08 October 2014

NIGS Research Italian Ancestors Course Assignment

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies (http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/) offers a course Research:  Italian Ancestors with course material by Melanie D. Holtz, CG.  I am taking the elective course to improve my genealogical skills AND continue the hunt for my paternal grandfather.  The first module assignment is to describe what is known.  I submitted the following:

My father was known as Benjamin Vaillant (23 May 1913[1] – 24 Dec 2002[2]).
His father was Augusto “August” Veneziano (About 1883[3] - ????).  The Italian family surname—Veneziano—was changed in the summer of 1928 in Chicago, Cook, IL.[4]
August Venezian married Francisicana Maria “Mary” Branca in St. Louis, MO on 27 April 1907.[5]
August probably arrived 1 April 1904.[6]  Mary’s arrival has to be determined.  She might have arrived 11 May 1887.[7]  There are at least three other Mary Branca’s who arrive all of which would have projected birth dates of 1873-1874. 
August was probably born in Calascibetta, Calascibetta, Sicily, Italy[8]
Mary was probably born in Buscate, Milano, Italy.[9]
August (and Mary) reside in St. Louis until about 1915.[10]  A daughter, Gloria, was born in Chicago, Cook, IL about 29 September 1915.[11]  August is mentioned on the death certificate 6 February 1917. (The information about Gloria was in another post.)



[1] Birthdate based on Delayed Birth Certificate
[2] Certificate of Death
[3] Based on Marriage Application
[4] Separate paper available documenting the name change.
[5] Marriage application and Marriage License
[6] Agostino Veneziano, Italian South, Last residence Colatiel..tta, Date of Arrival April 11, 1904, Age at Arrival=20y, Gender=M, Marital Status=S, Ship of Travel=Marco Minghetti, Port of Departure=Palermo and Manifest Line Number was 0015
[7] There is a listing for a M. Branca, Age 3 arriving on May 11, 1887 who traveled Steerage from Genoa, Leghorn and Naples on the Ship Elysia With Captain Baxton.
[8] Based on the Ellis Island record in footnote 6.
[9] St. Louis Church marriage record
[10]Veneziano, August lab(orer) is listed with a residence of 2005 Franklin [which would be about 20th and Franklin Streets].  page 1880

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name:    August Veneziano
Residence Year:   1908
Street address:    2005 Franklin av
Residence Place:  St Louis, Missouri
Occupation:         Laborer
Publication Title: St Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1908
 He had a residence in 1909 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.¹ Venezia, August, lab(orer) is listed as residing at 901 Franklin.  Page 2082
He had a residence in 1910 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.¹ Venezia, August lab(orer) resides at 901 Franklin.  Page 207
He appeared on the census on 16 APR 1910 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.¹ August appears as the 26 year old head of household.  He was born in Italy as were both his parents.  He is listed as immigrated to the US in 1906 and is still an alien.  He is a laborer who does odd jobs.  He is living at 901B Franklin Avenue.
He resided at City Directory in 1915 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.¹ Veneziano, August, lab(orer) resides at 1615 N 13th [which could be Mullanphy and 13th] page 2139
Not found in the 1916 directory. If the 1916 directory documents locations from 1915 then it is possible the family had moved to Chicago where on September 29, 1915 daughter Gloria was born (based on her certificate of death).
[11] Certificate of Death

August disappears from the family sometime after 1917.  There are no Chicago City Directories to consult as they were not published!  He is not found in the Chicago 1920 Federal Census.[1] The reference to Mary being a “widow” could have been a polite way to speak.  The informant is not known and my conjecture is that it was the oldest daughter—June—offering the information.[2]

Unsolved Problems:
     1.    The death place and date for August.
     2.    Verify the parents and siblings of August.[3]
     3.    Verify the parents and siblings of Mary.[4]
     4.    Where was Mary before 1907?
     5.    When did Mary arrive in the U.S.?
     6.    Who was Carlo August Veneziano?[5]


[1] Mary Venezina appears as the 38 year head of household who was born in Italy as were both her parents.   She is living at 1251 Oregon Avenue and is employed as a finisher in a tailor house.  She is a widow.  She is able to speak English. She is a naturalized citizen who immigrated to the United States in 1903.

NOTE:  Oregon became Flournoy after 1920.
[2] She appeared on the census on 13 JAN 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States.¹ Josephine appears as the 10 year old daughter of Mary.  She attended school and is able to read and write.  She was born in Missouri.  Both her parents were born in Italy.
[3] A clue from the Church marriage record is August’s father was Giuseppe (Joseph) and his mother Francesca (with a notation which may mean she was dead).
[4] A clue from the Church marriage record is Mary’s father was Giuseppe (Joseph) and her mother Adelaire with no surname given.
[5] Need to do a paper studying this person.

 1.   Who was the informant on Carlo August Veneziano’s Death Certificate?[1]


[1] Vencinzo Veneziano is the person listed as the Informant.

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