Viola turns up!

A breakthrough at last, I believe. I found a "Declaration of Intent" for Violla Maninna from, of all places..... ALABAMA?!?  Sounds weird and unlikely - however - year of birth jives with other records,  his name was Viola in the 1940 census(see last entry) AND I found a birth record  for his son, Michael Mannino, and the last name on his signature looks  like the signature on his World War II Draft Registration card.

On the Alabama record, the birthdate is listed as Dec 19, 1893.  On the World War II draft registration is Dec 19, 1894.   One year off - but in those days people weren't always sure of their birth year - OR perhaps it was all part of the name change.  I'm not sure what year he dropped Viola, and took on Gregorio but it happened while he was living in Brooklyn.

So much is learned from this document.  TOWN of birth Salaparutta, Italy.  This is so helpful. My next step is to attempt to find a birth record from Salaparutta.  We have the birth date of December 19, 1893.  December 19th is consistent with the World War II draft card as mentioned above.  We have a ship name and date! Vessel was "Prince" which sailed from Palermo, Italy and arrived at the Port of New York on November 30, 1913.  This is another next step - to find a passenger list from this ship.

I also found a World War I draft registration card

This document has the same birthdate as the Declaration of Intent and spells his name "violla maninna" - the signature, to me looks similar to the other documents.  This registration was dated 1917 and he was living in Elmhurst, Illinois.  The town in Italy is listed as Palaparutta - which does not exist - so it is a misspelling of Salaparutta, which was the town listed in the Declaration of Intent. 

The finding of these documents shows me that my initial finding of the ship record below was not my great grandfather.  The information on the new documents is more consistent with the stories that I have heard about him. We know for a fact that he lived in Illinois, so the draft registration from Illinois makes sense.  I didnt know anything about him living in Alabama, however I am now curious to see if I can learn anything more about that. Perhaps he was looking for the man who killed his father?  The Alabama document is from 1919. 

So the revised timeline is 1913 - he arrived at NY Harbor
1917 he was living in Elmhurst, Illinois
1919 he was living in Ensley, Alabama
1922 his firstborn son, Anthony was born in Iowa
1927 His son Michael was born in Rockford, Illinois (birth record found with address of 722 Houghton, Rockford, Illinois )

Transcription of Birth Record:

State of Illinois, Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, County Clerks Record
Place of Birth
County of Winnebago, Registration District No. 943
Rockford, Primary District 3744

Certificate of Birth
Registered No. 661
St. Anthony Hospital

2. Full Name of Child: Michael Mannino
3. Sex of Child: Male
6. Legitimate? Yes
7. Date of Birth: April 20, 1927
8. Father Full Name: Veola Mannino
9. Residence: 722 Houghton
10. Color: White 11. Age at last birthday: 35
12: Birthplace: Italy
13. Occupation: Laborer
14. Mother Full Maiden Name: Virginia Pontana
15. Residence: Same
16. Color: White 17. Age at last Birthday: 25
18. Birthplace: Italy
19: Occupation: Housewife
20: Number of Children of this mother (taken as of time of birth of herein certified child and including this child) a)born alive and now living: 4 b)born alive but now dead: 0 c) stillborn 0

What treatment was given child's eyes at birth: Credes
21. Certificate of Attending Physician or Midwife
I hereby certify that I attended the birth of this child, who was born alive at 12:35PM on the date above stated.
22. Signature: R.M. Bissekumer

Questions that have arisen:

Where did he meet his wife? Where and when were they married? In 1919 he is listed as single on the Declaration of Intent.  How did they end up in Iowa? I hope to find a birth record for Anthony, James, and Angelo.  And I hope to find a passenger list for the ship that arrived on Nov 30, 1913 in NY Harbor. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on the new documents.