Searching with no name: mission impossible ?

[Internaute123]

Hi
I am searchin for a relative from italian ascendance, my biological father, but I have no surname to start with !
My purpose is to determine from where, in Italy are my origins. And know about more distant ancestors

I read through a lot of post and I am wondering if you could help me go further. To help me identify possible leads or tracks to investigate. Or hypothesis I could consider

I am looking for a Frank (or Franck) - possibly francesco at birth
He his my paternal linkage
Surname: unknown - short: 1 or 2 syllables - and of germanic or east-europe consonance
He was born around 1934-1939
Immigrated in the Oshawa (Ontario) region in the middle of 1950'
Profession: electrician or engineer in electricity
Probable origin Northern Italy
Physical trait: one eye of blue color; one eye of brownish color
Might have emigrate to US in late 1960 - but this is not sure.

I already started with some hypothesis
and I will give them a try

For example:
hypothesis: A lot of immigrants in the Oshawa region worked for General Motors. Frank might have. I made contact
-No information is available from human resources (confidentiality)
-However I will be able to consult newspapwers (with retirees; social events,...)

So do you have ideas - like these or others Just to help me orient my search ?
I do not know Italy
-Udine was a city where italian immigrants came - are there registers ?
-Boats: is it more likely that he might have left from Genova - or not at all
-Are boats passengers available for 1950"s
-Eye color difference - is it a genetic trait ?
-Would DNA testing of myself (a women - I know it brings less info) could help identify my region of origin
-etc

Many thanks
Milena

PS I know it seem an impossible mission
But a few years ago, I was able to find my biological mother - a canadian who lived in Milan since 1970. I started withno name - only her father's age and occupation, her region of origin and numbers of siblings in the family. I have been able to draw my genealogical tree up to 1650

[tonymasiello]

Hi Milena,

There are two companies that offer DNA tests that could possibly be helpful to you, and don't rely on gender...

Relative Finder from http://23andme.com

Family Finder from http://www.familytreedna.com

I am a customer of 23andme. I currently have 132 matches for genetic cousins. All of those are predicted to be 4th or 5th cousins, which I have found is pretty hard to make a paper trail match with. I also found that most of my matches (about 90%) come from my Mom's side (I had her tested also), she is English. Since Italian immigration was much more recent, there tends to be a smaller pool of genetic cousins in North America. In other words, don't expect any miracles, but it would not hurt (other than your wallet) to try and you might at least gain some useful insights...

Good Luck!
-Tony

[Internaute123]

Thanks Tony
did you match your results toward the italian databases.
I don't know exactly how it works, but i read a little on the subject:

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Italy/default.aspx
http://italydna.blogspot.com/


Does the medical component of the 23andme brings information on genealogy matters (besides risk factors of certain medical conditions ?)


I am thinking of ordering the kit from familytreedna.

buon giorno
milena

[tonymasiello]

Hi Milena,

I have not submitted my results to any other database yet, though I'd be open to doing so for any that were compatible with 23andme results.

I only ordered the ancestry edition of 23andme, so I'm probably not the best person to ask about the medical side of the product.

FTDNA did not have the FamilyFinder product available yet when I placed my order. FTDNA does seem more geared toward genealogy. I will probably purchase a kit from them in the future once the price drops.

-Tony

[Michael31]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_color

[Michael31]

http://www.genealogy.com/users/o/l/l/Shawn-Olliffe/
oshawa is the only connection

[Internaute123]

Hi Michael
I did not have time to explore the links but could yo tell more about italian background and this family ???
I will check that upon my return from work
Thanks
Milena

[Michael31]

Olliffes from England, Ireland and Oshawa
www.genealogy.com/user...n-Olliffe/

[Michael31]

http://www.informdurham.com/record/OSH0210
Italian Recreation Club
Club 70 Oshawa

http://www.heritageoshawa.ca/doorsopen2009.php
http://torontofamilyhistory.org/2010/li ... -genealogy

[Michael31]

http://www.italiansrus.com/surnames/iscw.htm
Wood, Alex - Rome, Lazio - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Perrino, Maria - Gallo Matese, Campania - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

[Michael31]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oshawa-On ... =ts&v=desc

[Internaute123]

Thanks Michael

[Michael31]

You're Welcome Milena
Good Luck with your Search.

I am trying to find out where my Uncle may be laid to rest or a death record. He liked to ride motorcycles when he was younger. My Mother thinks he was living near Ottawa or Montreal at the time of his death. He spoke German and English maybe some French. He died September 19, 2007 His name was Jens Paul Koester. His occupation was in communications / satellites
www.familysearch.org
Jens KOSTER
Birth Date: 14 Oct 1933
Death Date: 19 Sep 2007
Social Security Number: 450-47-8728
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Texas
Death Residence Localities
ZIP Code: 953 (not Rosanky, Texas and not Puerto Rico)

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/us ... 20_45.html
953. Private correspondence with foreign governments

Does anybody have a suggestion on how to find him?

[Internaute123]

Hello Michael

About you uncle Koester (or Koster)

I noticed the german and canadian forum have disappeared. Too bad. You may have help there.

Maybe we should continue off forum

Don't hesitate - I have been helped so much on forums, that I like to do the same - up to my possibilities. And I could send you jpeg
Just send me a PM

Hypothesis 1 - he lived in Montreal (or in the region) under the name of Koester
1)I had a quick look at the Lovell directory of Montreal and no Koester was found in the Montreal area in late 1970. The directory by name seems to finish at the end of 1970.
I did not look at the suburbs "banlieue" - you may try there
http://bibnum2.bnquebec.ca/bna/lovell/index.html

You may want to look up other years
Serie Principale (Main series)
-Liste alphabétique des résidents
(The criss-cross is not helpful: it if "by address")

2) I looked up the main Montreal cemetary. Other cemetaries exist, but it is the biggest. There are 3 Koester there - non corresponding exactly
http://www.notredamedesneigescemetery.c ... locate.htm

3)- I looked at our actual white page directory
http://www.canada411.ca/search/si/1/koester/quebec

4) A lot of germanic origin people have migrated to the Eastern Township of Quebec, but with the satelite work - I would doubt it


Hypothesis 2 - he lived in Ottawa (or in the region) under the name of Koester
1) I did not find an online equivalent of Lovell for Ottawa but I know it exists.
You may send an email to the professionals at
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gene ... dex-e.html

they are very helpful - and can even do a quick search for you.

If it requests to consult on-site archives, I go to Ottawa sometimes. My husbands works in Ottawa (and, incidentally, he speaks and write fluently in German ! He studied in Frankfurt).
So if you get to something, I could do a search for you.

2) I do not know about cemetaries in Ottawa but with internet search you can probably get to some and ask if they have a Koester (I found some family in Oshawa like that)

3) White pages in Ottawa
only one Koester
http://www.canada411.ca/res/6134243504/ ... 35376.html

PS about White pages results, I would call them with Skype to enquire family links. It is very cheap and to my experience - talking to people with a family name in common is very easy and they are generally helpfull

When I had to do this I simply sais over the phone that I did not know if I was in the right family, but I am reviewing phone books names - and found them. And I am looking for info on this and that. Canadian folks are always positive and kind about that - even if they are not of the proper branch of the family

Hypothesis 2 - he changed his name from Koester to Koster
Then you have to relookup all links etc.

Lets keep in touch
good luck to you also
Milena