Census and Immigration Data Can Uncover Hidden Stories

How to weave a story from census data and ship manifests: It might surprise you to learn how much you can glean from raw records like census data and ship manifests if you read between the lines. Far from simply providing a record of names, dates, ages, and addresses, these records can actually tell you a story. Let me give you a perfect example. Up until recently, I knew very little of my father's side of the family. I knew they had all immigrated during what's known as the Ellis Island era, in the early 1900's, and had settled in the town of Reading, Pa. I was only nine when my grandmother passed away, and while I remember her, I was not old enough to get any of her life stories. I knew nothing of the country they came from, nor why they came.

When I started doing my family history research, I easily found the census records at Ancestry.com for 1910, 1920 and 1930 which recorded the household members for that year, their ages, the address where they lived, and what the relationship was of each family member to the head of the household.

Likewise, I was able to find the ship manifests for all of them through searches at the Official Ellis Island web site, and these told me when they came, what the maiden names of the women were, how much money they came with, where they came from, who their closest relative was that they left in Sicily, and who they were going to join in America.

All of this seems like simple raw data, nothing that can tell a story. However, as I pored over it again and again I began to see things that made me ask questions. In particular, I realized that my great-grandparents came here when they were in their early 60's. Anyone who has any knowledge of the process of immigration during that period will realize what a grueling process they had to endure. So I begin looking at the records in a different light, and was able to construct a personal story just from these records. I will share that story with you now, so you can see what I mean by using such data to tell a story and actually make your ancestors come alive.

The Story of Carmelo and Orazia Spadaro

Almost a century ago, in 1916, my great-grandparents, Carmelo and Orazia Spadaro, left everything and everyone they knew in their Home in Sicily and made a voyage over the Atlantic ocean to begin a whole new life in the United States of America. While they were doing much the same thing as millions of other immigrants during this time in history, what I find particularly remarkable was that they were at the time in their early 60s.

I can only begin to imagine the mixture of emotions which they must have experienced, ranging from apprehension to excitement. It's one thing for young people looking for a new life and new opportunities to venture into the unknown in search of something better. But for people over 60 to be doing this is, in my estimation, an enormous accomplishment, and says a lot about their strength of will and fortitude.

Carmelo and Orazia made this decision, no doubt, because two of their children already had. It is not known at this time whether they had other children, but I rather suspect not. Their daughter, my grandmother, Angelina, had already gone five years previously to join her young husband, Vincenzo Zocco, who had preceeded her to get things established, and they were followed in 1912 by Angelina's brother, Angelo. The pull of once again reuniting with their children, and having the chance to know their grandchildren, may well have been enough to overcome what must certainly have been a great deal of apprehension over making such a drastic life change.

The couple were apparently Originally slated to travel aboard the "Cretic", leaving Palermo on March 24th, and arriving in Boston, MA on April 7th. It is not known why this voyage was not undertaken. Perhaps they did not arrive on time to sail. Their names are crossed off on the manifest for this sailing, though the information provided on it is the same as from the other one. One interesting thing to note though is that Orazia's occupation, like those of other women on the manifest, is listed as "Whifehouse."

Three days after the original sailing date, the couple boarded the "Giuseppe Verdi" which sailed from Palermo, Sicily, on March 27, 1916, and arrived in New York on April 9th. According to the ship manifest, they were to be going to Chester, PA, to 228 Essen St., to join their son, Angelo Spadaro. However, by 1920 all three were living in Reading, PA with the Zocco family, as shown on the 1920 census. Their last permanent place of residence is listed as Calascibetta, and their nearest relative there is listed as a nephew, Carmelo Spadaro, also of Calascibetta.

It's possible both of them were in danger of not being admitted, as there are medical notations on both of their manifest entries, although what is written there is hard to decipher. Nevertheless, both of them also were stamped as "ADMITTED" though I can imagine the fear and apprehension they must have endured during this process, not to mention embarrassment and humiliation.

The last known mention of Carmelo and Orazia is the 1920 census, which has them and their son living in Reading, PA with their daughter and son-in-law, and their five children. My father, Frank Joseph, was just 10 days old on the date listed on the census. By the 1930 census, Angelo has his own residence and family, but neither Carmelo nor Orazia is listed with either one. But I am grateful to them for showing me, and hopefully my own children and grandchildren, that you are never too old to make a new start, or have new adventures, and that being with your family is more important than almost anything.

How to Start Looking For Your Own Stories

This is what I mean by letting the record data tell you the story. All you need to do is look at the meaning behind the data. Pay attention to how old people would have been on a particular date, as that can tell you a lot. Compare records against each other because they often compliment each other and help complete the picture. Ask yourself what things mean, rather than taking the data on face value alone. You will be surprised what you can figure out that isn't expressly stated.

Sources:

Ancestry.com
Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.