on Facebook. Good luck in your search!!!
Ciao,
Bette
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Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 3:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Jennifer, I think the mixup may be in your first post where you name the possible parents of Ignazio. I think the correct Ignazio Meli may be the one born on 26 Oct, 1887 to parents: Giuseppe Meli and Rosalia Bisulia, if in fact your family came from Mezzojuso. When looking at the 1940 US Census records, it leans in this direction. This is where you will find Ignatius Meli, who is married to Frances (Francesca), and two children.
Bette

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 5:03AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Meli
Bette,

You are a rockstar and 100% correct! I need to do some editing to the family tree now. I was definitely confusing the two Ignazio Meli's from Mezzojuso, who both ended up in the Bronx around the same time! My great grandfather was not a shoemaker (from what I'd been told) so I thought something off. I also was not able to find the marriage certification, so thank you for finding that!

I've got some more work to do before I meet the Meli's in Mezzojuso! Thankfully, at least I got the town right, that would have been embarrassing...

Thank you so much for all your help.

Jen

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 5:27AM GMT
Classification: Query
Sorry, I said marriage certificate but meant a record of marriage (1940 Census record). That is DEFINITELY them, because my grandfather (Joseph) is listed as one of their children (born in 1920 and it says approx. 1921)! His sister (we always called Lilian) is listed as Rosalie, so I will confirm with her son her actual birth name.

Thank you again for all your help. I am on the right track and less confused because of your help and amazing research!

Jen

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 1:15PM GMT
Classification: Query
Jennifer,

Thank you! It's easy enough to get off track when there are two people with the same name, born within a few years of each other from the same town. If you go back far enough, these two could possibly be cousins. Your contacts may know if everyone in this town with the Meli name are all related.

Bette

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 2:30PM GMT
Classification: Query
Speaking of marriage records, I did find a transcription of a marriage which took place in NYC (Manhattan) in 1917 on the familysearch.org site. There actually are two different ones, which might be the date of the license and the date of the marriage. But, like I said, these were "transcribed" from the actual record, which isn't shown. I am thinking that all these mispelled names must be due to poor handwriting and poor interpretation of the handwriting. If you go to familysearch.org, search on Francesca's name. That's the only one that is spelled correctly. (Ref: New York, New York City Marriage Records 1829 - 1940). Maybe Ancestry will show you the original record.
Hope you are having fun!!!
Bette

Re: Looking for Meli and Barna families in Sicily

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 6:32PM GMT
Classification: Query
I was having fun but now I feel extremely frustrated! I just got back from hiking up Mt Etna, so also very tired....

Sorry for being very slow here, I always thought of myself as a good researcher, but I'm afraid I'm failing miserably!

All I can find on familysearch.org for the birth record for Ignazio Meli on page 1830 is the attached. Can you actually read that or am I looking at the wrong thing? I really want to see what you found that says Mezzojuso, so I can show the Meli's I'm meeting there!

Also regarding the marriage transcript, are you assuming "Meli J Matesi" is actually Ignazio Meli? I do see that his DOB and parents name match up, so I think I'm looking at the correct record you mention. The transcript for 8 August 1917 seems to be more accurate as Ignazio "Meli Matesi" parents are not correct on the one dated 30 Sept 1917.

I wasn't able to find any of this on ancestry, but perhaps that's my bad research skills....

So sorry for all the questions...you seem much better at this than me!

Thanks again,
Jen
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