Luciano Catania (1801)

Born 25 Mar 1801 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily

Ancestors

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Biography

Luciano Catania is born and baptized 25 March 1801 in Corleone, the son of Vincenzo Catania and Bernarda Grizzaffi. Luciano is , named after his paternal grandfather. His godparents are Giovanni and Bernarda Terrusa, a married couple.

Open Issue: According to police records, Luciano Catania of Corleone is a criminal, associated with Giuseppe "Rapanzino" Castro. There is one older by the same name, born in 1796. I have not yet determined which one is a member of Rapanzino's gang.

On 17 March 1836, a bounty is declared on thirteen members of Rapanzino's gang, including Luciano Catania. They are all accused of murder and may be killed by anyone with impunity.

Two brothers who are members of the gang, Bernardo and Antonino Palumbo, are guillotined in Palermo in September 1835, according to eyewitnesses. However, their deaths are not recorded, and they may have escaped to Tunis.

Most of the Rapanzino gang escape justice that winter. On 17 March 1836, a bounty is placed on the lives of thirteen remaining members, including brothers Paolo and Biagio Jannazzo.

On 8 July 1836, Rapanzino and another band member, Leoluca Mondello, are killed. By this time, most of the bandits have been captured or killed.

Luciano's death record has not yet been found.

Sources

Baptism of Lucianu Catania, 25 March 1801

• "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11631-189871-63?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-16D:351041801,351041802,351534401 : accessed 13 May 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1791-1801 > image 439 of 472; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).

Real Segreteria di Stato presso il Luogotenente Generale in Sicilia Ripartimento Polizia Repertorio anno 1836. Available online at http://archiviodistatodipalermo.it/files/inventari/file/1263903377anno1836.pdf. Accessed online 6 August 2015.