Nicolo' Terranova (1890 - 1916)

Born 19 Jan 1890 in Corleone, Palermo, Italy

Ancestors

Died 7 Sep 1916 at age 26 in New York, New York, United States

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Biography

Nicolo' Terranova is born and baptized 19 January 1890 in Corleone. He is the son of Bernardo Terranova and Angela Piazza. His godparents are Antonino Palazzo and Giuseppa, his sister.^[1]

His father is a member of the local mafia in the late 1880s.^[2]

Nicolo' emigrates to New York on March 8, 1893 with his parents and siblings.^[3] He is two years old.

Bernardo Terranova, age 40, his wife Angela Piazza, 44, and children Lucia, 16, Salvatrice, 12, Vincenzo, 7, Ciro, 6, and Nicolo', 3, immigrate together on the SS Alsatia from Naples, arriving in New York 8 March 1893. Bernardo is listed as a laborer, and literate: his wife and children are not. Unlike almost everyone else they travel with, who have one or two pieces of luggage with them, the Terranovas have sixteen bags with them. Bernardo has six, Angela has four, Lucia, two, and each of the younger children has a piece of luggage.^[4]

When the family arrives in the United States, they live in New York for about a year, then move south, looking for work, first to Louisiana, where Bernardo and Giuseppe planted sugar cane, and then to Bryan, Texas, where the men picked cotton. The family contracted malaria while living in the South, and returned to New York in 1896.^[5]

In the 1900 federal census of Manhattan, taken 12 June, Bernardo Terranova, 43, born in December 1856 (actually in July 1847), heads a household at 329 East 106th Street with his wife of 26 years, Angelina, 41, born in October 1858 (actually, May 1848). She has had 6 children, all living (actually 9). At home are Lizzie (actually Lucia), 22, born in December 1877 (born in Jan 1876); Teresa (actually Salvatrice), 17, born in April 1883 (actually in July 1880); James, 14, born in May 1886 (born in 1885); Jeremiah ( Ciro), 12, born in April 1888 (born July 1887); Nicholas, 10, born in February 1890 (Jan 1890); and [Terranova-35|Rosy]], 7, born in December 1892 (Aug 1892). Bernardo, Angelina, and their four oldest children were born in Italy and the two youngest were born in New York. They emigrated in 1890. Bernardo is a day laborer. Lizzie and Teresa are cigar makers. The next three children are in school.^[6]

By 1903, Nick, Ciro, Vincenzo, and their older-half brother Giuseppe Morello, found the powerful Morello crime family in New York, beginning with the 116th Street gang in what is now Spanish Harlem.^[2][5] At the time the Terranova-Morello families are living in New York, this is a popular destination for new immigrants from Sicily.

Nick is acquitted of murder charges in shootings in 1906 and 1908.^[2]

In 1909, the family begins a counterfeiting operation^[2], for which Ignacio Lupo and Giuseppe Morello are arrested. Nick becomes the boss of the family at this time.^[7]

In the 1910 federal census of Manhattan, taken 30 April, there is a household headed by “Agnes Walter” at 2037 2nd Ave. Her family, listed with her, are given two different addresses: while Agnes and Harry appear at the first address, young Eugene Orlando is at 220 East 105th St., and Ciro Terranova and his family are at 216 East 105th St. Agnes is not old enough to be the mother of the adults in her household.

Agnes Walter, 30 (b. 1880), heads a household with son Harry, 10 (b. 1900), son Eugene, 3 (b. 1907), and with her son “Siro Terranova”, age 21 (b. 1889), married, his wife Theresa, 17 (b. 1893), and son Nicholas Terranova, 20 (b. 1890). Siro and Nicholas are matches for Ciro, 23, and Nick Terranova, 20.^[8]

Nicholas Terranova, age 21, declares his intention to become a naturalized citizen. he is a plasterer, white, dark complexion, 5’6”, 150#, brown hair and eyes. Born in Corleone, Italy on 6 January 1890. Lives at 216 E. 105th St., NYC. Emigrated from Palermo on the Arsata, arriving in New York, NY on 8 March 1893. Last foreign residence in Corleone. Sworn 17 May 1911.

His declaration and petition are on the same image.

Nicholas Terranova petitions for naturalization. He lives at 252 E 105th St., NY, NY. Works as a plasterer. Born 6 January 1890in Corleone, Italy. Emigrated from Palermo 8 February 1893 and arrived in New York 8 March 1893 on the Arsatia. Declared his intention 17 May 1911 in New York Supreme Court. He is not married. Has lived in the US continuously since emigrating. Filed 3 November 1913.

Witnesses are Tony Cancro, occupation?, living at 2070 First Ave, and Emanuel R. Miccichi, manager, living at149 Mulberry St. Both have known Nicholas since 1 July 1908.^[9]

Nicholas is admitted as a US citizen on 10 March 1914. Cert no. 456117.^[10]

Death of Nicholas

Nick, age 25, and his bodyguard are killed on 7 September 1916, at the corner of Hudson and Johnson Streets in Brooklyn, in a war against the Camorra in Brooklyn. His address at the time of his death is listed as 350 East 116th Street, New York City. He is buried on 12 September 1916 in Calvary Cemetery. He never married.^[11][12] By 1919, the Camorra were assimilated into Morello's crime family. Brother Vincenzo succeeds Nick as boss, and Ciro as underboss.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Nicolaum Terranova, record no. 34, 19 January 1890, "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12332-71425-52?cc=2046915 : accessed 24 November 2015), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1889-1895 > image 60 of 427; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} The Definitive History of the Genovese Family. Accessed 17 November 2014.
3. ↑ Critchley, David (2008). The Origin of Organized Crime in America : the New York City Mafia, 1891-1931.
4. ↑ Ship manifest, SS Alsatia, arriving 8 March 1893. Accessed online 31 January 2016.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Nicolo Terranova-Morello (Genovese) Family Boss Accessed 23 November 2015.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S7W-S88?cc=1325221&wc=9B7R-HZG%3A1030551901%2C1035804001%2C1036212201 : 5 August 2014), New York > New York County > ED 907 Borough of Manhattan, Election District 21 New York City Ward 32 > image 56 of 92; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Wikipedia entry: Nicholas Morello. Accessed 17 November 2014.
8. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York; Roll: T624_1015; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 0345; FHL microfilm: 1375028
9. ↑ "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89M8-VFKB?cc=1999177&wc=MDSY-Z29%3A326209701%2C329513401 : 7 November 2018), New York > Petitions for naturalization and petition evidence 1913 vol 149, no 36601-36850 > image 371 of 616; Citing multiple County Clerk offices of New York.
10. ↑ "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M8-VN1L?cc=1999177&wc=MDSY-Z29%3A326209701%2C329513401 : 21 May 2014), New York > Petitions for naturalization and petition evidence 1913 vol 149, no 36601-36850 > image 372 of 616; Citing multiple County Clerk offices of New York.
11. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WNJ-SRJ : accessed 16 February 2016), Nicolo Terranova, 07 Sep 1916; citing Death, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,324,302.
12. ↑ Death of Nicolo Terranova. (1916, September 7). Record no. 18732. Retrieved from https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/view/12302142