Rosa Alessi Coniglio

Born: 9 September, 1893,Serradifalco, Caltanisetta, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
Married to Gaetano Coniglio: 30November 1912 ,Serradifalco
Died: 19 February, 1972, Buffalo, New York
Arrived at Ellis Island 14 December, 1914

Meaning of Alessi [uh-LACE-ee]: from the Greek, Alex, Alexander

Click here for the song 'Mamma' by Jerry Vale.

Rosa's birth record, below, indicates the date of Rosa and Gaetano's civil marriage as December 1, 1912.

From Serradifalco Registri Stato Civile Film 1961310, 1893 Births, No. 307, Rosa Alessi

ATTI DI NASCITA

Numero 307

Alessi Rosa
A 1 Dicembre 1912
sposò Coniglio Gaetano
Arnone

^hS'indichi la professione o la condizione.
.

   L’anno milleottocento novantatre, addi diece di Settembre, a ore ante meridiane sette e minuti trenta, nella Casa comunale.
    Avanti di me Lima Giuseppe Assessore Anziano Funzionante da Sindaco per impedimento del Titolare,
Uffiziale dello Stato Civile del Comune di Serradifalco è comparso
Leonardo Alessi, di anni trentasei, *solfaio domiciliatio
in Serradifalco, il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore po meridiane nove e
minuti ___, del di nove del corrente mese, nella casa posta in
via Prizzi al numero ___, da Concetta Abate sua
moglie, casalinga, seco lui convivente

è nato un bambino di sesso femminino che igli mi presenta e a cui da il nome di Rosa.
   A quanto sopra e a questo atto sono presenti quali testimoni Lombardo Leo nardo di anni trentasette, *solfaio, e Sferrazza Francesco,
di anni ventotto, *solfaio entrambi residenti in questo comune.
Letto il presente atto agli intervenuti si e da me sottoscritto
solamente, avendo li stessi detto di non sapere sottoscrivere.
G. Lima _____________________
_________________________________________________________

RECORDS OF BIRTH

Number 307
Rosa Alessi
On First of December 1912
married Gaetano Coniglio Arnone

^hIndicates occupation or status.

    In the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-three, on day ten of September,
at AM hour ten , in the Town Hall.
   Before me, Giuseppe Lima, Senior Councilman, assistant of the Mayor, because of the inability of the incumbent,
Official of Public Records of the Town of Serradifalco ___________ appeared Leonardo Alessi, age thirty-six ^ha sulfur miner living
in Serradifalco, who has declared to me that at PM hour five and
minutes ____ on day nine of the current month, in the house located at
via Prizzi number ____, by Concetta Abate
his wife, housewife, according to him living with him,_________________
_________________________________________________________
is born a baby of the feminine sex who was presented to me, and who was given the name Rosa ______________________________________________
    To the above, and to this record, are present the witnesses Leonardo Lom
bardo age thirty-seven,^hsulfur miner, and Francesco Sferrazza, age twenty-eight,^hsulfur miner, both residents of this Town ____________
The present act was read to those assembled but is signed
by me alone, they having said that they don't know how to sign
    G Lima
_________________________________________________________

Rosa's baptismal record, in Latin, below, shows in the left margin
the date of her church marriage to Gaetano as November 30, 1912.

From Serradifalco Registri Ecclesiastici Film No. 2012919, 1893 Baptisms, No. 295, Rosa Alessi

Alessi
Rosa
295

Sp. il 30
Nov. 1912
con Coniglio
Gaetano fu Gaet.

Die 10 Settembris 1893

Ego Sac. Michael Montante Terranova, c.s. bap
tizavi   infantam   hodie   hora 9 natam   ex Leo
nardo   Alessi   et   Concepta Abate jug, cui imposi
tum   fuit nomen Rosa.   PP fuere Modestus A
lessi et Rosaria Tabbone Conjuges.

Rosa
Alessi
295

Married 30
November 1912
to Gaetano Coniglio
son of the late Gaetano Coniglio

September 10,1893

I, Priest Michele Montante Terranova, High Chaplain, today at 9 :00 hours baptized an infant, daughter of Leonardo Alessi and Concetta Abate, and to whom the name given was Rosa. Godparents were Modesto Alessi and Rosaria Tabbone, husband and wife.

Note that the Latin could be interpreted as 'baptized today (10 September) at hour 9' OR 'born today at hour 9'.

But the civil record states that her birth was reported at 7:30 AM on 10 September, and that she had been born on the 9th.

Rosa's godfather was her great-uncle Modesto Alessi, born in Marianopoli, brother of her grandfather Calogero Alessi.

My parents were married in the Chiesa Matrice (Main Church) of San Leonardo Abate in Serradifalco on November 30, 1912, and in the Municipio, or Town Hall of Serradifalco on 1 December 1912. Note that the civil marriage record is signed by both Gaetano and Rosa, who signed "Alessi Rosina". Gaetano was a sulfur miner, and he married Rosa, daughter of a sulfur miner, which reflected the rigid class distinctions in Sicilian society at the time. Rosa was the sister of Angela Alessi, the wife of his older brother Giuseppe.

Da Anagrafe di Serradifalco, 2008

From the Serradifalco Registry Office, 2008

         Gaetano and Rosa's first child, a son, was named Gaetano, not after his father, but after his father's father, also a Gaetano! Guy's birth record, below, shows he was born at Via Prizzi No. 11, not as previously believed at Via Migliore No. 10, where his father Gaetano was born in 1889.

          Gaetano (b. 1889) was in the U.S. in 1913, and Rosa must have been staying with her family on Via Prizzi (she was born at Via Prizzi No. 9). Extended families often lived in two, three or more adjacent houses. The record shown below was at the bottom of one page of the town's register of births, and at the top of the next.

           Note that the child's mother was named by her birth surname, Rosa Alessi, as was and is still the custom in Sicily. A woman went by her birth surname her entire life there, but acquiesced to the 'American way' after she immigrated, and became known by her husband's surname.

ATTI DI NASCITA

Numero 323
___
Coniglio Gaetano

^*S'indiche la professione o la condizione.

   L’anno millenovocento tredici addi ventiuno di Dicembre,
a ore nove e minuti trenta, nella Casa comunale.
    Avanti di me Sorci Giacomo Segretario Comunale delegato con atto del Regio Commissario in data 25 Giuno 1913, debitamante approvato, Uffiziale dello Stato Civile del Comune di Serradifalco ______________
è comparsa Barravecchia Rosaria, di anni ventisette,^*levatrice domiciliatia in Serradifalco, il quale mi ha dichiarato che alle ore tre _________ ____________e minuti ____________, del di ventuno del corrente mese, nella casa posta in Via Prizzi al numero undici _______________ da Alessi Rosa, casalinga,noglie di Coniglio Gaetano,
zolfataio, entrambi residenti in Serradifalco _______________________
e nato un bambino di sesso maschile che ella mi presenta e a cui da il nome di ____Gaetano __________________________________________
   A quanto sopra e a questo atto sono presenti quali testimoni Petix Luigi
____ di anni ventinove,^* impiegato, e Barone Giovanni_______
____, di anni trentatre,^* impiegato, entrambi reidente in questo Comune. La dichiarante ha denunciato la nascita suddeta per avere nella suindicata sua qualità prestati sussidii dell' arte sua
alla Alessi Rosa nell' atto di parto, ed in luogo del marito di questa il quale non ha potuto denunciarla perché assente da Serradifalco ____
Letto il presente atto agli intervenuti, l'hanno quest meco sottoscritto.
   Barravecchia Rosaria
Luigi Petix
Giovanni Barone
Sorci

RECORDS OF BIRTH

Number 323
___
Gaetano Coniglio

*Indicates occupation or status.

In the year nineteen hundred thirteen, on December 21, at hour nine and thirty minutes, in the Public Office.
Before me, Giacomo Sorci Town Secretary delegated by act of the Royal Commissar dated 25 June 1913, duly approved Official of Civil Records of the Community of Serradifalco ______________,
appeared Rosaria Barravecchia, age 27, *a midwife _______,
living in Serradifalco, who has declared to me that at hour three _________,
and _____________ minutes, on day twenty-one of the current
month, in the house at Via Prizzi number eleven ______________,
by Rosa Alessi, housewife, wife of Gaetano Coniglio,
sulfur miner, both residents of Serradifalco _____________,
was born a baby of masculine sex who she presented to me, and he was given the name
Gaetano.

To the above and to this record are present the witnesses Luigi Petix _________, age twenty-nine, *employed, and Giovanni Barone
_____, age thirty-three, *employed, both residents of this community.
The declarant announced the above having as indicated above applied her skill in her female arts
for Rosa Alessi in the act of birth and in lieu of the husband, who could not make the announcement because he is absent from Serradifalco
The present act was read to those assembled and they have signed with me below.
Barravecchia Rosaria
Luigi Petix
Giovanni Barone
Sorci

On 14 December 1914, Rosa, 19, and her son Gaetano, two weeks shy of his first birthday, landed at Ellis Island on the SS Patria. Listed as their closest relative left in Sicily was her father Leonardo Alessi. Their destination was her husband Gaetano Coniglio at P. O. Box 52, Robertsdale, Pennsylvania. Note that as was (and still is) the custom in Sicily, Rosa is listed by her birth surname, Rosa Alessi:
her son is listed as Gaetano Coniglio.

Like many immigrants, Rosa and Guy, Jr., listed on the above manifest at page 62, line 8, were detained at Ellis Island because they did not have enough funds to pay their way to their destination. The record above shows that Rosa arrived with $25. This record of detainees lists "Alessi, Rose and ch[ild]" The code "tel $" means they were being telegraphed funds. At the right is the indication that they were released on 16 December at 12 noon, and that they had been charged for two breakfasts, one dinner [lunch], and two suppers. They had landed on 14 December, so Rosa and her baby were held at Ellis Island for two days, until Gaetano either came for them or sent money.
We can only imagine what thoughts were going through Rosa's mind, thousands of miles from her parents, hundreds from her husband, just twenty years old with a babe in arms, and unable to speak the language of the strangers around her. But she made it!!
3pt

The 1920 U. S. Census shows 'Rosy Comellia' and her sons Guy (named after Gaetano's father), Leonardo (named after Rosa's father)and Raimondo (named after Gaetano's brother) living at 100 Spring Street, Robertsdale, Wood Township, Pennsylvania. Her husband 'Guy Comellia' is listed at the bottom of the previous census page. The Coniglios lived next door to Calogero and Grazia Asarese Butera, two paisani from Serradifalco.

Leonard, Ray and Phil were born in Robertsdale, respectively, in 1916, 1918 and 1920 and baptized at the Immaculate Conception Church in Dudley, Pennsylvania, about four miles away.

Coniglio
Leonard

Jan 12
1916

April 24
1916

Gaetano Coniglio
Rosina Alessi

Gaetano Giumento
Salvatrice Petix

CL M^cKinney

September24  I baptized Raymond born May 23 of Gaetano
               Coniglio and Rosa Alessi     Godparents Francesco
               Lo Nobile and Mrs Francesco Lo Nobile
                                                           Joseph Carr

Coniglio
Felix

Dec 26
1920

Sept 4
1921

Gaetano Coniglio
Rose Alessi

Philip Campagna
Mrs Phil Campagna

J. C. Carr

Married to Betty Hinton NC
June 30 - 1951 - Buffalo N.Y.
Church of Nativity of B.V.M.
Dispenseation by Rev S. J. Faiola

Rosa's sister Angela Alessi and her brother-in-law, Gaetano's brother Giuseppe (lu Zi Peppe) returned to Serradifalco around 1920, and Gaetano, Rosa, Guy, Leonard, Ray and Phil relocated to Buffalo. It was a sad time for Rosa, as her mother Concetta Abate died in Serradifalco at age 55 on 12 November 1920.

MaRayTonyFixedTwiceSmall.jpg (55001 bytes)

Rosa Alessi Coniglio
~ About 1928 ~

Len, Rosa, and Ray
~ About 1930 ~

Rosa

Rosa, Ray
and Tony, 1935

Rosa and Mary Modica Coniglio ~ 1939

Angelo & Rosa
~ 1941 ~

       Rosa did not automatically become a U.S. citizen by the 1924 naturalization of Gaetano; and in that year, the Immigration Act or Johnson-Reed Act started restriction of the entry southern and eastern Europeans.
      Rosa took classes in English in 1933, but did not begin her effort to be naturalized until another ominous Act, the Alien Registration Act (the Smith Act) required that all aliens (persons living in the U.S. who were not born or naturalized citizens) must register with the federal government.
      Probably on advice from social workers at Welcome Hall, on Myrtle Avenue and South Cedar Street, Rosa began the process. The first step was to go to Federal District 7 Court in Buffalo, and present her passport. The court then contacted Ellis Island, where Rosa's 1914 passenger manifest was located and her legal entry confirmed. Ellis Island then sent the court the Certificate of Arrival shown below. A check of her passenger manifest, shown above, has a number written above her name. That number reads: 7-1766197-2-26-41-550 No C/A. That is the number on the Certificate of Arrival shown below, once known as a 'Form 550'. On 26 February, 1941, an Ellis Island clerk, without benefit of computer or internet, located Rosa's 1914 passenger manifest, found the information, entered it on the Cerificate of Arrival, and sent the card to Federal District 7 Court.

Studio portrait of Gaetano and Rosa, about 1940.

~ About 1941 ~

~ About 1942 ~

Rosa and Gaetano
Myrtle Avenue ~ 1943

~ About 1944 ~

After her Certificate of Arrival was received by the federal court, Rosa submitted her Petition for Naturalization. This document, shown on the left, gives her address at 309 Myrtle Avenue; her birth date and place; her vital statistics; her husband's name and birth date, the date on which they were married; the date of his entry to the U.S.; the date and place of his naturalization; the names, birth dates and birthplaces of their nine children; the ship and date on which she arrived in the U.S; and her signed oath of her intent to renounce allegiance 'to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty." The form was accompanied by the affidavits of two witnesses attesting to Rosa's character. The Certificate of Naturalization on the right confirms her citizenship, but does not give the details of the Petition for Naturalization.

Tony Jr. with Rosa
~ 1961 ~

Ange & Rosa
~ Commencement 1961 ~

Rosa and her roses
~ Summer 1963 ~

	--	Origins	Genesis	Generations:	1	2	3	4
	--	Heritage	Gaetano & Rosina