Serafino Gullo was born in Bronte, Provincia di Catania, Sicilia in 1855. On his gravestone it lists 1856 as his birth year, but records in Sicily say he was Baptized on Nov. 10, 1855.
Bronte is a small mountain town near the live Volcano, Mt. Etna in Eastern Sicily.
His Parents :
*Gaspare (Gasparo) Gullo, of Bronte
*Maria Franco, of Bronte.
His maternal Grandparents:
*Serafino Franco, Bronte
*Maria Gangi, Bronte
His paternal grandparents:
*Gasparo Gullo,Sr., Bronte
*Teresa Schepis, Bronte
Serafino was named after his maternal grandfather Serafino Franco.
Serafino's birth registration was witnessed by Sebastiano Franco and Vincenzo Franco, both relatives (brothers?) of his mother Maria Franco. Both were listed as Villicos (farmers)
Serafino had one older (1852-1944) sister named Felicia and she was married to Antonino Nunzio Destro.
Felicia is the only sibling that I know of.
During his lifetime, Serafino witnessed some major changes in Bronte and Sicilia.
In 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" came to Sicily and defeated the "Regno delle due Sicilie" Bourbon (Borbone) rulers who were led by King Ferdinando Carlo II di Borbone and threw them out. King Ferdinando was hated by the Sicilian people and they called him "Re Bomba" for having bombarded the Eastern Sicilian city of Messina and killing many civilians.
Sicily then became a part of Italy under the Italian Royal Flag.
Serafino was also there in the 1890's when the "Circumetnea Train Line" was constructed and put into service linking Bronte and the other small mountain towns to the big coastal city of Catania. It was called "La Littorina" by the towns people. This was a very big thing, prior to the train service, horse drawn wagons were used to go up and down the steep, dangerous, mountain roads to Catania. It's still in use today and when I was in Bronte I took it all the time to Catania.
He married Nunziata Luca of Bronte in 1879. Witnesses at the wedding were Felicia D'Andrea and Francesco Destro.
Both of Serafino's parents were alive at the time of the wedding.
Their occupation was the weaving of baskets and mats for sale.
They had the following children:
*Maria, married to Tommaso Calcagno
*Gaspare
*Felicia, Married to Francesco Minio
*Vincenzo
*Giuseppe
*Margherita, married to Antonino Zerbo
Maria was the only one of the children who remained in Sicily, all the rest moved to the USA. Most settled in Jamestown, NY.
Felicia settled in New York City, N.Y.
Serafino came to the USA on Oct. 14, 1910 at Ellis Island, NY on the ship "Italia". He was also the guardian of 3 young sisters who traveled with him to the USA. They were Maria Catania age 11, and her two sisters Masia Catania age 9 and Vincenza Catania age 7.
I don't know if they were relatives or the daughters of friends.
He would join his married son Gaspare in Jamestown, NY. At that time Gaspare was living on Harrison St.
Serafino had planned to send for his wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita to come over and join him later.
Sadly, Serafino quickly became ill and died later that same month on Oct. 29th.
Dr. Morris M. Bemus of Jamestown had been called and according to his notes on the Death Certificate "I only saw him a few moments prior to his death". In the Death Certificate Dr. Bemus stated he thought the cause of death was probably Uraemia, kidney failure.
Serafino was buried in Jamestown's Holy Cross Cemetery. He was the first of our family to be buried there. As years went by most of the Gullo family would also be buried there.
To honor their father, most of Serafino's children named one of their sons after him. Being that most of them were here in the USA they used the English translation of Serafino which is Russell. And that's why there were so many Russell's in the family.
Serafino's wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita came over to the USA in 1913. They also joined son/brother Gaspare and settled in Jamestown,NY.
Nunziata never returned to Sicily and lived in Jamestown till her death in 1945.
The Gullo family was very close in life and in death. Most of them are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Jamestown. Near their father and mother.
(PHOTOS)
On the right I have loaded some photos, if you click on each photo you will see a caption that describes it.
Riposa in Pace, Caro Nonno.
From your great-grandson, Joe O.
Bronte is a small mountain town near the live Volcano, Mt. Etna in Eastern Sicily.
His Parents :
*Gaspare (Gasparo) Gullo, of Bronte
*Maria Franco, of Bronte.
His maternal Grandparents:
*Serafino Franco, Bronte
*Maria Gangi, Bronte
His paternal grandparents:
*Gasparo Gullo,Sr., Bronte
*Teresa Schepis, Bronte
Serafino was named after his maternal grandfather Serafino Franco.
Serafino's birth registration was witnessed by Sebastiano Franco and Vincenzo Franco, both relatives (brothers?) of his mother Maria Franco. Both were listed as Villicos (farmers)
Serafino had one older (1852-1944) sister named Felicia and she was married to Antonino Nunzio Destro.
Felicia is the only sibling that I know of.
During his lifetime, Serafino witnessed some major changes in Bronte and Sicilia.
In 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" came to Sicily and defeated the "Regno delle due Sicilie" Bourbon (Borbone) rulers who were led by King Ferdinando Carlo II di Borbone and threw them out. King Ferdinando was hated by the Sicilian people and they called him "Re Bomba" for having bombarded the Eastern Sicilian city of Messina and killing many civilians.
Sicily then became a part of Italy under the Italian Royal Flag.
Serafino was also there in the 1890's when the "Circumetnea Train Line" was constructed and put into service linking Bronte and the other small mountain towns to the big coastal city of Catania. It was called "La Littorina" by the towns people. This was a very big thing, prior to the train service, horse drawn wagons were used to go up and down the steep, dangerous, mountain roads to Catania. It's still in use today and when I was in Bronte I took it all the time to Catania.
He married Nunziata Luca of Bronte in 1879. Witnesses at the wedding were Felicia D'Andrea and Francesco Destro.
Both of Serafino's parents were alive at the time of the wedding.
Their occupation was the weaving of baskets and mats for sale.
They had the following children:
*Maria, married to Tommaso Calcagno
*Gaspare
*Felicia, Married to Francesco Minio
*Vincenzo
*Giuseppe
*Margherita, married to Antonino Zerbo
Maria was the only one of the children who remained in Sicily, all the rest moved to the USA. Most settled in Jamestown, NY.
Felicia settled in New York City, N.Y.
Serafino came to the USA on Oct. 14, 1910 at Ellis Island, NY on the ship "Italia". He was also the guardian of 3 young sisters who traveled with him to the USA. They were Maria Catania age 11, and her two sisters Masia Catania age 9 and Vincenza Catania age 7.
I don't know if they were relatives or the daughters of friends.
He would join his married son Gaspare in Jamestown, NY. At that time Gaspare was living on Harrison St.
Serafino had planned to send for his wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita to come over and join him later.
Sadly, Serafino quickly became ill and died later that same month on Oct. 29th.
Dr. Morris M. Bemus of Jamestown had been called and according to his notes on the Death Certificate "I only saw him a few moments prior to his death". In the Death Certificate Dr. Bemus stated he thought the cause of death was probably Uraemia, kidney failure.
Serafino was buried in Jamestown's Holy Cross Cemetery. He was the first of our family to be buried there. As years went by most of the Gullo family would also be buried there.
To honor their father, most of Serafino's children named one of their sons after him. Being that most of them were here in the USA they used the English translation of Serafino which is Russell. And that's why there were so many Russell's in the family.
Serafino's wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita came over to the USA in 1913. They also joined son/brother Gaspare and settled in Jamestown,NY.
Nunziata never returned to Sicily and lived in Jamestown till her death in 1945.
The Gullo family was very close in life and in death. Most of them are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Jamestown. Near their father and mother.
(PHOTOS)
On the right I have loaded some photos, if you click on each photo you will see a caption that describes it.
Riposa in Pace, Caro Nonno.
From your great-grandson, Joe O.
Serafino Gullo was born in Bronte, Provincia di Catania, Sicilia in 1855. On his gravestone it lists 1856 as his birth year, but records in Sicily say he was Baptized on Nov. 10, 1855.
Bronte is a small mountain town near the live Volcano, Mt. Etna in Eastern Sicily.
His Parents :
*Gaspare (Gasparo) Gullo, of Bronte
*Maria Franco, of Bronte.
His maternal Grandparents:
*Serafino Franco, Bronte
*Maria Gangi, Bronte
His paternal grandparents:
*Gasparo Gullo,Sr., Bronte
*Teresa Schepis, Bronte
Serafino was named after his maternal grandfather Serafino Franco.
Serafino's birth registration was witnessed by Sebastiano Franco and Vincenzo Franco, both relatives (brothers?) of his mother Maria Franco. Both were listed as Villicos (farmers)
Serafino had one older (1852-1944) sister named Felicia and she was married to Antonino Nunzio Destro.
Felicia is the only sibling that I know of.
During his lifetime, Serafino witnessed some major changes in Bronte and Sicilia.
In 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" came to Sicily and defeated the "Regno delle due Sicilie" Bourbon (Borbone) rulers who were led by King Ferdinando Carlo II di Borbone and threw them out. King Ferdinando was hated by the Sicilian people and they called him "Re Bomba" for having bombarded the Eastern Sicilian city of Messina and killing many civilians.
Sicily then became a part of Italy under the Italian Royal Flag.
Serafino was also there in the 1890's when the "Circumetnea Train Line" was constructed and put into service linking Bronte and the other small mountain towns to the big coastal city of Catania. It was called "La Littorina" by the towns people. This was a very big thing, prior to the train service, horse drawn wagons were used to go up and down the steep, dangerous, mountain roads to Catania. It's still in use today and when I was in Bronte I took it all the time to Catania.
He married Nunziata Luca of Bronte in 1879. Witnesses at the wedding were Felicia D'Andrea and Francesco Destro.
Both of Serafino's parents were alive at the time of the wedding.
Their occupation was the weaving of baskets and mats for sale.
They had the following children:
*Maria, married to Tommaso Calcagno
*Gaspare
*Felicia, Married to Francesco Minio
*Vincenzo
*Giuseppe
*Margherita, married to Antonino Zerbo
Maria was the only one of the children who remained in Sicily, all the rest moved to the USA. Most settled in Jamestown, NY.
Felicia settled in New York City, N.Y.
Serafino came to the USA on Oct. 14, 1910 at Ellis Island, NY on the ship "Italia". He was also the guardian of 3 young sisters who traveled with him to the USA. They were Maria Catania age 11, and her two sisters Masia Catania age 9 and Vincenza Catania age 7.
I don't know if they were relatives or the daughters of friends.
He would join his married son Gaspare in Jamestown, NY. At that time Gaspare was living on Harrison St.
Serafino had planned to send for his wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita to come over and join him later.
Sadly, Serafino quickly became ill and died later that same month on Oct. 29th.
Dr. Morris M. Bemus of Jamestown had been called and according to his notes on the Death Certificate "I only saw him a few moments prior to his death". In the Death Certificate Dr. Bemus stated he thought the cause of death was probably Uraemia, kidney failure.
Serafino was buried in Jamestown's Holy Cross Cemetery. He was the first of our family to be buried there. As years went by most of the Gullo family would also be buried there.
To honor their father, most of Serafino's children named one of their sons after him. Being that most of them were here in the USA they used the English translation of Serafino which is Russell. And that's why there were so many Russell's in the family.
Serafino's wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita came over to the USA in 1913. They also joined son/brother Gaspare and settled in Jamestown,NY.
Nunziata never returned to Sicily and lived in Jamestown till her death in 1945.
The Gullo family was very close in life and in death. Most of them are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Jamestown. Near their father and mother.
(PHOTOS)
On the right I have loaded some photos, if you click on each photo you will see a caption that describes it.
Riposa in Pace, Caro Nonno.
From your great-grandson, Joe O.
Bronte is a small mountain town near the live Volcano, Mt. Etna in Eastern Sicily.
His Parents :
*Gaspare (Gasparo) Gullo, of Bronte
*Maria Franco, of Bronte.
His maternal Grandparents:
*Serafino Franco, Bronte
*Maria Gangi, Bronte
His paternal grandparents:
*Gasparo Gullo,Sr., Bronte
*Teresa Schepis, Bronte
Serafino was named after his maternal grandfather Serafino Franco.
Serafino's birth registration was witnessed by Sebastiano Franco and Vincenzo Franco, both relatives (brothers?) of his mother Maria Franco. Both were listed as Villicos (farmers)
Serafino had one older (1852-1944) sister named Felicia and she was married to Antonino Nunzio Destro.
Felicia is the only sibling that I know of.
During his lifetime, Serafino witnessed some major changes in Bronte and Sicilia.
In 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" came to Sicily and defeated the "Regno delle due Sicilie" Bourbon (Borbone) rulers who were led by King Ferdinando Carlo II di Borbone and threw them out. King Ferdinando was hated by the Sicilian people and they called him "Re Bomba" for having bombarded the Eastern Sicilian city of Messina and killing many civilians.
Sicily then became a part of Italy under the Italian Royal Flag.
Serafino was also there in the 1890's when the "Circumetnea Train Line" was constructed and put into service linking Bronte and the other small mountain towns to the big coastal city of Catania. It was called "La Littorina" by the towns people. This was a very big thing, prior to the train service, horse drawn wagons were used to go up and down the steep, dangerous, mountain roads to Catania. It's still in use today and when I was in Bronte I took it all the time to Catania.
He married Nunziata Luca of Bronte in 1879. Witnesses at the wedding were Felicia D'Andrea and Francesco Destro.
Both of Serafino's parents were alive at the time of the wedding.
Their occupation was the weaving of baskets and mats for sale.
They had the following children:
*Maria, married to Tommaso Calcagno
*Gaspare
*Felicia, Married to Francesco Minio
*Vincenzo
*Giuseppe
*Margherita, married to Antonino Zerbo
Maria was the only one of the children who remained in Sicily, all the rest moved to the USA. Most settled in Jamestown, NY.
Felicia settled in New York City, N.Y.
Serafino came to the USA on Oct. 14, 1910 at Ellis Island, NY on the ship "Italia". He was also the guardian of 3 young sisters who traveled with him to the USA. They were Maria Catania age 11, and her two sisters Masia Catania age 9 and Vincenza Catania age 7.
I don't know if they were relatives or the daughters of friends.
He would join his married son Gaspare in Jamestown, NY. At that time Gaspare was living on Harrison St.
Serafino had planned to send for his wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita to come over and join him later.
Sadly, Serafino quickly became ill and died later that same month on Oct. 29th.
Dr. Morris M. Bemus of Jamestown had been called and according to his notes on the Death Certificate "I only saw him a few moments prior to his death". In the Death Certificate Dr. Bemus stated he thought the cause of death was probably Uraemia, kidney failure.
Serafino was buried in Jamestown's Holy Cross Cemetery. He was the first of our family to be buried there. As years went by most of the Gullo family would also be buried there.
To honor their father, most of Serafino's children named one of their sons after him. Being that most of them were here in the USA they used the English translation of Serafino which is Russell. And that's why there were so many Russell's in the family.
Serafino's wife Nunziata and youngest daughter Margherita came over to the USA in 1913. They also joined son/brother Gaspare and settled in Jamestown,NY.
Nunziata never returned to Sicily and lived in Jamestown till her death in 1945.
The Gullo family was very close in life and in death. Most of them are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Jamestown. Near their father and mother.
(PHOTOS)
On the right I have loaded some photos, if you click on each photo you will see a caption that describes it.
Riposa in Pace, Caro Nonno.
From your great-grandson, Joe O.
Gravesite Details
Serafino and Nunziata share a beautiful headstone by daughter Margaret
