Nicastro: Caruso or Montisanti Family

[RichardFJCaruso]

My grandfather, Joseph Caruso, born 08 Dec 1891. He came to the United States when he was around 8 years old. He said he lived in Nicastro. We were told his real last name was something like Montesanti and that his father had a castle with alot of land, mostly olives and grape vineyards. My grandfather took the names of the people that cared for him, there were 18 children in all, and all went to different families after my great-grandfather lost his land. The children were separated. He came here to the United States with his caretakers and took their last name, CARUSO. Looking for any information anyone may have on my grandfathers parents and family. Please E-Mail me at dvldoc78@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance.

[t monte]

My grandfather came to the U.S. in the early 1900's from Nicastro, Italy. His name was Francesco Montesanti.

[RichardFJCaruso]

My grandfather, Joseph Caruso, born 08 Dec 1891. He came to the United States when he was around 8 years old. He said he was born and lived in Nicastro. We were told his real last name was something like Montesanto or Montisanti and that his father, Antonio Montisanto or Montisanti, was a Baroni, had a large home with alot of land, mostly olives and grape vineyards. My grandfather took the names of the people that cared for him (we think), there were 18 children in all, and all went to different families after my great-grandfather lost his land. The children were separated. He came here to the United States we believe with his caretakers and took their last name, CARUSO. Looking for any information anyone may have on my grandfathers parents and family. We did locate some of my Grandfather's siblings, with different last names (Folino and Rizzo). All originally from Nicastro. The Rizzo's settled around Philadelphia and the Folino's around Boston. My grandfather came to Connecticut. I visited Nicastro in 2011, and tried to gather info on my family history with some info I believe. I believe my Grandfather may have lived in the San Teodoro part of Nicastro near the Castello Normanno. Please E-Mail me at dvldoc78@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance.

[arturo.c]

Nicastro is now part of the city of Lamezia Terme. You could apply there for the true copies of his birth and marriage records.

[joetucciarone]

Hi Richard - if you're still monitoring this thread, the name "Montesanto" appears on this section of an 1862-1876 map of Italy, in Calabria:

https://mapire.eu/en/map/europe-19centu ... Hr4fqtJbhk

The name may indicate an estate owned by a Montesanto family. If you zoom out of the map, you'll see that the name is 7 kilometers southwest of Nicastro.