Maria was a popular name - for both men and women in many parts of Southern Italy. It was not uncommon to find Maria Antonia, Maria Concetta, Maria Rosa, etc. In these cases women were often called by their middle name at home. Once in the US they often called themselves Mary. Some men were given it as a middle name. It was also common for a child to be called by their baptismal name or a "sopranome" (nickname). My grandfather was Francesco but I always knew him as Bruno. His grandfather was Domenico but he was known as Giuseppe and was recorded as Giuseppe on many of his children's birth and death acts. As for the different surnames we really need to get a hold of the birth act to see what it was recorded as. The US records would be the least accurate - Felicetta (little Felice/a) was recorded as 14 on the ship manifest she arrived on in Oct 1919, 13 in the 1920 census in January and then less than 2 months later 16 on her marriage record. I doubt she was 16 - maybe 15 at best.

I'm also curious as to why they wrote Mary C. Chiappetta on her marriage certificate - the C could stand for her father's surname ...and if she was illegitimate then she would be known by her mother's maiden name if thats how she was recorded - even if everyone knew who her father was she would still need to travel under the name she was recorded as. There are so many scenarios - her dad could have died prior to her birth or Rachela got pregnant after her first husband's death and tried to pass the child off as his. Slowly we will piece it together. We just need to find that first piece of proof and we will know what we're working with.

At this point, I'm wondering if Michelle should order the microfilm records of births for the town for the period 1901-1907.

Nati 1901-1907
Family History Library INTL Film
#1642125

We've found a Concetta Chiappetta Act# 69 for 1907 (possibly the Concetta on the 1911 did not sail manifest) and Maria/Mary/Felicetta's birth act should be on that microfilm also since records show her birth as about 1905.

Either or both of these birth acts should yield some answers.

Biff

Hi Biff!

If it gets me past my roadblock, I will definitely do it!

Can you please tell me HOW I do it?

Thank you again. I really can not thank you and Cathy and Nuccia enough!

Michelle

Ok lets see if I can walk you through this.

You will need to know which Family History Center or Library you want the film shipped to which you can find here:

familysearch.org/locations

Call them first before ordering your film to make sure they are close to you and have a suitable microfilms scanner/copier - the last thing you need is to go to a center with old equipment that doesn't allow you to save or copy good images. You also want to see if they already have that film there as sometimes they do. Once you determine this you can proceed.

I believe the microfilms can now be ordered online for your state so you will need to log into the Family Search Website. Click on the tab that says Catalog. Set the drop down menu to film number and enter the number Biff provided you. Click on the Marano film and scroll down to Nati 1908-1910 Notificazioni, matrimoni, morti 1901-1910 Family History Library INTL Film 1642126 Item 1. Click on the film number [it's the blue link] and from there follow the instructions for ordering the film using whatever method of payment you want.

You should receive a reference number that payment was successful. Check back a few times during the following weeks to see when the film is sent out [they should provide a reference/tracking number for that too]. Once shipped call the center a day or two later to see when it arrives and book your appointment to view it. If you order the one time short term you need to be able to review it a month before it is sent back to Salt Lake. For 10-12 dollars more you can keep it at your center indefinitely so consider that since you may wish to something else [like Rachele's first husband's death - if he died.]

Hope this is clear..let me know if it's not.

Nuccia,

I believe the correct film number for the births is 1642125. If we can locate the birth records for Concetta and Felicetta/Mary and one and or the other show known parents, then the marriage record would be on film 1642126.

Biff