Guiseppe Brigandi and Columba Cuffari Brigandi

A Family Mystery

 

My great-grandfather, Giuseppe Brigandi, is still a mystery in our family tree. For years, his story seemed lost. I had almost given up hope of learning more, but the opportunity to participate in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks reignited my curiosity. And the growth of online genealogy resources is making once elusive searches so much easier. Giuseppe’s life called me to dig deeper.

Here’s what I knew: Giuseppe was born in northern Sicily around 1858. He died in 1940 and was the father of my grandfather, Joseph. He worked as a laborer, like many immigrants of his time, and eventually settled in Lodi, New Jersey. There, he raised his family and lived a quiet, simple life. Knowing that Joseph came to the U.S. around 1900, I started my search…

The Ellis Island Lead

To begin, I searched the Ellis Island Foundation, ellisisland.org, a goldmine for anyone tracing European immigration. The Ship’s Manifest collection gave me a promising clue: Santi Brigandi, age 48, was traveling to New York with Columba Maria Cuffari (my great-grandmother) and her children—Calegero, Giovanni, and a five-year-old named “Gppe Santi” Brigandi. Could Santi or young “Gppe Santi” be my great-grandfather? The dates didn’t add up. Santi would have been born in 1853, which didn’t match Giuseppe’s birth year. Plus, “Gppe Santi” was far too young.

 

FamilySearch Breakthrough

 

Despite the setback, I didn’t give up. I turned to familysearch.org and finally found Giuseppe’s death record. It listed his parents as Caterina Santangelo and Nicolo Brigandi, confirming what my family had always said. Surprisingly, there was more information about Giuseppe’s parents than about him! But one crucial detail stood out—Giuseppe had a brother named Santi. When I looked back at the Ellis Island manifest, I noticed a note: Santi was traveling to meet his brother, Giuseppe, in New York. This was a major breakthrough!

 

Across the Ocean

 

Looking closer at the Ellis Island records showed that Giuseppe had arrived in New York on a different ship several years earlier. This was a common practice at the time. Men often came to the U.S. first to settle in and establish themselves before sending for their families to join them.

 

The Case of “Gppe Santi”

 

The mystery of “Gppe Santi” still puzzled me. Who was this five-year-old? The answer turned out to be simpler than I expected. My grandfather, Joseph, had Americanized his name. His birth record revealed his true identity: Giuseppe Santo Brigandi. It seems the Ellis Island clerk had simply shortened his name! This discovery taught me an important lesson: when searching for an ancestor, don’t overlook their relatives. They can be a treasure trove of clues in your genealogical journey.

 

The Search Continues

 

My search isn’t over yet. I’m now digging through Sicilian ledgers, hoping to uncover Giuseppe’s exact birthdate. Sadly, many records from that time are either damaged or too hard to read, and the uncertainty about his birthplace makes things even more challenging. For now, my next step is to get a copy of Giuseppe’s death certificate, which I hope will provide more clarity about his birthdate. I’ll keep you posted as the journey unfolds.