Bernardo Palumbo (1802 - abt. 1835)

Born 19 Sep 1802 in Corleone, Palermo, Sicily

Ancestors

Died about Sep 1835 at about age 32 in Palermo, Palermo, Sicily

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Biography

Bernardo Palumbo is born and baptized 19 September 1802, the son of Giuseppe Palumbo and Pietra Agata Maida. His godparents are Felice and Giovanna Restivo, son and mother. Maestro Felice Ristivo is one of his neighbors in 1834.

Bernardo has a younger brother, Antonino, born in 1808, with whom he will be involved in criminal activity. Antonino's godparents are Luciano and Maria Jannazzo, a married couple. Luciano and Maria's sons, Paolo and Biagio, are part of the same as Bernardo and Antonino, associates of "the abductor," Giuseppe "Rapanzino" Castro.

In police records, Antonino is described as having an oval face with pocks and a scar on his chin, "cerulean" blue eyes, short stature, "regular" physique, and chestnut hair. A physical description of Bernardo is not available.

The Maida and Palumbo families are neighbors in the 1811 census:

Giuseppe Maida, 47 (b. 1764), heads a household with his wife, Gaetana, 41 (b. 1770), and children Giuseppe, 18 (b. 1793), Antonio, 12 (b. 1799), and Calogera, 9 (b. 1802).

Giuseppe Antonio Palumbo, 38 (b. 1773), heads a household with his wife, Pietra Agata, 24 (b. 1787), and children Giovanni, 16 (b. 1795), Bernardo, 9 (b. 1802), Giuseppe, 6 (b. 1805), and Antonio, 3 (b. 1808).^[1]

By 1834, Rapanzino and at least one other associate are named as murderers by the governor, and may be killed by anyone with impunity.

The Church census, the stato delle anime, is usually compiled early in the year. In 1834, Giuseppe has died. His widow, Pietra Agata, 60 (b. 1774), lives with her children Maria, 22 (b. 1812), Vincenzo, 17 (b. 1817), Bernardo, 32, and Antonio, 24, in the strada di Maestro Paolo Gallo. One of their close neighbors is Paolo Jannazzo.

Bernardo does not marry.

Bernardo and Antonino are guillotined in Palermo in December 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.

Sources

1. ↑ "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YMX3-C86?cc=2046915&wc=MG3M-VZ9%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351646301 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Stato delle Anime 1811-1818 > image 23 of 516; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).

Baptism of Bernardo Palumbo, 19 September 1802

• "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11631-189448-78?cc=2046915&wc=MG37-16X:351041801,351041802,351536301 : accessed 6 August 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1801-1804 > image 56 of 101; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).

Baptism of Antoninu Palumbo, 18 December 1808

• "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12406-9710-67?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-FM9:351041801,351041802,351539001 : accessed 6 August 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1806-1818 > image 151 of 567; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).

Family of Pietra Agata Palumbo, 1834 stato delle anime

• "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159314-93908-69?cc=2046915&wc=MG3M-GP6:351041801,351041802,351652301 : accessed 4 September 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Stato delle Anime 1834-1843 > image 39 of 357; 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.

Bernardo Palumbo has Italian Roots.