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My name is Elizabeth Turney Schellman. To your left is the only photo we have of my mother's paternal grandfather. She knew of him as Joseph Louis Mott. Through research and DNA testing, we now know him as Rocco Vincenzo Sarli. He was born August 12, 1857, in Laurenzana, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy, to Egidiantonio Sarli (1817-1860), son of Michele Sarlo (1774-1828) and Angelina Asselta (1787-1821), and Maria Carmela Marone (1821-1869), daughter of Vito Marone (1799-) and Rosa Robortaccio (1798-1869).
Egidiantonio and Maria married October 7, 1844 in Laurenzana. They were the parents of seven children, all born in Laurenzana. All but two, Vito Maria Sarli and Rocco Vincenzo Sarli, died before the age of ten. All died in Laurenzana except for Rocco/Joseph. He died in Morgan, Conejos, Colorado, USA.
- Rosa Mariangela Sarli born 19 Oct 1845, died 15 Dec 1846
- Michele Arcangelo Sarli born 18 Sep 1847, died 15 Oct 1847
- Vito Sarli born 6 Dec 1848, died 15 Apr 1850
- Michelarcangelo Sarli born 26 June 1852, died 24 Mar 1857
- *Vito Maria Sarli born 14 Mar 1855, died 11 May 1944
- *Rocco Vincenzo Sarli born 12 Aug 1857, died 4 Aug 1894
- Maria Giuseppe Sarli born 19 Mar 1860, died 19 Aug 1869
Egidiantonio Sarli died in Laurenzana on May 13, 1860, when Vito Maria was five, Rocco Vincenzo was three, and Maria Giuseppe was almost two months old. On May 3, 1862, his widow Maria Carmela Marone married Francesco Urga (1822-1906), widower of Maria Giuseppe Falotico (1823-1861). On January 21, 1864, Maria gave birth to Giovanni Antonio Urga in Laurenzana. Maria died on August 7, 1869, when Giovanni was five years old. Francesco Urga married a third time on July 9, 1873, to Mariantonia Laraia (1825-1904), widow of Rocco Pasquale Pellettieri (1819-1870) in Laurenzana.
*Update: See post #37: I've discovered that Egidiantonio Sarli was not Maria Carmela Marone's first husband, but her second. Maria's first husband was Giovanni Laraja (1811-1841), son of Gerardo Nicola Laraja ( a carpenter) and Gaetana Marone. I also discovered that Giovanni Laraja and Maria Carmela Marone had a daughter in 1841 whom they named Maria Giovanna. She was born two days after her father Giovanni died. She died in 1844 at the age of 3.
With their mother's death on August 7,1869, Vito Maria, Rocco Vincenzo, and Maria Giuseppe Sarli had lost both of their natural parents. Maria Giuseppe died two weeks later on August 19, 1869. Vito Maria stayed in Laurenzana the rest of his life. But between the death date of his mother, or perhaps even before, and until Francesco Urga's third marriage in July of 1873, it is evident that Rocco Vincenzo Sarli decided to take his harp, at which he had grown proficient, and emigrate to America either with an uncle or two, or with fellow Potenza-province boy musicians and their leader. He would have been between eleven and sixteen years of age.
With their mother's death on August 7,1869, Vito Maria, Rocco Vincenzo, and Maria Giuseppe Sarli had lost both of their natural parents. Maria Giuseppe died two weeks later on August 19, 1869. Vito Maria stayed in Laurenzana the rest of his life. But between the death date of his mother, or perhaps even before, and until Francesco Urga's third marriage in July of 1873, it is evident that Rocco Vincenzo Sarli decided to take his harp, at which he had grown proficient, and emigrate to America either with an uncle or two, or with fellow Potenza-province boy musicians and their leader. He would have been between eleven and sixteen years of age.
My great grandmother was Rosa Carmela Sarli Colasuonno b. 2 Sep 1870, d. 14 Dec 1958 Laurenzana, Prov. di Basilicata. She emigrated (somehow?) to New York at age ~ 1 month. She was perhaps an orphan or maybe an illegitimate child. In the U.S. she married Oronzio Colasuonno, and had 11 children, including my grandmother, Irene Russo. Laurenzana is a tiny town; Rosa Carmela Sarli must have been related to some of the people you describe in your blog.
ReplyDeleteI looked up your great grandmother. Yes, she IS related. Her parents were Rocco Vincenzo Sarli (b. 24 Apr 1826, Laurenzana) & Maria Carmela Motta (b. 16 July 1830, Laurenzana). His parents were Francesco Paolo Sarli (b. 18 Oct 1784, Laurenzana) & Maria Gioscio (b. 1890, Laurenzana). Maria's parents were Giuseppe Motta (b. 10 Apr 1801, Laurenzana) & Antonia Blasi (b. 31 Dec 1803, Laurenzana). Francesco Paolo's parents: Domenico Sarlo (b. 1725) & Rosa Parella. Giuseppe Motta's parents: Giambattista Motta & Dorotea Romano. Antonia's parents: Giuseppe Blasi & Maddalena Dell'Accio. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Janet White. Elizabeth Schellman is my younger sister. I am very proud of her patience, tenacity and thoroughness and will share this blog with my children and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents were Egidio Antonio Pavese, one of 10 children , who was born around 1873 in Laurenzana Italy to parents Rocco Vincenzo Pavese and Maria Magdalena Martoccio . Maria Magdalena Martoccio,born in Laurenzana Italy, is sister to a Martoccio who is related to the Mott family , Joseph Mott M.D. ,doctor in Arizona via Colorado. Egidio Antonio Pavese came to NY as a boy of 10 years old to play the violin with the other wandering minstrals recruited in Italy , by the same heads of the boy musicians in USA ,sponsored by his elder brother Francesco Paolo Pavese. Egigidio Antonio Pavese went back to Italy in his 20s to marry his wife Maria Teresa Zito who's parents were Dominick Zito and Rosa Maria Asselta. We both must be related to the Asselta and Martoccio families. I also recognize many of the names from Potenza ancestors like Blasi who married Vita Maria Pavese, Egidio Antonio Pavese's sister.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was Joseph Zito who was married to Antionette Moreno. I recall as a child visiting the Pavese household Vincent Pavese; Richard Pavese. I’m pretty sure that my great grandfather was Dominick Zito.
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