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From Arpino Italy to Manchester England
Reas and other Arpinian
families have been leaving this remote town high in the mountains
of the Ciociaria region of Lazio in the province of Frosinone for
many centuries, and have emigrated to all corners of the world.
This site looks at the possible origins and history of the Rea surname.
My grandfather Marco Rea was born on the 22nd of April, 1889, to
Domenico and Concetta Rea (nee La Tessa). He was raised in the hill
top hamlet of Collina, to be found outside the walled town of a
medieval settlement called Civittavechia, which sits above the city
of Arpino. He came to England a near penniless boy of 13 with his
brother Antonio. He settled in Chester where he met and married
my grandmother Maria Carmella Arcari in 1907, at the catholic church
of St. Werburgh. My grandmother bore him 11 children, 7 boys and
4 girls. He started up as an ice cream vendor with a push cart,
then later bought a fish and chip shop in Chester and travelled
round the many fairs selling a variety of goods. He also went round
the streets with Antonio with a barrel organ. He eventually settled
in Manchester in 1922, where he expanded his bussiness. He became
president of the Manchester Italian Society in 1935 until his death
in 1955. His family continued the business until 1985 when they
sold the business. However some members are still involved in the
ice cream trade in their own right, the descendants of Marco and
Maria Rea.
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The beautiful piazza municipio, town square,
of Arpino |
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My grandfather Marco, aged 16, taken in Chester,
England, 1905 |
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My grandfather's brother, Antonio, aged 17,
photographed at the same time |
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