Census for John and Frances Mortillaro Household

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From various sources:

John Mortillaro was born March 10, 1871, in Villafranca, Italy. He arrived in New York November 24, 1897, on the ship Bolivia. He declared his intention on February 15, 1911, when living at 5 Sixth Avenue, Tribeca, Manhattan. He petitioned for naturalization on January 23, 1918, when living at 32 James Street, Two Bridges, Manhattan. His wife Francesca died October 8, 1911. He had four children residing with him in 1918:

• Francesca, born February 25, 1891, in Italy
• Sebastiana, born June 7, 1893, in Italy
• Pelligrino, born September 20, 1901, in Pennsylvania
• Frank, born June 24, 1903, in Pennsylvania

The steamship Bolivia was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1874. It was owned by the Anchor Line, which was headquartered in Glasgow. In 1891-93, it was fitted with new engines and steerage accommodation for 1350 passengers. In 1805, eight years after the Motillaro voyage, it was sold for scrap. See: Norway-Heritage.

The passenger list for the steamship Bolivia says the Mortillaros came from the town of Caltabellotta, which is in the province of Agrigento in Sicily. Naturalization papers say that they came from Villafranca Sicula, which is a farming area that borders Caltabellotta to the east. The province of Agrigento is well known for its vineyards and wines. It is bordered by the province of Trapani on the west, which is where the Varvaros are from.

Caltabellotta, in the Agrigento district of western Sicily, is set on Mount "Kratas," to the south of the Sicanian Mountains in an almost impregnable position surrounded by three peaks: Monte Pellegrino, Monte Castello and the Gogala cliff. It is reputed first bishop was Saint Pellegrino, a disciple of Saint Peter.

Sometime in 1900 or 1901, John and Frances moved their family from Little Italy in New York to Philadelphia. Two children were born in Philadelphia: Pelligrino on September 20, 1901, and Frank on June 24, 1903. The 1903 and 1904 Philadelphia City Directories show John Mortillaro living at 535 Montrose. The Boyd's 1904 Philadelphia Buisiness Directorys show Giovanni Mortillaro, grocer, living at 535 Montrose. This is in a neighborhood called Queen Village, just east of 6th Street. It is about three quarters of a mile west of Old Swedes' Church on the Delaware River and a mile and a quarter south of Independence Hall.

Frances Mortillaro was born on February 25, 1891, in Italy. Her father Giovanni was 19, and her mother Francesca was 21. She married Giovanni Cappello on June 13, 1918, in New York City. They had three children. She died in January 1991 at the age of 99. Giovanni passed away in September 1969 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 83. They had been married 51 years.

Sebastiana (Anna) Mortillaro was born in Caltabellotta on January 7, 1893. She worked as a dressmaker. She died as Anna Flamma on March 23, 1990, in Yoro, Honduras. Source: SSA and Maslowski Family Tree on Ancestry.com

Pellegrino (Ben) Mortillaro was born on September 20, 1901, in Philadelphia. He married Elizabeth Marino in 1922 in Manhattan. In the 1930 and 1940 censuses, they were living at 508 Kings highway in Gravesend, Brooklyn. He was a pharmicist. They had a son John. Pellegrino died in Tarpon Springs, Florida, in 1991.

Frank Paul Mortillaro was born June 14, 1903, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Josephine Varvaro in 1927 in Brooklyn. He died April 1978 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. See: Frank and Josephine Varvaro Mortillaro.

Passenger list for the steamship Bolivia that arrived in New York November 24, 1897, from Naples, including Giovannni Mortillaro and children Francesca 6, Sebastiano 4, and Pellegrino 2. Francesca 26 is missing. Not shown is a column saying they come from Caltabelotta (in the provice of Arigento, Sicily) and a column that says they were going to join an uncle Adriano Mortillaro at 119 Elizabeth Street. There is such an address in Little Italy, Manhattan. See: Passenger List. Pellegrino Mortellaro, died at age 4 on July 10, 1899, in Manhattan (Index to New York City Deaths 1862-1948 prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group).

John Mortillaro was born March 10, 1871, in Villafranca, Italy. He arrived in New York November 24, 1897, on the ship Bolivia. (He declared his intention on February 15, 1911, when living at 5 Sixth Avenue, Tribeca, Manhattan.) He petitioned for naturalization on January 23, 1918, when living at 32 James Street, Two Bridges, Manhattan. His wife Francesca died October 8, 1911. He had four children residing with him in 1918: Francesca, born February 25, 1891, in Italy Sebastiana, born June 7, 1893, in Italy Pelligrino, born September 20, 1901, in Pennsylvania Frank, born June 24, 1903, in Pennsylvania Note: The last two children's names were mixed up and are corrected above. Source: Petitions for Naturalization from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1897-1944

Caltabelotta and Villafranca Sicula, Arigento, Sicily.

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