The following is data I pulled from the 1920 census, for two COLABELLA families living in Lyndhurst, NJ at the time, and another COLABELLA family in Newark who may or may not be related. I believe that the two Heads of Households of the Lyndhurst families were likely brothers. They were both Masons (Bricklayers) by trade. The son of Raphael COLABELLA, in the first household listed, was named Marat COLABELLA and I believe he was my paternal grandfather.
Since posting questions about him on the ROOTS-L Mailing List, a researcher informed me of a website where I could locate his probate records (I was orig. seeking an obit), which gave me good clues and I was able to locate Marat's daughter (who would be my father's half-sister, my aunt) but because I worded my letter badly and mentioned that I found her through his will, I think she is suspicious of my inquiry. She is probably not familiar with a genealogist's insatiable quest for documents and facts, and unfortunately thinks I'm after more than info and will not return my calls and emails. I don't want to bother her any further, but I do want to establish whether or not her father is indeed my GF.
If anyone reading this has any info on any of the individuals/families listed below, please contact me via email (click on my name at top for email address). THANKS!
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Census taken Jan. 10, 1920
State: New Jersey County: Bergen Township: Lyndhurst Roll: T625_1018
ED: 67 Page: 9B Image: 862
Address: 313 Lincoln Avenue Owned/Rented: R
Head of Household: Colabella, Raphael
Sex: M Age last B’day: 31 Marital Status: M Race: W Immigrated: 1903 Citizen. Status: Pa. Attended school since 9/1919: No Can Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: Italy/Italian Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade: Mason Industry/Workplace: Concrete Type of Worker: Salaried
Wife: Colabella, Mary B.
Sex: F Age last B’day: 20 Marital Status: M Race: W Immigrated: x Citizen Status: Al. Attended school since 9/1919: No Can Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: Maryland Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade: none
***Son: Colabella, Marat [*assumed to be my grandpa*]
Sex: M Age last B’day: 2 2/12 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: No Able to Read/Write: No Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade/Profession: none
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Census taken Jan. 3, 1920
State: New Jersey County: Bergen Township: Lyndhurst Roll: T625_1018
ED: 68 Page: 3B Image: 896
Address: 514 Second Avenue Owned/Rented: O (and Mortgaged)
Head of Household: Colabella, Arthur
Sex: M Age last B’day: 30 Marital Status: M Race: W Immigrated: 1906 Citizen. Status: Na. Yr. Naturalized: 1917 Attended school since 9/1919: No Can Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: Italy/Italian Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade: Mason Industry/Workplace: House Type of Worker: On Own Accord
Wife: Colabella, Sadie
Sex: F Age last B’day: 25 Marital Status: M Race: W Immigrated: 1897 Citizen. Status: Na. Yr. Naturalized: 1917 Attended school since 9/1919: No Can Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: Italy/Italian Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade: none
Daughter: Colabella, Alba
Sex: F Age last B’day: 5 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: Yes Able to Read/Write: No Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
Son: Colabella, Dante
Sex: M Age last B’day: 4 1/12 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: No Able to Read/Write: No Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
Daughter: Colabella, Eva (or Ava or Era?)
Sex: F Age last B’day: 2 5/12 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: No Able to Read/Write: No Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
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Census taken Jan. 20, 1920
State: New Jersey County: Essex Township: Newark City Roll: T625_1033
ED: 155 Page: 10A Image: 412
Address: 2205 Fairmount Avenue Owned/Rented: O (and Mortgaged)
Head of Household: Colabella, Rafaele
Sex: M Age last B’day: 36 Marital Status: M Race: W Immigrated: 1907 Citizen. Status: Na. Yr. Naturalized: 1913 Attended school since 9/1919: No Can Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: Italy/Italian Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade: Agent Industry/Workplace: Real Estate Type of Worker: Worker
Wife: Colabella, Annie
Sex: F Age last B’day: 38 Marital Status: M Race: W Immigrated: 1907 Citizen. Status: Na. Yr. Naturalized: 1913 Attended school since 9/1919: No Can Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: Italy/Italian Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: Yes Trade: none
Daughter: Colabella, Margaret
Sex: F Age last B’day: 13 Marital Status: S Race: W Immigrated: 1907 Citizen. Status: Na. Yr. Naturalized: 1913 Attended school since 9/1919: Yes Able to Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
Son: Colabella, Tony
Sex: M Age last B’day: 11 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: Yes Able to Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
Son: Colabella, Vincent
Sex: F Age last B’day: 10 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: Yes Able to Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
Daughter: Colabella, Mary
Sex: F Age last B’day: 7 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen. Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: Yes Able to Read/Write: Yes Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
Son: Colabella, Herman
Sex: M Age last B’day: 4 Marital Status: S Race: W Citizen Status: - Attended school since 9/1919: No Able to Read/Write: No Birthplace/Mother Tongue: New Jersey Father’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Mother’s Birthplace/Native Tongue: Italy/Italian Speak English: - Trade/Profession: none
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Several of the above folks were listed in the SS Death Index (the dates are close enough for a match):
Dante COLABELLA, b. 11 Dec. 1915, d. Aug. 1987, last known residence Maywood, NJ
Arthur COLABELLA, b. 20 Aug. 1889, d. Aug 1966, last known residence Normandy Beach, NJ
Ralph COLABELLA (prob. Raphael), b. 5 Aug. 1888, d. Nov. 1967, last known residence Mantoloking, NJ
Mary COLABELLA, b. 4 Nov. 1898, d. 28 Nov. 1987, last known residence Mantoloking, NJ
Vincent COLABELLA, , b. 22 Dec. 1909, d. 14 Oct. 1987, last known residence Lyndhurst, NJ
Marat COLABELLA, b. 1 Nov. 1917, d. 6 Sept. 1998, Last known residence Boca Raton, FL