Rocco
Filomena
Rocco
Molfese was born on January 21, 1879, in Albano
di Lucania, Italy and died in December of 1966, in Chicago. He
worked as a laborer for the gas company according to the 1930
census. Filomena (or "Philomena" or "Fannie")
was also born in Albano in May of 1885, and she died on November 16,
1929, after having given birth to seven children: Antonia "Dora"
(09.06.1906 - 07.16.1988), Teresa (01.02.1908 - 07.31.1922), Lucas B. (07.31.1909 - 01.10.1975), William (1912 - ?), Peter (1914 - ?), Carmen (07.16.1918
- 07.18.1962), and Rocco "Rocky" (1924 - ?).
According to the passenger
manifest, Rocco (his name is the last one on the page) was 24
years old when he arrived in America in the “Steerage” section of
the Sicilian
Prince on June 29, 1903. The ship, which was only 42 feet
wide, held up to 1,100 third-class passengers like himself and
twenty-five first class passengers. With a cruising speed of 12
knots (13.8 MPH) and a distance of over 5,000 miles between Naples,
Italy and New York the trip was a long one taking just under a
month.
Rocco and Filomena likely have
over 50 descendants in America today. A very preliminary draft
of their descendants produced in 2004 can be seen here.
It probably contains some incorrect information. If you have
corrections or additions, please contact me at
nicholas@lundmolfese.com.
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