Re: James P. Romeo came 1904 from Reggio Calabrio
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In reply to:
James P. Romeo came 1904 from Reggio Calabrio
pat stiles 1/24/03
My husband's family is Romeo and Spagnola. I found this on
ROMEO
"The Roman"
Genealogy of the Romeo Family of Watertown, NY
The Romeo family originates from the tip of the Italian boot nearest the Island of Sicily (Sicilia) from the Village of Gallico-Superiore about 15 kilometers up the coast from the larger town of Reggio di Calabria.An ancient Greek colony, this area is characterized by its Greek past, and many family names represent this unique difference from the rest of Italy.The name Romeo comes from the Byzantine Greek: ROMAIOS meaning "ROMAN", and this Greek form eventually came up through the latin as ROMEO.This implies that the original ancestor was a Roman citizen in what was then a non-Roman area, and he was distinguishable from others by this fact, and was known as so-and-so the Roman.Eventually the family name is known in many villages of this area as well as on Sicily, but remains centered in the Reggio area.Currently, with the fine work of Jennifer Towns of NY and Antonino Sapone of Reggio we know that our Watertown, New York branch comes from the following generations beginning at the earliest known:
(1)Giuseppe RomeomarriedVittoria Capuain Archi, Italy
their son
(2)Vincenzo Romeo married Giovanna Laface,also in Archi, Italy
Vincenzo died in Archi, Regio-Calabria, Italy in 1842, aged 72
their son
(3)Giuseppe Romeo married Caterina Barillain 1826 in Archi, Italy
Giuseppe died at sea in 1833 in a battle with police, details unknown
their sons were:
Vincenzo Romeo, b. 1827, Archi m. Caterina Branca (son: Carlo Romeo b. Gallico Superiore
married 1885 Angela Votano.again m. Domenica Marra, daughter Caterina Romeo b. Gallico 1885
and
(4)Giovanni Romeo married Giovanna Chirico in 1853 in Gallico Superiore, Italy
their son
(5)Giuseppe Romeo married Gracia Fiumano(married 1883 in Gallico Superiore) The name Fiumano comes from the Greek Byzantine first name: "EUFEMIANOS" and represents at least in part a Greek heritage.
their five children were:
1. JOHN (Giovanni) ROMEO b. 19 November 1885, Gallico-Superiore, Regio-Callabria, Italy; died: 23 November 1917 in Watertown, NY.member St Anthony's Parish.He arrived in the United States in May 1911.
2. VINCENT ROMEO
3. DOMINICK ROMEO
4. DIMITRI ROMEO
5. ANGELINA (ROMEO) COSIANO
(6)JOHN (Giovanni) ROMEO
married MARY CASTRO on November 23, 1917 in St Anthony's Church, Watertown. She was born in Sicily, the daughter of AUGUSTINE CASTRO and JOSEPHINE COPPOLA,Their children were:
1. Joseph Romeo, born 1918 Watertown, NY
2. Augustine Romeo
3. Grace (Romeo) Klingsick
4. Vincent A. Romeo
5. John Romeo Jr.