The Families of Acri, Italy

By Edward Bronejko

Family Group Report

Details

Antonio Algieri & Concetta Luzzi

Individual

Name:
Antonio Algieri
AKA:
Antonio Algiere, Tony Shoosh
Sex:
Male

Vitals

Born:
at Acri, Cosenza, Calabria, Italia.235
Died:
at 22 Rocket Street, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.236,248
Buried:
at Saint Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.236

Parents


Events:

Events

Description:
Antonio Algieri was 5 feet 7 inches tall, 156 pounds, with brown hair, grey eyes, and a fair complexion.247
Immigration:
Antonio was the first of his family to immigrate, arriving at New York City, New York, United States about .241 Three of his brothers (Domenico, Angelo, and Giovanni) quickly followed. The four brothers settled in the Manayunk area of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Small World:
In Manayunk, Antonio met Concetta Luzzi, a recent immigrant from the tiny Arbëresh village of San Giorgio Albanese, Cosenza, Calabria, Italia. She lived in Manayunk with her aunt and uncle, Domenica Azzinaro and Pasquale Trioli. Her Uncle Pasquale met Antonio in a bar and introduced him to his niece. In one of those twists of fate that prove it really is a small world, Concetta's home town was only a few miles from Antonio's home town of Acri. Concetta's parents were even born in Acri, yet Antonio and Concetta never met until they both traveled four thousand miles across the ocean.
Courtship
Concetta's Uncle Pasquale was eager to get Concetta married (one less mouth to feed) and suggested she marry Antonio. To her uncles' dismay, Concetta refused. She wanted no part of this guy her uncle was pushing on her. Then another twist of fate occurred; Antonio was robbed of all his money. When Concetta was told her she needn't marry Antonio anymore because he was broke, Concetta said, "Now I will marry him!" and in 1903, they were wed.239
Residence:
at 4157 Cresson Street, Manayank, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.239
Residence:
at Cresson Street, Manayank, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.237
Emigration:
Enduring three recessions since arriving in America, Antonio Algieri was out of work and had few prospects for finding employment. Around , Antonio , Concetta, and their two children, Mary and Joseph George, gave up the American dream and returned to Acri, Italy. When they arrived in Acri, they found the economic situation even worse than in America. If times were tough in America, they were brutal in Italy. Antonio and Concetta had little choice but to set their hopes on America once again.242,244,250
Immigration:
S.S. Germania
Antonio departed from Napoli, Napoli, Campania, Italia aboard the S.S. Germania on , arriving at New York City, New York, United States on . He was returning to Cresson Street, Philadelphia to stay with his brothers Domenico and Angelo.238
Immigration:
S.S. America
Concetta and the two children stayed behind in Acri while Antonio looked for work in America. Finally, after a two years separation, he sent for them and they sailed aboard the S.S. America from Napoli, Napoli, Campania, Italia on 07 February 1911, arriving at New York City, New York, United States on .244
Residence:
The family settled in White Plains, Westchester, New York, United States. They lived in a decrepit tenement house where Concetta dealt with cockroaches on a daily basis. Sometime in , there was a fire in the building. While the family was not hurt, they lost most of their possessions (including Concetta's wedding dress).
Residence:
Out of work again during yet another recession (the Panic of ), Antonio heard there was work in a quarry near Bradford, Washington, Rhode Island, United States. Antonio moved his family to Bradford where he found work operating a jackhammer at the Sullivan Granite Quarry. They rented a room in a house owned by the Cofone family.
Residence:
Old Stone House
In 1918 or early 1919, Antonio and Concetta purchased a house on Buckeye Brook Road in nearby Charlestown, Washington, Rhode Island. It was a mid-nineteenth century, one and a half story built of stone. In the family, it became affectionately known as the Old Stone House and would remain in family hands for many years. The property was large enough to have a large garden as well as maintain livestock. They raised chickens, pigs, and even a goat.
The Old Stone House was rather isolated deep in the woods. In the winter, the snow would get so deep that the children needed help getting to school. Before going to work, Antonio would lead the way to school as the children followed walking in his boot prints. The children slept three or four to a bed. On more than one occasion, a glass of water left on the windowsill of a bedroom would be frozen in the morning.
Census:
Tony Algiere and Family appeared on the Rhode Island State Census at Charlestown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States on . This was one of the earliest records showing the Algiere spelling of Antonio's surname.240
Census:
Tony Algiere and Family appeared on the Federal Census at Chernunganne Valley, Charlestown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States on .241
Occupation:
Quarry Laborer on at , Washington, Rhode Island, United States.241
Census:
Antonio Algiere and Family appeared on the Rhode Island State Census at Bradford, Washington, Rhode Island, United States on .245
Occupation:
Granite Quarryman on at Bradford, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.245
Naturalization:
In the mid-s, Mussolini and Fascism were in control in Italy and a European war was looming on the horizon. Antonio Algiere decided to renounce his Italian citizenship and become an American. He had lived in the United States as a resident alien for nearly thirty-seven years. He could speak some English, but was illiterate in both English and Italian. To naturalize, he was required to learn to sign his name.
Antonio Algieri Naturalizaion
Antonio's petition for naturalization was granted by the Superior Court of Washington County, Rhode Island on . Under the laws of the period, his wife, Concetta, was automatically naturalized at the same time. Their children were already U.S. citizens by birth, so now the entire family was American.247
Injury:
Between and , Antonio was badly injured when his jackhammer blew apart while working at the Sullivan Granite Quarry. The accident left him nearly blind in one eye and permanently unable to work.245,246
Census:
Tony Algiere and Family appeared on the Federal Census at Burdickville Road, Charlestown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States on .246
Occupation:
Outside Laborer on at Charlestown, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.246
Census:
Anthony Algiere and wife Concetta appeared on the Federal Census at 22 Rocket Street, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States on .586
Residence:
22 Rocket Street
With all the children grown and married and no need to live near the quarry anymore, Antonio and Concetta moved from the Old Stone House to a house at 22 Rocket Street in nearby Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United State. Here they spent the remainder of their lives. Antonio died at home in .236,248

Family

Marriage

Spouse: Concetta Luzzi (-)

Married: at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Manayank, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States by Father Daniel Scalabrella.239

Children:

  1. Mary Ann Algiere Born:
  2. Joseph Algiere Born: abt (died in infancy)
  3. Angelina Maria Algiere Born: abt (died in infancy)
  4. Joseph George Algiere Born:
  5. Lena Ann Algiere Born:
  6. Angelina Elizabeth Algiere Born:
  7. Rose Marie Algiere Born:
  8. Julia Margaret Algiere Born:
  9. Florence Lillian Algiere Born:
  10. John Robert Algiere Born:
  11. Anna May Algiere Born:
  12. James Louis Algiere Born: