Rinaldi Stories, Legends & Remembrances

During the summer of 2008 I exchanged a series of Emails with my Grandmother’s nephew Scott Andrews, whose help furthered my Rinaldi research exponentially by relaying information he gathered during his regular visits with his mother, Eva Rinaldi. Their input has been like gold and is greatly appreciated. I would like to share some of those Email correspondences here:
  
Sent: Sun 6/15/2008 3:11 PM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Re: Rinaldi Relations 
I'm not sure who you are but my guess is that you're my second cousin. Rose & Tim MacSweeney were my Godparents.
My name is Scott Andrews.... Eva Rinaldi is my mother. She is the last of her siblings. She and I may be able to fill in some of the blanks. Let me know if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Scott Andrews

 
To: Scott Andrews Sr.
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 3:06 PM
Subject: Hi Cousin!
Hi!
I remember you & Chipper when we were very little playing guitar in our garage in Watertown!
I sure would love to hear as much as Aunt Eva remembers, the Rinaldi branch is so hard to do.
I will give you editor access to my ancestry page so you can add names & dates; you'll get an email giving directions.
Are you currently doing a genealogy of the Rinaldi family?
I am so glad you found my webpage & wrote!
Laura

 
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 5:33 PM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Re: Hi Cousin!
 
You have a great memory! The last time Chip & I were in Connecticut together was in the late '60's. I haven't been back since '72.
My mother never throws anything away.... We have a ton of pictures, newspaper clippings of wedding announcements, graduations and births, funeral/prayer cards and even 8mm movies taken when Mom & Dad were first married and when my oldest brother Bob was a baby. There are even a few seconds of footage showing Noni and my Dad's mother together. But I'm not sure how to convert this stuff in order to add to the website.
 
My Mom is in a nursing home now, and still pretty sharp on some things. But the memories come and go and sometimes they get confused. She still enjoys telling stories of growing up, about her Dad, Mom, siblings and cousins.
 
As far as Rinaldi genealogy goes, I just happened on the website by accident after doing a Google search on my Dad's name (it being Fathers Day and all).
I would think that you would have abundant resources close at hand. In with my Mom's stuff I have seen Rinaldi genealogy research that Bob MacSweeney did years ago. There were even photographs from Italy. I will be happy to add info as time allows. If there is anything specific you would like, please don't hesitate to ask. As for myself, if anyone out there has a photograph of my Mom's Dad, it would mean a great deal to me to get a copy. We only have one picture of him with his arm around Noni. It's a distant shot without great clarity. I never got to meet my grandparents on that side.
 
Best of luck on your research. I will be in touch.
Scott

 
To: 'Scott Andrews Sr.'
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 5:57 AM
Subject: RE: Hi Cousin!
 
Wow Scott,
I hope you have a scanner I'd love to see it all.
I do not really have pictures of my great grandparents I would love to see what you have. Did you check out the pictures on my site?
If you like we can add the pictures you have. (http://www.saltycircle.com/Rinaldi/grandma_roses_photos.htm)
Right now I'm trying to work on my great grandfather Giovanni (John) Rinaldi. I know so little about my Rinaldi side; I don't know when they came to America or how, some say through Canada.
Uncle Bob says he will share what he has but we never seem to get together.
Do you know what Giovanni's Parents names were?
 
Anything you & Eva can share would be wonderful.
Thank you so much,
Laura

 
Sent: Tue 6/17/2008 8:20 AM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Re: Hi Cousin!
 
I'll talk with Mom and find out what she remembers. In the meantime you should check out the "Ellis Island" website. It has a search engine for the ships manifests. It takes a little rooting around but I remember seeing Victoria and Mike on the passenger lists. Mom said that she was pregnant with Joe and sick as a dog on the crossing so another passenger watched Mike for her most of the trip. Giovanni crossed earlier and was already here. When you do your searches, don't get discouraged if you don’t get the results you want right away. Sometimes viewing the actual passenger lists provides more info than the search results.
 
Also, Mom has always said that Giovanni and Victoria had the same last name but one was a "Gulatti" Rinaldi and the other was a "Mateo" Rinaldi. I’m not sure which was which, or if I'm even spelling it correctly.
 
I'll be in touch,
Scott

Sent: Fri 6/19/2008 9:27 PM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Re: Picture
 
Laura,
 
Attached is a jpeg of the picture I mentioned in an earlier email... Giovanni & Vittoria. (I always thought her name was Victoria)
I found the Ellis Island record for Vittoria and Michelangelo (Uncle Mike). Check out the manifest for the ship "Prinz Oscar" in October of 1903. They are on lines 7 and 8.
Giovanni's info is on line 1 of the manifest for the ship "Spartan Prince" in July 1901.
Given these records, my Mom's mistaken about Noni being pregnant with Joe on the trip over.

Mary (my wife) and I will be seeing Mom tomorrow night. I printed out the info you sent earlier to bring with.
Hope this helps,
 
Scott
 
The name of the ship Noni was on should be "Prinz Oskar".
Sorry

 
Sent: Fri 6/20/2008 10:45 PM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Re: Rinaldi’s

Laura,
 
I afraid Mom wasn't much help. She really tries to remember but gets off track and starts down an entirely different path. A lot of this is just ramblings and doesn't do much for your research. But here goes...
 
Does not remember her grandparents except that her grampa was married several times and had a lot of kids.
 
She remembers her mother’s brother "Tiluigi" because he would come to this country to visit and always brought lots of candy and presents for the kids. He would joke about taking some of them back with him but had a hard time choosing which ones would go with him.
 
She said her Dad's brother Ralph lived here, moved back to Italy for a time, then returned to the USA.
 
Her mother’s sister, (she couldn't remember the name) married Michael Longo. They had several kids, some of which were Elsie, Angelina, Louie, and Matilda.
 
One of Vittoria's brothers had a wife named Adeline who was a wonderful, gentle soul. I assume they lived here....
 
Giovanni and Vittoria opened their home to relatives and friends of relatives when they first came to America. They stayed just until they had a place of their own.
 
Besides the Guglitti's she remembers "Murno's" as being family back in Italy as well.
 
Her mother was very superstitious and a big believer in curses and "the evil eye".
 
Rose eloped with Tim MacSweeney.
 
Fred eloped with Katherine. They asked my Mom and Dad to break the news to Noni.
 
Her Brother Mike's wife Marietta was insanely jealous of any woman who even glanced at him.
 
Her Dad built crates for the Scovill Company.
 
Her brother Joe used to be a truck driver for the lumber company.
 
Her brothers Mike and Tony were carpenters and had their own businesses for a while.
 
Her brother Pete was a barber.
 
All of the boys learned carpentry from Giovanni.
 
Rose and Joe's Lucy both had doctor’s appointments on the same day, after which they each went to Noni's house. Lucy was crying because she wanted to get pregnant and wasn't, Rose was crying because it was hard times for her and Tim and she was pregnant again.
 
As a kid, Frankie was always in trouble. He had a quick temper and a short fuse.

 
To: 'Scott Andrews Sr.'
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 4:34 AM
Subject: RE: Picture
 
Thank you so much! This is like gold! I can't thank you enough, I know this is very time consuming.
I sent a copy to my Dad. I'm so excited to finally put a face to the names & history I've been collecting.
Do you know what year it was taken & where they are in the picture?
Do you know of any other family over here, Giovanni's ship's record says he is coming to a cousin in Waterbury?
 
I can't wait to hear from you again!
Laura

 
To: 'Scott Andrews Sr.'
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 8:36 AM
Subject: RE: Picture
 
Sorry, I don't where or when the picture was taken and I don't know who was here before Giovanni.
 
Are you in contact with Tony's daughter DeeDee? Maybe she could shed some light.
 
Also, I remember that we have pictures and movies here (somewhere) of a trip that Rose and Mom took to visit relatives in Canada back in the 1960's. I'll ask Mom if she remembers their names and where they lived. Maybe they were the predecessors?

 
 Sent: Fri Thu 6/26/2008 10:23 PM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Family Pictures
 
Laura,
 
I sent 3 separate emails with photos: MacSweeney, Rinaldi and Longo. Just about everybody in the photos are related by blood or thru marriage. Many of the photographs have writing on the back which I used to name the pictures from. Some of them have additional info like "Cousin from N.Y." or the year and the location. Let me know if you want all the details...
 
The picture labeled "mother" is either Vittoria's or Giovanni's Mom. (I'm guessing its Vittoria's)
 
I'm pretty sure Vittoria's sister's name was Genevieve ... She married Michael Longo and they had Natalie (not Matilda. Her nickname was "Tillie". My Mom forgot her real name), Angie, Esie, Louis and Salvatore. The pictures give their spouse names. (There's a lot of Louis' on that branch.... Longo, Carosella, Lauria)
 
There's a ton more pictures, although very few are portraits. If this is too much, just say the word and I'll hold off on sending more.
 
Scott

 
To: 'Scott Andrews Sr.'
Cc: Uncle Bob; Mom & Dad
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 6:36 AM
Subject: Questions on the Family Pictures
 
Scott,
 
These are great keep them coming!
I LOVE the wedding photo of my grandparents.
Are the backs of any of the photos worth scanning?
 
Per our last Email, I'll ask mom if she has Dee Dee's Email address for you.
 
Rinaldi Photos
1. Who is Angelo Carlo & who is he marrying?
 
2. Same question for Danny Poletta.
 
3 Who is Eugene Pesce?
 
4. Do you know who else is in the Frank & Mary Wedding picture?
 
5. Who are Mr. & Mrs. Frank Anelli, and any idea who else is in the photo?
 
6. Maybe my dad or Bob knows who is in the Uncle Al & ___.jpg picture or the Uncle Mike & ___.jpg picture, I'll let you know.
 
7. Do we know if either Victoria or Giovanni's parents came to the USA?
 
Longo Photos
 
Noni is Victoria Rinaldi & Her sister is how we are related to the Longo's? So in the picture Fred & Noni's Sister Genny that's who we are talking about. Fred is Rose & Eve's brother.
 
I'm pretty lost on the Longo's I haven't really gotten into them yet.
I was trying to find a census with them on it but no luck yet.
These should get me better acquainted with them!
 
Thank you for taking the time to do this!
Laura

To: L. MacSweeney
Sent: Fri 6/27/2008 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: Questions on the Family Pictures
 
1. Angelo Carlo is a cousin. He lived with Giovanni and Noni when he was a teenager. Don’t know the spouse....
 
2. Danny Poletta is a cousin. Don't know the spouse...
 
3. Don't know.
 
4. Fred Rinaldi, Frank Rinaldi, Mary Anelli, Frank Anelli (Her dad) and Unknown Maid of Honor...
 
5. Uncle Frankie’s in-laws. The picture is taken on Noni's front lawn. Mr. Anelli (Mary's Dad), Uncle Frank, Conrad Andrews, Eva Rinaldi, Mrs. Anelli (Mary's Mom) and my brother Bob is on the opposite side of the table. My mom told me that the Anelli's lived right across the street from them when she was growing up. Frank knew Mary since she was 5 years old and wanted nothing to do with her because she was a GIRL ...until they became teenagers.
 
If the Anelli's were close friends/neighbors, could be that somebody on the Anelli side has a picture of a picnic with Giovanni and Noni.... Maybe their parents? It’s a stretch, but it could happen!
 
6. Thanks. I'll check with Mom also.
 
7. Not sure.
 
Another note: The back of the picture says that Angie Longo's husband Mike Ciano was a judge.
I'm bringing the pictures to Mom this weekend to see if she can shed any light on these.
I'd like to ask a favor. Could you replace the picture in my Mom's profile with the one I sent? I think she's much prettier in that one.

Thanks... Scott

Sent: Sat 6/28/2008 9:02 AM
To: L. MacSweeney
Subject: Giuseppe Rinaldi
 
I think I may have found confirmation that Vittoria's father Giuseppe came to the US.
 
I did a search on the Ellis Island website for "G" "Rinaldi" "Male" with a birth year of "1845" +/- 1 year.
 
It came up with two hits for "Giuseppe".
 
Giuseppe Rinaldi Age: 42 Arrived: 16 May 1892 Ship: Cheribon Departure: Naples
Giuseppe Rinaldi Age: 67 Arrived: 25 Sep 1911 Ship: Duca Degli Abruzzi Departure: Naples
 
Neither of the ships manifests have much info. Personally I think this is the same guy and that he came across twice. There are relatively few records for Rinaldi's of that age coming across in that time period. If it is our Giuseppe, he was a widower for 8 years when he returned in 1911. Maybe he went back to get another wife?
 
I'm going to try and cross match any "M" "Rinaldi" females about the same age that came across between 1892 and 1903 in hopes of finding Maria G.
 
A question for you....
 
My mom is from Waterbury. So are her people. My dad's side is from Minnesota.
If my mom immigrated to another country she would be listed as coming from Minnesota.
 
The question is; Did both Giovanni's and Vittoria's families come from Pontelandolfo?
 
Just a vague memory as well... Years ago my mom said there was a tie to South America for her father and/or his dad. I think it had something to do with work or the business they were in.
 
Let me know what you think ... Scott

To: Scott Andrews Sr.
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 7:01 AM
Subject: Death Certificate for Giovanni Rinaldi
 
Hi Scott,
Well this takes us back one more generation.
Does your mom know if her dad’s parents came over to live or visit at anytime?
Hope all is well with you & your family,
Laura
 

To: L. MacSweeney
Sent: Thu 7/17/2008 1:50 PM
Subject: Death Certificate for Giovanni Rinaldi
 
Laura,
 Thank You! And I will ask Mom.
 I see that Giovanni's mother’s maiden name was Pescia. Maybe the Eugene "Pesce" (spelling) that's in the photo with Uncle Pete is a cousin?
 Scott
 

To: L. MacSweeney
Sent: Fri 7/18/2008 10:55 AM
Subject: Death Certificate for Giovanni Rinaldi
 
Laura,

Wow! There's some kind of psychic something-or-other that must run in that family. My mom tells stories of "visits" and premonitions all the time. Nonni had it as well. And yes, please send the copy of Victoria's death certificate. Do you know the story of how she died?

As far as the Giovanni story goes... according to my mom, her dad was cutting wood and got hurt when a piece of wood hit him in the head. One of the boy's found him (not sure which) and took him to the hospital. She was a teenager and devastated at losing him.

Just a thought for you.... I am the youngest of my brothers. I never met many of my relatives. The ones I did know were only from our annual visits east. My oldest brother Bob however is twelve years my senior. He knew Nonni. She held him, fed him, played with him. He is one of only a few left that heard her voice. He visited Uncle Mike and helped tend the animals he kept. He went rabbit hunting with Uncle Tony. He used to spend summers working for your grandma.... My guess is that he (like your dad), would be the one to trust when it comes to remembrances.

Great to hear from you! And please keep me posted on your discoveries. I wish I was more help.

Scott

To: L. MacSweeney
Sent: Sat 7/19/2008 2:23 PM
Subject: More Rinaldi Stuff

Laura,

More pictures:

Eva Rinaldi 2004 (At her house just before my dad passed away)
John & Rosemary (1944 - On vacation in Minnesota)
Uncle Tony & Aunt Kay (In Roses' backyard on Southview Street)
Magaracci & Uncle Al (At Watertown Rest)
Kathleen MacSweeney
Joey Rinaldi (Uncle Joes boy)
Kathy & Bobby
Johnny & Ceil (August 5, 1951)
Fred & Rosemary (August 15, 1932 - Woodbury)
Cousin Ray's 50th (I remember these people sort of)
John Rinaldi Wedding Announcement (Uncle Joes boy)
Rose (Nursing School Graduation)

Words from Mom;

When Giovanni died, it was Pete and a cousin (Guererra) that found him and brought him to the hospital. Victoria knew something was wrong because he didn't come home when he should have. She got a phone call to come to the hospital right away. My mom was there when she got the call.

The picture of "Mother" that I sent before is Victoria's Mother. My mom remembers her, but not him (Grandfather).

Mom does not remember either of her Dad's parents.

Doesn't know who Giovanni lived with when he first came here. Just knows it was family.

The family in Canada (Montreal) are the Murno's and are on Giovanni's side. Uncle Mike and Aunt Rose were close with them. They visited Canada many times.

The family name "Laterno" is tied in with Giovanni's side. This is a tough family tree. A lot of complicated inter-family relationships like a brother marrying his sister-in-laws cousin. Makes for a lot of different last names although everybody is tied together in some way.

Giovanni & his dad worked in South America for years because there was no work in Italy. They picked fruit and put them in crates to be loaded on trucks. When Giovanni was old enough to marry, they went back to Italy.

When Victoria was young part of her work was to put their sheep out to pasture. She would knit/crochet while she watched them.

At the time, arranged marriages were common. Giovanni's mother wanted his brother Ralph to marry Victoria, but she was in love with (or preferred) Giovanni.

Uncle Tiluigi (Victoria's brother) did come to this country to stay. He and his wife (Mom couldn't remember her name) lived in Reedville. She came from a big family but was not able to conceive children herself. One of her sisters had several children and died giving birth. She and Tiluigi ended up adopting 4 of her kids and raising them as their own.

Uncle Tiluigi didn't like my dad. Said he was always flirting with the girls and shouldn't be trusted.

Rose brought Tim home to meet her parents. But Giovanni, he no lika him so pretty good.... It seems that Giovanni would stop at the tavern from time to time on his way home from work. And EVERY time he stopped, he noticed this Irish guy there drinking beer with his friends. When his daughter brought the same guy home, he was furious and forbade her to see him. (In those days, mom says the Italians believed that all Irish men were drunks that beat their wives, and the Irish believed that all Italians were knife carrying thieves) But Rose was in love and disobeyed her father. She kept it a secret from her family except for Eva. Eva was with her when she picked out her wedding dress, and knew the day they would elope. Rose and Tim were married in secret and it stayed that way until Rose became pregnant with Rosemary. They had a place in Southington.

Rose was a tomboy growing up. When her brothers played ball she was right out there with them, and just as good as they were.

My dad once made the mistake of just pulling up and honking the horn when he picked up my mom for a date. Uncle Frankie went out instead and made it clear on no uncertain terms that he would come to the door whenever he was picking up his sister.

Laura, the sister that died very young, died from influenza. (Might be from the Spanish Flu epidemic. Should compare the dates)

Uncle Mike was also into taxidermy. Birds mostly.

Pete was into carving. He would use peach pits to carve tiny baskets and trinkets shaped like monkey's for the younger kids. He taught the little ones what kind of branch to look for and they would bring them to him to carve a whistle from.

Uncle Tony's wife Genevieve was a very good wife and a hard worker. She would come to the job sites where Tony was working and help as a laborer, cleaning up, unloading materials, etc. Tony was beside himself when she refused to stop working even though she was pregnant. He was afraid she would lose the baby. Mom said that it was Genevieve who took such good care of Nonni after Giovanni died, helping her in any way she could.

All the best to you and yours,... Scott
 

To: L. MacSweeney
Sent: Sat 7/19/2008 8:56 PM
Subject: Luigi Rinaldi

Laura,

I went looking on the Ellis Island website again, this time for Victoria's brother Tiluigi. No luck with "Ti" luigi but...

There are 4 records for a Luigi Rinaldi from Pontelandolfo and each year of arrival corresponds with the age, which is within 4 years of Victoria's. The plus is that on each manifest there is at least one other passenger (immediately before or after his name) also from Pontelandolfo going to the exact same address as Luigi, and they have last names that either you or my mom have mentioned (Guerrera, Gugliotti, Longo) (Guerrera was the name of the cousin that was with Uncle Pete when they took Giovanni to the hospital) There is even one Luigi Albini (who's wife is listed as Vittoria Pesce) that is listed as staying with his brother-in-law Giuseppe Pesce at 282 Bank St. in Waterbury. The same manifest shows Luigi as staying with his brother Raffaele Rinaldi at the 282 Bank Street address. (Could this be Victoria's brother-in-law Ralph?)

Here are the ships, arrival dates and the line number of the manifest for Luigi. All departed from Naples.

Sicilia 05/27/01 Line 21
Sardenga 04/20/04 Line 28
Verona 12/01/13 Line 22
Providence 02/09/21 Line 18

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,... Scott

To: L. MacSweeney
Sent: Sun 7/20/2008 7:56 PM
Subject: Rinaldi Address

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