John L and Ida M Drago - Genoa, Genova Italy

[Jpgriffin1994]

Hello all,

I'm researching my maternal great grandfather and great grandmother for Italian citizenship. I have quite a bit on John Louis Drago born 7 Oct 1873 but not much on Ida M. What is the best way to research Italian records? Is the only option to pay for a subscription to Ancestry? Looking forward to seeing where this family lineage leads!

Thanks in advance,

Joe

[Jpgriffin1994]

All the info I have on the two of them (that points back directly to their time in Italy) is:

Ida Drago born 25 Aug 1880 in Genoa
John Louis Drago born 7 Oct 1873 in Genoa
Married 25 April 1902 in Genoa
Arrived in Boston, MA on 15 May 1902 via steamship.

Thank you,

Joe

[Jpgriffin1994]

In my research I see that a steamship with passengers from Genoa did in fact land in Boston on May 15th 1902 but I did not see my grandparents on the passenger list? Does anyone have any recommendations on other information or documents i could research for them?

[Tessa78]

Women keep their maiden name in Italy, and your GGM would have traveled using her maiden name.

Can you post images or links to the records you have for John (Giovanni) Drago, please?

T.

[Jpgriffin1994]

Tessa,

I've tried posting a couple times but i don't see it populating in this thread. Is it waiting to be approved and i just can't see it?

Thank you,

Joe

[Tessa78]

Try using this site...
postimages.org

And use the choice for thumbnails for forums

T.

[Jpgriffin1994]

Tessa,

https://postimg.cc/gallery/CnLqGzw

Hopefully this works. Any chance the two people in these documents are the same?

grazie,

Joe

[Jpgriffin1994]

Tessa,

Family history indicates that my GGM was also a Drago, may have come here before my GGF to help a brother whose wife died, then went back to Italy to get married and came back with my GGF.

I found a Giovanni Drago (and a whole lot of other Drago's as well) in Comune di Rosso documents in the Davagna files.

I see how much you are helping people on here and am truly appreciative of your time that you dedicate to helping us.

Grazie mille,

Joe

[Tessa78]

Here is a POSSIBLE arrival for your John Louis Drago and Ida Drago.

Arriving Boston in April 1903
Passengers: Luigi Drago and wife Maria
Last place of residence Davagna.
Destination: "Alfred" and "Manchester" written over entry. To brother-in-law G. Batt. (Giovanni Battista) Drago in Manchester.
19th line down



T.

[Jpgriffin1994]

Tessa,

This gives me a great starting point! It doesn't tie in with the family lore so i will really need to delve into it.

Lore has that Ida M. came to the US to help her brother who had a child and was widowed pre 1902-3. When she went back to Italy, she married John Louis and they came together a month later. The log here indicates that Luigi had been here from 1896 to 1900, prior to Maria.

The passage indicates that Maria paid her own fare while Luigi's (her husbands') was paid by the brother in law...this is very interesting to me. Also very interesting that as husband and wife they would be headed to different places.

My research shows the Davagna region literally littered with Giuseppe and Giovanni Drago's during the 1850's - 1900's so the Italian tradition of naming children must have been strong in my family! Unfortunately it will make it a nightmare in tracking down my specific relatives for citizenship.

This is a great starting point for me and I truly appreciate your help! Now it's time to start whittling away at all the Drago's who made the trek!

Grazie mille,

Joe

[Jpgriffin1994]

Greetings,

Would someone kindly translate No 67? Interestingly No 69 Appears to be a Luigi Gio Batta Drago (Hmmm...I wonder if my research on the passenger list Tessa found will lead me here too! ).

https://postimg.cc/crw38J4Z

it is Image 326 from this document:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cc=2046914

Thank you in advance!

Joe

[Tessa78]

Tessa,

This gives me a great starting point! It doesn't tie in with the family lore so i will really need to delve into it.

Lore has that Ida M. came to the US to help her brother who had a child and was widowed pre 1902-3. When she went back to Italy, she married John Louis and they came together a month later. The log here indicates that Luigi had been here from 1896 to 1900, prior to Maria.

The passage indicates that Maria paid her own fare while Luigi's (her husbands') was paid by the brother in law...this is very interesting to me. Also very interesting that as husband and wife they would be headed to different places.
What I am reading is that they are going to the Same Place... but the clerk only overwrote on Luigi's line. They are going to HER brother (his brother-in-law) Gio Battista Drago...
Certainly, Luigi could have been in USA prior. Many immigrants came to work, but not to stay. And it makes sense that her brother would pay both their passages if he was requesting help with his children.

My research shows the Davagna region literally littered with Giuseppe and Giovanni Drago's during the 1850's - 1900's so the Italian tradition of naming children must have been strong in my family! Unfortunately it will make it a nightmare in tracking down my specific relatives for citizenship.

This is a great starting point for me and I truly appreciate your help! Now it's time to start whittling away at all the Drago's who made the trek!

Grazie mille,

Joe

[Tessa78]

The #67 birth act is for Giovanni Drago.
Father: Michele Drago, son of Stefano
Mother: Maria Drago, daughter of Andrea
Child born 2 October 1873 in Pian di Sella, in the village of Moranego( which belongs to the municipality of Davagna) Moranego is 1.8 km from Davagna

Did you use the Thumbnails for forum in postimges? I am having trouble enlarging enough to read it.

Here is the link to the records. We prefer this...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... cc=2046914

T.

[Jpgriffin1994]

Tessa,

Thank you so much!

Joe