Gaetano "Guy" (Giacoppa) Jacobs - Origins of Dr. Biden's Italian family

I added the relevant info, though there wasn't a ton. But at least we now have a specific village for our Sicilian genealogists to look at.

Private User,

Thanks.

Kevin

I'm looking a little bit.

It's a bit further from Palermo than I am a bit familiar with...interesting.

On FindAGrave, somebody posted a birth record for a Gaetano Giacoppo born in Castanea which I guess is part of the commune Messina in what was the Province of Messina. It looks like it's spelled Castania on the record. I guess there was also a commune Castania (now called Tortorici it seems) in what was the Province of Messina.

I added that guy with that birth record here, son of Sebastiano Giacoppo and Francesca Celi. I think this is what FamilySearch FamilyTree and other people's online trees have... If that is the first lady's Gaetano I would have thought Gaetano would have had children named Sebastiano and Francesca...but I don't seem to see that. Also in Castanea I see a marriage record in 1884 for a Gaetano son of Sebastiano Giacoppo and Francesca Celi to marry a Maria Giacobbe...There is a birth record for children named Sebastiano starting in 1884...and a Giovanna in 1894...and the first lady's Gaetano seems to already have been in the USA in the 1890s having children with his wife during this time. A couple of them were even in Sicily and getting married in the 1920s.

So it doesn't add up that this guy would be the first lady's great-grandfather: Gaetano Giacoppo

I didn't see a birth in Gesso, but I would wonder if the first lady's great-grandfather was the son of a Giovanni and Giuseppa...

John Dale Kessel,

Is this his birth record:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TX5-91N?from=lynx...

Kevin

Kevin Lawrence Hanit

Those births are 1891...closer to the year the first lady's grandfather was born rather than her great-grandfather...

Record #79 on the top left is a Giovanni Giacoppo born in Castania (I believe to be present day Castanea delle Furie in the commune of Messina) to Gaetano Giacoppo and Maria Giacobbe. He died at 4 months: Giovanni Giacoppo

Record #81 on the bottom right is a Domenico Giacoppo also born in Castania to Andrea Giacoppo and Angela De Francesco on July 17, 1891: Domenico Giacoppo

Actually this gets a bit interesting now as i look online a bit more... I guess there is some debate on whether the first lady's family is from Gesso or Castanea.... Are we even sure that the Domenico here on Geni as the first lady's grandfather is her grandfather?

One of the things I was reading was suggesting that her grandfather Domenico was actually born in Sicily and is the son of a Placido...and mentions this passenger list: "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TH-F9Y3-C?cc=1368704... : 26 January 2018), Roll 127, vol 208, 29 May 1900 > image 149 of 535; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

There is a Domenico Giacoppo born in Gesso in 1898 to Placido Giacoppo and Angela Caruso. I put him here: Domenico Giacoppo

John Dale Kessel,

According to the 1910 US census, Dr. Biden's great grandmother was named Jennie. She arrived in 1890.

Gaetano is naturalized, so there must be Naturalization documents for him somewhere.

Dr. Biden's paternal grandfather was born in New Jersey and was one of 8, with only 5 alive in 1910.

Kevin

"Jennie" is Concetta "Jennie" (Squatrito) Jacobs; we already have her.

I have the 1900 U.S. Federal Census cited on her profile, so feel free to add 1910 -- or any other information you have -- if you'd like.

Private User This looks like a duplicate of Concetta: Concetta Scaltrito

John Dale Kessel Sounds like it could be! I found her consistently as "Squatrito," and it looks like Italian press have largely done the same, but I could see those getting confused.

Do you have the source(s) for Concetta Scaltrito handy, so we can double-check the handwriting?

There's also at least one Italian outlet that has "Squadrito." I'll add in the alternates.

If that's the case, this is probably a brother or other close male relative of Concetta, since he also lived in Hammonton and came from Gesso. Same ship, perhaps?: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92768861/antonio-scaltrito

Maybe her line took "Squatrito" and others stuck with "Scaltrito." God knows we see that type of thing enough with other families!

Private User

The link to Concetta’s birth record is on the timeline tab.

That Antonio born in 1877 is probably son of Antonio Scaltrito and Rosa Russo in this index: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TFC-F44?i=2331&wc...