I am from Essex, England and researching the Italian side of my family. All I know is that my GG Granfather Pietro Guidotti was born about 1835 ..in Lucca (I do not know whether this is the Province, or the town etc). He was a figure maker, as was his father Jacopo. Pietro married in London in 1856 and was still living and working there in 1905 when his wife died. (I do not know when or where he died as I could find no record in the death registers in the U.K). I would be very grateful if anyone could help me to locate his birth records in Italy, and any records of his family (parents, brothers and sisters etc), and where they may have lived.

I did find a record of a Jacopo Guidotti born in Lucca (Lucca, Lucca) in 1776 who married a Maria Sambuchi from Fivizzano (Fivizzano, Massa) in 1821, but I do not know whether or not they are Pietro's parents I know they had a daughter in 1838 in Virgoletta, Villafranca, Massa. However, this may not be Pietro's famlly.

An elderly relative believed that Pietro may have lived in La Spezia, before coming to England (and again we do not know the date he came over to England). And another relative thought that the family originated from Sicily. (which is a possibility, as there is a Lucca there)

If any one could hep, I would be extremel grateful.

Thanks

Ashley Merchant

Hi Ashley!

Welcome to Gente. We will try to help you here.

Your Pietro registered his marriage to Margaret (Anna) Footman in the second quarter (Apr-May-Jun) of 1856. Her death was registered in the last quarter of 1905 (Oct-Nov-Dec). She was registered twice..once under Margaret A. Guidotti and once under Margaret Anna Giudotti.

The information from the 1861 Census is as follows:
Peter Guidotti
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Gender: Male
Where born: Lucca, Italy

Civil Parish: Saffron Hill
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England



Registration district: Holborn
Sub registration district: Saffron Hill
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 109

1881 Census:


1881 England Census
about Pietro Guidotti
Name: Pietro Guidotti
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Gender: Male
Where born: Lucca, Italy

Civil Parish: St Andrew
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address: 23 Greville St
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: Figure Maker

Registration district: Holborn
Sub registration district: St Andrew Eastern
ED, institution, or vessel: 8a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Chapple 48
Eliza Chapple 17
Maria Chapple 50
Hannah Footman 66
Clorindo Guidotti 10
Elizabeth Guidotti 18
Margaret Guidotti 41
Pietro Guidotti 46
Rosina Guidotti 5


The 1891 census shows this:


1891 England Census
about Peter Guidotti
Name: Peter Guidotti
Age: 53
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Gender: Male
Where born: Italy

Civil Parish: Newington
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: St Saviour Southwark
Sub registration district: St Mary Newington
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Margaret Guidotti 48
Peter Guidotti 53
Rosina M Guidotti 15

and the 1901 census:


1901 England Census
about Pietro Guidotti
Name: Pietro Guidotti
Age: 65
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Gender: Male
Where born: Italian Subject, Italy

Civil Parish: Clerkenwell
Ecclesiastical parish: St James Pentonville
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Holborn
Sub registration district: Amwell
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 268
Household Members:
Name Age
Margaret Guidotti 60
Pietro Guidotti 65
Rose E Jenkins 2
Rosina M Jenkins 25

I can link the images if you haven't already seen them but I'm sure you have. There is quite a variation of birth years here..

Have you written away for the actual marriage certificate for Peter and Margaret? It may provide some clues. I would also take the chance and write a letter requesting the birth act for Pietro from both Lucca the province and the comune.

nuccia wrote:

Hi Ashley! Welcome to Gente. We will try to help you here. Your Pietro registered his marriage to Margaret (Anna) Footman in the second quarter (Apr-May-Jun) of 1856. Her death was registered in the last quarter of 1905 (Oct-Nov-Dec). She was registered twice..once under Margaret A. Guidotti and once under Margaret Anna Giudotti. The information from the 1861 Census is as follows: Peter Guidotti Age: 28 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1833 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Margaret Gender: Male Where born: Lucca, Italy Civil Parish: Saffron Hill Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter County/Island: Middlesex Country: England Registration district: Holborn Sub registration district: Saffron Hill ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 109 1881 Census: 1881 England Census about Pietro Guidotti Name: Pietro Guidotti Age: 46 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Margaret Gender: Male Where born: Lucca, Italy Civil Parish: St Andrew County/Island: London Country: England Street address: 23 Greville St Condition as to marriage: Married Education: Employment status: View Image Occupation: Figure Maker Registration district: Holborn Sub registration district: St Andrew Eastern ED, institution, or vessel: 8a Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Ann Chapple 48 Eliza Chapple 17 Maria Chapple 50 Hannah Footman 66 Clorindo Guidotti 10 Elizabeth Guidotti 18 Margaret Guidotti 41 Pietro Guidotti 46 Rosina Guidotti 5 The 1891 census shows this: 1891 England Census about Peter Guidotti Name: Peter Guidotti Age: 53 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1838 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Margaret Gender: Male Where born: Italy Civil Parish: Newington Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary County/Island: London Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View Image Registration district: St Saviour Southwark Sub registration district: St Mary Newington ED, institution, or vessel: 11 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Margaret Guidotti 48 Peter Guidotti 53 Rosina M Guidotti 15 and the 1901 census: 1901 England Census about Pietro Guidotti Name: Pietro Guidotti Age: 65 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Margaret Gender: Male Where born: Italian Subject, Italy Civil Parish: Clerkenwell Ecclesiastical parish: St James Pentonville County/Island: London Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: View Image Registration district: Holborn Sub registration district: Amwell ED, institution, or vessel: 8 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 268 Household Members: Name Age Margaret Guidotti 60 Pietro Guidotti 65 Rose E Jenkins 2 Rosina M Jenkins 25 I can link the images if you haven't already seen them but I'm sure you have. There is quite a variation of birth years here.. Have you written away for the actual marriage certificate for Peter and Margaret? It may provide some clues. I would also take the chance and write a letter requesting the birth act for Pietro from both Lucca the province and the comune.

Thank you very much indeed for the information (Some of it I already had, but some was new) I did get Pietro's and Margaret Footman's marriage Certificate, which is where I found the name of his father Jacopo Guidotti also a figure maker. I wrote to Archivo di Stato di Lucca, but they could not provide any details other than to suggest I write to the Comunita (there are over 30 from Anchiano to Viareggio) There was one that mentioned Lucca and that was "Lucca centro" So perhaps I will try and find their address.

The search continues

Thanks once again Nuccia, and if you come up with anything else as well it would be appreciated.

Wih Kind Regards

Ashley