Candreva/Tocci/Vizza
All for one and one for all.
All for one and one for all.
Our grandparents, Fillipo Tocci and Achiropita Derosa were born in Vacarizza, a small town in the mountains of Calabria. They were married there and by 1898 had 2 children. They left Vacarizza in the fall of 1898, and set sail from Naples to make a better life for there family in America.
The family arrived in New York on November 18, 1898 on the steamship Alsatia.
According to the ships manifest, the family consisted of:
Monaco Filippo Tocci (33yrs)
Maria DeRosa (30yrs)
Monoco Immacolata Tocci (17 mos)
Since it is well know that immigration often got the names incorrect, Maria is actually Achiropita. The title "Monaco" is what is know as the suprenome or family nickname.
According to family lore, the oldest child, Vincent, was left behind with Achiropita's mother, Angelina Fazio DeRosa, to insure that the family would return to Vacarizza. While they were in New York, a 2nd daughter, Maria, was born in 1899.
To add to the confusion, Immacolata became know as Mary and Maria became Mamie.
At some point the family returned to Vacarizza, where Salvatore was born in 1902.
They returned to New York, on October 22, 1903 where Francesco was born in 1905. The family returned to Italy where Angelo was born in Italy in 1907.
Phillipo returned to New York with Mary in 1911 on the Italia.
On February 27 1914, the family returned to New York on the Verona for the last time. Achiropita traveled with Maria (Mamie age 14), Salvatore (Sal age 11) Francesco (Frank age 8) and Angelo (age 6).
I have not been able to find the records of Vincent's arrival in New York.
The Tocci’s (and the Vizza’s and Candreva’s) are descended from Albanian immigrants in the 15th century.
It was customary for a young woman to have a special dress made for her wedding which she would then wear for special occasions.
Achiropita’s dress is still in the family and we can see it modeled by her great grand-daughter.