yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
let's celebrate
hugs Riccardo

Congratulations!!

The priest just sent me an email with a certificate of baptism attached! Actually, I had asked if it was possible to get a photocopy of the 1836 record, but I will just wait until I visit Garzeno, as I am sure to want copies of additional records that I will find in the church records. On ancestry.com last night I found a death record for a woman who looks to be my g-g-grandfather's younger sister Maria Matteri, born to Natale Matteri and Domenica Albini in 1840 (so 4 years younger). She died in Garzeno in 1911, 4 years before my g-g-grandfather dies in Baltimore, Maryland in the U.S. An Ambrogio Matteri attested to her death (I can't read the record well enough to determine whether she was married). In addition to Maria and her parents (my g-g-g-grandparents), there are many many Matteri's and Albini's in the Garzeno civil records over the years, including many marriages between the two families. So between Maria Matteri and the other Matteri's and Albini's, it looks as if I have many "cousins" to meet in Garzeno. Now I need to find someone in Garzeno who can start asking around for me in the village to determine which Matteri's/Albini's in Garzeno today know of my g-g-grandfather who went to America, and which of today's branches of the Matteri/Albino families he was a part of (if the branches are even separate, since they seem to have intertwined so often through the years!). I hope to visit there next spring or summer!
Jackie

This is wonderful news, Jackie. I am so pleased for you. Maybe someone here can help. You never know...

Hi Jackie,
I've just had a quick look at the Garzeno map which show it is just 16 miles from me. Here is that map link:

Google Map

I have also found 8 people with one of the names you are researching. These are listed >HERE<

I couldn't really wander around a village asking questions, but one listing is for the village stores with an owner with that surname - I could go in there and strike up a conversation on the matter. BUT not at the moment, as there is snow here and that village is quite high with several hair-pin bends to get there which, with ice, can be pretty scary!

Thought you might like to see this (it's Garzeno) so you can see what it's like in winter up here...

I'll willingly try and help you if I can - send me a PM with a list of questions... OK?

The journey continues! I have booked my trip, and will be staying in a flat in Garzeno, the newly-discovered birthplace of my great-great-grandfather, from 8/17/09 through 8/23/09. The flat owner, who lives in the UK but whose parents grew up in Garzeno, says she knows some village residents who could help me do some additional research in advance of my visit, and also introduce me to "cousins" in the village once I arrive (there are many with the names Matteri and Albini, the names I have just recently found to be those of my g-g-g-grandparents, whose son immigrated to the U.S. and was my g-g-grandfather), and she is checking with them. I will also write once again to the priest in the village church, who looked into the church records for me and confirmed the baptism of my g-g-grandfather and the names of my g-g-g-grandparents, to let him know I am coming. Thanks again for everyone's help in finding my Italian origin -- I am very excited about the trip! In the meantime, I am still researching to find the birthplace of my g-g-grandmother, the woman my Italian g-g-grandfather Matteri married in America -- she was born in somewhere in Co. Wexford, Ireland!

Congratulations Jackie. Have a great trip and make sure to take a few pictures.

That is so wonderful Jackie! I am sure you will have a wonderful time! Good luck!

Jackie that is wonderful news! Now, just a thought - August is "vacation" month in Italy so make sure you really plan ahead for and visits and such to town halls, and stuff. I would hate for you to get there and find the office is closed! And....don't forget to enjoy the beauty of the country too. I do envy you. Hope you have lots of fun and keep us posted on everything!

nuccia wrote:

Jackie that is wonderful news! Now, just a thought - August is "vacation" month in Italy so make sure you really plan ahead for and visits and such to town halls, and stuff. I would hate for you to get there and find the office is closed! And....don't forget to enjoy the beauty of the country too. I do envy you. Hope you have lots of fun and keep us posted on everything!

Nuccia is quite right here. The office probably won't be 'closed' but will most likely be open to the public on (even) less hours than normal and with maybe just one person covering several offices. August is a great time if you need to go to huge city comunes... there are rarely any queues in them, and they will keep a skeleton staff in all thier offices. But small communes don't do that. It would be worth getting your contact to see if she can get someone to check for you.