Forti Family from Reggio Calabria

[colombo1203]

Hi All!

I am looking for more information on my great grandfather, Francesco (Frank) Forti, born possibly August 8, 1884 in Campo Calabria, Italy. He immigrated to the US in early 1900's (1907 or 1909) and married Francesca Forchi from Rosarno in 1913 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

There is a possibility he had a cousin with the last name De Lorenzo who is noted to have visited a Francesco Forti in the area from Reggio Calabria on a ship manifest.

Looking specifically for birth records for my GGF, Francesco. I reached out to the commune, but haven't heard anything back and cannot find much more about him. Would absolutely love some help!

Grazie!

[Farassino]

Hi,
Couldn’t find a Francesco Forti in the 1884 birth register in Campo di Calabria.
https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12 ... 63/5K78zK9

Neither in the 1883 and 1885 indexes.
I haven’t looked at other years yet.

Can you name his parents?

There is a Giacoma Maria Forti born in 1885 from Angelo and Giuseppa Ferro.

[colombo1203]

Thank you for your reply. I believe he may be the entry #1026 of Foti (misdocumented) born August 10, 1882 to Antonio and Santa Maria (but having a hard time deciphering the maiden name) since father was a farmhand and it makes sense since my GGF could not read or write. I've been told that the document says that the father walked in to report the birth after 4 days. My GGF could have made up his birthdate as several documents list it as blank or 1883. I was hoping someone would have a connection that could help me identify his parents.

[Tessa78]

Where is entry #1026?
There is no Francesco Forti/Foti in the 1882 index for Campo.

Can you post the link, please?

T.

[colombo1203]

The birth year is 1882 and someone else shared this with me. Here is the link:

https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12 ... QD?lang=en

Thank you

[Tessa78]

Thank you for the link.

This birth was in the town of Reggio.
Mother's name is Santa Ielo (no Maria), A spinner and his wife.
Father, Antonio Foti is age 40, A laborer.
Birth on 12 August

T.

[colombo1203]

Any ideas on how to find if the parents had siblings? Trying to also find the connection between him and a possible cousin to confirm identity.

[Tessa78]

Any ideas on how to find if the parents had siblings? Trying to also find the connection between him and a possible cousin to confirm identity.

My suggestion would be to first try to find the marriage of his parents.
This will identify his grandparents. Then using the ages and places of birth for his parents, look for their birth acts, and the births of possible siblings around the same time with the same parents.

EDIT TO ADD:

Here is the marriage of Antonio Foti and Sant Ielo in Reggio in 1869 (#25)
Antonio is age 26, laborer, born in Gallina to Domenico Foti and Rosa Messina who reside in Gallina.
Santa Ielo is age 19, spinner, born in Reggio to Bruno Ielo and Francesca Ficara.
https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12 ... 71/02z8jZy

T.

[colombo1203]

Wow! Thank you SO much!! I am still waiting for marriage records from Connecticut in the US to see if Frank's parents are listed to be able to confirm this is his birth record and parents. I greatly appreciate your help! You've been wonderful! Grazie!

[colombo1203]

I found this person who may be related to Santa Lelo. I am struggling to make the connection but I did see that she was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut where my entire family settled, and I was born, when they came over from Reggio Calabria. Are you able to help me discern anything from it?

Patricia Adelaide DiLella

https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/pe ... s/LVX1-614

[Tessa78]

I found this person who may be related to Santa Lelo. I am struggling to make the connection but I did see that she was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut where my entire family settled, and I was born, when they came over from Reggio Calabria. Are you able to help me discern anything from it?

Patricia Adelaide DiLella

https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/pe ... s/LVX1-614

Santa's surname is not Lelo...it is Ielo (begins with "i")

I can see nothing to take from the tree.

T.

[colombo1203]

ah!! Thank you!

[Tessa78]

Ielo (with an "i"). Is common in Reggio

However, I have not yet found her birth act.

T.

[Tessa78]

To clarify the birthplace of Francesco Foti in the above marriage act.
Gallina is a hamlet/village that belongs to the comune of Reggio Calabria in the Province of Reggio Calabria. The civil records would most likely be held in the town to which it belongs.

Do you have the arrival manifest of your Francesco Forti?

EDIT TO ADD:

Here is the naturalization of Francesca Foti (maiden name Forchi) in 1942 in Bridgeport, Connecticut
She lists her husband as Frank, who she married in Connecticut on 9 December 1913.
She also lists her children.
More importantly, she indicates that she was born in Rosarno, on 27 January 1895.
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collect ... cessSource

Here is her birth act in Rosarno.
#24 - 1895
Parents: Francesco Forchi, 45, peasant farmer; and Maria Spinelli, his wife
https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12 ... 24/w9WaP6a

This should help to verify some facts...

T.

[Tessa78]

AND...

Here is the arrival manifest for Francesca Forchi in 1912
Traveling with her sister Maria Forchi, from Rosarno to Passaic, NJ
Leaving her father Francesco Forchi in Rosarno, and joining her sister Carmella Forchi in Passaic, NJ
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collect ... cessSource

T.