Our GIUSEPPE CIARAMITARO Family Memories Page

GIUSEPPE CIARAMITARO FAMILY MEMORIES PAGE

First Generation Immigrants

The Giuseppe and Rosaria Bommarito Ciaramitaro Family

The First Generation Immigrants -Terrasini, Sicily to St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.:

In December 1887 in the Commune of Terrasini Sicily, marriage banns were announced for the upcoming marriage of Giuseppe Ciaramitaro, son of Mercurio and Rosalia Pellerito Ciaramitaro and Rosaria Bommarito, daughter of Giuseppe and Fara Bommarito. It was the custom to have these banns or intentions of marriage announced prior to Catholic Italian marriages. Unlike others, these banss for some unknown reason were announced nearly a year prior to the actual marriage on November 25, 1888.

On Life in Terrasini for Giuseppe Ciaramitaro

The couple began their early married life in Terrasini, where the first 5 of their 9 children were born.

Giuseppe Ciaramitaro would see for himself what opportunities were in America for work and a home for his family. It’s not certain what date he made his first voyage but it was likely in 1901.

We do know that on April 17, 1902, out of the Lombardia, a ship that arrived in New York harbor from Napoli (Naples) Italy, walked a small family group headed by a tiny woman (4 ft 8 inches tall), listed on the ship’s manifest as Rosaria Bommarito (age 32). The group were immigrants from Terrasini, Sicily; a mother and her five children: 4 sons; Mercurio Ciaramitaro (12 yrs old), Giuseppe Ciaramitaro (11 yrs old), Salvatore Ciaramitaro (9 yrs old), Leonardo Ciaramitaro (4 yrs old), and one daughter; Rosalia Ciaramitaro (5 yrs old). The trip couldn’t have been easy for her and to add to the chores of caring for herself and her 5 children during the many weeks it took the ship to make the voyage, before that year, 1902, ended, another son, John, would be born in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Eventually the family would total 11 with 9 children, 7 boys and two girls.

This small group would continue their travels west to St. Louis, Missouri, their final destination. according to the ships records was where their sponsor lived. This sponsor was her husband and the father of the children; Giuseppe Ciaramitaro. Giuseppe had paid their fare, and was who they indicated would be their connection when they arrived.

There is a family story that they may have first traveled to Detroit, but we know now that they would settle permanently and raise their family in St. Louis, Missouri.

On Life in St. Louis for Giuseppe and Rosaria Ciaramitaro

Records show that 1904 is the earliest date there is official mention, in the St. Louis City Directories, of a Joseph Ciaramitaro, peddler, living at 1229 Foster al, (ie, alley entrance). This may have been their first home in St. Louis.

The first mention in the United States Federal Census for Missouri was in 1910, where a 45 year old fruit peddler was listed as renting a home at 1414 N. 7th Street with a last name spelled Schamatoria (it must have been difficult for immigrants who couldn’t read or write to be able to correctly spell their names for questioners). It was acknowledged at that time that he was an alien (vs naturalized citizen). Also living there was his wife Sarah (40 yr), and 9 children; Mike (20y), Joseph (18y), Samuel (16y), Rosie (15y), Leo (10y), John (7y), James (6y), Andrew (3y) and Fannie (2y). The nine children’s given names are easily readable unlike the father’s, and their birthdates seem to be exact matches to our Giuseppe Ciaramitaro family.

On Later U. S. Federal Census Records and the Ciaramitaro Family

In the 1920 U. S. Federal Census, there is a naturalized citizen listed named Joseph Sharamitaro, a 60 year old fruit peddler, who owns a home at 1414 North Seventh St., is living with his wife Sarah (54 yrs old) three sons; John (16 yrs old), James (15 yrs old), and Henry (12 yrs old) and a daughter Francis (11 yrs old).

The same 1920 U.S. Federal Census also recorded a Mike Sharamitaro (30 yrs old and son of Giuseppe) also a fruit peddler, renting the second floor apartment at the same address, 1414a No. 7th Street. He is listed with his wife Mary (24 yrs old) and two daughters, Saddie (4) and Rosie (2), sadly the two year old Rosie would not live out the year

A family story is told that Giuseppe and Rosaria’s eldest son, Mercurio (Mike) Sharamitaro came to his father’s rescue during the depression years, preventing the family from losing their two-family home, and Mercurio (Mike) would eventually became the owner of the Ciaramitaro home on 7th Street.

On World War II Years

On February 16, 1942, after Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, both Giuseppe and Rosaria Ciaramitaro were re-processed by the Alian Registration Division and a copy of their paperwork was filed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation office at St. Louis, MO. Their photos and their right index fingerprint was taken. Their place of birth, address and birthdates were listed (as Terrasini Sicily). Each of them listed the length of residence in the U.S. as 46 years for him and 39 years for her (hers better matches the information from the U.S. Census). Their distinctive marks were listed as mustache for him and a mole on the right side of chin for her. Because neither could read nor write, their son James went with them and signed as their witness. Also noted on the form was the mispelling of their last name as Ciramaitaro.

On Their Final Years

Giuseppe and Rosaria Ciaramitaro would live in their home on N. 7th Street until Giuseppe died July 10, 1951. Rosaria then chose to live with her daughter Fannie Vitale. Rosaria died on March 11, 1957. The two are buried together in the family plot in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis Mo.