Message Board - archive 4

From: "S J Kudray"
Email: kudrayh@aol.com
Subject: Ricci
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 19:24:59 +0100

A very interesting website.

I am trying to find out where my great-grandfather originated from (town/village).

His name was Micheal Angelo Ricci and possiby lived near or on Blossom Street. I know he had a brother named Luigi. Micheal Angelo married Sarah Ann Yates and had four children, Mary, Micheal, Anthony and Yolanda (my grandmother). Sadly all have passed away and I would love to hear from anyone who may remember the family. It is beleived that he may have ran an ice cream cart. Could anyone confirm this?

He was a sticker for a bet, and it was one of his favoutite pastimes to have a flutter with his Italian friends.

I have also seen a photograph of my Grt - grandfather dressed in the Carabineri uniform. He looked very smart too. With style! This was his occupation back home in Italy. Unfortunatley I don't know anymore details about his service.

During his time in Manchester he had worked on the construction of Manchester Central Library (must have been something to do with imported Italian marble).

I also beleive that he was interned to the Isle of Man for two years during World War II. Does anyone know of any stories of him because I would love to discover his exact roots. Thanks for reading this.

Arrivederci !!

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From: "john.murtough"
Email: john.murtough@ntlworld.com
Subject: Pompa 

Hi Tony

I was looking at your message boards archive and saw something of interest.

I am mentioning this in case "BenBeeby" does not know it, although he probably does. When visiting family graves at Kensal Green with my father's brother he pointed out a grave and said that the person buried there had been very active in the ice cream society etc, running a journal etc, and that man's name was Pompa. He was also very well known to London-Italians. Sorry I can't remember the first name as it was probably at least 20 years ago - my uncle died in 1985.

Hope this helps, although he probably knows where he was buried.

Regards
John

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Subject: Vito family
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 21:13:48 +0100

MY GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER GERARDO PORRELLI FROM 22 BLOSSOM STREET MARRIED JOHANNA CROLLA FROM 12 PUMP STREET ON THE 17th NOVEMBER 1892 IN ST MICHAELS CHURCH. ONE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS, MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER CAROLINA, MARRIED ANGELO VITO. DOES ANY ONE HAVE ANY MEMORIES OF THESE FAMILIES?

THANK YOU ALL FOR A WONDERFULL DAY AT THE WHIT WALK LAST SUNDAY, I FOUND IT VERY MOVING BUT LEFT FEELING SO VERY PROUD.

THANK YOU AGAIN

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From: "Paul"
Email: Withheld
Subject: Longing to find my Italian identity
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 01:04:49 +0100

I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT I WAS DIFFERENT FROM BEING A SMALL BOY.

MY VALUES AND THE WAY I MADE FRIENDS AND PERCEIVED FAMILY VALUES WHERE ALWAYS DIFFERENT TO MY COUNTERPARTS. THE WAY I LOOKED DID NOT FIT IN WITH MY NATIONALITY.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY GRANDMOTHER TOOK ME INTO HER CONFIDENCE AND SWORE ME TO SECRETSY. SHE CALLED ME HER LITTLE ITALIAN AND TOLD ME MY MOTHER WAS THE PRODUCE OF BRIEF AFFAIR WITH AN ITALIAN P.O.W. WHO WAS PUT TO WORK ON A FARM IN LIVERPOOL. SHE ONLY NEW HIM AS GIUSEPPE AND HE WAS FROM PALERMO IN SICILY. HE WAS OF A GOOD FAMILY AND WAS SOME KIND OF MERCHANT. MY MOTHER WAS BROUGHT UP BY MY GRANDMOTHER'S HUSBAND AND NEVER KNEW OF HER ANSCESTRY AS IN THOSE DAYS THINGS LIKE THIS WERE CLOSELY GUARDED SECRETS. MY MOTHER HAS TWO SISTERS AND NONE OF THEM KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THE ONLY OTHER PEOPLE WHO NEW I.E. MY GRANDMOTHER'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE ALL TAKEN THIS SECRET TO THEIR GRAVES. NONE OF MY LIVING FAMILY KNOW ABOUT THIS AND NEVER WILL FROM ME. THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE TOLD AND SWORN TO THIS SECRET IS MY MOST TRUSTED AND BEST FRIEND, MY PARTNER.

I DONT KNOW WHY MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME THIS; BUT AS SHE PUT IT I REMINDED HER SO MUCH OF HER GIUSEPPE THAT SHE HAD TO TELL ME SO I WOULD KNOW WHY I WAS SO SPECIAL TO HER AND THAT MY SEED WHOULD CARRY ON THE ITALIAN CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR FAMILIES.

IT IS A LOT FOR ME TO BEAR BUT I SO MUCH WANT TO BE A PART OF MY HERITAGE. I HAVE BEEN TO SICILY AND HAVE LOOKED AT EVERY GRAVE IN THE MAIN CEMETARY IN THE HOPE THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO MY GRANDFATHER. I WAS VERY TOUCHED AND FELT SOMETHING COME OVER ME THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN. I AM VERY DRAWN TO THAT ISLAND AND WILL VISIT AS OFTEN AS I CAN, I MAY EVEN LIVE OUT MY FINAL YEARS THERE IF CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.

I SO MUCH WANT TO LEARN ABOUT ITALY, IT'S LANGUAGE , IT'S HISTORY AND IT'S CUSTOMS AND PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY FAMILY TO DRAW THIS KNOWLEDGE FROM.

IF THERE ARE ANY ITALIANS IN MANCHESTER WHO ARE TOUCHED BY MY STORY, AND WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO EMBRACE ME AND LET ME BE PART OF THEIR CULTURE AND TRADDITION, AND TAKE ME AS IF I WERE PART OF THEIR FAMILY, I WOULD BE SO HUMBLE AND TOUCHED BY THEIR KINDNESS.

THIS MESSAGE GOES OUT TO ALL ITALIANS WHO WOULD HELP ME FIND MY TRUESELF. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Editor's note: The sender's name has been changed. If you would like to offer a reply, but rather it did not appear on the message board, please email the editor who will then forward it on.

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