Looking for any information on Gallina or LaFata from Carini.

My father, Francesco Gallina, was born in Terrasini June 6, 1902 to Giuseppe Gallina and Susana LaFata. They came to Ellis Island about 5 months later.

I see from the records that there are few Gallinas (or LaFatas) in Terrasini and many in Carini - also, the marriage records for Gallina go back to at least the 1600's in Carini . . . guess that's where there from.

This is about all I know. Any help would be appreciated.

Ron Gallina

Hi

There is a record of Francesco's baptism on LDS Film #1764330 Vol. 35 page #225 record #81. It reads......2-June-1902 baptized infant born earlier to Joseph Gallina and Susanna LaFata of Terrasini, and named Francesco. (Godfather's name was also Francesco Gallina)

I see you've given his birthdate as 6-June-1902..in my research I've found this sort of discrepancy is not unusual.

I wasn't able to find a marriage record for Giuseppe and Susanna but I've noticed that the Terrasini records are different in that there could be more than one book covering a particular year. For instance one book could have Terrasini records, another Terrasini Favarotta, and still another mostly Cinisi. It's possible the marriage is just not in the books I've seen so far.

I'll keep you in mind as I continue to search Terrasini and let you know if I find anything.

I think Giuseppe went back to Terrasini and returned to Brooklyn in 1908. If I'm right then his father's name was Francesco - living on Via Scola in Terrasini.

Wish I could have helped more.

Angelina

That's the correct ones. My mom has a copy of Dad's birth certificate that says sei giugno 1902, but like you say it could be inaccurate. His dad Guiseppe did in fact return to Sicily and arrived back from Palermo on July 17, 1908 according to the Ellis Island records.
This is the first confirmation I have had that my Gallina ancestors actually lived in Terrasini (there aren't many of them there now). Thanks so much, Angelina.

Ron G

Hi Ron

Did your family move to St. Louis? The reason I ask is that I've found a death certificate with the following information:

Deceased: Susanna Gallina Date of Death - July 5, 1942 Age 55 (DOB 4/27/1887)

Husband of Deceased: Giuseppe Gallina - Age 63

Birthplace of Deceased: Terrasini, Italy

Father of Deceased: Salvatore La Fata
Mother of Deceased: Brigita Patrico

Burial: July-9-1942 Calvary Cemetery. St. Louis Mo.

Cause of Death: Angina Pectoris, Myocarditis, Aterio Sclerosis.
Address at time of death: 1139 Aubert Ave. St. Louis, Mo.

Death reported by Joseph Gallina

I can send you a copy of the certificate if you'd like.

Angelina

Trying to find Giuseppe:

Did he own a Tavern in St. Louis? Did he have a son or a family member named Charles he would have lived with after his wife died?

Are you familiar with the name Gladys Feinstein?

Angelina

Hi Angelina,

It never occurred to me to look where you did. Yes, my Dad's family moved to St. Louis, I'm not sure exactly when. Giuseppe, who was the first to come to America, was the oldest of 4 or 5 brothers, the others I know of were called Willy, Jim, and Mike. All of the brothers owned taverns in St. Louis. Giuseppe's sons, Frank (my dad) and Charlie also owned taverns there. Giuseppe (we called him Papa) didn't really live with my uncle Charlie after Grandma Susanna died. He had two daughters, Brigita and Susanna. Brigita married, Susanna (jr?) remained unmarried and took care of Papa until he died around 1955.

My dad was the oldest sibling. The last living sibling, Charlie, died about a year ago at 93.

I would be glad to have a copy of Grandma Susanna's death certificate. (Here's my email in case it's not otherwise available:

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.)
She died about a month before my parents were married, so we never knew her. Her parents' names will be invaluable in tracking her ancestry in Sicily.

Lastly, I have never heard of Gladys Feinstein. Neither has my mother. Who is she?

Thanks again for your considerable help with tracking my Italian family.

Ron G

Hi,

This is what I've found and I'm hoping you can confirm this is your family.

I start with the parents of Giuseppe ........

Francesco Gallina (son of Matteo Gallina & Anna Costantino) married Susanna Guercio (daughter of Giuseppe Guercia & Francesca Amato) on 14-Ju-1874 in Carini. Susanna was born about 1855 in Carini and died 2-Jan-1927 in St. Louis of Double Pneumonia.

Matteo Gallina (son of Francesco Gallina & Caterina Basile) married Anna Costantino (daughter of Antonino Costantino & Lucrezia Di Simone) on 3-Jul-1842 in Carini

Francesco Gallina (son of Matteo Gallina & Giuseppa [Ingargiola?]) married Caterina Basile (daughter of Marco Basile & Rosaria [Pizzo?]) on 22-May-1812 in Carini. When we verify the wives surnames we can go further back.

Children of Francesco Gallina & Susanna Guercia Baptized in Carini:

2-Jul-1881 Anna
7-Jul 1883 Francesco – Died 20-Dec-1943 in St. Louis of Myocardial Infarction. (Wife’s name – Petrina)
12-Jun-1885 Vincenzo
14-Jul-1887 Vito
28-May-1889 Michele Giovanni Fiordilegge
27-Apr-1891 Salvatore
4-Mar-1894 Antonino

There is a death certificate in St. Louis for a William (Guglielmo?) Vito Gallina (son of Francesco Gallina & Susanna Guercio) born 15-Aug-1885 – died 18-Aug-1952 of Coronary Thrombosis. no record in Carini. Possibly Vito…birthdate incorrect? Wife – Blanche Horstmann, native of St. Louis.

I haven’t found Giuseppe & Matteo yet……we don’t have the books for the first few years after the marriage…we should have those books in the near future and we can look again. But I would guess Giuseppe & Matteo were born in Carini and married in Terrasini.

Matteo Gallina (son of Francesco Gallina & Susanna Guercia) married Grazia Evola (daughter of Graziano Evola & Pietra Ciaramitaro) on 20-Jul-1902 in Terrasini. At some point Matteo must have returned to Terrasini and may have stayed there. They had a daughter Susanna baptized 26-Mar-1906 in Terrasini.

Giuseppe Gallina (son of Francesco Gallina & Susanna Guercia) born 4/13/1888 (incorrect birthdate?) in Italy – Died 22-Mar-1957-in St. Louis of Cerebral Hemarrhage. Wife – Susanna

Susanna La Fata (daughter of Salvatore La Fata & Brigita Patrico was baptized on 22-May-1887 as Caterina. Salvatore’s parents were Silvestro La Fata & Susanna Di Maria. Brigita’s parents were Gaspare Patrico & Caterina Grillo.

Giuseppe Gallina & Susanna La Fata had a daughter named Fiordelige born in St. Louis 2-April-1916 – died 2-Nov-1918 of Bronchial Pneumonia.

I'll send you the death certificates I found.

Angelina

Sorry......Neglected to answer your question re: Gladys Feinstein - who is she?...probably not anyone in your family. I came across the name on another death certificate and was making sure she was not part of the family we were researching.

Ang

Hi Ron,

A little more info.

Betty Bridget Gallina born 1-Dec-1909 to Joseph Gallina and Susanna La Fata of 1008 N. 6th, St. Louis, MO

This confirms they were in St. Louis before the 1910 Census but I couldn't find a record.

Ang