On this day: July 31st

On this day, July 31, in...

... 1802, Maria Angela Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1850, Cesare Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 30th

On this day, July 30, in...

... 1841, Giuseppa Misseri was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1843, Giuseppa Misseri was born in Palermo area of Molo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1886, Alfredo Misseri was born in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 29th

On this day, July 29, in...

... 1901, Antonino Rosario Misseri and Susanna Francesca Grazia di Gregoli were married in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 28th

On this day, July 28, in...

... 1603, Vincenza Lo Misseri (Born: 28 Jul 1603, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 27th

On this day, July 27, in...

... 1586, Vincenza Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1759, Francesco Misseri was born in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1795, Bernardo Misseri was born in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 26th

On this day, July 26, in...

... 1757, Rosario Cesare Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1780, Maria Anna Antonina Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1811, Francesco Vito Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1878, Ferdinando Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1888, Antonino Misseri was born in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 25th

On this day, July 25, in...

... 1896, Rosa Misseri was born in Pioppo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

If you want to talk about any of the people listed above, drop me a message. I am hoping by sharing the information about these individuals, they will become cousin-bait, and we can have a conversation about how we might be connected.

On this day: July 24th

On this day, July 24, in...

... 1871, Cesare Misseri was born in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 23rd

On this day, July 23, in...

... 1908, Cesare Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

Are Two Francesco Giuseppe Misseri's the same Individual?

Another mystery has appeared during my family history research, and it is the first time that I have found a birth record that just lists the father as a parent (within my Misseri surname research), with no mother documented.

This is what I have discovered: 

Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (I'm going to add a #1 after his name the rest of the time in this article) was born to Antonino Misseri (the father) on 11 Jun 1902 in Carini. On the birth registration it states in Italian 'una donna che non consente essere nominata" or translated in English as, "a woman who does not allow herself to be named." Obviously, Antonino Misseri had a child, possibly out of wedlock and/or the mother was trying to hide something for reasons we may never know. But it is one of the main points in this article.

Source Citation: Archivio di Stato di Palermo > Stato civile italiano (registri dei Comuni) > Carini > Registro 4, pag-179 https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12657/an_ua36080543/0JXovKQ

Source Citation: Archivio di Stato di Palermo > Stato civile italiano (registri dei Comuni) > Carini > Registro 4, pag-180; https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12657/an_ua36080543/wb39JMv

Then twenty days later, there is a death registration for Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1) on 1 July 1902. Again, the mother remains unknown. All the information lines up and makes sense, with the exception there is no baptism record for Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1) in Carini. It doesn't mean, the child couldn't have been baptized in another place. So far, nothing else has been found for Francesco Giusppe Misseri (#1) in the surrounding towns.

Source Citation: Archivio di Stato di Palermo > Stato civile italiano (registri dei Comuni) > Carini > Registro 4, pag-76, https://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/ark:/12657/an_ua36080583/wWZNXWm

Now this is where the story gets a little strange. 

On 30 May 1902, there was a Carini baptism performed on a newborn with the name of Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (I'm going to add a #2 after his name the rest of the time in this article). The baptism record does not have the words "hodie" or "heri," designating the child was born today or yesterday. This Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#2) was born to the parents of Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli, who married on the 29 July 1901. So, a baby born in late May of 1902 works out perfectly for a newly married couple. This is what gets a bit strange, there is no birth registration for this Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#2). A complete opposite situation from the earlier Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1). One has a birth registration and no baptism record and the other has no birth registration and has a baptism record.

Source Citation: "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LJW-NFV?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-HZS%3A351041601%2C351041602%2C351366601 : 20 May 2014), Carini > Maria Santissima Assunta > Battesimi 1895-1904 > image 440 of 517; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).

I am not sure what to make of all this because the dates do not match up, but they are close to make you wonder if they are they are one and in the same. But with any good puzzle, you need to start thinking a little broader.

I know that Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli had other children, so I thought I would look to see if there is a street address of where the other children were born, since I knew the Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1) was born on via Santa Caterina in Carini. And yes, sure enough several other children born to Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli were born on via Santa Caterina in Carini Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The other thing that matches up is the age of Antonino Misseri who is listed as the father of Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1). Antonino Misseri's age is 19 in 1902, making his birth year in 1883, which is the same birth year of the Antonino Misseri who is married to Susanna di Gregoli.

Another idea I had was to look at the naming convention of the other children born to Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli. Here is a chart showing the other children and their names.

Descendants of Don Antonino Rosario Misseri and Donna Susanna Francesca Grazia di Gregoli

1-Don Antonino Rosario Misseri b. 7 Oct 1883, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, 
  Italy
 + Donna Susanna Francesca Grazia di Gregoli b. 25 Oct 1879, Carini, Palermo, 
  Sicily, Italy
|--2-Francesco Giuseppe Misseri b. 11 Jun 1902, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, 
|    d. 1 Jul 1902, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
|--2-Francesco Misseri b. 4 May 1903, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, d. 18 Apr 
|    1976, Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
    + Maria Vitellaro b. 13 May 1910, Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, d. Bef 
     1966
    + Carmela La Barbera b. {unknown date}, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
|--2-Giuseppe Vincenzo Misseri b. 13 Jan 1905, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, 
|    d. 18 Dec 1988, Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
    + Rosa Schillaci b. Abt 1910, Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
|--2-Grazia Rosalia Crocifissa Misseri b. 23 Apr 1906, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, 
|    Italy, d. 20 Feb 1908, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
|--2-Vincenzo Misseri b. 17 Jun 1907, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, d. 10 Aug 
|    1907, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
|--2-Maria Grazia Misseri b. 19 Aug 1908, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, d. 2 
|    Jan 1996, Voghera, Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
---2-Rosalia Crocifissa Misseri b. 3 Oct 1910, Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, 
     d. 5 Jul 1975, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
    + Giovanni Martino b. 25 Jul 1909, Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, d. 19 
     Apr 1935, Resuttana, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
    + Enrico Lo Jacono b. {unknown date}, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

To help with the naming convention, the parents of Antonino Misseri are Francesco Misseri and Maria Grazia Lombardo, and Susanna di Gregoli's parents are Giuseppe di Gregoli and Rosalia Bernarda di Leone.

As you can see from the chart, Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli had several children and the children are named exactly as you would expect them to be; even more so because they combined both the grandparent's first names into the names of their children if you take into account of the Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1) (potentially their first son) that we are researching and Grazia Rosaila Crocifissa Misseri (their first daughter).

Next, I decided to investigate are the autograph signatures on the various birth records of the children of Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli. From my untrained eye, it appears to be the same signature of Antonino Misseri on both the Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1) birth record and the subsequence birth records of Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli.

The last observation I have about the Antonino Misseri who married Susanna di Gregoli, is that he came from a respected family. Antonino Misseri and his father, Francesco Misseri, both had the title of "Don" within the community. His mother also had the title of Donna. Did the stature and family name have anything to do with the no mother being listed on the birth record of Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1)? Susanna di Gregoli also came from a distinguished family as both her father and mother had the titles of Don and Donna attached to their names. I bring this up only as another thing to think about when looking at the over-arching picture of this puzzle. 

My gut is telling me it is the same person, but I still have several questions that linger.

In the end, the big question remains, are the two Francesco Giuseppe Misseri's the same person? And if so, why the discrepancy of the dates? Why does one have a birth record and no baptism, and it is the other way around for the other person? There are just too many strange coincidences that is hard to believe that something is not quite right. Maybe the families used their influence to change or delay the reporting of birth or the baptism dates?

If it the same person, how on earth can there be a baptism record from 30 May 1902 and a birth registration on 11 Jun 1902? That is the biggest question that I have after going through this whole process of researching the records. I am very intrigued if anyone else has any thoughts about this mystery of Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#1) and Francesco Giuseppe Misseri (#2).

A couple of side notes:

• Antonino Misseri, the husband of Susanna di Gregoli, is the brother of Pietro Misseri, who I am a direct ancestor of
• Antonino Misseri and Susanna di Gregoli's second son, Francesco Misseri (born in 1903) spent time in a Palermo prison. You can read the article here.

On this day: July 22nd

On this day, July 22, in...

... 1912, Pietro Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 21st

On this day, July 21, in...

... 1739, Francesco Vincenzo Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1884, Giuseppe Salvatore Misseri was born in Pioppo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1886, Anna Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1888, Maria Antonina Misseri was born in Montelepre, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1910, Elvira Mary Misseri was born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States.

On this day: July 20th

On this day, July 20, in...

... 1933, Pierre Emile Ange Misseri was born in Bizerte, Tunisia.

On this day: July 19th

On this day, July 19, in...

... 1849, Vincenzo Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1901, Antonia Anna Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditor,

... 1905, Angela Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 18th

On this day, July 18, in...

... 1751, Antonino Carmelo Giuseppe Misseri was born in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1815, Angelo Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1874, Marianna Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1942, Giuseppe Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 17th

On this day, July 17, in...

... 1765, Giovanni Misseri was born in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 16th

On this day, July 16, in...

... 1871, Teresa Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

... 1895, Angela Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1961, Francesco Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 15th

On this day, July 15, in...

... 1883, Pietra Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1903, Antonino Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Altarello, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1903, Vincenzo Misseri was born in Grombalia, Nabeul, Tunisia.

... 1923, Conception Misseri was born in Saint-Henri, Tunis, Tunisia.

On this day: July 14th

On this day, July 14, in...

... 1710, Francesco Domenico Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1842, Francesco Misseri was born in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 13th

On this day, July 13, in...

... 1904, Angelo Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 12th

On this day, July 12, in...

... 1724, Carlo Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1729, Rosalia Filippa Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1833, Carmelo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

It's Amazing to Be Here at All

It's amazing how lucky we are to be here.

The trajectory of a family is unknown as life is unfolding; you never know what is going to happen if future generations will follow you as you are in the middle of living your life. For example, take John Doucette who married Mary Elizabeth Doucet (yes, the same last name - spelled a little different and yes, technically they are 2nd cousins). They both came from the same area in Yarmouth County in Nova Scotia, Canada. John Doucette and Mary Elizabeth Doucet made their way south like many before them as part of the Nova Scotia chain migration to New England; specifically, the Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. They got married in Melrose, about 11 miles north of Boston in 1888 and later that year, their first child was born, followed by another 8 over the next 18 years. It seems that the family moved and lived in the towns of Melrose and Wakefield, Massachusetts.

This is where I can say that I feel lucky to be here on this earth. Out of the nine children that were born, only five lived to see their 20th birthday. And out of the five, only one child got married and had children of their own. The other four siblings died at the ages of 3, 3, 2 and 2. Having children die at a young age was part of life in the late 1800s and early 1900s, especially in you were living in poor conditions that bred sickness that could easily spread among other family members, which was the case for John and Mary and their children. Then, to take it one step further, the one individual (James Edward Doucette) who did get married, he only had children because his first wife (Grace Esther Williams) died six months after being married. He re-married two years later to Grace Catherine McArdle and they had three children, with one who died at the age of three.

I realize that there are other cases with more odds stacked against a family, but I just wanted to make note and acknowledge that I am thankful to be here.

Descendants of John Doucette and Mary Elizabeth Doucet

1-John Doucette b. Dec 1865, Quinan, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 
  d. 22 May 1908, Melrose, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
 + Mary Elizabeth Doucet b. 12 Mar 1870, Belleville, Yarmouth County, Nova 
  Scotia, Canada, d. 30 Mar 1951, Yarmouth, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada
|--2-Jarvis Alle Doucette b. 23 Sep 1888, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 2 May 1901, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States
|--2-James Lowry Doucette b. 27 Jul 1890, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 18 Jul 1910, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States
|--2-James Edward Doucette b. 27 Nov 1892, Wakefield, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 5 Apr 1927, Rutland, Worcester County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States
    + Grace Esther Williams b. 20 Dec 1895, Boston, Suffolk County, 
     Massachusetts, United States, d. 6 Jul 1914, Belleville, Yarmouth County, 
     Nova Scotia, Canada
    + Grace Catherine McArdle b. 11 Sep 1895, Hyde Park, Norfolk County, 
     Massachusetts, United States, d. 17 Jun 1952, Quincy, Norfolk County, 
     Massachusetts, United States
|--2-Ellen Elizabeth Doucette b. 26 Sep 1894, Wakefield, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 24 Aug 1897, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States
|--2-James Lewis Doucette b. Dec 1896, Amiraults Hill, Yarmouth County, Nova 
|    Scotia, Canada, d. After 1920
|--2-Francis Eugene Doucette b. 20 Mar 1898, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 7 Feb 1900, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States
|--2-Ellen Frances Doucette b. 7 Sep 1900, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 9 Dec 1902, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States
|--2-Beatrice Evelyn Doucette b. 7 Jan 1904, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
|    Massachusetts, United States, d. 30 Apr 1926, Argyle, Yarmouth County, 
|    Nova Scotia, Canada
---2-John Lewis Doucette b. 11 Jun 1906, Melrose, Middlesex County, 
     Massachusetts, United States, d. 17 Sep 1937, Belleville, Yarmouth County, 
     Nova Scotia, Canada

So, in conclusion, when researching families that had a lot of hardship, take the time and count your blessing that you are here at all. The stars all must align in so many ways to make it possible for you to be reading this blog entry. And yes, I am a descendant of James Edward Doucette.

On this day: July 11th

On this day, July 11, in...

... 1874, Cesare Misseri was born in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1889, Rosa Francesca Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1902, Giovanna Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1912, Francesco Girolamo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 10th

On this day, July 10, in...

... 1598, Agata Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1758, Salvatore Giuseppe Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1818, Vincenza Misseri was born in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1866, Francesca Paola Misseri was born in Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 9th

On this day, July 9, in...

... 1816, Rosaria Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1839, Croce Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1908, Grazia Misseri was born in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 8th

On this day, July 8, in...

... 1929, Filippo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

Blog Design Tweak

I recently had a few comments about how the site was hard to read in certain sections because of the color of the fonts being used. So, I have tweaked the design of the blog a bit to make it more accessible and appealing to readers. I appreciate the feedback regarding the design and if you have any other thoughts, please let me know. Thanks for your understanding as I work through the process of "re-designing" the site.

On this day: July 7th

On this day, July 7, in...

... 1752, Vita Rosalia Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1905, Alessandro Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 6th

On this day, July 6, in...

... 1818, Francesca Santa Rosalia Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1849, Enrico Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Santa Ninfa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 5th

On this day, July 5, in...

... 1888, Francesco Paolo Misseri and Francesca Paola Misseri were married in the Palermo area of Zisa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 4th

On this day, July 4, in...

... 1875, Unnamed Infant Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1942, Pierre-Louis Marie Misseri was born in Heliopolis, Guelma, Algérie.

On this day: July 3rd

On this day, July 3, in...

... 1909, Susanna Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 2nd

On this day, July 2, in...

... 1891, Giovanna Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

On this day: July 1st

On this day, July 1, in...

.... 1851, Rosalia Misseri was born in the Palermo area of Santa Ninfa, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

.... 1909, Vincenza Misseri was born in Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.

In this month: July

There are people who I've researched over the years, and in the process, I haven't been able to find an exact birth, marriage or death date, for the person. But I have narrowed it down to a particular month, so I am going to start tracking and adding a blog entry called "On This Month," which I will post on the first of every month so those individuals won't be lost or forgotten just because they have missing details about their lives. 

In this month, of July in:

... 1785, Vincenzo Lo Misseri was born in Carini, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

... 1904, Cesare Misseri was born in Palermo area of Uditore, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

If you want to talk about any of the people listed above, drop me a message. I am hoping by sharing the information about these individuals, they will become cousin-bait, and we can have a conversation about how we might be connected.