Ricigliano, Italy, courtesy of Michele Broccoli, Naples based researcher
Disclaimer: I was given permission by one of my client’s to discuss his project and surnames in an attempt to bring more family members into the project and learn new information.
I am researching several families in Chicago, from the town of Ricigliano, Italy. This project began last summer, in 2011 and will continue into 2013. The goal of the project was to put together a history of this client’s family which was to include photos, stories, recipes, maps, and family history data. Last year I prepared a short book for the client and his family for Christmas. This book outlined what had been located in the three months or so of research.
This Christmas I am working on a new set of books for the client which are being created as three volumes. Volume I contains the family history information and some social history and Chicago history. Volume II contains analysis of the data from the database. Volume III is a photo book which will contain hundreds of photographs.
Some of the surnames I am working with are: Iacullo/Yacullo, Meccia, Serritella, Malpede, Pacelli, DeLeonardis/De Leonardis, Catena/Catino, Parrilli, Bagnuolo, Tortoriello/Turtoriello, Menella/Mennella, Zaccardo, Pintozzi, Parrillo, Palumbo, Sangiacomo, Indelli, Altier/Altieri/Galtier, Pascente, Sabia/Sabbia, Sacco, and Sarracco.
Watch the blog for more posts about the Rigis. I will be sharing bits of information over the coming weeks.
If your family was from Ricigliano and settled in the Chicago area, I would love to talk to you. We are especially looking for authentic Rigi recipes for inclusion in the book. Please feel free to contact me.
Italian Ancestors
My grandparents – both fraternal (surname: Freda changed to Fredo) and maternal (surname: Saracco)- immigrated to Chicago from Ricigliano. I have a Manifest of Alien Immigrants that lists my grandfather, Vito Freda, as being aboard the S.S. Gran Ontilla which sailed from Naples to New York on 18 May 1920. I assume “Freda” was accidentally changed to “Fredo” by the immigration officials at Ellis Island. Members of the family and relatives were Fredo, Saracco and Seritella. I recently discovered a photograph of my grandfather, Vito, in the book “La Storia” by Jerre Mangione & Ben Morreale. He is shown with others carrying a statue of SantaMaria Incoronata in a parade in Chicago. Plese provide me wiht information regarding your books.
My grandfather, Guiseppe Serritella was from Ricigliano, Italy and migrated to the USA around the 185?. One of his sons, moved to Chicago and married a cousin (Rocco). They had 6 girls. I have many cousins in the Chicago Area. Most of them lived off Roosevelt Blvd in the 1960′s.
Is this the man who was in Ricigliano this past September with Antonio D,Ambrosio? If so I spoke to him and we were going to exchange e-mail. Remind him, I was speaking american with him at Tatinas bar. I’m from Chicago.
I have been researching my wife’s family for several years. Her father is Charles Letizia. His father, Sebastiano Letizia emigrated from Ricigliano in 1902 and settled in Chicago and eventually Melrose Park. He married Mary Parrillo. Mary was the daughter of Christoforo Parrillo and Vitella Antonia Serritella. Both of Mary’s parents emigrated from Ricigliano in the early 1880s. They were married in Chicago at Assumption. I see many families living in the same neighborhood in the early 1900s with the same surnames as Mary’s parents but have not been able to tie any of them with my wife’s family. Have you come across any of these names in your research?
Thank you for your comment! I’m going send you an email soon about this.
Jennifer
Hello – I am the niece of Mary Iasillo. Mary will be 100 on May 4, 2013. We were on the internet today doing research on our family and came across your article. We would love to contribute. My grandfather, Anthony Iasillo, operated a newstand on Madison and Cicero for over 50 years. Our Iasillo family is buried in Queen of Heaven and Mount Carmel Cemeteries. My grandmother was also a Rigi. Her name was Isabella Bagnuolo. She came to this country when she was 14. Anthony was born in 1891 and Isabella in 1895. Please contact me at joycegipson@gmail.com and I will give you my phone number. Thank you for this research.
Hello Joyce! Thank you for your reply! I just emailed you. Hope we can talk soon.
Jennifer
My son in law, Mario Parrilli was born in Riccigliano, Italy. His mother, brother, sister and extended family still live there. He may be of help to you, would you like to contact him? Let me know and I will forward your message to him.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I sent you an email about your post. I look forward to hearing from you.
Hello,
My mother Assunta Serritella is from Ricigliano. We live in Chicago. I have several family members there in Ricigliano that I last visted October 2011. Feel free to contact me. Thanks,
Maria
Hi Maria. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I sent you an email earlier this morning. Would love to chat with you.
Dear Maria
We will be visiting Rome Italy in August of this year. Not sure if our family is from Ricigliano, but since that is our surname we would like to visit this town. Unfortunately, we are having a hard time locating it exactly and also how we can travel there. Any help you can give us would be appreciated.
Thank you
Marylou & Daryl Ricigliano
Thank you for stopping by the blog. I sent you an email in reply to your post.
Jennifer
My paternal grandparents, Joseph Guy Altier and Mary Rose Iasilli Altier, were born and raised in Ricigliano and emigrated to Chicago in 1905 and 1907. Their last name was actually Galtieri before going through Ellis Island. My wife and I honeymooned in Italy and visited family in Ricigliano in 1999. Our nephew and his fiance are planning on visiting Ricigliano during their honeymoon in May and we would love to connect with you.
Nick
Nick thank you for stopping by my blog. I just emailed you a response. Would love to chat soon!
Jennifer
Hi. My great grandfather, Vito (seen on some census reports as “Veto”) Bagnuolo came from Ricigliano. My family pronounced it “Riggi” or “Reggio.” I’m not sure of Vito’s wife’s name, but I think it may have been Josephine. Vito had four sons, Joseph, William, Peter and my grandfather, Daniel. Daniel married Anntoinetta Iuzzolino also, I believe whose family came from Riggi. Her mother’s name was Vinchenza. I can get her father’s name from my father, Daniel and Antoinetta’s son.
I believe Vito came to the US in the 1880s or 1890s. He lived to a very old age. I remember him only as a very old man. He had a few very funny stories from his childhood in Riggi.
Thanks for stopping by the blog Mary. I just sent you an email.
Jennifer
My grandfather’s family was from Riciglianno where his parents returned when he was age one. Savino Simone married Mary Saritella, (not sure of the spelling) and they returned to the states to raise their family. Grandpa “Sam” had a news stand in the Loop, on State and Monroe, through 1972 when he retired~at age 85. He was known as “State Street Sam”. He recited Italian poetry and sang beautifully!
Hello Judy! I just sent you an email about the Serritella family.
Jennifer
My father-in-laws family is from Riciglianno. My husbands grandparents names were John Serritella and married Catherine ( Freda ) Serritella. They lived in Chinatown/Bridgeport area and raised there family there. My in laws still live in the area and more than half the names you mentioned is your above article are families we all grew up with and stayed very close to the Serritellas of Bridgeport as well. Would love to know what you have discovered about these wonderful families. Oh and John Serritella I also worked a newspaper stand but right on the side of the stock exchanges. Thought that was very interesting
Rheanna thanks for stopping by my blog. I just emailed you and I have information on this family. Let’s talk soon!
Jennifer