Unleashing Genealogy GenieAI in Italian Ancestry Research - Part 1

Guest Post by Shannon Combs-Bennett, QG, MSc, FSAScot

As a professional genealogist, my family frequently requests my assistance in finding information about ancestors. Recently, a friend asked me to investigate her relatives who were born in Italy and moved to the United States in the early 1900s. She was interested in family stories that had been passed down and any additional information I could provide about that lineage.

Italian immigrant family on ferry, leaving Ellis Island, Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940, photographer. Created 1905. Digital file from original neg. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8e11208

I requested all the information she could provide. Although it wasn't extensive, it was a starting point. From her interview, I discovered:

• Her ancestor, Guerino, was born in Pennsylvania around 1917. I estimated that his parents were likely in their late 20s to early 30s, assuming he was the eldest child.

• Guerino had a sister named Elena. She wasn't aware of any other siblings.

• According to family lore, they were involved in "something" possibly illegal and were advised to leave the United States and not return.

• His parents were both from Piceno in northern Italy. Their names were Bernardino Antonini and Giovanna.

As I mentioned, it's not much to go on, but there are solid leads to pursue. The only challenge is that I don't speak Italian, and I have never conducted research with Italian records. Needless to say, this was an ideal case to test with Genealogy GenieAI.

Initially, I aimed to find any records in the United States. Are you aware of how many Antoninis reside in Pennsylvania? There are more than I expected! I couldn't find a birth certificate for Guerino, which puzzled me since there was mandatory reporting in the U.S. at the time of his birth. A birth certificate should exist. I started a new family project using Genealogy GenieAI.

This prompt allows you to create a new project for your research.

After taking some time to regroup and reflect, I made another attempt to uncover more about this family. I focused on learning more about Guerino. My friend didn't have his death certificate available, and I didn't want to make her order one. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an obituary online either. However, after speaking with her again, she recalled that he was possibly born in Allentown. More clues are always helpful.

This enabled me to pinpoint Guerino's birthplace in Pennsylvania. I updated the timeline on Genealogy GenieAI with this new information. The AI validated my assumption that vital records should exist for a 1917 birth. Additionally, the research insight provided historical context, explaining why the family might have ties to Allentown. During that period, there was considerable immigration from Italy to Allentown. If they had relatives or acquaintances from their hometown there, they might have been part of that migration trend.

Armed with this new information, I revisited the search for birth records. This time, I discovered a delayed birth certificate for Guerino, issued in 1952. What could explain the existence of a delayed certificate without any state record?

This new document enabled me to include the following details in the project and timelines:

• Name: Guerino Antonini

• Birth: December 4, 1917

• County: Lafayette

• City: Orient

• Father: Bernardino Antonini

  • Age at birth: 48

  • Birthplace: Monegallo - PR Ascoli Piceno - Italy

• Mother: Giovanna Martelli

  • Age at birth: 42

  • Birthplace: Ascoli Piceno – Italy

• Abstract of Supporting Evidence:

• Bapt. Cert. St. Mary’s Church, Cardale, Penna. Signed by Rev. Edw. J. Napieralste, Pastor. 5-12-1952. Baptized 4-7-1918

This single document answered several questions. Initially, I underestimated the ages of Guerino’s parents. Being in their 40s was considered old at the time, suggesting there might be more children, and Guerino might not be the oldest. While he could be, it's unlikely.

Could the absence of a birth record be because of a non-reported home birth, with the parents only arranging for his baptism? I cannot definitively prove either theory, but both are plausible. Following the theory of reporting noncompliance, I used the parents' names to search for other delayed birth records.

This process enabled me to uncover two older brothers with delayed birth certificates, relying solely on baptism records as evidence. The brothers were Pietro Antonini, born on August 12, 1908, in Fayette County, and Igino Antonini, born on July 3, 1915, in Cardale, Fayette County. Additional details about the town were discovered through the insight analysis, which I need to investigate further.

The Insight Analysis Tool allowed us to delve into the coal mining legacy of Cardale, Pennsylvania, established by the H.C. Frick Coke Company. This town evolved into a center for Italian immigrants, as evidenced by St. Mary's Church and the regular transatlantic travels of its inhabitants, which highlighted patterns of chain migration.

Pietro, unlike his brothers, was baptized in the town of New Salem. However, there is no record for his sister. By incorporating this information into the Genealogy GenieAI timeline, I anticipated gaining further insights to help determine my next steps. Specifically, I wanted to leverage the historical context provided by the AI regarding Cardale and the H.C. Frick Coke Company. There might be family records, if they exist, in the company archives. Some of which are currently held at the University of Pittsburgh.

But that is a topic for another day. Stay tuned!