VARISCO FAMILY HISTORY

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The research of the Varisco family in Baucina has come from the microfilmed civil records for Baucina from the Family History Library.  I have not read all the microfilmed records yet.  When I finish reading I will update the Varisco Family History.  The history of our ancestors in Baucina is based on my translation of the Italian into English.  I canŐt guarantee 100 percent accuracy, but I did my best.  Information on the family after they came to the U. S. came from ship lists, census records, deeds, probate records, family records, etc.  If you find any errors, please let me know.  Information on living descendants is not included.

            The Varisco name is found in many parts of Sicily and the mainland of Italy.  The biggest concentration today seems to be in the northern part of Italy.  There are Variscos in Louisiana and Texas with whom I have had contact.  They came from Poggioreale which is also near Palermo.  So far no connection has been made between the two families.  Did you know that the Italians are the second largest ethnic group in the U. S. today? 

There is a website telling about the trip my grandfather and family made to NYC in 1935 on a 3-wheel motorcycle car.  You can find this at:http://www.ahjur.org/martin/motorcycle.html.  Because of the number of pictures it takes a while to load.

I would like to hear from any Varisco descendants.  If you don't know your ancestry, contact me.  I will search the descendants to see if I can be of help.

Louise Varisco

22000 Boston Road

Strongsville, OH  44149-6510

 

sihoyt@roadrunner.com

sihoyt@hotmail.com 

Baucina, Sicily

 

First Generation

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1. Angelo VARISCO. Born abt 1794 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.1,2 Angelo died between 1844-1851.2,3 Occupation: Shepherd.1,2,3 Religion: Roman Catholic.1,2,3

 

Angelo married Santa LA CORTE. Born abt 1796 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.2,3 Santa died aft 1856.4

 

Their known children are:

          2            i.          Filippo (abt 1820-1886)

          3           ii.          Vito (abt 1820-1824)

          4          iii.          Maria Rosa (abt 1825-1826)

          5          iv.          Francesca (abt 1827-1828)

          6           v.          Vito (abt 1830-)

          7          vi.          Francesca (abt 1837-)

          8         vii.          Pietro (1841- abt 1930)

 

 

Second Generation

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2. Filippo VARISCO. Born abt 1820 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.2 Filippo died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT on 19 Apr 1886.5 Occupation: Farmer.2

 

On 6 Aug 1844 Filippo married Francesca REALMUTO, daughter of Guiseppi REALMUTO & Antonina OGNELLO, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.2 Born abt 1829 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.2

 

Their known children are:

          9            i.          Guiseppe (Joseph) (abt 1859-1952)

         10           ii.          Filippo (Philip) (1862-1936)

         11          iii.          Salvatore (1860-1903)

 

3. Vito VARISCO. Born abt 1820.6 Vito died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT in 1824.6

 

4. Maria Rosa VARISCO. Born abt 1825 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT;.7 Maria Rosa died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT; on 10 Mar 1826.7

 

5. Francesca VARISCO. Born abt 1827.8 Francesca died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT in 1828.8

 

6. Vito VARISCO. Born abt 1830 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.3 Occupation: Shepherd.3 Religion: Roman Catholic.3

 

In 1851 Vito married Fortunata REALMUTO, daughter of Salvador REALMUTO & Carmela, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.3 Born abt 1830 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.3

 

Their one known child is:

         12            i.          Angelo (1863-)

 

7. Francesca VARISCO. Born abt 1837 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.4 Religion: Roman Catholic.4

 

In Oct 1856 Francesca married Pasquale ?Mini?, son of Marco (?Mini) & Guiseppa PULEO, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.4 Born abt 1819 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.4

 

8. Pietro VARISCO. Born on 9 May 1841 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.1 Pietro died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT abt 1930.

 

On 11 Sep or Dec 1867 Pietro married Maria CANNIZZARO, daughter of Leonardo CANNIZZARO & Antonina ?SCIMERA?, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.9 Born abt 1848.

 

Notes for Pietro VARISCO.

            Family tradition:  Pietro had an orchard with orange and lemon trees.

 

Their known children are:

         13            i.          Angelo (1869-1921)

         14           ii.          Maria Santa (1876-)

         15          iii.          Pietro (abt 1882-)

         16          iv.          Filippo (1891-1891)

         17           v.          Anna

 


 

Third Generation

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9. Guiseppe (Joseph) VARISCO. Born abt 1859 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.10 Guiseppe (Joseph) died in ,  Kings, NY, US on 1 May 1952.11

 

On 23 Oct 1886 Guiseppe (Joseph) married Giovanna (Jennie) CHIAPPONE, daughter of Pietro & Santa TANTILLO, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.10 Born abt 1861 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.12,10 Giovanna (Jennie) died in Manhattan, NY, NY, US on 29 May 1949.12

 

Notes for Guiseppi (Joseph) VARISCO

            Guiseppe immigrated to US 24 Oct 1901 on the ship, Trojan Prince.33

            Family living on Forsythe Street, Manhattan, NY in 1910 census.34

 

Notes for Giovanna (Jennie) CHIAPPONE

            Giovanna immigrated to the US in 1904 according to 1910 census.34

 

Their known children are:

         18            i.          Francens (abt 1891-)

         19           ii.          Philip (abt 1894-)

         20          iii.          Peter (abt 1898-)

 

10. Filippo (Philip) VARISCO. Born in Mar 1862 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.13 Filippo (Philip) died in Manhattan, NY, NY, US on 27 Jun 1936; he was 74.14

 

Filippo (Philip) married Domenica (Mamie) MANCUSO.  Born in May 1868 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.13 Domenica (Mamie) died in Manhattan, NY, NY, US on 15 Jul 1940; she was 72.15

 

Notes for Filippo (Philip) VARISCO

            Family tradition:  Filippo lived with an aunt when he came to NY.  He borrowed money to bring his wife over later.

            The marriage record shows Filippo, son of Filippo VARISCO and Francesca REALMUTO married Ciro MANCUSO, daughter of Salvatore MANCUSO and Vita RANDAZZO.  No other marriage record found for Filippo.  Are Ciro and Domenica the same person?  Could Ciro have died and Filippo married a sister or cousin?  For now it is a puzzle.35

            Filippo immigrated to the US on 3 Feb 1893 on the ship, India.36

            Family living at 237 Elizabeth Street, Manhattan, NY in 1900 census.37

            Family living at 471 22nd Ave, 12th Ward, NY in 1920 census.38

 

Notes for Domenica (Mamie) MANCUSO

            Domenica immigrated with Francesca and Vita on 21 Aug 1893 on the ship, Weser.39

 

They had the following children:

         21            i.          Francesca (1889- abt 1959)

         22           ii.          Vita Lena_(Lee) (1891- abt 1976)

         23          iii.          Philip (1897- abt 1947)

         24          iv.          Rosaria (Sadie) (1899-)

         25           v.          Charles (1901- abt 1958)

 

 

 

11. Salvatore VARISCO. Born abt 1860 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT. Salvatore died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT in 1903.16

 

Salvatore married Maria LA CORTE.

 

12. Angelo VARISCO. Born in May 1863 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.17

 

On 2 May 1886 when Angelo was 23, he first married Antonina LA MONACO, daughter of Vincenzo LA MONACO & Teresa, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.18 Born in Sep 1863 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.17 Antonina died in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT abt 1904.

 

Notes for Angelo VARISCO.

            Angelo immigrated 17 May 1898 on the ship, Allen.40

            Family living at 232 Elizabeth St, Manhattan, NY in 1900 census.41

            When Antonina became sick, Angelo took his family back to Baucina where his wife died about 1904.  His daughter, Fortunata, married and stayed in NY where she died of Influenza.  Angelo remarried and stayed in Baucina.  Vito, his son from his first marriage, returned to NY in 1922.  Angelo's children from his second marriage immigrated to Canada after World War II.  

 

Notes for Antonina LA MONACO.

            Antonia, Fortunata, and Teresa (Is this a one-year-old daughter who died young ?) immigrated 28 Sep 1898 on the ship Hesperia.42

 

They had the following children:

         26            i.          Fortunata (1887-)

         27           ii.          Vito (1890-)

         28          iii.          Vito (1901-1994)

         29          iv.          Vincenzo (Vincent) (1903-1961)

 

Angelo second married .

 

They had the following children:

         30            i.          Fortunato

         31           ii.          Joseph

         32          iii.          Anthony

         33          iv.          Marie

 

13. Angelo VARISCO. Born on 20 Feb 1869 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.19,20 Angelo died in Manhattan, NY, NY, US on 26 Oct 1921; he was 52.19 Buried in Long Is City, NY, NY, US.19 Occupation: Farmer.21 Religion: Roman Catholic.

 

On 8 Dec 1889 when Angelo was 20, he first married Rosa PULEO, daughter of Mariano PULEO & Rosa NEGLIA, in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.21 Born abt 1871 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT. Rosa died 13 Apr 1899, Baucina.

 

Notes for Angelo VARISCO.

            Angelo immigrated to US on 3 Feb 1893 on ship India.36

EXPERIENCES OF THE INDIA

HER BOW PLATES STOVE IN BY A GALE—SAILORS REFUSED TO WORK

            The Anchor Line steamship India, which sailed from Gibraltar Jan. 5, yesterday arrived in port.  The voyage was as eventful as it was long.  Jan. 18 the vessel encountered a heavy gale from the northwest, and before it subsided several of the ship's bow plates were stove in.  The India put into Bermuda, had her damaged plates repaired, and sailed thence for New York Jan. 30.

 

            Shortly after her arrival here yesterday it was reported that there had been a mutiny on board during the voyage.  Capt. Tait is her commander.  To a reporter who boarded the India at her Brooklyn pier last night he admitted that eighteen of his men had refused duty, but declined to say anything further about the matter.  When asked if he intended to prefer charges against them, the Captain refused to give a direct reply.

            The crew's version of the affair is that when the bow plates had been stove in their quarters in the forecastle were flooded, and, deeming the vessel in danger of sinking, they petitioned the Captain to put in to Bermuda, which was the nearest port.  That was in the height of the gale, and the men allege that the Captain consented to their request.  A wooden bulkhead was constructed around the damaged plates, and the ship ran off before the wind while the repairs were being made.  Bermuda lay in the direction toward which the ship was headed, and the men concluded that the Captain meant to keep his word.

            When the gale broke they were considerably surprised to see the ship headed for New York again.  A refusal to work the ship until she was steered for Bermuda was the result.  Whether it was this attitude of the crew or the weather, which grew stormy again, that induced the Captain to run for Bermuda could not be ascertained.  At any rate she was again headed for that island, and arrived there a few days later.  The sailors say that a board of survey which examined the vessel coincided with them and pronounced her unseaworthy, and would not allow her to sail until new plates were put in.

            The India had 450 Italians in her steerage.  The crew said there was a panic among them when the bow was stove in.  None of the passengers was injured by the mishap, but one of the crew whose bunk adjoined the indented plates was thrown to the deck and badly bruised.43

            Family was living in Kent Co, DE in 1920 census.45

            Angelo is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Long Island City, NY.44

 

Notes for Rosa PULEO

            Immigrated to U. S. 3 Feb 1893 on ship India.36

            Family tradition:  Rosa PULEO earned money taking work home.  She walked down by the East River because she didnŐt have a nickel for the trolley.  When her son, Mariano, was little she would carry him on one arm and several coats on the other.  At home she would sew in the linings.  She was so cold one time that her skirt stuck straight out.  When she got home she covered herself with the cold coats, got sick, and was never well again.  Apparently she took her two young sons and returned to Baucina as that is where her death record was found.      There is a record of two children: Pietro Varisco (age 9) and Angelo Varisco (age 8) coming to NY on the ship, Liguria, on 3 Oct 1901 to live with their father, Angelo, at 241 Elizabeth St.  Mariano's name was probably incorrectly recorded as Angelo.

           

They had the following children:

         34            i.          Pietro (1891-1981)

         35           ii.          Mariano (1893-1986)

 

Angelo second married Rosa LEGGIO, daughter of Salvatore LEGGIO & Giuseppa SAIA, in NY. Born on 12 May 1876 in Villalba, Caltanisetta, Sicily, IT.22 Rosa died in Brooklyn, Kings, NY, US on 21 Feb 1946; she was 69.

 

They had the following children:

         36            i.          Mary (1901-1991)

         37           ii.          Salvatore (Sam) (1903-1985)

         38          iii.          Rose (1907-2000)

         39          iv.          Josephine (1912-1984)

         40           v.          Sarah (1915-)

         41          vi.          Angelo (1918-)

 

14. Maria Santa VARISCO. Born in 1876 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.23

 

Family tradition says that Maria Santa married in New York City and moved to Syracuse, New York.

 

15. Pietro VARISCO. Born abt 1882.

 

Pietro married Vincinza. Born abt 1862 in IT.12 Vincinza died in Manhattan, NY, US on 29 May 1949.12

 

 

Notes for Pietro VARICO.

            Family lived on Allen Street in Manhattan in the 1920 census.46

 

Their known children are:

         42            i.          Marie (~1911-)

         43           ii.          Pietro (~1914-)

 

16. Filippo VARISCO. Born in Apr 1891 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.24 Filippo died on 6 Oct 1891 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.25

 

17. Anna VARISCO.

 

Anna married Guiseppi (Joseph) CASSATA. Born abt 1873. Guiseppi (Joseph) died in NYC, NY, NY, US on 2 Dec 1944.26

 

Notes for Guiseppi (Joseph) CASSATA.

            Family tradition:  Guiseppi was from a village near Baucina.  He may have lived in the Bronx, NY.  He may have had a barber shop at 149th St, NY.

 

Their known children are:

         44            i.          Frank

         45           ii.          Peter

         46         iii..

 

 

Fourth Generation

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21. Francesca VARISCO. Born on 20 Jan 1889 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.13,27 Francesca died abt 1959.

 

Francesca married Frank POMPINELLO.

 

22. Vita Lena_(Lee) VARISCO. Born on 8 Oct 1891 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.13,28 Vita Lena_(Lee) died abt 1976.

 

Vita Lena_(Lee) married Vito LOMONICA.

 

23. Philip VARISCO. Born in 1897 in New York, NY, NY, US.13 Philip died abt 1947.

 

Philip married Ann COLA.

 

24. Rosaria (Sadie) VARISCO. Born on 10 Jul 1899 in Manhattan, NY, NY, US. Religion: Roman Catholic.  She died on 4 Mar 2002, Bayside, NY.

 

On 25 Jun 1916 when Rosaria (Sadie) was 16, she married Pietro VARISCO34, son of Angelo VARISCO13 & Rosa PULEO, in NY, US. Born on 25 Jan 1891 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.29 Pietro died in , , NY, US on 16 Oct 1981; he was 90.

 

They had the following children:

         47            i.          Rose M (abt 1918-1931)

         48           ii.          Mae

 

25. Charles VARISCO. Born in 1901. Charles died abt 1958.

 

26. Fortunata VARISCO. Born in Feb 1887 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.17

 

27. Vito VARISCO. Born in 1890 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.30

 

28. Vito VARISCO. Born on 24 Mar 1901 in Manhattan, NY, NY, US. Vito died in Plainview, Nassau, NY, US on 10 Mar 1994; he was 92.

 

On 5 Jun 1926 when Vito was 25, he married Rosa PRAVATA, daughter of Salvatore PRAVATA & Antonina CANNIZZARO, in NYC, NY, NY, US. Born on 9 Nov 1898 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT. Rosa died on 2 Dec 1991; she was 93.

 

They had the following children:

         49            i.          Angelo (1931-1932)

         50           ii.          Angelo (Sonny)

 

29. Vincenzo (Vincent) VARISCO. Born on 4 Apr 1903 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT. Vincenzo (Vincent) died on 26 Mar 1961; he was 57.

 

In May 1926 when Vincenzo (Vincent) was 23, he married Mary PORCARO, in NYC, NY, NY, US. Born on 30 Oct 1905 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.

 

30. Fortunato VARISCO. Born in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.

 

31. Joseph VARISCO. Born in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.

 

32. Anthony VARISCO. Born in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.

 

33. Marie VARISCO. Born in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.

 

34. Pietro VARISCO. Born on 25 Jan 1891 in Baucina, Palermo, Sicily, IT.29 Pietro died in , , NY, US on 16 Oct 1981; he was 90. Religion: Roman Catholic.

 

On 25 Jun 1916 when Pietro was 25, he married Rosaria (Sadie) VARISCO24, daughter of Filippo (Philip) VARISCO10 & Domenica (Mamie) MANCUSO, in NY, US. Born on 10 Jul 1899 in , , NY, US.  She died on 4 Mar 2002.

 

Notes for Pietro VARISCO.

            Immigrated on 3 Feb 1893 on ship, India,<