In reading all the posts here, I see that only one person (my cousin Robyn) is of the Tocco's from Terrasini and Messina, Sicily. [Hi Robyn.]
But I do get the impression that many of you have researched enough and have talked with many other Tocco's outside your own families that possibly you know something of our clan.
My grandfather was Ambrogio ("Ambrose") Tocco and my grandmother was Vittoria Tocco -- yes, they had the same surname.
Amgbrogio's father was Leonardo Tocco and his mother was Rosalinda Orlando.
Vittoria's father was Giuseppe Tocco and her mother was Maria Daleo (originally d'Aleo).
I have quite a bit of information on my grandmother, Vittoria, researched for me by my cousin (Vittoria's nephew), Agostino Tocco, in Terrasini, Sicily. Vittoria was from Terrasini (confirmed).
Ambrogio came over on July 11, 1914 at the age of 16, POSSIBLY with his family, but the record seems to indicate that Rosalinda and Leonardo came over on January 27, 1913 (18 months earlier) with three other children (Salvatore - age 9, Margherita - age 7, Onofrio - age 4). Margherita was known by us as "Rita" and by some census as "Mary". Onofrio, we think, may have gone by the name Pietro (Peter).
On the Ellis Island site, Ambrogio is recorded as "Residence at time: Terrasini", although we've always been told that his home was Messina. Our cousin Agostino, in Terrasini, also comfirms the latter (but knows nothing else about that Tocco family).
From New York, this clan immediately moved to St. Louis where, it seems, other Toccos were already entrenced (on 7th Street).
Ambrogio married Vittoria July 25, 1910 and moved to San Diego sometime between 1926 and 1928.
Ambrogio and Vittoria had 11 children: Rose (Rosa Maria; my mother), Leo (Leonardo), Joseph (Giuseppe), Louie (Luigi), Vito, Mary, Anthony (Antonio; Robyn's father), Sam (Salvatore), Pete (Pietro), Margaret (Margareta), and Ambrocio Anthony, Jr. ("Junior").
Ambrogio's brother married a Francis and moved to San Diego, as well. They both died there.
Some of his sister Margarita's family have moved to San Diego but others elesewhere.
I know nothing about his brothers Luigi, Giuseppe, nor Leonardo.
Vittoria's sister married a Sam (Salvatore) Daleo and they moved to San Diego, as well. Her two brothers (Vito and Salvatore) remained in Terrasinsi; one of who JUST recently died, the other is still living.
I would very much love to hear from anyone who has bumped into relatives of these Tocco's (probably mostly in St. Louis).
Joe Seals (mother: Rose Tocco)
Santa Maria, CA (e:
gardenguru@yahoo.com)