Tell us the story of your Swiss-Italian ancestor.
From Barb Mullen, Australia
Over the last year and a half I have produced monthly newsletters on the Mattei family in Australia, spanning the years 1850 to 1950 primarily. The newsletters, Mattei Matters, covered the lives and families of the original Alessandro and Catherine Mattei nee Mulcahy and their 12 children. Continue reading
From Marilyn Longinotti Geary, United States
Carlo Martinoia arrived in San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama on June 15, 1852. Born in 1829 to a poor family in Cevio in the Valle Maggia, Martinoia began working at the age of 15 as a mason’s helper, first in France, then in Africa.
From Barbara Dillon, United States
My great Grandfather Gardinzo Cheda great grandmother Antiona Calzonia came to California, Marin County, and started I believe the first dairy ranch in Jewell (Olema) Continue reading
From Jody Cabalzar, Australia
I’m seeking some feedback on the emmigration route my x3 great grand father would have taken from Graubunden on his way to Australia in 1863. Continue reading
From Deborah, Switzerland
I’m looking for information on families from Certara (Val Colla) in Ticino, Switzerland – Moresi, Risi, Bassi etc.
From Mark Lesina, United States
I found a link online (http://vuir.vu.edu.au/15416/1/Carlson_1997compressed.pdf) and have started reading it, and it seems really interesting. It is a book that has been scanned and placed on line by University of Victoria – Melbourne in Australia. Continue reading
From Carla Rezzonico, Switzerland
I am looking for information on Giuseppe and Paolo Scettrini from Vogorno, sons of Giulio and Angiolina née Gamboni, who left for America at the beginning of the 1900s. Continue reading
Courtney LaFranchi, United States
I came to visit Coglio this past December and have been missing it like you wouldn’t believe. I come from a long line of Lafranchi’s, my great(x3) grandfather Guiseppe Pietro being the last to have been born in Coglio. Continue reading
From Barb Mullen, Australia
My great aunt was known as Auntie Easie, she was also called Anesia by some, Ann by others. It has been a puzzle to us for some time where the name Anesia has come from. Does anyone know if the name has connections with Ticino or more precisely, Cevio?
From Barbara Reilly, United States
My great grandfather, Gaudenzio Cheda came to California from Maggia around 1860 and had the first dairy ranch. He married Antionia Calzonia and they returned to Maggia several times and had several children.
Gaudenzio’s brother, Pete had a son, Phillip Henry Cheda born in the US traveled to Maggia in 1922 and we are trying to find info on whether he stayed or if there are any Calzonia or Cheda’s that can be traced that I might be related to. My grandfather George Cheda hosted picnics for those living in California from Ticino on our family ranch in Tocoloma, Olema Marin County California. I can not id anyone in the photos.
From Mark McLaughlan, Australia
My great grandfather and great great grandfather were both named Carlo Traversi and according to the records were born in Cevio which was known as “Swiss-Italian” in our history. Continue reading
From Marilyn L. Geary, United States
I came across a document on the web that may be useful for researchers who are looking for their roots in Ticino. It’s called the “Annuario della Repubblica e Cantone del Ticino: per l’anno 1859-1860” and it lists all kinds of information about the Canton, the political organization and leaders, the churches and hospitals and professions. Continue reading
From Lee Chiappalone, Australia
Moretti and Filippini: Both families emigrated from Cevio and Coglio Ticino to Australia in the late 1800’s. Family folklore has it they were related but there were no marriages between the families in this country.
Were there marriages back in Ticino? My GG grandfather was Ferdinand Moretti son of Johannes Moretti and Ivania Maria Mautero (not sure if those names are spelt right). Any information most welcome.
From Natasha De Bernardi, Ticino
Between 1880 and 1914, 27,000 young people from Ticino emigrated to California. Silvio Debernardi (14.1.1873 -13.7.1954) was one of them. This book (http://www.ndb-agency.ch/blog/?p=1991) contains 61 letters written and received by my great grandfather Silvio during his years in California, from 1891 to 1901.
The book is in English with the original Italian transcription printed at the end of each letter. Sixty-one images are included in the publication.
by Barb Mullen, Australia
In 1922, Peter, Elsie and Kenneth moved to Creswick to run the British Hotel. It was at this grand hotel some hundreds of miles from where most of the family were living, that fractures in the relationship between Peter and Elsie were visible. Continue reading
From Marilyn Longinotti Geary, United States
I am searching for information on the Rotanzi Family of Peccia. Three sons of father Luigi Rotanzi left in the mid-19th century. Francesco went to Australia in 1855 and became a manager of a gold mining operation. Continue reading
by Barb Mullen, Australia
When Peter Mattei was about 5 years old, the family fortunes changed for the better. What was to become the family home, ‘Rovanna’ was a house on many acres of land where the family had fruit trees such as apple, pear, plum, peach and cherry trees. The chestnut so important as a food source in Cevio, especially in times of hunger, was also grown here and two trees stand today on the property in Green Hills, near Blackwood. Continue reading
By Barb Mullen, Australia
The story of the Mattei family of Australia continues. Alessandro Mattei migrated to Victoria, Australia in 1855. This is the story of his fourth son. Continue reading
From Pablo Machado Canepa, Uruguay
Our family would like to research our great-grandfather Giacomo Canepa or Caneva who was, according to his marriage certificate, born in Losone. The document is in Spanish since he emigrated to Uruguay in 1875 where all of his descendants were born.
Since he went to America when he was young, we would like to know if there are any relatives there. Continue reading
Alison, from Australia
My grandmother’s father was Battista Pedroia or something similar-maybe Pedrojo as he himself signed. He came to Australia from Prato in Switzerland via Dieppe with his brother Pasquale on the Lucie in 1855 in his early 20’s. Continue reading
