Michele Ciavattone and Loreta Giammarco

Michele Ciavattone 1897-1953

On November 15, 1920 at the age of 23 Michele Ciavattone arrived in New York aboard the SS President Grant (renamed the Republic in WWII and served as a troop transporter).  He indicated he is single, a laborer and speaks Italian.  He is from Sulmona Aquila Italy the son of Maria Colaberardino and his final destination is Detroit, Michigan.

Conte Verde postcard Michele sends to Loreta

Four years later on November 19, 1924, Michele arrived in New York once again this time aboard the SS Conte Verde from Napoli.  With this entry he indicates his last place of permanent residence was Detroit, Michigan and his nearest friend or relative residing in the place from whence he came is his wife Loreta Giammarco, although some records indicate they were married August 24, 1926.

Loreta Giammarco Ciavattone 1902-1976

On March 30, 1927, the SS Roma arrived in New York from Naples with a 25 year old housewife, Loreta Giammarco-Ciavattone.

Giammarco House - Sulmona

The Giammarco Family abt. 1924 Standing rear, Francesco (Ceci) Giuseppe, Loreta.  Front Antonio, Rosaria, holding Salvatore (Sam).

This is the last photo of Loreta Giammarco and her family before she emigrates to America to join her husband Michele.  Loreta and Michele never again returned to Sulmona after 1926.  They kept in close contact with all of their siblings who remained in Italy and those on both sides of the family who had emigrated to Australia through frequent letters and pictures.

Giuseppe & Lucia, Michele & Loreta's children abt. 1934 Detroit

Loreta Giammarco's older sister, Lucia had married Michele's older brother, Giuseppe.  Their children and grandchildren maintained a close relationship throughout their lives.

Giuseppe Ciavattone and Lucia Giammarco

Giuseppe Ciavattone 1894-1973

Third born child of Leonardo and Maria was Giuseppe(1894-1973).  According to family stories from Sandra Aimone Muck, Giuseppe was sent to live with brothers in a seminary when he was young.  This may have been in 1905 when, at the age of 10, his father, Leonardo, died suddenly.  January 30, 1912, Giuseppe age 17 arrived in Boston on the ship Canopic.  Listed below his name on the ship manifest was Gaetano Ciavattone age 18, presumably a cousin and probably the same Gaetano who accompanied Giuseppe's older brother, Panfilo, in 1920.  Both indicated their final destination was Pennsylvania.

Lucia Giammarco Ciavattone 1899-1995

On July 28, 1916, Lucia Giammarco, age 17, arrived in Boston on the Cretic from Naples.  Lucia indicates she is going to Hamilton, ON to a friend, Giuseppe.
On August 3, 1916, 22 year old Giuseppe Ciavattone married 17 year old Lucia Giammarco in Hamilton (Wentworth) Ontario Canada.  They listed their residence as 27 Imperial St. Hamilton, ON.  Witnesses to this marriage were Sabato and Raffaela Colichio.  

On August 24, 1916, Giuseppe entered the US from Canada with the destination of Buffalo, NY.  He indicated he was living in Hamilton, ON.

On February 9, 1925 Lucia and her 4 year old daughter, Elena (Helen) arrived in New York from Naples following a visit to Sulmona.  Their final destination was Detroit, MI.

Joseph Ciavattone 1938 in Detroit

Lucia and Giuseppe first appear in the US census records in 1930.  At that time they were living at 14010 Mitchell Ave. in Detroit, MI with their daughter, Helena and son, Adolph in a home valued at $3000.  Giuseppe, had Americanized his first name and was listed as Joseph employed at a gas station.

Lucia's younger sister Loreta Giammarco and Giuseppe's younger brother Michele Ciavattone married and emigrated to America in the early 1920's.  Their story will be in future posts.

Lucia and Giuseppe's children and grandchildren settled in and around Detroit and many Ciavattone's in the Detroit area are descendants of the combined Ciavattone/Giammarco families.

The Abruzzo Ciavattone's

Leonardo Ciavattone and Maria Colaberardino married in December 15, 1881 in the region of Italy known as Abruzzo e Molise presumably near the town of Sulmona. Abruzzo was considered part of the Kingdom of Naples at this time.  Our Italian ancestors considered Sulmona home long after they and their Sulmona friends and relatives had emigrated to America, Canada, and Australia.

Leonardo Ciavattone
1851-1906

Maria Colaberardino
1862-1923?

Leonardo and Maria had 7 children starting with Catharine in 1888 and the last born was Leonard in 1906.  Leonardo died in 1906 shortly before his last child was born hence the youngest son was named Leonard.

Of these 7 children I have been able to find descendants of all but Catharine.

The first born was Panfilo Ciavattone born in 1885 in Sulmona.  Panfilo married Antoinetta Paolina DellaRana, born in 1891. They married in Sulmona in 1909.  From what I have found Panfilo was likely the first Ciavattone to emigrate to America. On Februrary 22, 1905 the SS Romanic arrived from Naples in Boston.  The ship's manifest included Panfilo Ciavattone, a 19 year old male from Sulmona Italy traveling alone.  The manifest indicates he could not read or write and he had never been in America before.  He arrived in good health with $9.06 and his final destination was to join a friend in New York.  Listed below Panfilo were 8 other young men also from Sulmona.  Two of the men were Antonio Colaberardino and Francesco Ciavattone, no doubt cousins of Panfilo looking for opportunities in America.

Panfilo returned to Italy after this 1905 arrival because he enters the US again in February, 1913 in New York.  This time he indicates he is married and his wife is his nearest living relative and her name is Antonia (Antoinetta?).  He indicates his final destination is Buffalo, NY.  He now can read and write.  At some point during this trip Panfilo made his way to Hamilton, ON CN.  In November 1913 he reentered the US  from Canada at Buffalo indicating his last residence was Hamilton.  This reentry may have been enroute for his return trip to Italy departing from New York City.

On August 21, 1920, Panfilo once again arrives in America on the SS Madonna in New York. He indicates he is 35 years old from Sulmona, Italy where he has a wife Antonia.  His final destination is Detroit, MI.  This time he is accompanied by Gaetano Ciavattone age 27 who is from Sulmona where he has a wife Mattea.  Gaetano's final destination is Detroit.

Panfilo and his cousins frequent arrivals and departures in America with final destinations in Hamilton, ON, Detroit, MI explain how the Ciavattone family established roots in those locations.

Luigi & Leonard Ciavattone 1952 Sulmona

I have been able to verify two children of Panfilo and Antoinetta.  Virginia born in 1912 and Antonio born in 1918.    I am confident there are more children and my research will eventually connect to their descendants.

Panfilo died in Sulmona in 1952.  Dante(Dondo) Ciavattone who visited Sulmona enroute back to Detroit in 1952 recalls his Ciavattone uncles (Luigi and Leonard)wearing black arm bands, perhaps in mourning for the loss of their uncle, Panfilo.

In 2010 a descendant of Virginia Ciavattone Fisher(1912-1997) posted a family tree on Ancestry.com listing Panfilo and Antoinetta which connected to my Ciavattone family tree posting.  It seems Virginia married an American and emigrated to the US in the 1940's.  The Ciavattone-Fisher descendants may be found in Colorado today.

Antonio Ciavattone's(1918-1986) descendants seem to be in the Hamilton, ON CN area today.   

In 2011, Pietro Ciavattone from Canberra, Australia sent me this picture of the daughter of Antonio Ciavattone's wedding in Italy in 1967.  Antonio can be seen on the far right edge of the photo.  Antoinetta Ciavatone, Antonio's mother and Panfilo's widow is in the second row, the second person to the left of Antonio.  Pietro is in contact with the Canadian Ciavattone's.

The second child of Leonardo and Maria was Caterina born in 1888.  Little is known of Caterina.  According to Maria Del Tinto, daughter of Anna Ciavattone Del Tinto, Caterina had a daughter.  Sadly both Caterina and her daughter died very young.  There may be no descendants today.