Abstract
The Canterna family name originates in the 14th and 15th century in southern Italy from the town of Potenza in Basilicata by the name of Cantermo. The modern Canterna family has as its major origins the small Italian towns of Strongoli and Scandale, less than 20 Km from each other. Both towns are near the larger provincial capital of Crotone (Kroton) on the Ionian Sea, on the eastern shore of Calabria. Due to emigration to the Americas at the beginning of the 20th century, the major descendants are now found in Strongoli, Scandale, the United States (predominantly Pennsylvania and Maryland) and Argentina (Buenos Aires and Santa Fe). There are no living descendants now with the Canterna family name except those living in the United States and Argentina.
Introduction This history and compilation is written based on several personal visits to Scandale (1980, 1998, 2001) and Strongoli (1998, 2001) and personal interviews with Nick Canterna and Betty Canterna of Freeport Pa., Santina Barberio, her sons Franco and Salvatore Coriale and her sister-in law Maria Piperato from Scandale Italy, and Giuseppina Milelli, her husband Pietro Savazzi, their children Maria and Gianni from Strongoli Italy. Great attention has been placed on understanding the many cultural differences that have led to misunderstandings on my part in the past. I can only thank my wife Paola Madrisotti for assisting me with this major problem. I have tried, in all cases to validate any factual information by either having written records such as birth certificates, ship's records, etc or verbal accounts that are consistent from at least two or more sources. If there are any correction to this history, pleas contact me at Canterna@uwyo.edu.
An important concern for my north american friends to keep in mind is the name of a married women. When a women marries in Italy she still is known by her maiden name even after marriage. In baptismal, birth, and citizenship records the mother's name name will be consistent with her place of birth. The child will obtain the name of their father unless otherwise stated. When a married women dies it is normal on the tomb to give the women's maiden name and then "widowed " in her husband's name. In this manner one can keep track of the non-lineage name of families.
Early Canterna (Cantermo) History: An account of the early origins of the early family history was taken from a request by Francesco "Zio" Canterna from Strongoli around 1970's from Uffici o Ricerche Araldiche Stroriche in Firenze Italy. A copy of the document "Sunto Delle Notizie Araldiche Stroriche sulla Casata Canterna " was given to me by Pietro Savazzi from Strongoli Italy, husband of Giuseppina Milelli, daughter of Eufemia Canterna. The English translation was made by Riccardo Moro.
:"Sunto Delle Notizie Araldiche Stroriche sulla Casata Canterna " Italian Version Page 1; Page 2; Page 3 ;
"Summary of the Historical Information of the House of Canterna" English Version.
With regards to this history there is a river and lake named after "Cantermo" . They can be found in Lazio, 50 Km south east of Rome, between the towns of Anagni and Alatri. The name on the map is canterno but on the geographic guide it is cantermo. I take the geographic guide as correct since this map was taken from the Italian Touring Club.
Strongoli, Italy: Strongoli is the original town of the modern day Canterna family in Italy and the Americas. In the mid 1800's the family with children Cesare Canterna, a half brother with the same father (Canterna), his name unknown at this time, and possibly other children lived in Strongoli. We know that Cesare had five children, Nicola, Silvestre, Vicenzo, Eufemia, Francesco. Giuseppina Canterna, the main lineage to the north American Canternas, also lived in Strongoli, was married briefly to a jeweler and gold worker, and was widowed due to his untimely death. There were no children from this first and only marriage.
At this time, ( August 2001), we are not certain if Giuseppina is a daughter of Cesare (sister of Eufemia,, Francesco, etc) or was a cousin. We do know with certainty that many current living members of their families, most notable Giuseppina Milelli, Maria Piperato, and Santina Barberio, always referred to Eufemia and Giuseppina as zia (aunts ; Zia Femia and Zia Pipina), had dinners on special occasions and spent time in summers in Strongoli together. Giuseppina and Eufemia were not distant relatives. Maria and Gianni Savazzi are looking into this matter regarding Giuseppina's birth relationship to Cesare in the Strongoli church records.
Keep in mind that Giuseppina retained here maiden name Canterna and not her married name.
We know that Francesco Canterna married, had a daughter Cesarina, who died when she was 7 or 9 years old. He and his wife never had any other children. Francesco, affectionately called "Zio Canterna" by the citizens of Strongoli, owed a shoe and general merchandising store and was known for his practical jokes. Even after his death, he joked around by having two or three wills, which cause considerable confusion and also some heart aches.
Eufemia Canterna married Michele Milelli and had ??? children. Her youngest daughter, Giuseppina Milelli is currently living in Strongoli with her husband Pietro Savazzi. Maria and Gianni Savazzi are their children still living in Strongoli at the house of Eufemia Canterna (Via Zara 4).
Scandale, Italy: Giuseppina Canterna, widowed and considered very beautiful, moved from Strongoli to Scandale sometime after her husbands death. Why she went to Scandale, with whom, and when are still unanswered questions. We do know that she worked as a domestic in the Palazzo Baronale for the local Baron, Guileame Drammis. . She ironed clothes and attended to the beds; she was know to specialize in the hand preparation of their woolen beds.
Giuseppina had four children:
- Menotti Giovanni Luigi Canterna; born Sept 9, 1874 at the house on via Cavour at 10:00 PM
Died 1936 at the age of 62 in Scandale.- Francesca "Chicchina" Canterna: born July 3 1880 at the house on via Garibaldi at 4:00 AM.
Died June 26 1931 at the age of 51 in Scandale.- Luisa Angela Benedetta "Luigina" Canterna: born March 19, 1883 at the house on via Garibaldi at 8:00 AM. Died January 26, 1969 at the age of 85 in Scandale.
- Domenico Canterna: born November 8, 1887 at the house on via Garibaldi at 6:30 PM.
Died July 1968 in Freeport PA. USA at the age of 82.
All four children were born with the following parentage: "Figlio di N.N. e di Giuseppina Canterna" "Child of unknown and Giuseppina Canterna" . The significance of "N. N." is that legally the father was "unknown", or unable, or unwilling to give the children his name. However, that does not mean that the father was not actually known. In fact, relatives have stated all four children have the same father, Domenico Paparo. Domenico Paparo was a wealthy and powerful local man who had financial and political connections with the Baron. He never married as far as we know. Possibly he met Giuseppina at the Palazzo, or maybe he brought Giuseppina to Scandale to work at the Palazzo Baronale. He said his intentions were to marry Giuseppina but an untimely death prevented this marriage. Paparo died when he fell from a tree. As Santina Barberio stated, and I take the liberty to paraphrase, " He made all this money, owned land, and was powerful, and all he left Giuseppina was four hungry mouths to feed and a life of poverty." The Paparo family still remains in Scandale.
A few personal comments here:
1. Via Cavour and via Garibaldi are very short streets that parallel each other and although we were not certain where the exact houses were, both houses could actually be the same house, if the doors were changed. after Menotti's birth.
2. Via Cavour and via Garibaldi are within 20-30 meters from the Palazzo Baronale.
3. Discourses with relatives did not leave out any possibility that any or all the children could have been born to the Baron. Although this is unlikely, at that time Baron's had the "rights" to the first night of a newly wed spouse and other such "benefits" for women. Domenico Paparo was close to the Baron and there may have been some aristocratic exchange. The reason this came up was the simple question, "why did Giuseppina have 4 children from the same man over the course of thirteen years, a man that left her and her children penniless, hungry, and not legitimized?"4. "N. N." on the birth record is an embarrassment and shame for children. In fact , there are many jokes and snide remarks referring to children as N.N. when one wants to embarrass a child. We do not know to what extend this influenced the lives of Menotti, Chicchina, Luigina, and Domenico, but from my discussions with other Calabrese and northern Italians with southern roots, it had to weigh heavily on them.
5. The simple fact that Giuseppina left Strongoli after her husband's death clearly is a mystery, especially since she ends up in poverty with four children. She married well since her husband was a known jeweler and gold worker.6. The Canterna lineage for this part of the family (north american) is from the matriarchal side and should not be discounted, especially since Paparo, in my estimation, had no intentions of marrying Giuseppina. Giuseppina willingly gave her name to the children and respectfully did not indulge or force the indulgence of Paparo. I was told that if the community wanted, they could have rightfully given the name of the father to the children. Clearly this did not happen and could have been hindered by the Baron. Supposedly the children never knew their father, although that does not mean that they never knew who their father was.
(To be continued... August 24, 2001)
Emigration to the America's: Early 1900's: (under development)
