Hi Cynthia, Really new to this and trying to back track from a birth certificate my father 1930-2005 got for HIS father from a Santo Stefano, Sicily back in 1996. I seemed to recall he said it was near Taormina, although some in my family are posting SS in Messina. Our story is my great-grandmother was widowed (murder of Vincenzo Capitano)in 1899/1900 and put her three children Joe, Domenica, and Ernest I Capitano on a ship after threats to kill all the children as well. She would later come over and marry a LaRocca and resided in New Orleans and finally Tampa. I am trying learn the region better and track any history. It has been said that they were smuggled out, perhaps under assumed names, but in any case cant find any ship/entry records although fairly sure it was New York. Possibly New Orleans? Your family story may cross with my in some way. Would like to hear from you to see if this crosses your ancestry somehow. Thank you.
Greg Capitano