Serafina Grizzaffi (abt. 1773 - 1805)

Born about 1773 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily

Ancestors

Wife of Leoluca Catania — married 2 Jan 1794 (to 31 Jan 1802) in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily

Descendants

Died 28 Oct 1805 at about age 32 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily

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Biography

Serafina Grizzaffi is born around 1773 in Corleone, the daughter of Salvatore Grizzaffi and Mattea Streva.

Serafina marries Leoluca Catania on 2 January 1794. Her parents are both still living at this time. Her mother's last name is not recorded here.

Serafina and Leoluca have at least four children: Maria (1794), Luciano (1796), Bernardo (1798), and Mattea (1800).

Maria is born nine months after her parents marry, on 7 October 1794, and baptized the next day, named after her paternal grandmother. Her godparents are Don Giuseppe Maria and Donna Arcangela d'Anna, a married couple.

Luciano is born and baptized 13 June 1796, named after his paternal grandfather. His godparents are Dottore Giuseppe Maria and Donna Arcangela d'Anna, a married couple.

On 4 February 1798, Leoluca's brother, Vincenzo, marries Serafina's sister, Bernarda.

Bernardo is born and baptized 23 February 1798. His godparents are Salvatore Collura and Luigia Streva, wife of Francesco.

Mattea is born and baptized 1 April 1800, named after her maternal grandmother. Her godparents are U.I.Dr. Don Giuseppe and Donna Lucia Trumbatore, brother and sister.

Leoluca dies at age 30 (b. 1771) on 31 January 1802. Serafina survives him.

Death of Serafina

Serafina dies at age 32 (b. 1773) on 28 October 1805.

Maria marries Arcangelo Addamo on 23 July 1815. Leoluca has died by this time.

Mattea marries Antonio Provenzano on 28 November 1829. Serafina has also died by this time.

Open Issue: According to police records, Luciano Catania is a criminal, associated with Giuseppe "Rapanzino" Castro. There is one younger by the same name, born in 1801. I have not yet determined which one is a member of Rapanzino's gang. The two Lucianos are double first cousins: their fathers are brothers, and their mothers are sisters.

Maria dies at age 43 on 11 July 1837, during the summer of the first recorded cholera outbreak in western Europe. Her husband survives her.

Mattea dies, reportedly at age 62 (she is 68) on 29 January 1869, the widow of Antonino.

Sources

Marriage of Leonisluca Catania and Seraphina Grizzaffi, record no. 942, 2 January 1794

• "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11593-67469-74?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-VZ3:351041801,351041802,351559801 : accessed 16 March 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Matrimoni 1783-1797 > image 217 of 328; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo [Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo].

Baptism of Maria Catania, 8 October 1794

• "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11631-189804-78?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-16D:351041801,351041802,351534401 : accessed 15 August 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi