I had been having trouble finding Adolfo Denicola's (my 2nd great grandfather) death record in Rome. I had assumed he died somewhere around 1880 as my 2nd great grandmother had another child with another man in 1882. (actually found out this child was born in 1886, not 1882) As it turns out, I made a couple of incorrect assumptions with my great grandfather, Arnaldo DeNicola, and his parents, Adolfo DeNicola and Eugenia Farnetti.
1. I assumed Adolfo DeNicola and Eugenia Farnetti were married; however, I was not able to find a marriage record in Rome for Adolfo and Eugenia. I assumed they were married as they are the parents listed on my great grandfather's (Arnaldo) death record in Quincy, MA. As I mentioned in my last post, I did find Arnaldo's birth recording in Rome, from the FamilySearch microfilm. His father Adolfo DeNicola is listed, but where his mother's name should be, something else is written (in Italian) that I am unable to translate. I do not see Eugenia's name on the record.
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| Birth Record of Arnaldo DeNicola, Rome, 1879 |
2. I had also assumed Adolfo DeNicola was deceased by the time Eugenia married Luigi Faiella (around 1885), who I thought was her second husband. Turns out Luigi was probably her first husband, although I was not able to find this marriage record either. However, on the marriage record of her supposed son, Arnaldo, to Louisa Terragnoli, Eugenia's name is again no-where to be found. This record also states that Arnaldo's father, Adolfo DeNicola, is still living in 1904! Adolfo is residing in Genova, Italy, profession is a painter. Arnaldo's mother is listed as unknown. Usually in records that I have seen, if a parent is listed as unknown, it is almost always the father. How can they not know who the mother is, as she gave birth to him! I find this very interesting.
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| Marriage Record of Arnaldo DeNicola and Louisa Terragnoli, Rome (took place in Prezza) 1904 |
Since Adolfo DeNicola is still alive in 1904, and Eugenia is not listed on her son's birth record or marriage record, it seems highly unlikely that Eugenia and Adolfo were ever married. It is still very possible that Eugenia is Arnaldo's mother, as she is listed on his death record as such. Also, Eugenia had many grandchildren from her marriage to Luigi Faiella - and Arnaldo's children (possible grandchildren of Eugenia's) are included in pictures with these other grandchildren. There is definitely some connection between the families. Another possibility is that Eugenia sort of "adopted" Arnaldo and his family without a familial connection. In Eugenia's obituary, it states she only had a certain number of children which was one less than she should have had if Arnaldo was her son; but, Arnaldo was deceased before Eugenia so he may not have been counted.
There is evidence that the later generations of the DeNicolas and the Farnetti/Faiellas were close, but what about Arnaldo and his possible mother Eugenia when Arnaldo was a child? It looks like Eugenia was in Rome when her first daughter was born in 1886, then by 1888, when her second daughter was born, she was in Prezza, Italy. By 1903, her family was in Chicago; then eventually by 1910 they were in Quincy. So where did Arnaldo grow up? Did he spend his childhood with his father Adolfo? I do not have any records for Arnaldo between 1879 and 1901, so I am not sure where he spent the first 22 years of his life. Arnaldo was born in Rome in 1879, so Eugenia was probably in Rome at the time of his birth. In 1902 he traveled to Boston and states his last residence was Prezza. (He may not have actually traveled to Boston as his name is crossed off on the passenger list.) If he did travel, he was back in Prezza by 1904 where he married his wife Louisa . So 1902 is the first evidence of Arnaldo in Prezza, where his possible mother had been living (at this time Eugenia may have actually been in Chicago). By 1906 he was back in the Boston / Quincy area. Interesting that they are in a lot of the same places, just at different times. By 1910, both Eugenia and Arnaldo are in Quincy, MA.
I have had my DNA tested, but have not been able to make any connections yet to possible cousins descended from Eugenia Farneti. This is not unusual though as many of my matches do not have family trees online, so it is difficult to assess at this time.
