Gaspare Zito (1857 - 1933)

Born 20 Jan 1857 in Santa Margherita di Belice, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

Ancestors

Husband of Rosa (Prima) Zito — married 1883 in Santa Margherita di Belice, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

Died 6 May 1933 at age 76 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

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Biography

Gaspare Zito migrated from Sicily to New York.

Gaspare was born in Santa Margherita di Belice, Sicily, in 1857 to Basilio Zito and Grazia Barbera ^[1]. He was named for his maternal grandfather, Gaspare Barbera. He married Rosa Prima in 1883 in Sicily and they had several children there.

Gaspare immigrated to the US in 1899 ^[2]. Rose and the younger children followed in 1902 ^[3]. He naturalized as a citizen in 1906 ^[4] and obtained a passport in 1912. He appears to have returned to Sicily for a visit, returning to the U.S. on 26 October 1912 ^[5].

Gaspare died in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York at age 76 ^[6]. He is buried in St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens, NY. He earned his living as a tailor ^[7].

Their known children are:

1. Basilio born 1883 in Sicily; died young;
2. Grazia (Grace) born 1884 in Sicily; emigrated;
3. Francesca (Frances) born 1887 in Sicily; emigrated;
4. Basilio born 1890 in Sicily; died young.
5. Rosalia (Rosey) born 1891 in Sicily; emigrated; and
6. Basilio (Basile) born 1896 in Sicily; emigrated.

If they had children after 1910, they are not reflected here.

Research Notes

Gaspare believed his date of birth was 15 April 1857 (his birth record shows otherwise), and this date is often the common thread across various documents to prove that they all relate to the same Gaspare Zito. His death record contains a June 1857 birth date, but we know it relates to the same Gaspare as his parents names are in the death record, and the name Basilio Zito was uncommon.

Sources

1. ↑ See Birth note below.
2. ↑ Per his 1912 Passport Application.
3. ↑ Per 1910 Census.
4. ↑ See 1912 Passport Application.
5. ↑ See Ship Roster 1912.
6. ↑ See Death note below.
7. ↑ See 1912 Passport Application and 1910 Census.

• Birth 1857: Antenati. https://antenati.cultura.gov.it/ark:/12657/an_ua20007328/w9D7Qml ... Basilio Zito, 28, middle class, living in Santa Margherita, has presented a newborn boy ... born to Grazia Barbera, 45, living in Santa Margherita, and to said Basilio Zito, ... on 20 January 1857 at hour 10 in the father's house. The same has furthermore declared they give the newborn the name of Gaspare.
• Marriage 1883 to Rosa Prima: "Italia, Agrigento, Sciacca, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1861-1929," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994S-W98S?cc=2043548&wc=MC5P-968%3A349457201%2C349547101%2C349553501 : 22 May 2014), Agrigento > Santa Margherita di Belice > Pubblicazioni 1882-1905 Matrimoni 1862-1896 > image 2233 of 3091; Tribunale di Sciacca (Sciacca Court, Sciacca). ... Date of marriage 28 April 1883, in Santa Margherita di Belice, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. ... Gaspare Zito, 26, laborer, born and living in S. Margarita, son of Basilio, laborer, living here, and of Grazia Barbera, living here, AND Rosa Prima, single, 20, 'cucitrice' seamstress, born and living in S. Margarita, daughter of Saverio, living here, and of Francesca Giambalvo, living here.
• 1910 U.S. Federal Census: Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4449169_00448?pId=18050594 ... Living at 115 Hamburg Ave., Brooklyn. [Excerpts] Jasper Zito, head of house, 52, married 27 years, born in Italy, parents born in Italy, arrived 1899, naturalized citizien, tailor, speaks English, currently unemployed. Listed with: Rose, wife, age 46, 6 children/ 4 living, born Italy, parents born in Italy, arrived 1902, pants tailor working from home, recently unemployed (2 weeks). Children listed are: Francis F, daughter, 22, born in Italy, pants tailor working in a shop; Rosey R, daughter, 18, born in Italy, tailor working in a shop; Basilio B., son, 14, born in Italy, in school; Grace G. Puglisi, daughter, 26, married 2 years, 1 child (living), born in Italy, arrived 1900, pants tailor working from home; and Margaret, granddaughter, 2, born in New York.
• 1912 Passport Application: "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89DX-CVMB?cc=2185145&wc=3XCB-DP8%3A1056306501%2C1056462301 : 30 January 2015), (M1490) Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 > Roll 165, 1912 Jun, certificate no 77333-78105 > image 244 of 828; citing NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.) ... [Excerpts] Gaspare Zito, born in Santa Margherita Belice Italy around 15 April 1857. Emigrated to the U.S. sailing aboard the Augusta [?] Victoria from Naples on 25 November 1899; ... residing in Brooklyn; naturalized as a citizen before Brooklyn District Court on 26 September 1906; ... occupation tailor. ... going abroad less than a year. ... Dated 17 June 1912. [Accompanied by a written physical description.]
• Ship Roster 1912: Ancestry.com. "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957." https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYT715_1962-0581?pId=4009293496 ... Gaspare Zito, Married, Age 55, born 1857, departing Palermo, arriving in New York 26 October 1912 on the vessel 'Stampalia', home address 115 Hamburg Ave., Brooklyn [Note: we know this record refers to this Gaspare Zito because the address matches those given in Census records.]
• Death 1933: Ancestry.com. "New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948." https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2100727:61778 ... Gaspare Zito, ... Married, 76, born 4 Jun 1857 in Italy, 34 years in U.S., died 6 May 1933 at 1111 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY. Cause of death: Chronic Myocarditis (Decompensated), Chronic Interstitial Nephritis. Buried St. John's Cemetery. Father Basile Zito born Italy, and Grazia Zito, born Italy. Executor: Basile Zito, son. Certif # 10254.