Re: D'ALBA FAMILY FROM SICILY
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In reply to:
D'ALBA FAMILY FROM SICILY
11/18/00
My great great... grandfather from Palermo, Italy was born on November 15, 1842 and ran away from home when he was 13 and stowed away on a ship which went to United States. He made his way to Richmond, Virginia and was there during the blockade of the Civil War.He ran the blockade by buying an open boat and attempting to row down the James River to Newport News.A woman with a baby in Richmond wanted to get ou t also, so he let her and the baby go with hm to the peninsula.He rowed and pushed the boat down James River, stopping from time to time for rest and food.They landed at Newport News,The woman and baby went their way with friends or relatives.Mr. De Alba met some members of the wood family of York County, Virginia, and eventually made his way to York County.
He joined the army of the Southern Confederacy and fought in the Civil War until it ended.After surrender at Appomattox Court House he returned to York County.
Thomas De Alba married Ann Delila Wood and had 10 kids.
Thomas and Ann De Alba bought a farm of about 25 acres on the York-Hampton highway about 3 miles below Yorktown.He farmed in season, at other times he worked at John Smith's Railway in Fish Neck (Now Dare) as a boat calker. Later he worked at this trade at the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Docks company.
At one time Mr. and Mrs. De Alba ran a country grocery store on the York-Hampton highway.Store was probably run by Mrs.De Alba while Mr. De Alba was farming with his growing sons and at the Ship yard.
10 kids were:
1.Mary De Alba, born March 9, 1866
2.Rosa De Alba, born about 1868
3.John Robert De Alba, born 1871
4.Thomas De Alba Jr., born October 16, 1873
5.Francisco De Alba, born May 12,1877
6. Florence Lena De Alba, born 1880
7.James T. De Alba, born May 18, 1883
8.Joseph De ALba, born May 18,1883
9.Carrie De Alba, born August 31, 1888
10.Annie De Alba, born August 31, 1888
Thomas De Alba Sr. died December 27, 1918. His wife Ann Delila Wood De Alba died Feburuary 13, 1916. They are buried in Grafton Christian Church Cementery in Grafton, Virginia
My name is Matt Baines, 17 years old and live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.I'm looking for some more information so if this is right write back.