Jackie wrote: |
I am searching for information on my great-great-grandfather, John Joseph Mattare, who was born in Lombardia on January 6, 1836 (he told his children that he came from Lake Como). He arrived in the U.S. in 1861, where he was a woodworker and also made violins, and for a short period a few years after his arrival, a confectioner. While his American name was "Mattare," in the church records for the baptisms and marriages of his children, John's last name and that of his children was recorded as "Matteri." I have found that the Matteri name is common in some of the areas around Lake Como (but not elsewhere in Italy), and that the Mattare name does not exist in Italy. I suspect that his name in Italy was "Giovanni Giuseppe Matteri" but that is only speculation. John's death certificate does not list his birthplace, and I have not been successful in finding him in the passenger lists, or in the U.S. immigration and naturalization records, so I have not found any evidence of the place in Italy in which he was born. Any ideas on how I can locate his records and birthplace in Italy is appreciated! Thanks. |
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