Brick wall in Santa Maria Oliveto – torn down!
Whenever one is presented with a ‘brick wall’ it’s important to scrutinize every document collected so far. Do some historical research of the area and then go out there and break it down. I did the first part and realized I could not go ahead without finding the death record of Tomasina. It was a … Continue reading
A brick wall in Santa Maria Oliveto
Sometimes a brick wall just doesn’t come down easily, even for the professionals! Michele was born in Santa Maria Oliveto (Isernia) according to the family. When I eventually found the birth record, he was actually registered in Conca Casale but they had declared themselves residents of Santa Maria Oliveto. Michele was baptized in the Parrocchia … Continue reading
DNA test results explained
Mike expected to be 50% Italian on his DNA test and was surprised to find it came in at 38%. So he got an Aunt to do the same test knowing that research had showed her to be from Italian parents on both sides for at least a century! Whoops! She came back as 25% … Continue reading
All in a day’s work
It started out as a simple lunch with a client. It turned into something very different! I had done some research for Gino back in 2008 and he was finally making that trip to Italy with his wife and family. He invited my husband and I to join them for lunch in Ceprano. I was … Continue reading
On-Site research Tips & Tricks
You are planning a trip to Italy and you want to do some family history research. Here’s how to prepare. First make your plans. Are State Archives on your list? Check with https://www.familysearch.org/ to find out what civil records the State Archives have. If Family Search has filmed at that archive then what they have … Continue reading
Sharon’s search for an explanation?
When Sharon started researching her ancestral line in a small town in Abruzzo she was a little shocked at the apparent comportment of her ancestors. She remarked ‘the women in my family certainly got around!’ After studying the records she found I saw a potentially different story. It all began with Maria Proietta who gave … Continue reading
A Foundling or a Love Child?
In researching our genealogy it’s hard to accept that our ancestor was a foundling. A ‘throw away’, a child whose mother abandoned him. We grasp at straws to discover that he was loved and cherished. We don’t really want to believe he was truly alone. Wendy was sure her Grandfather was the secret love child … Continue reading
POLSINELLI (Pulsinelli) family of the Province of Frosinone
The Polsinelli family begins with Giovan Giacomo born in 1540 in Arpino. He had five sons, all married but only one had descendants that stayed in Arpino. It was from his son Fabio that all the Polsinelli in Sora, Isola del Liri, and Broccostella etc. descend. Professor Rocco De Cesare (now deceased) of Arpino created … Continue reading
TWO DAYS OF GENEALOGICAL OVERLOAD
I think Bob would agree that our two days together was worth every penny he spent to have me set up appointments, and the itinerary for his wish list. Bob, had completed most of his family history research using the microfilms from Family Search and I had filled in the gaps. Now he was coming … Continue reading
Preparing for a visit to the town of origin
Seems simple, book a flight, take a bus or train, walk around the town, talk to people and find relatives. Sometimes it actually works! Mostly it doesn’t, at least not all of it. I hear from people who did it successfully and those who were so disappointed to find the town offices closed, the church … Continue reading
